Island Pops

"As evidenced by the name, Island Pops in Crown Heights makes popsicles—and great ones at that. They’re available in rotating flavors like sorrel or passionfruit. But we might like their ice cream even more. (Although we’d rather not choose. Why not both?) The Caribbean spot swaps out run-of-the-mill chocolate and vanilla for things like Ovaltine, soursop, and Guinness caramel. On your first visit, try the ice cream sampler. It’s a lot of ice cream—four huge scoops all one huge cup—so it’s perfect for those steamy summer days when eating real food doesn’t seem like an option." - bryan kim, willa moore, sonal shah, molly fitzpatrick, kenny yang

"As the summer heats up, so does our craving—no, need—for ice cream. And when we’re craving flavors like soursop, nutmeg, sorrel rum and Ovaltine, we go to Island Pops in Crown Heights, which is now open in a larger location down the block from the original on Nostrand. " - will hartman

"Chocolate and vanilla ice creams are great and all, but what about an Ovaltine cone? Or a cup of guava cheesecake? You can find these extra exciting flavors at Island Pops, a Crown Heights spot specializing in Caribbean popsicles and ice cream. For a highly refreshing treat, try an ice pop, available in rotating flavors like sorrel or passionfruit. But if milky, creamy things are more your speed, we like their tropical fruit ice creams, in flavors like coconut or soursop. There’s also a four-flavor ice cream sampler, in case you feel the need to hit a few birds with one stone. Just know that it’s a lot of ice cream—as in, four big scoops in one cup. The tables outside are constantly full, making this small stretch of Nostrand Avenue feel like a daily block party in the summer. photo credit: Dane Isaac" - Willa Moore

"Started by Shelly Marshall and Khalid Hamid, this shop serves a variety of Caribbean-inspired frozen treats like sorrel-rum sorbet, guava-cheesecake ice cream, and passion-fruit popsicles." - Nicole K. Grimes

"Started by husband-wife duo Shelly & Khalid, Island Pops is a modern Caribbean ice cream shop with seasonal flavors influenced by back home. I was first introduced to Island Pops circa 2016 when they were operating from an ice cream bike that sold Caribbean popsicles at events like I AM CARIBBEING in Brooklyn, and have since watched their business blossom into a bustling storefront with dozens of island-inspired flavors, ranging from soursop to Ovaltine to sorrel rum. My preferred flavors are sorrel, nutmeg, and the rum-infused hibiscus popsicle. But on a hot summer day, you really can’t go wrong with anything in this family-friendly ice cream shop." - Shelley Worrell 31