We All Love Ice Cream

Every time I walk into this shop, I automatically get a smile on my face. From the aroma of different flavors to the smiling workers at the register, I always know I'm in for a treat whenever I walk into Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream is located between 2nd and 1st avenue on 7th street in the East Village. Everything about this place, well maybe not the fact that it's so small that it's hard to find a seat from it always being so busy, is incredible. It offers and incredible selection of ice cream flavors that include vegan options that way nobody is left out! This place is constantly teeming with regulars from New York, and for good reason too. 

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The ice cream at this place is absolute perfection. The array of options this place has is absolutely incredible; they go from simple flavors like vanilla bean to an incredible passion fruit layer cake! They even make sundaes with whatever flavors you want and have coffees, teas, and pastries that anybody can enjoy. As a coffee lover myself, I have to say that they have some great coffee over there that can keep you up for a nice long while.

Now, I can't take the credit for finding this place. One of my close friends from home decided to google a place where she and I could get ice cream together. Now it seems like it is an easy task to find a place in Manhattan to get good ice cream, but my friend happens to be vegan so it really isn't all that easy. We decided to try this place out together over a year ago now and, to our surprise when we got to the shop, there was a line just out the door. We waited for about ten minutes until we got to the front and were able to order.

We each got two scoops of what we wanted and took a seat at the small bar by the window. After seeing the long line this place garnered, I was not shocked at how incredible my ice cream was. My friend on the other hand was so excited and surprised by the fact that she had found such great vegan ice cream. She offered me a bite and I originally declined since they make their products with coconut milk, which is definitely far from something I tend to enjoy. After a second time of her asking, I took her up on the offer and was pleasantly surprised to find there was almost no difference between the taste of her and my ice cream. The only real difference was that we had different of ice cream!

My absolute favorite flavor that I've tried from Van Leeuwen is the cookies and cream. It's a classic that has always been one of my favorite kinds of ice cream. It is so creamy and the taste just pops in your mouth! 

If you ever come into the city and wonder where you can get the perfect ice cream, Van Leeuwen is the place for you!