Soft Swerve turns childhood nostalgia into something technicolor and devotion-worthy. Their signature ube and matcha swirls are as photogenic as they are flavorful—creamy, bright, and not too sweet. A Lower East Side staple for anyone seeking joy in cone form.

Founded by Sasha Zabar and now scooping on Madison Avenue steps from Central Park, Glace redefines indulgence. Expect seasonal soft serve, frozen hot chocolate, and over-the-top sundaes like Fluffer Nutter or the S’mores-stacked Glacier—desserts that teeter on performance art.

A mashup of Middle Eastern booza and NYC soft serve, “Ashta Merry Cream” is a new classic. Crafted with rosewater, orange blossom, and crushed pistachios, it’s denser than your average cone, silkier than gelato, and entirely unique to this Lower East Side Lebanese outpost.

This is soft serve, but studied—and entirely vegan. Morgenstern’s makes every flavor from scratch, no base recipes, no fillers—just pure-texture joy in every spoon. Think playful combos (like bubble tea in soft serve form) with the precision of a pastry lab and the delight of a carnival.

Ray’s has been slinging soft serve since 1974, and the East Village wouldn’t be the same without it. A neighborhood legend open nearly 24/7, where swirls are served with egg creams, fries, or gossip from Ray himself. Come for the cone, stay for the time warp.

In Long Island City, Taku Parlor merges Japanese precision with soft serve whimsy. Matcha, hojicha, and vanilla come straight or swirled, topped with mochi, boba, or paired with melon soda floats. A tiny temple to texture, balance, and dessert done right.

This chai-flavored oat milk soft serve is steeped like the real thing—bold, spiced, and comforting. Add a shot of espresso for a “chaffogato,” or savor it straight. Only one flavor for now, but it’s so balanced and memorable, nothing else is needed.

Made from ceremonial-grade matcha imported from Uji, Japan, this Midtown shop’s soft serve is grassy, rich, and packed with umami. With hojicha as a deeper, toastier option, Matcha Cafe Maiko offers a rare, reverent take on soft serve with Kyoto-grade finesse.

At Caffè Panna, daily-changing soft serve sundaes are piled high and finished with inventive toppings—from Greenmarket fruit to imported Italian panna. Flavors rarely repeat, and many are seasonally inspired or chef collaborations. Universally considered one of the city’s best, the Gramercy location regularly draws lines around the block. A benchmark for the genre—and worth the wait.

A Brooklyn icon since 1939, L&B serves nostalgia by the scoop. Their signature “creamsicle” soft serve leans into summer simplicity—best enjoyed on a bench in the sun. Spumoni, ices, and swirls all share billing, but it’s the old-school charm that steals the show.

Olive oil and salt soft serve is now everywhere, but few do it better than Lilia Caffé. Their longstanding version, “The Italian Job,” is spun with sea salt, honey, fennel pollen, and EVOO. It’s available at the daytime caffé or as a sweet finish to a meal at Lilia, one of Williamsburg’s premiere Italian restaurants.