10 Sweet Ways to Cool Off in NYC

by Mia Chiba

While I’ve only lived through one NYC summer, I think its fair of me to say that after the rain in May/June, the city heats up fast. Black trash bags soaking in the city sun emit a radiating warmth and odorous scent trail that hardly anyone finds endearing. Sure, its fun to finally wear shorts and tank tops, but sometimes the heat can’t be beat. For your sake, here are 10 sweet treats you can enjoy to cool off!

1.Taiyaki $$

©TAIYAKI NYC https://taiyakinyc.com/

Tucked in the corner of Baxter Street in Lower Manhattan, Taiyaki serves up slow churned soft serve in their Taiyaki waffle cones fish shaped waffle cones. While they’ve only been serving soft serve since 2016, they have already gained an Instagram worthy reputation. Offered flavors include matcha, black sesame, and of course, chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. If you didn’t know, Taiyaki refers to the Japanese fish shaped bun filled with either a yellow custard or red bean paste, which they also sell. Check out their locations on their website!

Chinatown Location:
119 Baxter Street
New York, NY 10013

Mon-Thurs: 12:00pm-10pm | Fri-Sun: 11am-10pm 

2. DŌ $

Who doesn’t enjoy eating raw cookie dough? At DO, enjoy a scoop of chilled cookie dough without the risk of salmonella! With fun flavors like Cookie Monster to Brooklyn Brownie there’s a flavor for everyone’s tastes. Expect to wait in line for at least 15 minute, or more depending on the time of day you visit. Once you get your scoop, walk over about a block and take a stroll around Washington Square Park.

550 LaGuardia Pl
New York, NY 10012

Mon-Tues: 12pm-6pm | Wed: 12pm-7pm | Thurs & Sun: 12pm-9pm | Fri-Sat: 12pm-10pm

3. Milk Cereal Bar $

©MomoMilk https://milkbarstore.com/

Love cereal milk and ice cream but want to enjoy them at the same time? Milk Cereal Bar provides their own gourmet version of cereal milk ice cream and cereal milk lattes. If you’re interested in the history of the restaurant, there’s a whole episode on it on the Netflix series Chef’s Table. Not interested in their cereal milk? Try they’re baked goods (highly recommend the crack pie)!

Nolita location:
246 Mott St
New York, NY 10012

Mon-Sun: 10am-12am 

More locations here!

4. Big Gay Ice Cream Shop $$

© 2017 PRETTY PRETTY IP LLC. https://biggayicecream.com/

Get your pride on for pride month at this colorful ice cream parlor! Serving flavors like Dorthy, “thick swirls of dulce de leche and vanilla wafer cookie chunks in vanilla ice cream”, you’ll cool off the NYC heat the right way. They also serve a variety of fun milkshakes and dipped cones! Check out their website for more locations!

Upper West Side Location:
516 Columbus Ave
New York NY 10024

Sun-Wed: 12pm-11pm | Thurs-Sat: 12pm-12am

5. Van Leeuwen $$

In the spring of 2008, Van Leeuwen unleashed they mission on the streets of NYC in a buttery yellow truck, reminiscent of their buttery ice cream. Known for their pastel decor, this quaint chain brings some serious game to gourmet ice cream. Along with the classic Neapolitan selection, they have flavors like Vegan Oat Milk Latte, PB Marshmallow Crunch, or Earl Grey (a personal favorite). For the summer, they have specialty flavors like Tiki Paradise and Strawberry Rhubarb Tart. Check out more locations on their website!

Midtown Location:
48.5 East 7th St.
New York, NY 10003
Sun-Thurs: 11am-12am | Fri-Sat: 11am-1am

6. Boba Guys $

Jason Leung-Unsplash https://unsplash.com/photos/FFluGKVWUpU

If you’ve never experienced bubble tea, my friend, you are missing out. Instead of telling you what bubble tea is here’s an article. Boba guys serve up classic bubble tea along with a more intriguing variety of ombre yogurt drinks. Not a fan of tapioca pearls? Try their tea with aloe or almond jellies. One trick when ordering your tea, you can request how sweet you want your beverage by saying what percentage of the normal dose of sugar you want. For example, you could ask for 50% or 25%, with 25% being the least sweetest. Please, just don’t be the person that asks for 15.333%. Check out their different locations across Manhattan!

SoHo Location:
265 Canal St.
New York, NY 10013

Mon-Thurs: 12pm-8pm | Fri-Sat: 12pm-10pm | Sun: 12pm-7pm

7. Black Tap Milkshake $$

© BLACK TAP https://blacktapnyc.com/

An all American restaurant, Black Tap serves classic burgers, fries, and what they are most known for—large over-the-top milkshakes. Have you ever had a birthday cake shake that was topped with an actual piece of birthday cake? Bring a friend and split a shake, and if you so please, add an order of fries for dipping. Depending on when you go, expect to wait anywhere between 15-45 minutes.

SoHo Location:
529 Broome Street
New York, NY 10013

Mon-Thurs: 12pm-9pm | Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm | Sun: 11am–9pm

8. Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain $$

Put on your jerk hat, white apron and travel back into the 1950s! For an old fashioned soda float experience, check out the Brooklyn Farmacy and Soda Fountain. While an ice cream sundae could range from $12 to $15, they’re perfect for splitting with a friend. From hot fudge sundaes to ice cream floats, you’re sure to cool down with their variety of cold sweet treats.

513 Henry Street
Brooklyn, New York

Mon-Sun: 2pm-10pm

9. Pop Bar $

Lanju Fotografie https://unsplash.com/photos/pVBEW_ASk4o

So you’re lactose intolerant or vegan and can’t check out half of these places. Check out the Pop Bar! Pop Sorbetto bars are completely real fruit based with no preservatives, artificial colors, corn syrup or gluten! For the lactose tolerant, there are a variety of gelato and yogurt bars. After you grab a pop, you can take a stroll around Midtown, soaking up the summer sun.

Midtown:
15 W 38th Street
New York, NY 10018

Sat-Thurs: Delivery | Fri: 10am-2pm

10. Cha Cha Matcha $$

©Cha Cha Matcha https://chachamatcha.com/

If you enjoy matcha (or are curious), Cha Cha Matcha might be the matcha bar for you! With shops decorated in pink and green, it’s an instagram worthy place to meet up with friends. They also serve coffee for the friend that insists matcha tastes like grass (or maybe just don’t invite them). Try their tumeric infused matcha drink!

Nomad Location:
1158 Broadway
New York, NY 10001

Mon-Sun: 7:30am-7:30pm

Let us know if you try any of these places by tagging NYCIntern on Facebook! Or let us know how you plan to cool off this summer!