NYC Guide: Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

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Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream is an amazing small-batch ice cream company founded by brothers Ben and Peter Van Leeuwen, along with Laura O’Neill, in 2008. It all began with the idea to take the concept of the classic ice cream truck and upgrade it, by serving up small-batch, artisanal ice cream made from delicious, high-quality ingredients – something no other ice cream truck was doing. Together the three founders created a beautiful and distinctive yellow ice cream truck, and with just two trucks out in the city, the business took off. Van Leeuwen has now expanded to include six trucks, along with brick and mortar locations in both NYC and Brooklyn. The ice cream is made in Greenpoint using incredibly high-quality ingredients, with no preservatives or weird chemicals – just fresh milk and cream, eggs, and cane sugar. Today I’m excited to give you a little tour of their newest location in the West Village! 

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Van Leeuwen’s West Village shop is conveniently located across the street from one of my favorite bookstores, and with summer coming up, I have a feeling this place is going to be very popular! Along with scoops and cones, they also serve tea, coffee from Toby’s Estate, and delicious pastries, like Doughnut Plant doughnuts.

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As you can see, they have tons of great, creative flavors, like earl gray tea, gianduja (chocolate hazelnut – pronounced “john-doo-ya”), and ginger, along with classics like mint chocolate chip and strawberry. The pistachio at Van Leeuwen is second to none, I can assure you. They also have a plethora of great vegan flavors!

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Van Leeuwen’s ice cream is so, so delicious – and it’s no surprise, since they use only the freshest and most naturally delicious ingredients to create it. Their vanilla ice cream features organic bourbon and Tahitian vanilla beans from Papau New Guinea, aged for four months and then ground into a paste. For other flavors they utilize pistachios from Sicily, Michel Cluizel chocolate, Piedmont hazelnuts from Italy, and other amazing add-ins. Honestly, you can really taste the difference that comes from using such high-quality, flavorful ingredients and NOT using crappy fillers.

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They have an actual record player in the store providing the background music.

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Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream

152 West 10th Street at Waverly Place

West Village

Open M-F 7AM-11PM, weekends 9AM-11PM

 photos by me

Leave a Comment

  1. Dale Angela wrote:

    I will DEFINITELY visit!

    Published 4.20.15 · Reply
  2. Elana wrote:

    I love it there! Let’s go together!

    Published 4.20.15 · Reply
  3. Holly K wrote:

    Looks delicious!

    Published 4.20.15 · Reply
  4. Okay I’m definitely going to have to try this place! I love the ‘no preservatives’ feel, and seriously the decor and aesthetic alone would draw me in. Great feature!

    Published 4.20.15 · Reply
  5. Sarah wrote:

    Wow this place looks amazing! Can’t wait to give it a try!

    Published 4.21.15 · Reply