The best ice cream in the Hudson Valley
If you’re looking for the best ice cream, The HV is packed with acclaimed newcomers and old frozen favorites.
No matter what the season, there's never a wrong time for some of the best ice cream HV has to offer. And luckily for fellow frozen-treat lovers, you don’t have to go sprinting after Mister Softee for a licking of summer's finest sweets. Instead, head to one of Upstates top parlors, which turn out oddball flavors, gargantuan sundaes and whimsical ice cream sandwiches built atop the best donuts in the HV. Whether you want a classic scoop or a cone of the best soft serve, you'll find all that and more at these shops serving the best ice cream in the Hudson Valley.
1. Holy Cow, Red Hook, New York
For over 30 years, this Hudson Valley sweet factory has been serving smiles by the scoopful. Hard and soft ice cream are among the choices including its signature flavor “Holy Cow,” creamy vanilla slathered with peanut butter and mini peanut butter cups. A TripAdvisor traveler said, “This place is truly unique in that the ice cream is delicious and it’s cheap.”
2. Moo Moo’s Creamery, Cold Spring, NY
Located on West Street, this a local favorite in Putnam County. Patrons of Moo Moo’s often have to wait on line to have their ‘4.6 Star rating’ ice cream. All their flavors are homemade and the flavors are unique and delicious.
3. Fortunes Ice Cream, Tivoli, NY
When it comes to ice cream, you might say Fortunes has smiled on Tivoli, New York, the small Hudson Valley village north of the city. Earlier this year, Fortunes opened a store next to the hotel owned by painters Brice and Helen Marden. Though their rotation of seasonal flavors dazzles—sorbet of quince sourced from Montgomery Place Orchards, in nearby Red Hook; apple-cider-donut ice cream prepared like a glutton’s tea, the cream base steeped with farm-stand pastries—Fortune’s finest is their flawless execution of a classic: the shop’s chocolate ice cream is mind-bendingly delicious and made even better when you swap out sprinkles for flaky Maldon sea salt.
4. Blue Pig, Croton On Hudson, NY
The Blue Pig ice cream - If you're in Westchester area, check out The Blue Pig Ice Cream shop in Croton-on-Hudson. Wonderful local ice cream shop that uses a local milk base from the Hudson Valley and ingredients from local farms and establishments. Wonderful creamy ice cream with great flavors!
5. Bellvale Farms Creamery, Warwick, NY
The Creamery is located at 1390 Route 17A, Warwick, NY. Open April 1 through October 30. Open at noon every day; closing time depends upon the season.
Our home made ice cream (we make over 50 flavors) is served on a cone, a sundae, or in our homemade waffle cones!
6. Alleyway Ice Cream, Saugerties, NY
Alleyway Ice Cream, the world's smallest and hardest to find ice cream shop is the definition of hole in the wall. Our teeny-tiny shop is known for unconventionally delicious handmade ice cream. We may be hard to find, but fantastic review after fantastic review shows that our ice cream is worth a special trip.
7.Beacon Creamery, Beacon, NY
Located right on Main Street, this little shop offers a wide variety of hard ice cream flavors and a selection of ’21 and over’ ice cream and shakes.
8.Jane’s Ice Cream, Kingston, NY
Located on Wall St, this shop offers small-batch ice cream that is not only delicious but creamy. They not only offer ice cream here but they also supply ice cream for other local shops.
9. Bittersweet Catskill, Catskill, NY
Located on Main Street, this shop is known for its whimsical atmosphere and great staff. Visits rave about the lavender ice cream and other unusual flavors.
10.Icescreams, Elizaville, NY
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Icescreams. With a few gallons of fluorescent pink paint, a playful name and some youthful bravery, a young couple have turned two old refrigerated cargo containers into one of the most fun destination ice cream stands in the region. Though it's a bit out of the way, Josh Sedore and Merina Fumasoli are pulling folks off the main path to 669 County Route 2 in Elizaville, New York, not just for the traditional ice cream stand fare and standout shakes but for the vibrant party atmosphere.
11.Zoe’s Ice Cream Barn, Langrangeville, NY
Located right on Route 55, Zoe’s Ice Cream not only offers delicious soft serve and a wide variety of regular ice cream, but they also have ice cream cakes, cider donuts and food for sale.
12.Boice Bros. Dairy, Kingston, NY
Celebrating more than 100 years in business, Boice Bros. is a low-key legend in the Hudson Valley dairy scene. When it comes to ice cream, the local business is bar none. Swing by its Milk House headquarters in Kingston to dive into loaded brownie sundaes, custom ice cream cakes, and, when it’s in season, maple Dole Whip.
13.The Dutch Udder Craft Ice Cream, Troy, NY
A sweet retreat for the Troy-area crowd, The Dutch Udder has been churning craft ice cream since 2013. Visit for unusual offerings like birthday cake donuts (that’s birthday cake ice cream sandwiched inside a donut), Cookies-n-Irish Cream (which is exactly what you think it is), and apple cider sorbet made with Nine Pin hard cider. Come back often, since flavors rotate regularly, and specials pop up all the time.
14. Joe’s Dairy Bar, Hopewell Junction
This family focused ice cream joint has been specializing in making memories with creative treats since 1960. Joe’s has it all: soft serve, hard ice cream, sundaes, hot food, and Instagram-famous freak shakes. These made-to-order monsters are piled high with more toppings than you could imagine. The unicorn freak shake, a milkshake flavor of your choice filled with colorful marshmallow drizzle, surrounded by edible confetti, and topped with whipped cream, more marshmallow drizzle, edible dust, and a cupcake impaled on a lollipop is a sight to see.
15. Penny Lick Ice Cream Co., Hastings-on-Hudson, NY
If you’re heading down toward Westchester, don’t pass up a trip to Penny Lick. The Hastings creamery has been scooping up its signature custard-based ice cream, using locally sourced whole milk, eggs, and sugar, since 2013. Nowadays, it serves artisanal options like vegan dark chocolate coconut, lavender truffle, white bourbon caramel, and raspberry lime. Planning a birthday party? Call ahead to order a custom cake that is so much better than any run-of-the-mill Carvel concoction.
16.Weir’s Ice Cream, Salisbury Mills, NY
Founded in 1956, Weir’s is the retro roadside stand of Instagram dreams. The shop is open from April to September and is locally famous for its homemade hard ice cream and unique soft serve flavors. Order the perfect twist of whatever soft serve options are on the menu for the day (strawberry and blue moon, anyone?) or get a sky-high stack of limited-edition flavors like S’mores or Movie Time, a kettle corn-flavored ice cream with chocolate-covered pretzels and a salted caramel swirl.
17. Frozen Caboose Ice Cream, Highland, NY
Salty caramel pretzel and pear sorbet are just two flavors you might find at this family run ice cream shop. Grab a shake, float, cone, or cup and head to Walkway Over the Hudson, which is located less than a mile away, to get spring started right.
18. Four Brothers Drive In, Amenia, NY
A true blast from the past, Four Brothers Drive In is one of the best places to enjoy a cold cone and a hot flick. Roll up to the big screen and order ice cream to be delivered right to your car or stand in line at the shack. The menu boasts a premium selection of locally sourced ice creams. If you’re in the mood for something different, there’s a few specialty sundaes like the Bubby Bubs, which comes with Nutella and a waffle. If you’re more of a milkshake connoisseur, Four Brothers has a unique menu of flavors, such as baklava, espresso, and even wine flavors (take your pick, Cabernet or Pinot Grigio).
19. Lakeside Licks, Highland, NY
Great ice cream served up at three locations: Milton, Highland and the original Lakeside Licks in the Adirondack village of Speculator. The stand in Highland even comes with its own miniature golf course! Also, listen for the "ding-a-ling" signaling their own ice cream mobile unit on its way to a festival near you. Family-owned and featuring 30 soft serve favorites.
20. Valley Harvest Ice Cream & Grill, Germantown, NY
Located on Palatine Park Rd, this shop is a local favorite for both the ice cream and the food.
