Best new ice cream shops

Blue Marble
The small-batch wares at this Brooklyn minichain are crafted on a Hudson Valley farm from organic dairy and sugar. Kids can top the cold stuff with all-natural, often locally harvested toppings, including honey, hot fudge, sea salt, Nunu chocolates or, for the very adventurous, balsamic vinegar. Standout flavor: Strawberry. •420 Atlantic Ave between Bond and Nevins Sts, Boerum Hill, Brooklyn (718-858-1100, bluemarbleicecream.com); •186 Underhill Ave between Sterling and St. Johns Pls, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn (718-399-6926). Small cup or cone: $3.85.

Lula’s Sweet Apothecary
Zealous fans of this old-fashioned parlor praise the warm service as highly as they do the frozen vegan desserts. Even dairy addicts are delighted by the flavor and texture of the many hand-packed and soft-serve options—each created in-house from a soy, nut or coconut base. Kids will love the sundaes, flurries and wide variety of toppings, from gluten-free cookies to gummy cola candies. The only drawback, as described by one Supervegan.com wit: “The store makes Das Boot seem spacious.” Standout flavor: Peanut-butter chocolate. 1516 E 6th St between Aves A and B (646-912-4549, lulassweetapothecary.com). Single cup or cone: $3.75.

Melt Gelato and Crêpe Café
This multistate chain made its much-welcome NYC debut two months ago. Busy workers churn out daily doses of high-density ice cream at the back of the store, using machines shipped all the way from bella Italia. Standout flavor: Nutella. 1053 Second Ave between 55th and 56th Sts (646-329-6445, meltgelato.com). Small cup or cone: $3.95.

Momofuku Bakery & Milk Bar
David Chang’s restaurant empire got a little bit sweeter with the November opening of this soft-serve treatery. The frequently changing menu may include the classic (chocolate mint), the wacky (sour gummy, fireball) and the downright scrumptious (Bavarian cream doughnut). 207 Second Ave at 13th St (212-254-3500, momofuku.com/bakery). Single cup or cone: $4.

Öko
This environmentally conscious café, whose name means “eco” in several European languages, specializes in tangy, all-natural fro-yo, made with a low-fat Greek yogurt base. A serving may look like Pinkberry’s, but the flavor—devoid of any chemical aftertaste—is far superior. Four varieties, such as banana, key lime and chocolate, are available daily. Standout flavor: Original (plain, slightly sweet). 152 Fifth Ave between Douglass and DeGraw Sts, Park Slope, Brooklyn (718-398-3671, okoyogurt.com). Small cup: $3.75.

People’s Pops
Nothing cools an overheated tot like a dulcet slurp of ice-on-a-stick. The mad scientists behind these desserts concoct market-driven, whimsical combos like rhubarb-strawberry-buttermilk and watermelon-cucumber-hyssop. We love the chunks of fruit and off-the-vine freshness. Saturdays at Fort Greene Flea, Sundays at Brooklyn Bridge Flea (brownstoner.com/brooklynflea; peoplespops.com). Pops: $3.50. Shave ice: $2.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream Truck
Refurbished yellow postal vehicles dispense organic goodies with an enviably fresh, simple taste (sorry, Mister Softee). The brothers Van Leeuwen combine all-natural ingredients in their sinfully luscious product; compostable cups and spoons allow your family to feel virtuous while indulging in rich dairy vice. Standout flavor: Red currants and cream. Greene St at Prince St, noon–8pm; University Pl at 12th St, 8–11pm; Broadway at 75th St, 1:30–11pm (718-701-1630, vanleeuwenicecream.com). Small cup: $3.95.

—Reported by Kay Boatner, Julia Israel, Carolyn Juris, Maureen Shelly and Patrisha Holly Zabrycki

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