It’s the summer of the soft-serve renaissance in NYC, where swirled treats are served up in heaping cups with toppings galore, but there are far more eats and treats in Manhattan for kids. We’ve rounded up some of our favorites below, and for each treat, we’re including a nearby kid-friendly destination to make planning an end-of-summer outing easy.
While the new school year looms on the horizon, we’re determined to soak up as many fun things to do before school starts as we can, so we’re on a mission to make every outing easy for our family and yours.
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Best Ice Cream, Custard, and Frozen Treats in Manhattan1. Mimi’s – Soho and Greenwich Village
The treat: Fill your cup with a selection of frozen yogurt from this viral new treat shop. It focuses on fresh ingredients and real fruit purees, and the taste comes through. A toppings bar includes classics—like cookie dough and brownies—and fun surprises like pistachio sauce and Guittard chocolate. I’ll admit to being a skeptic when we stood in line for about 40 minutes on a recent weekend afternoon, but it was a 10/10 line experience. There was a DJ pumping beats. We were lent branded umbrellas to shade us from the sun, and water to sip while we waited. Plus, the people watching was top-notch!
Kid-friendly outing nearby: From Soho, make the short walk to the Elizabeth Street Garden to keep the people-watching going and explore the eccentric sculpture collection within. For a Greenwich Village outing, see our Papa d’Amour listing below.
2. Papa d’Amour – Greenwich Village
The treat: Butter Vanilla Soft Serve swirled in a homemade waffle cone is our pick at this newish bakery from the chef behind the Cronut craze, Domique Ansel. Think if it as a sophisticated take on a dip cone. The vanilla soft serve is perfectly balanced, and when you get a bite coated with French butter and a crisp flake of fleur de sel, it’s heaven.
Kid-friendly outing nearby: Head to Washington Square Park, where you can romp on the playground, explore the climbing equipment, or dip your toes in the fountain (though we recommend keeping your shoes on!)
It’s hard to top the appeal of a warm-from-the-oven cookie with a scoop of ice cream at Levain!
3. Levain Bakery – Multiple Locations
The treat: Levain and Caffè Panna have teamed up for a sweet summer collab. Enjoy a warm cookie sundae topped with a scoop of ice cream, a flight of mini-ice cream sandwiches, or an affogato for an afternoon pick-me-up. We tried them all, and honestly, had a hard time choosing.
Kid-friendly outing nearby: Hit Levain’s Flatiron location, grab your treats, then head over to Union Square for a romp in Evelyn’s Playground. From the Upper West Side locations, you’re easily walkable to Central Park’s top playgrounds.
4. Glace New York – Upper East Side
The treat: This might be too sophisticated for toddler palates, but my teen couldn’t get enough. A frozen, hollowed-out lemon houses a Meyer lemon Greek fro-yo, topped with a lemon sorbet, and the shop’s signature torched marshmallow fluff swirl for a completely unique—and refreshing—summer sundae.
Kid-friendly outing nearby: Grab your treat and a park bench. Once you’re sugared up, wander down to the 81st Street Studio for indoor play or Ancient Playground for an outdoor romp.
5. Schmackary’s – Midtown West and Union Square
The treat: My Broadway baby can’t get enough of the freshly baked cookies at this storefront, but during the summer, she opts for the soft-serve swirled with a cookie of her choice. It’s hard to go wrong with anything on the menu, but The Classic is so-called for a reason!
Kid-friendly outing nearby: From the Midtown location, head to the Silver Towers Playground on 41st Street between 11th and 12th Avenues, where artist Tom Otterness has crafted a whimsical playscape.
The towering brownie sundae from Sugar Hill Creamery is decadent—and sharable.
6. Sugar Hill Creamery – Harlem
The treat: This homegrown scoop shop serves some unique flavors, but for an over-the-top summer treat, order the Brownie Sundae. Bits of dark chocolate brownies are layered between two scoops in the flavor of your choice. Top it all off with hot fudge, caramel sauce, and whipped cream (of course!)
Kid-friendly outing nearby: From its Hamilton Heights location, head down the hill to the sprawling Riverbank State Park, which is home to a roller rink, splash pad, carousel, indoor and outdoor pools, and acres to explore.
7. Softside – Multiple Locations
The treat: Order a classic, swirled cone in the flavor of your choice. Livin’ it up with a dip or toppings if you wish, but the star here is the ultra-creamy soft-serve. Milkshakes, sundaes, and a classic banana split are also solid choices.
Kid-friendly outing nearby: From its Spring Street location, head across the street to DeSalvio Playground, which is destination-worthy in its own right.
8. Mister Dips – South Street Seaport
The treat: OK, maybe we’re suckers for soft-serve, but the cones served here are otherworldly. Order yours skinny—aka plain ice cream—or opt for one of its creative concoctions, like Buttermint Crunch, which is a Thin Mint-flavored ice cream, drizzled in fudge with a grasshopper cookie crunch.
Kid-friendly outing nearby: Head to the Imagination Playground in Burling Slip, where kids can wade in water, dig in the sand, or engage with trained play associates to build something uber creative with the site’s trademark blue foam blocks.
Beyond the Cone: More Family-Friendly Eats in NYC this Summer9. Butterfield Market – Upper East Side
The treat: Remember at the beginning of the summer when Dotcakes became a social media darling? Butterfield Market stocks them on Wednesdays and Sundays, at 11am and 9am respectively. And, the time is important here: They sell out within the hour, so this treat is great for early risers who don’t mind standing in line. The market suggests lining up 30 minutes before delivery time at the fro-yo window and limits visitors to two Dotcakes.
Kid-friendly outing nearby: If Dotcake for brunch isn’t your thing, we suggest heading into the park to play at the shady Artur Ross Pinetum before spreading a blanket on the Great Lawn for a picnic.
10. Ulysses – Financial District
The treat: Last, if your idea of a treat leans toward the savory side, the Lobster Monday Deal at Ulysses is too good not to mention. Starting at 4pm, shell out $26 for a half-pound, steamed lobster plus a baked potato and corn on the cob. If that’s too sophisticated for the kids, they might be plied with the lobster mac for $18.
Kid-friendly outing nearby: Walk off your (sea)food coma en route to the Battery Playscape, where kids can climb and slide to their heart’s content. There’s plenty more fun to be had in nearby Battery Park City.
Photos by the author