Herrell's Ice Cream & Bakery

There are whiners in this world and they often overlook the quality of what they're reviewing just so they can hear themselves whine. Yes, the prices have gone up but what do you expect given state of things? Herrell's is easily the best ice cream in Massachusetts and maybe all of New England. Nothing else is as creamy and flavorful. I'm happy to pay for it because it is so so good!

Tried the lemon mousse with homemade penuche- delicious! Gluten free and vegan options are easy to find: clearly labeled on the menu. Portions are reasonable! Cute vibes. Max and Mirna add to the sweet ambiance. Service was great- I tried to order caramel sauce, but our server recommended I get the homemade penuche, which had a similar taste; it was lighter and grainier than caramel but delicious! Very glad we stopped by here!

The ice cream and milkshakes are great, a little pricey, but their menu is confusing 😕. I stood there for a good 20 minutes trying to understand the menu and what I would be ordering. I think more images and descriptions make it easier for customers like me who are new to the establishment. Also, they were out of mangos for what I wanted to order so there's that. I wish they'd offer to let people taste things so we don't waste money ordering something we might not like. Also, the milkshake is very sugary. They have very limited seating, Pro-wise, their sugary goodies taste like sugary goodies. Nothing out of the ordinary but tastes good. It is very child friendly so for families with little ones, it's a good spot. Though now I wish someone would make an ice cream place for adults only. Overall, it was a pleasant experience. I just don't like staring at menus for a long time trying to make sense of it.

So I understand that this is the Northampton ice cream place and I understand why. It's conveniently located with a good reputation to boot. However, I think they've been riding on that reputation for too long and have allowed the quality to go down. The way the ice cream is scooped and the ratio of toppings is often not ideal. To be clear, I don't blame the employees for this I feel like there's just they lack direction on this front. (The employees are always friendly and pleasant, one of the best parts of going quite frankly) That aside, they have menu items up permanently that they just don't ever have. I went to order a banana split and was told they didn't have banana's that day- okay that's fine. I pivoted. I went back months later and tried to order it once again and was told that they actually rarely have bananas because it's not a popular menu item. If that's the case then take it off the menu and make it a special the days you DO have bananas. Just not stocking for a permanent menu item is poor practice. My last complaint is pretty minor but having a serving size in a sample cup is the cheapest thing I've seen in a while. Just go off of amount of scoops like every other ice cream place ever. In conclusion, I believe they have a monopoly on the Noho ice cream scene and if any other ice cream shop of good quality came to town Herrell's would pale in comparison. (I have been going to Herrell's since 2021 and have tried a variety of flavors and toppings. Their strongest product is their hot fudge. Just buy a jar of that and save yourself the trouble and insane prices <3)

Good ice cream, prices are good. Not a ton of seating and kind of a cramped line/ordering process. Looks like they are looking out for the environment with some wood spoons and paper straws. We got four kiddie sundaes and a milk shake. Came to 26$

Delicious, creamy ice cream! The sundaes are generous, and the selection of flavors? So difficult to choose from! If you don't mind the wait, their ice cream is very much worth it.

This Northampton staple is a must go to. Excelkent variety of ice cream, baked goods and soda fountain. I had a mango smoothie and my partner had an old fashion root beer float. Both were delicious and service was great!

Great ice cream. Lots of flavors and other types of options. Kosher certified by the local chabad (certificate posted in the line). I got mint chocolate chip in a medium waffle cone with reeses pieces on top. Easy 5 stars

Really really good ice cream! I'm dairy free so the fact they serve No Moo ice cream is what brought me in. They always have a variety of dairy free flavors, at least 2. The store was bustling with a long line that moved quick. It's in a cute town so people were getting their ice cream and sitting across the street to eat it. I loved my ice cream and the cookie combustion looked awesome. Next time I'm bringing home a 12 pack of cookies lol.

Pros: -Loved the three amigos ice cream--great texture with the 3 mix ins, and the toffee was not the kind that makes me worry for my teeth, just added a nice texture! Would get again. -Solid service Cons: -Prices a bit high for the kiddie sizes ($7+ for the small bites pictured), probably better value to just go up a size!

I'm an HD Vanilla guy but I'm always lured into new NSA flavors. I had the "Salty Dog" no sugar added flavor, it was icy and somewhat gritty. That being said I appreciate that Herrell's always has sugar free options for diabetics, Also I was not aware there's an extra charge of 50 cents to have your ice cream on a regular plain cone. $5.60 for a small (really small) cone seems a bit pricey. I love the Olde Tyme ice cream shop vibe of Herrell's and the soda jerkers are a friendly bunch.

Really great ice cream for a vegan option- had the chocolate and vanilla vegan twist with rainbow sprinkles which I wholly enjoyed. Truly appreciate that they had dairy free alternatives!

The place was packed with a line out the door which is often a good sign. The wait was worth it on a hot summer day. They have nice flavors and the pricing is good. The ice cream tasted amazing. The service was great despite how busy they were and how hard they were working. The workers definitely deserve a raise for their patience and awesome service. Don't miss the cute polar bears in the corner cuddling.

Love the selection of ice cream flavors offered. I went with burnt sugar and butter as recommended by one of the servers. To my surprised, it's creamy and light.

There's something about getting ice cream after brunch. The ambiance of the shop was so colorful and peaceful. It was a bit crowded, but we eventually found seats. I ordered a caramel sundae. The caramel sauce was very soft and rich. The ice cream was great. Basically a great dessert after a meal. I feel Ike this would be a great place to hang with friends.

Oh man, this place is IT. If you are looking for a classic, old timey ice cream shoppe, this is the spot for you. Upon entering its doors you are magically transported to a world of heavenly delights. It was late afternoon, so we didn't want to fill up too much before dinner, but we just had to try it. So glad we did! We live about an hour away, but I would easily road-trip to Nothampton just for Herrell's. Why worth a road trip? Just for ice cream? Yes. It is THAT good. Being in between meals, I opted for the kid sized sundae with chocolate pudding ice cream, a flavor I do not often see. Topped with hot chocolate, nuts, a cherry and the most luscious whipped cream, it was an utter delight. I can still taste it in my mind's eye and cannot wait to go back for the real thing.

Excellent flavors, try the chocolate pudding, really unique. Ice cream is too good use in shakes or sundaes - enjoy a simple pairing in a cup.

Staff seems oblivious to the fact that customers keep them in business. Ice cream is ok, but not worth the wait of navigating a 25 minute line that would take 5 minutes in a more organized business. Frustrating!

It was just okay. My ice cream was close to melted when they handed it to me. The staff are great and the baked goods they offer looked good but the flavors just weren't there. Next time I would probably try a fruit forward flavor, their chocolate/candy flavors didn't really do it for me. I feel like they use off brand candy, didn't work for me.

I love the ice cream here. The service is pretty good too. The place is usually clean. The establishment itself is at a prime spot. The prices aren't bad either. I've heard that the management is also very anti-unions so that's why I'm not giving them the full 5 stars.

Herrell's Ice Cream is the best ice cream in the country. I've been visiting Herrell's for over 20 years, nobody can compete with them. I live in Los Angeles but have family in West Hampton and Amherst. I make it a point to visit Herrell's whenever I visit them. Their sweet cream ice cream is the best and I've never had a bad experience with any employee or the facility. It's clean, it's got a fun atmosphere, and it feels like an old school ice cream bar. Always a joy to go to Thorne's and then down to Herrell's or to stop by the Raven Used Book store near by and to have some ice cream. You should too.

Before I ever heard of Cold Stone Creamery, Herrell's was my favorite ice cream shop from around 1996-98 when I lived closer. Herrell's is good at numerous things, but I remember them for smoosh-ins. A smoosh-in is where you pick an ice cream flavor and toppings, and Herrell's uses tools to combine them and meltify the ice cream a bit. Sound familiar? I'm no ice cream historian, but some quick internet research revealed that Herrell's was founded in 1980 in Northampton and Cold Stone was founded in Tucson in 1988. Did Herrell's inspire Cold Stone? Did somebody else do it first? I don't know, but Herrell's is a Pioneer in my book. In terms of ice cream and topping quality, it's very hard to beat Herrell's. My wife and I stopped in Northampton for "linner" on Friday and I needed some Herrell's ice cream for dessert before we continued our drive north. I noticed they have an ice cream sampler with four kid scoops of your picks. That's a great idea. It allowed me to choose 2 safe flavors and to take chances on 2 others. I ordered (1) cookie dough, (2) chocolate bourbon pecan, (3) strawberry limeade and (4) coconut lemongrass. I love it when ice cream names accurately describe the taste, and that was true of this sampler. Everything was great. The cookie dough was one of the better versions I've had. The strawberry limeade was sweet and tart. The other flavors were right on as well. Towards the end, the flavors started melting and crashing into each other like the fireworks in the grand finale of a great 4th of July show. Herrell's gets top grades for ice cream quality. When I'm grading ice cream shops, I also consider quality of service and whether the atmosphere enhances the experience of eating the ice cream. Herrell's scores highly in these categories as well. The service was friendly and efficient. The shop has some nice touches like stuffed polars bears sitting in a booth. And for me, eating ice cream on a nearby bench in Northampton is a perfect atmosphere. It brings back memories like rollerblading the Northampton to Amherst rail trail, trying Thai food for the first time, checking out used CD's in an underground store, getting a pizza slice topped with salad or a fusion burrito and reading a book with my feet dipped in a fountain. I'd highly recommend Herrell's, even if you have an hour or so drive to get there. Northampton is fantastic. You can exercise on the rail trail, choose one (or more) of myriad types of restaurants for a meal, walk and shop at funky stores and do many other cool things. Herrell's can be the perfect beginning, middle or end.

I tried Herrell's Ice Cream place today because I heard how great it was. It did not meet my expectations. The small Ice cream was the size of a kiddie cone and cost me over 5 dollars! Then, as I was eating it, I saw a hair in my Ice cream. Yes, it was replaced with an ice cream of a different flavor. The server said he let the provider know about this. But, my concern is that he left the Ice cream in the freezer. Is he serving some to someone else later? I won't return nor will I recommend Herrell's to anyone. Not a 5 star rating as advertised.

After 30+ years of coming to the same location, and getting the SAME ice cream, Herrell's doesn't disappoint. Although, I'm not impressed with the renovations. I liked the old shop better. The newer look doesn't have the natural flow the old one did. There always seems to be a log jam, even when it's not busy. That's not what I come to Herrell's for... it's the ice cream and hot fudge and toppings and whipped cream. In 30+ years, I have tasted quite a few flavors and go back to my standard. Chocolate pudding ice cream. Omg...soooo good. This trip, no different. I had a small sundae: chocolate pudding ice cream, hot fudge, heath bar, chocolate whipped cream and a cherry. It was D.E.C.A.D.E.N.T.!!!! As I'm writing this review, I'm ready to hop in my car and go back for another one...Yes, it's THAT good!

For me, Herrell's is one of the few constants in a downtown Northampton life that has changed so dramatically - both for me and the town. These days, ice cream is not on my regular diet but when I am able to indulge I will be at Herrell's. It is wild to think I once applied for a job there, but I always liked the vibe there and post-college it seemed like a potentially nice option for a while, if it had worked out. I am especially partial to the double thick shakes, as well as the malted shakes. The creativity applied to the flavors, as well as consistent quality - it's pretty amazing that has held up for decades now in my experience. It's been a long time since I posted a review on Yelp but these shakes are just so outrageously good...

If you're in Northampton, you'll for sure notice Harrell's. It is a vibrant ice cream shop, with adorable polar bears, in an already attractive downtown area. The front door boasts the quote "one of the top 3 ice cream parlors in the country", that had me going in for sure. It was a rainy day, and there was a long line already. It took a while for me to decide on my flavor, I was tied down to banana, than changed it to a fall flavor, Cinnamon nutmeg, I'm pretty sure I've never had this before. The decor inside is adorable. Their signature polar bears are everywhere. There are also several seating options, at the bar, booth, or at the tables. I noticed you can order ice cream cakes from them, and their big seller is the homemade hot fudge. Cinnamon nutmeg is very flavorful, I enjoyed it, but it tasted like it should be a warm drink, not cold ice cream. It was still creamy, dreamy and delicious. I should have gone with my original banana choice. I got the kiddie size and there was plenty in my cup. The girls working here are all very pleasant, but they could use more staff with how busy it was. I'm glad to support this small business and I'm sure to come again.

Might be the best ice cream I've ever had, and I don't say that lightly! A nice extra bonus that I really appreciate is that they make their own whipped cream in several different flavors. This place is borderline legendary

I've been coming to the flagship Northampton location since I was a kid, I still love it here. The ice cream is some of the best I've ever tasted. Also, kudos to the staff who handle the lines like champs and are still happy to serve you. Love!

One of their employees ("K") was completely unprofessional, rude and out of control. I've been here hundreds of times, as I grew up in the area. I brought my family there (1.28.23), after dinner in town. While I was eating, my wife and 1.5 year old son were walking around, not causing any trouble. At one point my son, and another table of patrons, thought that opening and hiding his face behind the open door beneath the trash receptacles was SO FUNNY, as little kids so often do. His mother was right there, other customers were laughing and encouraging him to hid his face behind the door and peek out, and everyone was having fun. He wasn't slamming the door, hanging off of it, or anything. Standard toddler stuff, and not loud nor obnoxious in any way. Without warning, the employee "K" came out at full speed yelling "Stop! Stop right now!", and that opening the door was "so inappropriate". She pulled the door out of my son's hands (hard to see from my vantage point but later confirmed by other diners) and forcibly wedged her body between my wife and the countertop/doors. My wife instantly pulled my son away and apologized, and we were all nonplussed at the disproportionality of the response. As my son and wife were walking back to the table, the situation completely over, K literally spread her body across the doors as if someone was attacking her or she was protecting a precious item from rampaging marauders. The other table of 4 patrons found us outside and opined that the encounter constituted assault by the employee. It was honestly, really, really odd and physical, as if she was having an immediate and uncontrollable response to some past trauma. The weirdest thing is that the doors had locks on them that were unlocked, so there would be a really simple solution even if there were some danger present. "K" should not work in customer service, at all, and should likely enter counseling for whatever past experience she was actually reacting to. Anyway, ice cream is decent, but the service was horrific.

I compare Ice creams all the time. This ice cream is better than anything you can buy in a store - Ben & Jerry's, Barts--really anything. I highly recommend the malted vanilla ice cream. Oh my God, it is beyond words. Delicious.

Custom ice cream cake order was a nightmare here. Cake was ordered in person. The sever was new, took the order. Several days later, I was contacted by the cake maker to pay for the order in advance. I called back and gave payment information. Then I was called again asking for what I wanted written on the cake. I had provided this at the time of ordering, obviously. I'm guessing they lost it? Called back again and gave the information. Went to pick up the cake this week at the scheduled time. We ordered a red cake with green icing. Instead they chose a blue cake with a sun and clouds design. They writing was also incorrect. I guess their policy is that you have to choose a pre made design. No one told me this the two times I had to call them back about things. We never would have picked this particular design. I guess they just made it up? I asked for a gift card or partial refund. Was told they would have to speak to the owner. They wrote down my contact information. Took cake since I had paid in advance and they wouldn't refund my money - or even give a store credit. They haven't contacted me, and I work nights and don't feel like contacting them again. They honestly seemed surprised that I wanted any type of refund in the first place. I don't mind that a mistake was made, but I do think it's annoying that they just picked a random design and stuck me with it. I am also confused about not being able to get refunded for this. Be careful ordering custom cakes here. It was a lot of effort and basically a waste of time and money.

Worst milkshake I've ever had, 90% milk and 10% ice cream for 10$. And when I called them out on it, no refund, all they offered me was a 5$ credit (useless considering I live so far away). Shame I always used to go here as a kid and it was always amazing. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Would you like to pay over $11 for two ping-pong-ball sized "scoops" of ice cream? Then this is your place. Otherwise, move on. The price does not justify the goods. I've been a customer for decades, but I'm done, they finally wore me out with their stingy bullshit.

Absolutely one of my favorite ice cream places ever! Nothing beats their sundaes. The homemade hot fudge and chocolate whipped cream are to die for. Great service. Line can get a bit long on weekends but moves steadily and is always worth the wait. 15/10 would recommend.

Fuck yes to this whole place. Fuck yes to the ice cream with its frozen creaminess. Fuck yes to the waffle cones that are delightfully perfect. Fuck yes to the multitudes and varieties of flavors. Fuck yes to the friendly employees who work fast and know how to get a line moving while still making you feel valued. As a native Texan, I'm picky about ice cream. There are two categories: either it tastes as good as Blue Bell or it's crap. Well, folks, we've got a winner here. This ice cream is milky and creamy. The texture is bomb, and the flavors are wickedly good. I had malted vanilla and cherry vanilla. Both were fantastic both texture/consistency-wise and flavor. So, yes, come here. Come here and eat all of the 'scream and have all of the cakes and cookies and other nom-alicious treats. Come here and enjoy the best ice cream in Noho.

Great ice cream, as always. Just tried the dairy free black raspberry. It is decent. But, not my fav. So stick with the real stuff.

Herrell's is the best in the county, maybe the country. Bar none.

Yes, yes, 100 times yes! Treat yourself on a cheat day or special occasion. I enjoyed a banana, vanilla, chocolate sundae with peanut butter sauce, hot fudge, and whipped cream. Gawd it was good :)

This is the same owners as Steve's ice cream which was popular in the early 90s. Delicious ice cream and five different non dairy flavors. Just delicious!

Best ice cream in the country Service is okay Interior is okay !!.................................could be better

The ice cream here is okay. It would be really good outside of New England but in these parts standards are a little higher for ice cream. Word on the street is that it used to be better but I've only known it for the last 3 or 4 years. Toppings are great. They have really good hot fudge and the whip cream is top notch. The quality control is a little lacking overall. I've had what is possibly the worst milkshake ever here (it was actually bad. Who can make a milkshake bad? That seems hard to do) and some that are also pretty darn good, sometimes in the same order. Overall even mediocre ice cream is still good and it's the only serious game in town. Lines tend to be long so avoid evening when possible.

They say Herrell invented cookies and cream. I say bring back the system where the employees could give free ice cream once a day to a couple people of their choosing as some liberal fringe benefit. Regardless of internal politics or your beliefs, the fact is, this place taste wicked good. The lines move quickly. The staff deal do a lot of work and deserve your good tips. The flavor selections are worth the visit. Just do it.

I enjoyed some of Herrells delicious ice cream this week, but found the experience to be lacking. Luckily the young man (whose name starts with R, I think!) was so helpful and easy going. I noticed other young women sort of standing around and wondered if this is a usual occurrence at the shop. Really felt like they didn't really want to be there. We all have bad days but I've noticed them before, pretty much acting the same way. I do have another issue that I find a little mysterious. I've never been to an ice cream shop that didn't use vanilla in their whipped cream. Please consider adding this essential flavor to give your whipped cream a little personality!

Herrell's is easily one of my favorite ice cream spots! Their ice cream quality is so creamy delicious & flavorfully inventive, it's simply TOP SHELF. And if you like a good sundae, their hot fudge is out-of-this-world! They have an ever-changing selection of flavors so there's something to fit any mood! Want something new and interesting? Just to name a few notable flavors I can remember: Mexican Hot Chocolate, Jalapeño, Elvis (banana ice cream w/ PB swirl), Cinnamon Babka, Burnt Butter n Sugar, Pumpkin Marshmallow Swirl, Rose Water Lavender, Key Lime Pie. The only reason I did deduct a star is because of the shop itself. The downtown location is prime, but the space is so small that the seating is very limited & it's often difficult to find a good spot to sit and enjoy your ice cream. Herrells's well-deserved popularity means the shop is always pretty packed, so expect a line too. Promise, it's worth it ;)

I ordered a medium ice cream in a cup. The display on the counter shows a cup with contents extending above the rim by quite a bit. The actual cup had ice cream to about 1/2 inch below the rim and the round scoop just past the rim. Wish I had taken a picture of both. I believe that the actual product should look as the displayed "sample". It did not. I wonder how many extra servings they get by undersizing.

Came here after a very big dinner for some dessert. I'm not a bit sweets person but it was delicious here. They have a big selection of constantly rotating ice cream, gelato, and non-diary ice cream. They also have all different types of cones including a chocolate covered waffle cone with sprinkles on it which just looks decadent. I got a banana walnut scoop with a waffle cone. It was a very hearty and generous serving that had a lot of walnut in it. Come by for some good ice cream. I thought it was fantastic!

Not to totally brag, but I'm pretty sure that I was their first customer is 2020! I had a hot chocolate with whipped cream which was very satiating and my partner had an Oreo and cream icecream. It was delicious. I love this place! I wish they had it in NYC.

Delicious hot fudge. And loved their chocolate pudding ice cream flavor! I'll up it to 5 stars since the hot fudge is so good.

Awesome ice cream spot! I hadn't been to Herrell's in quite some time and their new look is fantastic. Bright, airy and welcoming are the words that come to mind. If there's a huge line, get in it, don't worry. Herrell's staff is all about efficiency and moving people and they do it with a smile. So what about the ice cream...it rocks! Creamy,delicious and pretty reasonable too. Don't be shy about asking for samples, staff were happy to oblige. I went with Burnt Sugar and Butter which was a great caramel explosion flavor experience without being overly sweet. Lots of toppings to choose from, I went with some shredded coconut and it was a great addition to the ice cream. Make Herrell's your new favorite ice cream spot!

I LOVE the ice cream here. The ice cream is so soft, stretchy and fun to eat! Herrell's also serves crazy flavors. One has pickle in it! They also have soft flavors like one with that could have tea and lemon in it or even lavendar. I also love the berry flavors like blackberry or strawberry. Oh and my favorite is the Strawberry Cheesecake (but I always love strawberry cheesecake)! Just a warning that the lines for this icecream can be very long and take sometime for each order since people are very indecisive and also want to try flavors. Herrell's only allows you to try 2 flavors however! I found the lines to be long after dinner time like 6 or 7 or on a weekend in the daytime (especially in the summer!). So just be ready for the wait. But I can assure you that its worth it.

There is no ice cream in the world that compares to Herrell's. And their homemade fudge and (chocolate) whipped cream are to die for.

I was in Northampton to have Moroccan food from Amanouz Cafe. That place is an amazing place to have food. After that I found this wonderful ice cream place close by. This place is neat and organized. I went with a large sundae. Three amigos was my favorite flavor. It is a combination of Peanut Butter cup, English toffee and Oreo cookies. Banana was a good flavor too. Burnt sugar 'n butter was ok. They serve fresh whipped cream. The whipped cream comes in vanilla or chocolate flavors. Next time I should try chocolate whipped cream. The cherry was really big and nice. They add a good amount of walnut, if you take it as your topping.

Great ice cream! They have some seasonal flavors that are fantastic and you can sample some of the flavors before you pick one. We tried apples and honey and LOVE it (thanks to the guy in front of us who highly suggested it!) This place is pretty popular so seeing a huge line in front of you isn't a rare occurrence. The only downside of this is that you have a longer wait time and the staff just looks exhausted. But heck, who wouldn't be? Another downside is that I've noticed every time I have come here when it's super busy, the ice cream usually has some ice crystals that form. Otherwise, this place is delicious and well worth a try! The prices are a little up there but it's worth it.

The malted vanilla. Read another reviewer's comments. Heckin' good. Tasted the other's ice cream too. This place is the bomb

Go to for ice cream especially if you like "smush ins" lots of toppings to choose from

Vanilla and chocolate, both with sugar cones; a recent Sunday afternoon traveling from VT.

Sitting with our table-friends at Iron Horse last night, we were told that Herrell's is *the* best local ice cream shop and it would be a pity to miss out. Of course we had to listen and check this out for ourselves. Would it stand up to Ashley's or Wentworths? The walk from Iron Horse to Herrell's is easy -- really, you just cross Main Street -- and I'm glad we ignored the advice to drive over. Walking in, we found ourselves at the end of a very, very long line. There were at least 30 people in front of us in line, if not more, but it moved quite quickly. After getting through the line, our next challenge was deciding on a flavor. Burnt Butter & Sugar? Chocolate Pudding? Mud Pie? Strawberry Balsamic? Strawberry Basil? I ended up with a "small" sugar cone with Maple Oatmeal Cookie and my sister got a small sugar cone with Strawberry Basil. It cost about $7 for the two cones, which is a steal considering a) the prices at home, b) the amount of ice cream we got and c) the flavor. I wish I had been able to sample more but I felt guilty holding up the line. I will definitely be adding Herrell's to the list of must-see places when I'm in the area.