Van Leeuwen Ice Cream.

Van Leeuwen originally started as a food truck in 2008, but has now spread to 19 brick-and-mortar shops in NYC. The founders focused on creating ice cream with simple, fresh ingredients, without using stabilizers or artificial additives.

Characterized by rich flavors, this artisanal ice cream is all about creativity. In addition to exciting seasonal flavors, Van Leeuwen is known for offering unique flavors like brown sugar cookie dough, Sicilian pistachio and Earl Grey tea (my favorite!).

They also have a range of dairy-free and vegan options, with flavors like cashew milk rocky road and oat milk brownie sundae raspberry swirl. So if you’re in search of the best dessert in New York City on a hot summer day, you need not look further than this local gem.

What started as a humble food truck in 2008 expanded to brick-and-mortar shops across the country in less than a decade. Heck, Van Leeuwen has nearly 30 ice cream shops in New York City alone! Not hard to see why, this some of the best ice cream in NYC.

The shop’s adamant refusal to use artificial flavors and colors, keeps these frozen delights as natural as possible. Better still, the vegan options are nothing short of impressive, so add Van Leeuwen to your itinerary if you’re traveling with someone looking for the best vegan ice cream in NYC.

Life is short. Eat dessert first, especially when you’re in New York City.