Ice Cream Shops

53 of the Best Ice Cream Shops Around Rochester

Ice cream, gelato, Italian ice, frozen yogurt, and custard—summertime in a cone!—we love each of these shops’ outstanding atmosphere, taste, and innovation. Enjoy a new place every week!

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

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. 

Day Trips Around Rochester New York book cover
NOW AVAILABLE

Day Trips Around Rochester, New York: The Book!

paperback • ebook • audiobook

Best Handcrafted Ice Cream Shops in Monroe County Towns & Villages

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream

Webster & Irondequoit

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.

Creamcredible

Henrietta

We are honored to invite you to taste the difference of homemade, fresh ice cream created onsite using many fresh ingredients from our local New York State farmers. Creamcredibe was created with a passion for making desserts and a commitment to the community we serve.

Ice cream is our passion and you will taste the difference. We are excited to serve delicious ice cream made onsite daily with natural ingredients from our own blend of delicious fruit and dairy products.

Lift Bridge Ice Cream

Fairport

Meet the ice cream trash plate. Large flat waffle bottom, mound of French vanilla custard, chocolate custard, five toppings of your choice, sprinkles, whipped cream, and a cherry. Toppings include cookie dough bites, cheesecake bites, fractured fingers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and M&M’s.

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.

Pittsford Farms Dairy

Pittsford, Rochester & 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.”

Pittsford Farms Dairy has a second location in the City of Rochester on Park Ave.

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

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

Anthony’s Ice Cream

Spencerport

Serves Perry’s (Akron)

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. 

Colby’s Ice Cream & Bake Shop

Rush

Serves Hershey‘s Ice Cream.

Colby’s Ice Cream and Bakery has been in the food business since 1989 and offers 36 flavors of Hershey’s ice cream. In addition, they have a full country-style bakery that offers the best fresh-baked pies and handmade donuts.

Dipper Dan

Honeoye Falls

Owned and operated by the Moffitt family for over 20 Years, Dipper Dan is open seasonally from April to October. They serve Upstate Farms Dairy Frozen Custard, Honey Hill Farms’ Frozen Yogurt, and over 40 flavors of ice cream locally sourced from Perry’s, Purity, Byrne Dairy, and more.

The Front Porch Ice Cream Shoppe

North Greece

The Front Porch at Green Acre Farm & Nursery 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. 

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!

iKON Ice Cream

Scottsville

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

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.

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!

Russell’s

Chili

Serves a variety of brands, including Perry’s (Akron) hard ice cream and more. Open year round, cash only.

Scoop ‘n Twist

Brighton

Serves Perry’s (Akron) – Ice cream, homemade gelato, soft serve custard, and more!

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!

Village Ice Cream Shop

Spencerport (& N. Chili coming soon!)

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

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.

Royal Cafe

Best Gelato in Monroe County

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.

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.

Best Italian Ice in Monroe County

Frank’s Italian Ice

Spencerport

Frank’s Italian Ice has found a new home with the LuGia’s Ice Cream family! Come on down to LuGia’s Ice Cream or check out the many other locations.

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 Greater Rochester

A’s Diner & Desserts

Canandaigua, Ontario County

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

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.

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. 

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.

Cheshire Farms Creamery 

Canandaigua, Ontario County

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

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)

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.

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.

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. 

Minnehan’s

Lakeville, Livingston County

Minnehan’s Restaurant and Fun Center serves Gifford’s (Maine) Premium hard ice cream, with chocolate and vanilla soft serve, blizzards and smoothies.

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.

Papa Jack’s Ice Cream

Victor, Ontario County

Serves Perry’s (Akron) ice cream.

Pulcini’s Ice Cream

Palmyra, Wayne County

Serves serves Gifford’s (Maine) and Turkey Hill (Pennsylvania) ice cream.

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!

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.

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.

Tinsel

Albion, Orleans County

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

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!

Yia Yia’s Ice Cream Shoppe

Williamson, Wayne County

Serves Hershey‘s Ice Cream.

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.

Lake Effect Ice Cream Flight of Five
Flight of Five with Earl Grey, Butterbeer, Indian Vanilla, Sponge Candy, and … oh I can’t recall the 5th one!

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!

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.

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. 

Hibbard’s Custard

Lewiston, Niagara County

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

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.

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.

Old World Café & Ice Cream

Corning, Steuben County

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

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.

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.

Rosie’s Ice Cream

East Aurora, Erie County

Real handcrafted ice cream made onsite at our scoop shop. We carry the highest-quality products. Our ice cream is super premium, always freshly churned. Frozen treats are for everyone! Even if someone wants a dairy free option, we are here for you.

Google Map of Locations

view map separately here

You may also enjoy:

Swimming Holes

On a hot day, you can sit under a waterfall, swim in a lake, or jump in a creek at one of these refreshing natural swimming areas.

Read more

23 Hidden Places Around Rochester

From secret gardens to enchanting waterfalls, exploring hidden places around the Rochester area is the ultimate way to add some spice to your travel experiences.

Read more

49 New York State Parks Within a Two-Hour Drive of Rochester

Venture into one of these New York State Parks within a two-hour drive of Rochester and discover what makes them unique.

Read more

30 Perfect Picnic Spots Around Rochester

When searching for the perfect picnic spots, I look for a picnic table, scenery and proximity to water, shade, and relative privacy.

Read more

132 Things to Do Around Rochester

We’ve pulled together a list of fun and unique things to do around Rochester, NY, within two hours of home—perfect for quick getaways.

Read more

Roadside Attractions

Have fun finding these fun roadside attractions—shoe trees, a skeleton army, a metal dragon, a shark girl—within two hours of Rochester.

Read more

Where are your favorite ice cream shops?

Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.

Debi Bower, Day Trips Around Rochester NY

Debi Bower is the founder and creative director of daytrippingroc.com and author of the book Day Trips Around Rochester, New York.

11K Shares

32 thoughts on “53 of the Best Ice Cream Shops Around Rochester”

  1. Sweet Jenny’s in Williamsville has *the best* homemade ice cream! They have something for everyone. We go out of our way to stop by when we’re in the Buffalo area. 🙂

  2. The Hojack Ice Cream Shack & Snack Shack Grill in Lyndonville, NY. Closer than some on this list. I’ve seen people line up outside during a thunderstorm to get their ice cream there!

  3. Papa Jack’s Ice cream in Victor is extremely popular. Offers A large variety of flavors, sundaes, shakes and more. Also ice cream cakes @ 265 West Main Street in Victor.

    1. Minnehan’s in Lakeville. Serves amazing frozen custard. It is so rich and creamy. If you don’t like soft serve they have both Gifford’s and Perry’s hard ice cream.

  4. One that should really be on the list is Blondie’s in Batavia. They can’t be beat! Huge portions and a quaint old fashioned soda shop!

  5. Annis Dairy that was in Avon had the best flavor. I think it was called chocolate fudge but it was like a malted flavor. It was the best.

  6. We love Twisters in Livonia- homemade flavors as well as the traditional choices- and Sprinkles and Tom Wahl’s in Avon!

  7. You have to add Mr. Coolies in Newark. The serving sizes are UNREAL, prices are good and they have a DRIVE THRU!! Hands down best place we have ever been too!

      1. Thanks for adding Dipper Dan to the list for ice cream Monroe County. Could we mention that they offer handmade waffle cones, too?

  8. Teresa Mueller

    Another suggestion is Reminisce Soda Fountain in Caledonia. All the old time soda fountain favorites in a retro themed diner with great food and classic equipment and decor. Phosphate, anyone?

    1. I love Reminisce, especially because my grandmother was a huge Betty Boop fan. I get a vanilla with cherry and phosphate 🙂 So good! I’ll have to do an article sometime about classic-style diners because Reminisce should be there as well! Thank you for the recommendation, Teresa.

    1. Michelle, I haven’t heard about Dippity Do Dahs until now! They sure have some excellent reviews on Facebook and Google. I’ll add them over the next few days. Thank you for the recommendation!

  9. I seriously cannot believe the one in Naples made the list but Middleton’s Frozen Custard on Main Street, voted best in Livingston County, two yrs in a row, didn’t make the list! Best place in NYS as far as I’m concerned.

  10. I would suggest you add the Chill and Grill in palmyra- the serving size is unreal. My sons and I search every summer for the best spots around town. This place will not disappoint!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *