Ice Cream Places in Ithaca Ranked
Coming to Cornell, I knew Collegetown Bagels was the place to be. I absolutely love bagels, so I knew I would be lucky enough to have authentic New York bagels as a Cornell student. However, I never expected the Ithaca community to have such a variety and abundance of my other favorite food: ice cream. When I first went to the Cornell Dairy bar during Cornell Days, I was amazed to learn that Cornell makes their own ice cream on campus. There are also so many other amazing places to get ice cream both on and off-campus. Here’s a list of the best places to go when you’re craving something sweet.
6: Cornell Dairy
If you’re a Cornell student, faculty, staff, or even visitor for that matter, and you haven’t tried ice cream from the Cornell Dairy Bar, you’re missing out. This ice cream is so good that there are rumors it is illegal in other states. Cornell Dairy has been distributing and selling its deliciously creamy ice cream since the 1880s. The company claims it is made from “the smartest cows,” which you can see trademarked on the trucks around campus. These cows are home to the Veterinary College Dairy Teaching Barn, which is a Kosher certified dairy plant half a mile away from campus. The Dairy Bar has unique flavors such as Chocolate Gorges, Ezra’s Morning Cup, and Cornelia’s Dark Secret. Pints can be shipped to 49 states, so even if you’re not on campus this fall, you can get one shipped home to try!
5: Jason’s
Jason’s Grocery and Deli, more commonly known as Jason’s, has a hidden gem—frozen yogurt. What may seem like a hole in the wall in Collegetown at first glance, is always packed with hungry customers. From the outside, it looks like a small deli, but once you go inside and look to the right, you’ll see the array of frozen yogurt flavors and toppings. The yogurt is made by Chobani, so it’s healthier than a lot of other ice cream around here. They have a variety of frozen yogurt flavors including Tart, Cookies and Cream, Birthday Cake, and Nutella. Also, the cookie dough is a must for toppings. Other toppings include Oreos, chocolate chips, fruit, and anything else you may desire. It’s a small place, so it’s much easier to take to-go, and if you do go, it’s cash only for purchases under $5.
4: Purity
Located in the heart of Ithaca, Purity has been known as the “ice cream of the Finger Lakes” since 1936. It has been and continues to be, a family run business with its specialty being homemade ice cream. Although Purity has plenty of delicious baked goods, breakfast foods, and treats as well, the ice cream is a must-try. Leo Guentert, founder, was determined to create ice cream recipes that would beat his local competitors. His original delicious recipes are still used today, making Purity such a special place. They make the ice cream in small batches with high-quality ingredients, such as growth hormone-free milk from upstate New York. Some flavors unique to Purity include Chocolate Debris, Cookie Dough After Dark, and Mocha Chip.
3: Sweet Melissa’s
This ice cream shop is located directly next to Shortstop Deli in the Commons. It is sadly only open during the summer months, so Sweet Melissa’s is currently closed. But, it will reopen in May, and it is definitely worth the wait. Sweet Melissa’s sells creamy soft serve flavors with toppings and flurries. It is also outdoors with limited seating, so definitely go when it’s warm out. It’s a great place to go with friends and family, but it is very important to know they have short hours (3-8 pm) and are cash only!
2: Cayuga Lake Creamery
Another unknown gem. Cayuga Lake Creamery is a great stop after a hike or a drive through the outskirts of Ithaca. They also have a location at the Dewitt Mall in Ithaca, but it is currently closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The other location is actually located in Interlaken, New York, which is only a 20 minute drive from campus. This location is a roadside stop with yummy homemade ice cream and soft serve. It has a very scenic outdoor seating area, which is perfect for the summer. Special homemade flavors include Lavender, Ultimate Fudge Brownie, and Seneca Salt Caramel.
1: Frosty Cow
My personal favorite. Anyone who knows me will vouch that I’m obsessed with Frosty Cow and can talk about it for hours. This ice cream place is a 20 minute drive into Dryden and has cows waiting for you outside as you arrive. With a nice outdoor walkup window, you can get anything from soft serve, Perry’s hard ice cream, sundaes, flurries, and Frosty Cow originals. The Frosty Cow specialties are any flavor of soft serve with a topping of your choice mixed inside the ice cream. It’s like a combination of a flurry, Kith, and Cold Stone all in one. Again, I can go on for hours. It is unfortunately only open in the summer like Sweet Melissa’s, so it is closed for the season. I personally recommend the Frosty Cow original cookie crunch with twist or chocolate soft serve.
Overall, when in Ithaca, you will not have a hard time finding good ice cream. I think grabbing dessert with friends or by yourself is a great way to take a break from studying and treat yourself. It is important to remember that all of the places I listed are amazing. This order is my personal opinion from worst to best, but I would happily go to any of them any night. I highly recommend trying all of these to experience the wonderful ice cream of Ithaca.
