Best ice-cream shop

Photo: Philip Friedman

Best ice-cream shopBrooklyn Ice Cream Factory

Photo: Philip Friedman

Winner Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory
When the city designated a 1920’s fireboat house, located just south of the Brooklyn Bridge, as a landmark, it preserved the picturesque building—but, in doing so, made it difficult for the structure to be reincarnated as anything other than eye candy. That is, until 2001, when Mark Thompson—then a manager at the adjacent River Café—approached his boss with the proposition that they should lease the building and turn it into an ice -cream shop of unparalleled quality. Using only top-grade ingredients like local cream, unbleached Hawaiian sugar and fresh fruit, this ice cream long ago won the hearts of NYC foodies. Thompson obviously takes pride in his technique as well: “All of it is made by myself or my apprentice, and only five gallons at a time, to ensure consistency.” Perhaps that’s why the eight flavors he concocts taste both delicate and rich, the culinary equivalent of a Fabergé egg.

Fulton Ferry Landing Pier at Old Fulton St, Dumbo, Brooklyn (718-246-3963)

Runner-up Ciao Bella
Italy may be a hike from here, but at Ciao Bella, kids can get a taste of the country’s signature cold treat, gelato. After enjoying scoops of Tahitian vanilla or Vahlrona chocolate, or a special flavor like peach habeñero (yowza!), you’ll understand why top chefs all around the city turn to Ciao Bella when they need to make a showstopping ice cream dessert.

For store locations, visit ciaobellagelato.com

And don’t forget...Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Refreshing (and refreshingly offbeat) flavors like black sesame, lychee and avocado make the queues at this little ice-cream shop well worth the wait. And while you don’t have to have a wasabi sundae (chocolate and vanilla are on the menu, too), don’t leave without tasting at least one of the Asian treats.

65 Bayard St between Elizabeth and Mott Sts (212-608-4170, chinatownicecreamfactory.com)