Highest-rated ice cream shops in Albany by diners
Highest-rated ice cream shops in Albany by diners
Nothing makes people quite as happy as a trip to the ice cream shop. Thankfully, there are endless options offering enough goods to tantalize anyone's palate. Across the U.S., nearly 17,800 ice cream shops serve up tasty treats to satisfy Americans' cravings.
While most of us would agree that there's no such thing as bad ice cream, there are still elements that keep customers coming back to one ice cream shop over another. A sense of newness and surprise are two big draws. Shop owners aim to please by using quality ingredients to experiment with new mashups—consider the rising trend of ice cream combined with pie. Some put unique spins on global treats, like Japanese mochi and Italian gelato. Others create giant Instagram-ready concoctions that become the highlight of social media.
Consumers have learned that smaller scoop shops may be more adaptive to real-time reactions, which means embracing new concepts, such as delicious dairy-free options. They can also ditch chemicals and give plant-based food coloring a try to see how it resonates with their customers.
But where artisanal shops really shine is in their ability to push the envelope to create amazing new flavors and limited-edition offerings that have customers eager to not miss out on what's next.
Seasonal ice creams feature fresh ingredients and flavors that evoke a particular time of year. Partnerships with local businesses can result in crave-able combinations highlighting local specialties. Many local shops also dabble with exotic flavors—savory ice cream, anyone?
To find out who's scooping up the best options, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated ice cream shops in the Albany area using data from Yelp. Data is as of June 24, 2025.
Businesses were selected using Yelp's ranking system, which calculates an adjusted rating value that takes into account the number of ratings as well as the rating score itself. Only businesses with at least 20 reviews and within a 10-kilometer radius of Albany were considered. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 10 locations nationally, based on our Yelp data, were not included.
#21. Lickety Split
- Rating: 3.2/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 589 Columbia Tpke East Greenbush, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#20. On the Farm
- Rating: 3.2/5 (39 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 273 Troy Schenectady Road Latham, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burgers, fast food
- Read more on Yelp
#19. The Ice Cream Shop
- Rating: 3.5/5 (22 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2113 Central Ave. Schenectady, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#18. 16 Handles
- Rating: 3.5/5 (37 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 380 Route 9W Glenmont, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Berry & Berry
- Rating: 3.6/5 (35 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1 Crossgates Mall Road Albany, New York
- Categories: Shaved Ice, Bubble Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Frank's Ice Cream
- Rating: 3.6/5 (51 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 496 Albany Shaker Road Ste 3 Loudonville, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Italian, American
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Kurver Kreme
- Rating: 3.6/5 (128 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1349 Central Ave. Albany, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Control Tower
- Rating: 3.8/5 (46 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1050 Troy Schenectady Road All 4 Fun Latham, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Mini Golf
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Mac's Drive-In
- Rating: 3.8/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 648 3rd Ave. Watervliet, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burgers, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Nocturnal Cookies
- Rating: 3.9/5 (66 reviews)
- Address: 5 Clinton Sq Albany, New York
- Categories: Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Guptill's Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.0/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1085 New Loudon Road Cohoes, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Stella's Creamery & Cakes
- Rating: 4.0/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 2013 State St. Schenectady, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Patisserie/Cake Shop, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#9. 16 Handles
- Rating: 4.1/5 (31 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 593 North Greenbush Road Rensselaer, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Jim's Tastee Freez
- Rating: 4.2/5 (59 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 58 Delaware Ave. Delmar, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Hot Dogs
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Scoups Homemade Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.2/5 (89 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 566 Albany Shaker Road Albany, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Emack & Bolio's Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.4/5 (216 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 366 Delaware Ave. Albany, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Toy Stores, Chocolatiers & Shops
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Duck Donuts
- Rating: 4.5/5 (109 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 579 Troy Schenectady Road Latham, New York
- Categories: Donuts, Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Snowman
- Rating: 4.5/5 (159 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 531 5th Ave. Troy, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#3. The Grandstand
- Rating: 4.7/5 (20 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1268 High Bridge Road Schenectady, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Desserts, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#2. The Dutch Udder Craft Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.7/5 (132 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 282 River St. Troy, New York
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Eggcellent
- Rating: 4.7/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 1660 Western Ave. Albany, New York
- Categories: Desserts, Bubble Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
