52 of the Best Ice Cream Shops Around Rochester

We love these ice cream shops for their outstanding atmosphere, taste, variety, and innovation.

And when we say ‘ice cream’ we mean it to cover ice cream, gelato, Italian ice, frozen yogurt, and custard—summertime in a cone!

Find an Ice Cream Shop by Area

1. Best Handcrafted Ice Cream: City of Rochester
2. Best Handcrafted Ice Cream: Monroe County
3. Best Regional Ice Cream Brands: Monroe County
4. Best Custard: Monroe County
5. Best Gelato: Monroe County
6. Best Italian Ice: Monroe County
7. Best Ice Cream: Greater Rochester Area
8. Best Ice Cream: Surrounding Regions

There is no possible way to rank these because they are all worth going out of your way for. Keep these in mind for National Ice Cream Day on the third “Sundae” in July.

You can’t buy happiness but you can buy ice cream and that’s pretty much the same thing.

Best Handcrafted Ice Cream Shops in the City of Rochester

1. Hedonist Artisan Ice Cream

Rochester’s South Wedge Neighborhood 

Innovative flavors have included Salted Caramel, Cinnamon Chipotle, Lavender Lemongrass, Lemon Thyme, Afternoon Tea Truffle, Malted Chai, Cookie Fig and Honey, and Raspberry Passionfruit Champagne Sorbet. 

We craft our small batch, super premium ice creams and sorbets in the heart of Rochester, NYs South Wedge neighborhood. We use local cream and the finest natural ingredients to create decadent flavors that bring pleasure with every bite. 

2. Eat Me Ice Cream

Rochester’s EMMA Neighborhood 

Innovative flavors have included Lilac, Bourbon Vanilla Bean, Caramel Smear, Crystallized Ginger and Cashew Curry Coconut, Lavender Goat Cheese, Spring Garden, Sweet Corn, and Olive Oil & Basil. 

Eat Me is dedicated to cultivating and inspiring creative thinking and imagination. Taste is a gateway to discovery and ice cream is the perfect medium. We spin out funky, fabulously fresh ice cream in NYS dairy and dairy-free each week. Lick, savor and cry with us.

Best Handcrafted Ice Cream Shops in Monroe County Towns & Villages

3. Pittsford Farms Dairy

Pittsford & Henrietta 

Pittsford Farms Dairy uses milk from their grass-fed dairy cows, and sells milk to other Rochester-area ice cream makers. There are 60+ flavors available! In an article by Edible Finger Lakes, Charles Jr. says. “It’s unbelievable. I mean, people like our milk, but everyone—and I mean everyone—will do three flips backwards for ice cream.”

Fire Crust in Henrietta serves Pittsford Farms Dairy Ice Cream and Custard.

4. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Webster 

Flavors have included Graham Central Station, White Raspberry Truffle, Wedding Cake, Tin Lizzy, Jamaican Me Crazy, Deep Dish Apple Pie, and Coffee Cake Streusel to name but a few.

We believe there’s no richer reward in life than the smooth, creamy pleasure of fresh ice cream. Each tantalizing treat is skillfully created in-house with the care and affection that defines Bruster’s.

5. Moonlight Creamery

Fairport

Our signature flavors, like Espresso with English Toffee and Wicked Chocolate, are joined by seasonal favorites and fun and imaginative limited editions to ensure both ice cream traditionalists and adventurers find just the right treat. Flavors change daily, but may include Malted Chai, Olive Oil & Honey, Raspberry Passionfruit, Strawberry, Toffee Almond Chocolate, and Ginger Pear sorbet.

6. Ice Cream Factory

Fairport

Here at the ICF, we offer hard ice cream, soft serve custard, frozen yogurt, allergy free options, sundaes, shakes and more! We are also pet friendly! Come and enjoy some of our ice cream right along the Erie Canal! Our ice creams are handpicked and feature nostalgic flavors and fresh new takes.

New on the menu: the ICF Garbage Tin! Our dessert version of the famous Rochester garbage plate! We dish out 3 or 6 scoops of your favorite flavor, chuck on a half-split banana, a full brownie round, pound cake squares, and our lab-made ICF secret sauce. In case that’s not enough for you, add two more of your favorite toppings. What a glorious mess!

7. Sweet Mist

Henrietta

Every custom ice cream creation is made fresh right in front of you, and completely customizable with over thousands of combinations compiled of various flavors, mix-ins, and toppings. They use liquid nitrogen to prepare the ice cream! Brought to you by the owners of Thali of India in the same plaza.

Best Ice Cream Shops serving Regional & Local Brands in Monroe County

8. Netsins Ice Cream

Irondequoit

Serves Perry’s (Akron) – Netsins Ice Cream was established by 2 Irondequoit firefighters. There is nothing like having a neighborhood ice cream parlor to create lasting memories!

9. LuGia’s Ice Cream

Spencerport

Serves Perry’s (Akron) – From classic favorites like Chocolate and Vanilla, to exotic tastes like Oregon Blackberry Cheesecake, to wild and wacky flavors like Superman, at LuGia’s we have something for everyone.

10. iKON Ice Cream

Scottsville

Offers over 100 custard flavors plus serves Perry’s (Akron) hard ice cream.

11. Sprinkles

Chili

Serves Perry’s (Akron) hard ice cream, plus frozen custard, Italian lemon ices, shakes, flurries, floats, sundaes, ice cream cakes, turtle bars, wheels, and more!

12. Russell’s

Chili

Serves Perry’s (Akron) hard ice cream and more. Open year round, cash only.

13. Green Acre Farm & Nursery

North Greece

The Front Porch Ice Cream Shoppe serves Gifford’s (Maine) and Turkey Hill (Pennsylvania) – We have something for everyone, from fat-free, to sugar-free, to gluten-free and lactose-free. 

14. i-Scream for Ice Cream at I-Square

Irondequoit

Serves Purity (Ithaca) – We serve hard ice cream, soft serve, razzles, sundaes, shakes and more. Flavors change with the season so stop by and see what we have today!

15. Byrne Dairy

Chili, Gates, & Brockport,

Serves Byrne Dairy (Syracuse) – Since 1980 we have been producing our own Ice Cream with our fresh cream and milk from our local family farms. 

16. Dipper Dan

Honeoye Falls

Moffitt Family Owned and Operated for over 20 Years! Dipper Dan is open seasonally from April to October each year.

17. M. Sweet Retreat

East Rochester

A variety of sweets & treats in fun combinations! Serves Gifford’s Ice Cream (Maine) and Frank’s Italian Ice (Rochester).

18. Village Ice Cream Shop

Spencerpots

VICS (short for Village Ice Cream Shop) serves Gifford’s Ice Cream (Maine).

From their website, “We love really great ice cream. You know, the stuff with a really high butter fat content. After researching several brands of hard ice cream, we decided on Gifford’s from Maine. Gifford’s has been in business since the 1800s. Because they use only premium ingredients and high quality manufacturing processes, we know you will taste the difference!”

Best Custard in Monroe County

19. Abbott’s Frozen Custard

Lake Ave original location

There’s a reason Abbott’s is in 12 Bill Gray’s restaurants, and 10 stand-alone franchised locations. It’s delicious! And summer would not be the same without the Abbott’s on Lake Ave opening for the season, roughly mid-April through October.

At Abbott’s, everything we do is dedicated to ensuring our frozen custard is the very best. This starts with our secret family recipe, churned fresh every day in each one of our stands. Our frozen custard is the way ice cream was meant to be.

Best Gelato in Monroe County

20. Royal Café Gelateria

Fairport

I’m thinking if you only get one chance you should try the Spaghetti Ice Cream Sundae: Vanilla gelato, strawberry sauce, grated white chocolate, brownies in chocolate sauce.

21. Oriens Café

Greece

At Oriens Café you will find authentic Sicilian pastries and 24 flavors of Gelato made fresh on site daily, using recipes designed by Italian Pastry Chef Master Salvatore Garofalo.

22. Dolce Italy “Rochester”

Rochester

Best Italian Ice in Monroe County

23. Rita’s Italian Ice

Brighton

You really have to try one of their specialty drinks where the Italian Ice is combined with Frozen Custard, like the Gelati. It’s magical! Real Italian ice made with fresh fruit and made fresh daily!

Best Ice Cream Shops in the Greater Rochester Area

These shops are all located in the nine countries that make up the Greater Rochester region.

24. Lynnie Lou’s Homemade Ice Cream

Naples, Ontario County

Take advantage of our Drive-Thru service or come inside and see all the flavors for your self! You can relax and watch the world go by on one of our Adirondack Chairs on the hill, or an outdoor picnic table. 

25. Shark’s Ice Cream

Bloomfield, Ontario County

All Dole Whip flavors are Lactose Free, Fat Free, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, and Cholesterol Free. All of our ice cream is available in a regular cone, waffle cone, or in a dish. Or you can try our waffle bowl sundaes, shark bites, or a traditional sundae.

26. Sprinkles

Avon, Livingston County

Sprinkles serves Purity, Upstate Dairy, Gifford’s, and Dole Whip.

27. Cheshire Farms Creamery 

Canandaigua, Ontario County

Choose from our great selection of home churned ice creams, non-dairy Dole Whip, and soft-serve custard.

28. Spotted Duck

Penn Yan, Yates County

Over 95% of our ingredients are either certified organic or grown following the same guidelines. What this means for you is the healthiest ice-cream you can find that actually tastes good! Our lovely Ancona ducks supply us with delicious, rich eggs that make the creamiest custard, and our gardens provide us with delectable fruits.

29. Seneca Farms

Penn Yan, Yates County

All ice creams are hand swirled with their goodies of fruits, nuts, fudges, or candies and are made fresh on the premises every week!

30. Yia Yia’s Ice Cream Shoppe

Williamson, Wayne County

Serves Hershey‘s Ice Cream.

31. Cayuga Lake Creamery

Interlaken, Seneca County

Homemade flavors include exceptional versions of the classics as well as unique and seasonal offerings such as Lavender, Maple Bacon, Ultimate Fudge Brownie, and our famous Seneca Salt Caramel. Flavors (currently over 200!) are produced on a rotation, with about thirty scooped at a time.

32. Tinsel

Albion, Orleans County

Serves Perry’s (Akron) – Smoothies + shakes + sundaes along the Erie Canal in Albion.

33. Chill & Grill

Palmyra, Wayne County

Aside from the fact that they make amazing ice cream cakes, they also sell enormous ice cream cookie sandwiches that are straight out of your dreams. (onlyinyourstate.com)

34. Reminisce Soda Fountain

Caledonia, Livingston County

Serves Gifford’s (Maine) ice cream. 50s style atmosphere with period-correct beverages, malts, floats, phosphates, and egg creams.

35. A’s Diner & Desserts

Canandaigua, Ontario County

Serves Gifford’s (Maine) – Old fashioned ice cream and a full candy shop inside.

36. Twisters

Livonia, Livingston County

Enjoy all of our homemade ice creams and we offer custard in 48 plus flavors, with a variety of drinks and snacks!

37. Kish-a-wa Creamery

Nunda, Livingston County

Come and enjoy an Artisan Crafted Creation, an Old Time Favorite or just a Ice Cream Cone. We carry Upstate Custard, Gifford’s, Perry’s, Ashby’s Sterling, Dean Farms, Turkey Hill – over 40 flavors. Hand crafted Ice Cream Creations using Upstate 12% Custard and Perry’s Hard ice cream. Unique and different combinations of inclusions – and willing to create combinations you suggest.

38. Bee Tee’s Drive-In

Newark, Wayne County

Serves Perry’s (Akron) ice cream. Try a Flying saucer…Mini Melts…or Flizzard, along with many other Bee Tee favorites. Family owned and operated, you get small town charm with big time value.

39. Mr. Coolee’s

Newark, Wayne County

They have 73 flavors of soft serve, 23 flavors of hard ice cream, lactose free Dole Whip (flavor will change periodically), Slushies, Sundaes, Shakes, and Floats.

40. Papa Jack’s

Victor, Ontario County

Serves Perry’s (Akron) ice cream.

41. Minnehan’s Restaurant and Fun Center

Lakeville, Livingston County

Serves Gifford’s (Maine) Premium hard ice cream, with chocolate and vanilla soft serve, blizzards and smoothies.

42. Yummies

Warsaw, Wyoming County

As Wyoming County’s only homemade ice cream parlor, we make all of our ice cream in-house, using locally-sourced ingredients, serving our customers the freshest and most delicious ice cream. 

With close to 75 of our own original flavors, soft serve and a variety of other menu items, including vegan and dairy-free options, there’s always something for everyone.

43. Blondie’s Sip-n-Dip

Batavia, Genesee County

Blondie’s has been a family run business for 20 yrs plus thank to Greg and Anne Miller and Peggy Johnston. My husband and I (Andy and Laura Pedro) purchased it in Dec of 2019. 

44. The Hojack Ice Cream Shack & Snack Shack Grill

Lyndonville, Orleans County

Great place to grab a bite to eat, have some ice cream, listen to some oldies music and let the kids play in the Hojack village.

Best Ice Cream in the Surrounding Areas

These locations are a bit further out of town, but are worthy of mention because people plan day trips around them!

45. Lake Effect Ice Cream

Lockport, Niagara County

We partner with the remarkable amount of talent in our hometown to create amazing frozen creations with a Buffalo twist. Our shop is located right above the historic Flight of Five lock system on the Erie Canal.

46. The Great Escape Ice Cream Parlor

Watkins Glen, Schuyler County

Serves Hershey‘s Ice Cream. Our unique ice cream parlor is a must-see when visiting. A family owned and operated business for over 38 years, we’re proud to serve homemade ice creams, novelties, cakes, and Italian gelato, as well as a variety of popular vegan and non dairy options. 

47. Hibbard’s Custard

Lewiston, Niagara County

Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard has been family owned and seasonally operated since 1939.

48. Old World Café & Ice Cream

Corning, Steuben County

Purity creations served in the charming ambiance of a Victorian Ice Cream Parlor.

49. Dippity Do Dahs

Corning, Steuben County

It all starts with a local dairy co-op in Western, NY. We add premium ingredients from around the world and across the street.

50. Nick Charlap’s Ice Cream

Hamburg, Erie County

Family owned & operated for over 50 years! Nick Charlap’s specialty is producing premium homemade hard ice cream (40+ flavors), which has become widely known for it’s creamy decadence. Flavors like Cinnamon, Bourbon Praline Pecan, Cotton Candy, Peppermint Stick, and Cashew Caramel Crunch have put our small family business on the map.

51. Reese’s Dairy Bar

Auburn, Cayuga County

There is much that makes Reese’s Dairy Bar unique in Cayuga County, first and foremost being the HOMEMADE products.  Reese’s Hard Ice Creams, Hard & Soft Sherbets, Sorbets/Italian Ices, Ice Cream Cakes, Ice Cream Cupcakes, French Custard, Cremesicle Twist, Soft Black Raspberry, Very Berry Twist, Ice Cream Sandwiches, Chipwiches, Cremewiches, and Berrywiches are all made right at the 1422 Clark Street Road location, from family recipes that have been handed down, tinkered with, and perfected over the years.

52. Purity Ice Cream

Ithaca, Tompkins County

In 1998, Bruce and Heather Lane bought Purity with an eye towards revitalizing this Finger Lakes icon. We still use Leo’s original recipes for ice Cream the way it used to be made–small batches, with local, high quality ingredients, including BGH-free milk from upstate NY farms.

Where are your favorite ice cream shops?

Share your thoughts with us in the comments. Your insight and experience is invaluable!