When I moved to New Haven, I was surprised to learn that Connecticut residents are some of the biggest ice cream consumers in the country. It turns out that New Haven is not only a top food city, but also an increasingly great place for ice cream lovers. Ice cream options here have been rapidly expanding in recent years, with Arethusa Farm Dairy opening in New Haven in 2016, and a Ben & Jerry’s location in 2017. Whether you are a nanny, sitter, or a parent, treat the kids to a cone and enjoy a respite from the heat and humidity this summer!
Ashley’s Ice Cream
Address: 280 York St., New Haven, CT 06511
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 11 p.m.
Phone Number: 203-776-7744
A Connecticut ice cream staple since 1973, Ashley’s Ice Cream has multiple locations in the state: New Haven, Hamden, Branford, Guilford, and Madison. Ashley’s offers a wide variety of flavors along with rotating seasonal options. Lemon Pie and the new Red White and Blueberry are perfect for summer, while flavors like Pumpkin are popular in the fall.
Ashley’s will be attending several festivals in the upcoming months, so look for them at the Branford Festival, the Guilford Art Center Craft Expo, and the North Branford Potato and Corn Festival.
Arethusa Farm Dairy
Address: 1020 Chapel St., New Haven, CT 06510
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. | Thursday – Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 6 p.m.
Phone Number: 203-390-5114
Arethusa Farm lies about an hour away from New Haven in Litchfield County, where locals have long enjoyed its high-quality dairy products. The farm maintains a herd of award-winning cows and also grinds ingredients like almonds and pistachios on-site. Luckily for New Haven residents, Arethusa opened up a shop downtown in 2016 and was quickly named one of the best new ice cream shops in the country! Stop by to enjoy their fresh waffle cones, decadent ice cream, and generous serving sizes.
The location also sells other dairy products, such as yogurt, milk, and cheese. Just come prepared to take your ice cream to-go since there’s not a lot of seating.
Wentworth’s Homemade Ice Cream
Address: 3697 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT 06518
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. | Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Phone Number: 203-281-7429
Stop by Wentworth’s in Hamden for delicious homemade ice cream in a beautiful setting close to Sleeping Giant Mountain. As I’ve mentioned before, Wentworth’s has an especially family- and pet-friendly atmosphere, with an indoor play area for children. Come on a warm summer day to enjoy the outdoor seating and gazebo. The ice cream is rich and creamy, with flavors ranging from Maple Walnut and Oreo Cookie to Black Raspberry and Mocha Chocolate Lace, plus plenty of toppings.
Ben & Jerry’s
Address: 159 Temple St., New Haven, CT 06510
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, noon – 9 p.m. | Thursday – Saturday, noon – 10:30 p.m. | Sunday, noon – 8 p.m.
Phone Number: 203-712-4300
Back in the 1970s, Ben and Jerry took a $5 correspondence course on how to make ice cream and then opened for business in a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont. Four decades later, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream is wildly popular around the world and remains especially beloved in New England. The New Haven location is brand new, having opened it’s doors in 2017! It features a wide variety of ice cream flavors (my favorite is Chocolate Therapy) along with smoothies, sundaes, and milkshakes. You can also find pints of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream at several New Haven stores, including Nica’s Market, Walgreens, and Stop & Shop.
FroyoWorld
Address: 46 High St., New Haven, CT 06510
Hours: Sunday – Thursday, noon – 11 p.m. | Friday – Saturday, noon – midnight
Phone Number: 203-777-4040
FroyoWorld is New Haven’s go-to place for self-serve frozen yogurt, especially popular over the summer with high school students visiting the city. You’ll find a good selection of flavors (the “tart” flavors are great!) and toppings that will allow your kids to whip up their own custom-made creations. FroyoWorld typically offers at least one or two healthier alternatives, such as low-fat yogurt and flavors with no added sugar. Since it’s downtown, consider walking there; you won’t find parking easily. Other nearby FroyoWorld locations are in Hamden, North Haven, and Milford.
