Some may think of ice cream as a summer-only treat, but The Montclair Girl team wouldn’t be doing our due diligence without a year-round monitoring of all local ice cream spots. But of course, ice cream is the unspoken hero of warm-weather treats. Fanatics can have it in a cone, cup, or milkshake form, but all can agree that it’s a refreshing option for those hot + humid New Jersey summers. Keep reading for more information on independently owned ice cream shops in the Montclair area to enjoy a cool treat while shopping small.

Absolute Zero | 410 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair

Absolute Zero is located near Montclair’s town center and opened its doors in 2016. The team prides itself on a different ice cream experience, making handmade ice cream rolls combined with fresh fruit or cookies. Toppings like Oreos, fruit, graham crackers, pretzels, and ube can be added to ice cream rolls. Absolute Zero’s featured vegan flavor is Moo - Get Out The Way. Ice cream typically starts around $7.

Read More: The Best Northern NJ Ice Cream Shops to Try

Applegate Farm | 616 Grove Street, Upper Montclair

Applegate Farm is an ice cream shop rooted in family history. This spot has been a part of Essex County summers since the 1840s and has been run by the same family since the 1990s. Flavors available include Banana, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cotton Candy, Frozen Hot Chocolate, + Strawberry Cheesecake. Gluten-free options are available and easy to spot on the menu. In addition to ice cream, the farm also has sundaes, shakes, + ice cream cakes. Ice cream orders start around $8.18 for a small order.

Benvenuti | 20 Church Street, Montclair

Benvenuti is owned + operated by a first-generation Italian family serving authentic Italian gelato. Its gelato is made with a higher temperature, for a more intense flavor profile, + a slower churn, for a smoother texture. Gelato is available in regular and CBD form, as well as pint-sized to take home. Flavors include Strawberry, Chocolate, + Salted Peanut Butter, most of which are gluten free. The featured vegan flavor is Vegan Matcha Gelato with Coconut Milk. For a small gelato order, prices start at $4.75 for 4 ounces.

Falls Creamery | 11 Paterson Avenue, Little Falls

Falls Creamery is located near the intersection of Paterson Avenue + Main Street. This ice cream shop has ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet, sorbet, + ices available. Cakes, ice cream sandwiches, + pies are also available in the freezers. Flavors to try are Maine Black Bear, a satisfying combo of sweet black raspberry swirled through vanilla ice cream with chocolate raspberry mini-melts; Graham Slam, a graham base ice cream with graham crackers + salted caramel ripple; + Elvis (delicious Banana Ice Cream with peanut butter ripple, fresh banana pieces + chocolate flakes). Falls Creamery lists most flavors as gluten-free + the creamery prides itself in keeping all nut flavors entirely separate. Ice cream starts around $5-7 (depending on the size: small, medium, or large). Sundaes start around $8.

Guerriero Gelato | 476 Pleasant Valley Way, West Orange + 194 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell

 

 

 

 

 

 

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With two locations in Essex County, it’s hard to miss grabbing a cone at Guerriero Gelato. Mike Guerreiro, owner of both shops, started making ice cream in Paterson, NJ, and soon purchased the Caldwell shop. In 2022, Mike + his now wife purchased Mark + Julie’s Ice Cream in West Orange for a second location. The shops have hard ice cream, ice, ice cream cakes, + gelato available. Flavors include Banana Oreo, Black Raspberry Chip, + Triple Chocolate for hard ice cream; Blueberry Basil, Tiramisu, + Espresso Chip for gelato; and Blood Orange, Cotton Candy, + Guava for ice. Cup sizes start around $4.50 to $5.

Holsten’s | 1063 Broad Street, Bloomfield

An ice cream spot that is a Bloomfield favorite is Holstens on Broad Street. Now known as the famous ending scene of The Sopranos, Holsten’s began in 1939 as Strubbe’s Ice Cream Parlor. Currently, co-owners, Christopher Carley + Ronald Stark, pride the establishment in being a passage through time with old-fashioned barstool seats in the front, a candy shop to the right, and booth seating in the back. Holsten’s is known for its ice cream and milkshakes, but it also has sundaes + ice cream sodas. Flavors include Maple Walnut, Coffee Chip, Mint Oreo Fudge, + Salted Caramel Pretzel. A small ice cream sundae starts at $7.25 while an ice cream soda starts at $6.75.

Kubo Coffee + Creamery | 226 Franklin Avenue, Nutley

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Kubo has a twist on traditional ice cream. This coffee + creamery serves coffee, boba, mochi ice cream, + soft serve to visitors. Flavors to try are Ube + Earl Grey. Kubo also has Taiyaki options available, which include a chewy mochi fish waffle with soft serve ice cream. Prices for ice cream vary, but soft serve starts at around $4.75, while Taiyaki options are priced at around $8.25.

Sip N’ Swirl | 510 Main Street, Little Falls + 16 Little Falls Road, Fairfield

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Sip N’ Swirl has two locations in Essex County: Little Falls + Fairfield. Ice cream pints + quarts are available as well as cakes + a sweet shop. The shop also has novelty ice cream options such as Big Chip, Cannoli Mini Cones, + cups of ice cream by the half dozen, to name a few. Prices by the pint start at $6, while prices by the quart, bringing home fun for the whole family, start at $11.50.

Sonny’s Frozen Dessert | 599 Pompton Avenue, Cedar Grove

This family-owned + operated establishment serves up to 24 different flavors of frozen yogurt in its self-serve stations. Some flavors to try are Signature Cookie Butter, Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel, + Nutella. In addition to froyo, Sonny’s also has gelato, Italian ice (for those who are dairy-free), Boba tea, + acai bowls available for diners. If looking for something to share, Sonny’s has ice cream cakes + sandwiches available for purchase in the front of the establishment. Patrons can call ahead to have ice cream cakes + ice cream sandwiches made with any flavor on the menu. Sonny’s froyo pricing is $0.79  per ounce.

See More: The Best Ice Cream Shops to Try in Northern New Jersey

Towne Scoop | 542b Bloomfield Avenue, Verona

 

 

 

 

 

 

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The Towne Scoop prides itself on being “an old-fashioned ice cream parlor.” With a neon window sign, checkered floor, + stained glass, this spot is sure to bring on the vintage vibes. Towne Scoop has sizes available in Kiddie, Regular, + Large for hard, soft ice cream options as well as Italian ice. Flavors to try are Chocolate Chocolate Chip, Fat Free Strawberry Yogurt, + Confetti Cake Batter. In addition to ice cream, this establishment also has Italian ice and makes ice cream cakes that can be served anywhere between four and 34 people. Prices can vary, as soft serve ice cream starts at $3.74, hard ice cream starts at $4.20, and vegan ice cream starts at $6.