The Best Ice Cream Shops in Greenwich and Stamford, CT

Summer around here comes with a short list of non negotiables, and a good scoop of ice cream is on mine. Whether you are wrapping up a beach day at Tod's Point or just walking off dinner on Bedford Street, here is where I send people when they ask for the best ice cream in Greenwich and Stamford.

Greenwich

Gofer Ice Cream is the local favorite for a reason. Soft serve, hard serve, sherbet, frozen yogurt, milkshakes, floats, and their famous Razzles (think a thick, loaded Blizzard style treat). It is the kind of place where you can bring the whole family and nobody leaves disappointed.

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream brings its French style, small batch ice cream to Greenwich, and it delivers on the hype. Rich, decadent flavors, a strong vegan lineup, and pints to bring home if you cannot finish your cone.

Gelato & Cioccolato in Cos Cob is my pick when I am craving something a little more refined. Real, authentic gelato with flavors that taste true to the ingredient, especially the fruit and chocolate options.

Out in Old Greenwich, Cups N' Cones is a neighborhood staple, known for soft serve, frozen yogurt, and extras like Belgian waffles and Bavarian pretzels alongside the classic cone. Sunny Daes also has a loyal following nearby for its old fashioned, mom and pop ice cream shop feel.

Stamford

Longford's Ice Cream is a true Stamford success story. It has been made right here in the city for years and finally opened its own scoop shop at Newfield Green in 2026. Dozens of handcrafted flavors, sundaes, milkshakes, and ice cream cakes. If you want ice cream that is actually made in Stamford, this is it.
Sunny Daes, just minutes from Cummings Beach and West Beach, has become a summertime tradition for generations of Stamford families. Great outdoor seating and a soft serve formula that has earned a serious local following.

Gofer Ice Cream has a Stamford location too, and it is just as reliable here as it is in Greenwich. Premium hard ice cream, soft serve, and homemade waffle cones.

Carvel, up in North Stamford, is the classic. Soft serve, sundaes, shakes, and of course the famous Fudgie the Whale and Cookie Puss cakes for anyone celebrating something.

For a downtown option near Bedford Street, 16 Handles lets you build your own frozen yogurt with rotating flavors and a full toppings bar, an easy stop while you are out shopping or exploring.

And of course, Dairy Queen is a Stamford institution in its own right. For a lot of longtime residents, summer does not officially start until the window opens. Blizzards, dipped cones, sundaes, and shakes, the classics never go out of style.

Famous Across Connecticut

If you are ever up for a drive, a few ice cream spots have earned a reputation well beyond Fairfield County and are worth the trip at least once.

The UConn Dairy Bar in Storrs has been scooping since 1953, right on campus, using milk from the university's own dairy cows. The Husky Tracks, vanilla with fudge swirl and Reese's cups, is the signature order.
Ashley's Ice Cream in Madison has been a Connecticut favorite since 1979, known for rich, creamy texture and a huge flavor lineup. The Ashley's Mud Pie is the one people talk about.

Arethusa Farm Dairy, with locations in Bantam, New Haven, and beyond, is genuinely some of the best ice cream in the state, made from milk produced on their own award winning dairy farm.

Ferris Acres Creamery in Newtown is a true family farm experience, complete with grazing cows and picnic tables, alongside rich, farm made ice cream that regularly lands on best-of lists statewide.

These are the kind of spots that turn a Saturday drive into an event, and they are proof that Connecticut takes its ice cream seriously.

Why I Bring This Up

People always laugh when I mention ice cream shops in the same breath as real estate, but the truth is these little details matter. A walkable ice cream spot, a place where the same family has scooped cones for twenty years, a shop with a line out the door on a Friday night. That is neighborhood character. It is the kind of thing that turns a house into a home you actually want to live near.

If you are weighing Greenwich against Stamford, or trying to figure out which part of either town fits your life, go grab a cone and see how it feels. I am always happy to point you toward my favorites, or show you around myself.

Dena Zarra | Greenwich Streets Team at Compass

Luxury guidance. Honest advice. Exceptional results.

FAQ

What's the best ice cream shop in Greenwich?
Gofer Ice Cream is the local favorite, known for its Razzles and full lineup of soft serve, hard serve, and milkshakes. Van Leeuwen and Gelato & Cioccolato in Cos Cob are strong picks if you want something more small batch or gelato style.

Where should I go for ice cream in Stamford?
Longford's Ice Cream at Newfield Green is a true Stamford original, handcrafted locally with dozens of flavors. Sunny Daes near Cummings Beach and Carvel in North Stamford are longtime local traditions.

Are there any ice cream spots worth a drive outside Fairfield County?
Yes. The UConn Dairy Bar in Storrs, Ashley's Ice Cream in Madison, Arethusa Farm Dairy, and Ferris Acres Creamery in Newtown are all well known statewide and worth the trip.

Why would a real estate agent write about ice cream shops?
Because neighborhood character matters when choosing where to live. A walkable ice cream spot or a shop that's been part of a community for decades says something about the feel of a neighborhood that listing photos can't.

Can Dena Zarra help me figure out which neighborhood fits my lifestyle?
Yes. Dena and the Greenwich Streets Team know both towns well beyond the listings, down to the small local spots that make a neighborhood feel like home.