ice vice

wonder | wander | women love our ice cream. Nothing gives us more license to indulge than summer in New York City with temperatures soaring in the 90s. 

We kid you not when we claim summer in this concrete jungle is like being stuck in the armpit of hell. Hence the native New Yorker's addiction to ice cream. We feature the history of ice cream in our museums, for heaven's sake. 

Italian duchess Catherine de' Medici, credited with introducing ice cream into Europe in the 16th century

Another driving factor - NYC is a hub and mecca of diverse cultures and traditions. Self professed foodies who avidly hunt out our gastronomic delicacies and delights. 

He the man! XOXO

It was torturous to whittle down our list to only the top five recommendations. Even then we still had to narrow it down to our stomping grounds in SoHo, Manhattan. 

We've put together a compilation of choices from our NYC foodie experts - Gothamist, Thrillist, TimeOut, Eater, and The Food Network. 

Apologies in advance for those excluded. Any of our readers who do try what we have included here will not be disappointed. Bon appétit!

Appearing here in no order of preference but lots of local New York flair and attitude are:

This retro ice cream parlor has a sweeter story than most. Several years after Mike Cole was released from prison, an aunt he was close to passed away. As Cole cleaned out her apartment, he stumbled upon her recipe for homemade vanilla ice cream, and a business idea was born.

Painstakingly made gelato is the focus at Il Laboratorio de Gelato, with experimental flavors such as wasabi and cheddar cheese. Don't worry, there are also all the classics, plus an extensive sorbet variety. The same flavor is never guaranteed twice.

Cereal Milk may seem as common as chocolate or vanilla these days. For that, you can thank Momofuku Milk Bar founder Christina Tosi. The multiple James Beard Awards winner now boasts nine locations in NYC alone.

Ice-cream truckers Doug Quint and Bryan Petroff offer their quirky soft-serve creations at Big Gay Ice Cream, decorated with a giant unicorn mural bedazzled with 6,000 Swarovski crystals. The pair adds sweet treats from flea-market friends - La Newyorkina (ice pops), Melt Bakery (ice cream sandwiches) and Danny Macaroons.

This Insta-famous soft-serve specialist is known for its hyper color swirls. Jet black or vibrant red cones are filled with equally vivid swirls of ube purple yam, matcha green tea, black sesame or macapuno coconut ice cream.

These Mexican iced treats made at La Newyorkina has New Yorkers going gaga for nieve de garrafa, an icy Mexican dessert that's spun by hand for an hour. Or try the chamoyada, a sweet and spicy dairy-free type of shaved ice or raspado.

Owned and operated by the Seid family for nearly three decades, the Original Chinatown Ice Cream Factory is one of the oldest continually running restaurants in Manhattan’s most-bustling cultural enclave. Though there are many classic flavors, clientele take a cue from the neighborhood and include a oriental twist.

Grab some of this coolness while the weather is warm. Our next adventure: Chinatown's ice cream specials!