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Best Ice Cream Shops in Northern Westchester County

1. King Kone – Somers

A roadside staple since 1953, King Kone serves tasty ice cream in a variety of flavors from the window of its kitschy stand, which patrons enjoy at nearby picnic tables (bees included). King Kone is open from mid-April through mid-October.

Known for: Confections include soft-serve ice cream with optional cone dips, hard ice cream, flurries, sundaes, floats, and shakes. The menu includes an equal number of savory offerings, like burgers and mozzarella sticks.
Kids will love: In addition to standard toppings, kids will love covering their ice cream with edible cookie dough.

2. Blue Pig Ice Cream – Croton-on-Hudson                                                                                                                                       

Fresh, high-quality ingredients are a priority at this purveyor of homemade ice cream, resulting in a delicious, creamy dessert. Enjoy your ice cream in the outdoor courtyard.

Known for: Using fresh fruit and local dairy from nonprofit cooperative Hudson Valley Fresh in Dutchess County.

Kids will love: Distinctive flavors like peppermint stick and vanilla malted caramel.

3. Red Rooster Drive-in – Brewster

While you can get burgers, hot dogs, and more fun foods at this retro-themed diner, it began life as a custard stand back in 1963.

Known for: The 6-foot ice cream cone perched on the roof, which has been there since Red Rooster opened in 1967.

Kids will love: Playing a round of mini-golf at the course located right on the premises.

Top Ice Cream Shops in Lower Westchester County

4. Penny Lick Ice Cream – Ossining, Mamaroneck, and Hastings-on-Hudson

At Penny Lick, where the name comes from a style of ice cream vending in the 19th century, the proprietors believe that the best ice cream is the simplest. The delicious homemade ice cream is sold by the scoop, in shakes, in custom-ordered cakes, or by the pint at three locations: Ossining, Mamaroneck, and Hastings-on-Hudson.

Known for: Using all-natural ingredients and dairy from ethically treated cows; all flavors are peanut, tree nut, and sesame-free.

Kids will love: In addition to traditional tastes, more innovative offerings include Strawberry-Lemonade Sorbet, Chocolate Malt, and Honeycomb.

5. Longford's Own Ice Cream – Rye and Larchmont

With shops in Greenwich, Armonk, Rye, and Larchmont, as well as a growing wholesale business, Longford's has been specializing in small-batch ice cream since 1992.

Known for: In addition to ice cream, Longford’s offers more than 30 flavors of fresh fruit sorbet, yogurt, and gelato.
Kids will love: The large selection of offerings includes such fanciful flavors as Peanut Butter Blizzard, Cookie Monster, Oreo Bomb, and assorted seasonal offerings.

6. Village Creamery & Sweet Shop – Valhalla

All of the ice cream here is homemade and all-natural, with no preservatives or food coloring. Additional menu items include edible cookie dough, brownies, and Italian ices. Espresso, cappuccino, and teas are also served.

Known for: Ice cream cakes, sandwiches, and even pizza are among the novelty items.

Kids will love: Fun flavors like Holy Cannoli, Cookie Monster, Peanut Butter Cup, I Want S'more, and Captain Crunchberry.

7. Cookies N' Cream – Bronxville

This shop carries Longford's brand of ice cream and combines it with homemade cookies plus assorted toppings to create customized confections. Enjoy your ice cream in a shake or a cookie-based sundae. Order pickup or get local delivery.

Known for: Unusual toppings, including 14 varieties of cereal, and artisanal cones, such as birthday cake or red velvet flavored.

Kids will love: Creative cookie choices, such as the Purple Sugar Explosion, a sugar cookie filled with rainbow sprinkles and marshmallows.

8. Main Street Sweets – Tarrytown

This Tarrytown staple is the kind of ice cream parlor your parents went to as kids, and now you can take yours. Try the latest flavor, the brand-new Dubai chocolate. Candy and other confections are also sold.

Known for: Everything at this sweet shop is homemade by the owners.

Kids will love: The classic Cookie Monster flavor—sure to win young hearts with its name, and sure to turn their tongues blue.

9. Bona Bona Ice Cream – Port Chester and Baldwin Place

Choose a scoop, a shake, an ice-cream sandwich, or a sundae with your choice of assorted flavors and toppings. Specialty milkshakes, including Boozy Bona Milkshakes, are also available.

Known for: The signature embellishment for the desserts here is torched Italian meringue.

Kids will love: The Bona Fam Sampler, which combines a mini lava cake, brownie, cookie-dough waffle, graham-cracker ice cream, vanilla ice cream, chocolate and caramel sauces, and whipped cream.

Stew Leonard's is known for its fresh, dairy-fresh soft serve ice cream. Photo by Tom Stefanchik

10. Stew Leonard’s – Yonkers

Located just outside the entrance to this gourmet supermarket/farmer’s market, the ice cream stand features unique and freshly made ice cream, frozen yogurt, sundaes, shakes, and more.

Known for: Seasonal specials, like the Frozen Yogurt Parfait – layers of fresh strawberries and blueberries swirled in frozen yogurt and topped with cream.

Kids will love: The Chocolate Overload Cone – chocolate ice cream in a milk chocolate-dipped waffle cone coated in crushed Oreos.

11. Paleteria Fernandez – Port Chester and Mamaroneck

Paleteria Fernandez offers assorted ice cream, sundaes, shakes, and more at its two locations. The unique flavors include Soursop, Nance, and Hibiscus, as well as Rice Pudding, Avocado, and Lucuma.

Known for: The stars here are the paletas, homemade Mexican frozen pops in a variety of flavors. Try the mango or coconut, made with fresh fruit and fruit juice.

Kids will love: Milk-based pops in countless colors and flavors, with a chocolate dip and topping. Of course, the classic Cookies-n-Cream is also a safe bet.

12. Scoop Shop – Scarsdale

Located in the Golden Horseshoe shopping center, the Scoop Shop offers ice cream, candy, and self-serve frozen yogurt.

Known for: The shop carries non-food items as well, including various merchandise that can be monogrammed on-site.

Kids will love: Choosing a design and customizing a t-shirt with their name, school name, camp name, etc.

13. Ice Cream Factory – Mount Vernon and White Plains

Try the Ice Cream Factory if you want a unique ice cream experience featuring exotic Caribbean flavors. The shop also offers soy milk and sugar-free ice cream.

Known for: One of the most extensive juice bars in Lower Westchester, offering everything from classic and refreshing smoothies to an array of energy boosters.

Kids will love: Trying some different yet delightful tropical flavors, including Jamaican rum raisin, coconut, and strawberry banana.

FAQs for Ice Cream Shops in Westchester

Q: Are there any vegan or allergy-friendly ice cream spots for kids in Westchester?
A: Penny Lick Ice Cream, Cookies & Cream, Bona Bona Ice Cream all offer vegan or allergy-free ice cream options. 

Q: Are there any ice cream shops near kid-friendly attractions in Westchester?
A: Stew Leonard’s is located less than a mile from Ridge Hill, which features Showcase Cinemas, I-Fly, and Legoland Discovery Center. Red Rooster Drive-in has a mini-golf course on its property.

Q: Are there any ice cream shops in Westchester that offer custom ice cream cakes or treats for parties? 
A: Longford’s Own Ice Cream and Village Creamery & Sweet Shop are among the shops offering custom options. 

This post, originally published in 2013, has been updated. Susan Miele contributed additional reporting.

Photos courtesy of the ice cream shops.