Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

Who doesn’t love a trip to the ice cream shop? I stumbled upon this place as it was in the area while on a Sunday shopping escapade, and so happy I did! The place is small, but immediately gives a feel of childlike happiness with its bright colors. It’s sure to bring a smile! 😃 What I like most about this ice cream parlor was its array of flavors that ventures off the beaten path.. it’s not your typical chocolate strawberry vanilla. (although they do offer those flavors) They offer brownies or cheesecakes that makes their ice cream unique. I ordered the pumpkin cheesecake and it was scrumptious! They also have many different kinds of cones to provide that help make your selection unique. I should also note that the gentleman behind the counter was extremely kind and courteous, as he was more than happy to allow me to taste test a few flavors before making my decision. I definitely suggest you stop by. I’m positive it’ll brighten your day! 🍨

Came here around 9pm on a Saturday night after having dinner next door. The space itself is cheerful, bright and smells absolutely phenomenal. There was no one else there when we arrived and only one other group there when we left. Service was incredibly friendly and they happily let us try as many flavors as we wanted. Unfortunately this is where the positive things I have to say come to an end. We did not enjoy the ice cream. Everyone found it to be overly sweet. The hazelnut special had whole nuts inside which was unappetizing. Disappointing because it's in a great location but just wasn't a fan.

Great selection of classic and eclectic flavors! Staff is always friendly and amazing. Ryan was super helpful and deserves all the accolades. I got the peanut butter brownie honeycomb. It sounds crazy but it was super good.

Just do it, go here and get your ice cream. It’s so good I got one scoop of the brown sugar cookie dough in a waffle cone! It’s tiny so, get your cone and walk around the plaza it’s cute. Seating is nice on second floor too.

So I decided to try the ice-cream. The flavor was play but what really got me is that this is a 15 dollar ice cream, including the tip, but the bowl made out of waffle was stale. If I'm paying this much for an ice cream I would expect you guys offer a good product. If you guys are getting a waffle cone or bowl, make sure is not stale. I kinda feel robbed.

Had a great experience at Van Leeuwen thanks to Mr. Ryan! He’s a young man who was incredibly attentive, helpful, and went the extra mile to make sure everything was perfect. It’s rare to find such genuine customer service these days. Definitely deserves recognition—thank you, Ryan!

Van Leeuwen was great! Ryan was fast and friendly. Had the ice cream cake and strawberry sorbet both were amazing. Will be back!

Great flavors. The earl gray tea is the bomb! Ryan gave great customer service. He was super friendly and patient!!

The ambiance was beautiful and bright. I ordered a fan favorite in the brown sugar brownie ice cream and it was really good but the chunks were a little too big for me. The earl grey ice cream was my favorite as it was light and smooth. The service was prompt and quick! I would definitely recommend coming here.

Positives: Opens until late night. Good selections flavors including vegan options and seasonal flavors. (Good descriptions on the menu- have allergens clearly labeled). Also you can try flavors prior to ordering, friendly service. There's outdoor seating as well and some nice restaurants around the area, definitely gives off a trendy vibe. Interior has a nice sleek decor with a story of its origin starting out as a ice cream truck in NYC. I'm not an ice cream aficionado by any means so really couldn't tell the difference in quality between the different shops in Houston. The price point here is a bit pricey. (2 scoops with a cone is over $11 after tax/tip) Overall, good option if you're craving sweets after a fancy dinner or date night, I'll definitely try out the vegan options next time!

Unfortunately, our experience at this restaurant left much to be desired, especially in terms of customer service. Despite being in a group of four, we found ourselves waiting endlessly to be attended to for something as simple as ordering ice cream. It was disheartening to feel ignored while employees busied themselves with other tasks. After waiting for 10 minutes without any acknowledgment, we reluctantly decided to take our business elsewhere. It's clear that there is a disconnect between the staff and the essence of hospitality. Hopefully, the owners take heed and provide proper training to ensure a more welcoming experience for future customers.

Love me some van leeuwen ice cream! The Westheimer VLW location opens until late at night and was the only place opened when we were craving ice cream! This place is conveniently located inside the Montrose Collective complex. The parking is kind of tricky because unless you park in a pay parking, you have to drive around to find the parking space next to the curb. For us, its always a challenge because we don't really want to spend all that much just to eat ice cream. Other than that, you can enjoy the ice cream inside or outside and the atmosphere is very chilling and relaxing. We sometimes bring our dog with us to enjoy the outside weather. When we go there, the servers were always nice and lets us try new flavors or any flavors that we want to try! Highly recommend this NY based ice cream place

The service was "the hook". Everett had so much energy and enthusiasm, and seemed to love what he was doing. The shop is clean, bright, and new. Every flavor we tasted was so good. I had no idea until today that I love "vegan" ice cream (they have regular ice cream also. Highly recommended.

Although this wasn't planned, we were in the area wanted to try something sweet and this was a great spot to choose and visit. Loved that they had vegan options as well for any one that maybe lactose. The surrounding area is definitely a vibe and was really nice and modern. Had multiple restaurants around and even a bottle shop to sip on some wine and brewery. Service was amazing and the employee was very helpful and friendly. Really loved that they give you a taste or flavors before purchasing one. They have multiple options , but I went with a single scoop of Vegan Cookies & Cream Caramel Swirl topped with vegan Whipped Cream. It was delicious , but I wasn't the biggest fan of the whip cream. If you're in the area, please do stop by and see what great flavors and desserts they have to offer. Price: $7-$13 Shakes, Ice cream, sodas, and much more !

Yummy ice cream with lots of flavor options! There isn't much seating inside, but there is plenty of room outside. Flavors are pretty good! Ice cream itself was not very creamy unfortunately.

Impromptu Houston ice cream crawl stop 1 of 3 On a sunny Saturday with a high of 93 (feels like 97, according to Google), I found myself seeking a sweet treat after some thrifting. Van Leeuwen is in a swanky looking shopping complex, with very sleek decor and packaging (see generous use of bright colors and all-caps sans serif fonts). Originally started as a ice cream truck out of NYC, the big millennial energy of van Leeuwen is spreading across the US and to hipster neighborhoods near you! The ice cream dishers were exceptionally generous with samples and gave some nice commentary on the incoming and outgoing seasonal flavors. I tried the lemon yuzu sorbet, which wasn't quite as tart as I would have liked; the honeycomb (a crowd favorite!) was a little too sweet in my opinion; and the Earl Grey, which I ultimately decided on, was also quite sweet but I thought the sweetness reminiscent of a milk tea drink at 75-100% sweetness. At ~$7 for a single scoop on a sugar cone I found this a little pricey but for the premium ingredients and variety of flavors I'd come back with a friend.

Delicious ice cream and amazing vegan flavor options as well. The ladies that worked there were amazing and were more than happy to let us sample whichever flavors we wanted. The shop itself is small with only a few tables inside but has lots of outdoor seating! Great spot to get a sweet treat after dinner in montrose. The flavors we ordered were strawberry shortcake (vegan), dulce de leche, banana bread, and pistachio. Love this place!

Really enjoyed our ice cream from here! Stopped by around 10pm and it was super busy. Waited in line maybe 10 minutes. Very limited seating inside, but more outside for sure. I always get chocolate wherever I go, but this time I wanted to get something else too so I got the brown sugar cookie dough brownie and I honestly liked it better than the chocolate! I will get that next time. 2 scoops is a lot, will stick to 1 next time lol. The inside is very colorful and vibrant. The 2 women working there were friendly and moving as quickly as they could!

Really nice ice cream spot at Montrose Collective! I have had Van Leeuwen up in NYC before so it is very exciting that they now have a location in Houston TX. I like how they have a wide variety of flavors for vegans, since many of my friends are lactose intolerant anyways. They have many many options, but I actually really like the fan favorite honeycomb flavor. Extremely creamy and delicious. Plus they are open late so you always have a dessert spot open after you have a nice fancy dinner in the area!

Probably my second favorite ice cream shop behind jenni's and maybe cloud ten. I got the honey comb and marion berry cheesecake and liked both quite a bite. I also tried other flavors and thought they were all passable. Good texture, cripsy homemade cones make it a great bite.

The icecream here is pretty pricey (about $6 for a scoop) but really worth it for an occasional sweet treat! Especially if you are vegan - it's one of the best if not THE best vegan icecream I've tried (and I've tried a lot). It's creamy and soft, not icy and hard like some vegan icecream can be. They have seating outside which is a nice place to sit and people watch and dog watch (quite a few dogs were getting walked in this area).

Love love love having a(n actually good) vegan option for my dairy- free man! I got the PB Choc brownie (has dairy) and it was fully stocked with all the peanut buttery and chocolate goodness. He got the churro and fudge and wouldn't shut up about how good it was. Most of the vegan options are coconut based, so be aware if you're not a fan! We wouldn't recommend: Marionberry cheesecake flavor or the vegan whipped cream. I'm sure others love them!

Some of the samples we tried were not as creamy as expected but ice-y. Our favorite was the brown sugar cookie dough brownie and it was very creamy. The additional bits and pieces of walnuts and brownies were a nice touch for those who like texture in their ice cream! We were able snag a pint of cookies and cream to go and it was delicious! There were also other flavors available for togo in their pint size. $7 for one scoop and $10 for a pint was a little pricey for some ice cream, but it was still good nonetheless.

First time here. They had a variety of flavors and gave samples on real silverware. The young guy working was very kind and patient with me deciding on what to order. He was also knowledgeable of the many different flavors they offered. I really like that they stay open late too. It's hard to find quality ice cream places that stay open late. We were able to enjoy our ice cream and a nice walk around the shopping center. We will most definitely be back.

This high end ice cream shop did the trick! This place is delicious, everything made with fresh ingredients. They even have vegan and gluten free options and have allergens clearly labeled. It has a nice vibe to it! Limited seating, but in a great area of town. Parking might be a struggle. Definitely a great place to treat yourself, but expect to pay a pretty penny. My only complaint is that they ran out of a couple flavors that I wanted to try. Got to get there earlier next time! The staff was super sweet and kept the line moving.

So glad I was able to find this with Vegan options! The PB honey was so yummy I can't wait to see if they have different flavors when I visit in the future.

My husband and I shared the ice cream sandwich and it was pretty good! My only complaint is I prefer a softer cookie, these cookies were very hard. Every flavor of ice cream I have had here is always delicious and innovative and we will be back!

I have no idea what Montrose has become. I am so glad to stop in to have ice cream with my foodie friend Sara at Van Leeuwen. The building is pretty cool, not just the design but also how this restaurant is situated. There is an outdoor seating area right outside in front of the restaurant and few seats inside. I was a little bummed by the lack of selfie wall. The circle sign is too bright to read when posing with it. We were here for about 10 minutes, there was already a line inside. Service was pretty quick. The employee helped me to decide what flavor to go with the Texas Rodeo Sundae. I really thought it was a scoop, but it's a cutely dressed up ice cream sundae. The combination of crunchiness and creaminess bought the good memories of Houston Rodeo. Texas flag was a plus. Very photo worthy dessert. I would add some blue and red sprinkles for Fourth of July. I couldn't resist to try Chef Christine Ha's artisan ice cream - Banana for Cheese on a cone. It made me want to come back for more. After all of these sweet desserts, I wanted something to drink. They only got water and root beer. I chose root beer because it was made with organic cane sugar, compliment to the ice cream. After posting my photos on Instagram, I noticed Van Leeuwen is all over the world. I would go try others in Houston first, though.

We all scream for ice cream. Check out the grand opening of Van Leeuwen. $1 scoops all day and some sweet bonus treats. Who screams the loudest for ice cream? Hit a high note and win a t-shirt. The first 200 in line score a cute tote bag. Everyone is a winner on Grand Opening Day. Try a flavor created by a favorite local chef. Christine Ha, the "Blind Cook" and chef of the Blind Goat and Xin Chao, collaborated with Van Leeuwen for an exclusive new flavor. Bananas for Cheese is unique to the Montrose location and at Chef Ha's two restaurants. Inspired by an afternoon snack, it is a rich cheese-base of gouda and mascarpone ice cream blended with banana jam and shot through with chunks of milk chocolate. So different and so decadently delicious. Buy a cup or a sugar cone. Or bring home a pint. Get a signature ice cream flavor like Hazelnut Fudge Cooking, Pistachio, Marionberry Cheesecake, or Earl Grey Tea. Lactose intolerant? Get a vegan flavor made with oat milk or cashew milk, like as Churros & Fudge, Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb, and Cookie Crumble Strawberry Jam. Great ice cream shop. Note: limited street parking, but a paid parking garage is available.

This was sooooo goood and perfect texture and combination of flavors. I love that they have nontraditional flavors and that the texture of their ice cream is almost gelato or soft serve-like. I'm a huge dessert girlie so I've tried so many different ice cream shops in Houston and van Leeuwen remains one of my favs for high quality flavor and ingredients. service at every shop is always super sweet and friendly and ambiance is usually quiet and relaxing. Always find myself coming back here! (ps they're open pretty late which is rare! It's hard to find good ice cream shops that stay open past 10)

Newly opened and very clean and quaint store near the popular and upscale spots on Westheimer. Parking is an issue; there looks to be some shoddy street options in addition to paid garage parking. Interior is pretty small and menu is similar to other ice cream spots. I got the earl Grey and pistachio flavors in a cup. Honestly not the most visually appealing combo but the early Grey was pretty tasty, although definitely a bit too sweet for my liking. The pistachio flavor in the pistachio scoop was a bit light as well. Texture is between a store bought ice cream and a higher milk fat ice cream like some other spots. Overall looks like a decent place to grab dessert and have some slightly upscale/ nicer ice cream in the area.

Van Leeuwen just opened their 3rd spot in Houston. Definitely go try the special they collaborated on with Chef Christine Ha, "Bananas for Cheese", which is quite savory as you could guess from the name. Van Leeuwen remains a top quality spot even with their rapid expansion throughout the country, so definitely put this on your list if you need some ice cream in Houston.

This is just great ice cream without a lot of unnecessary ingredients. This is my second visit and the lobby was so filled we had to stand outside! What makes it so popular for me is they have vegan options!! I have vegan friends and when we are on the hunt for something sweet and delicious, we can't always find options for everyone, but now we can. The only thing I would probably do differently is to have two employees in the store instead of one. They get backed up and you will have a bit of a wait; the customers are always patient so you know it's worth waiting for! I also love their slogan: A LIFE WITHOUT ANYTHING GOOD IS BAD!

Thank you Legend!!! He was very knowledgeable about the menu! and helped us choose best option for us. Will come again! Thank you. Next time i will choose the mint and chip!

Came with kids Kids enjoyed their ice cream, cone and toppings Location: montrose area Staff: friendly, helpful Parking: street parking (not sure if parking is free) Taste: good Scoops are huge Kids size is perfect!

Andrew was great! very patient , kind & informative. however the selection of ice cream could use some work, the cookies & cream tasted like cream cheese & cookies, wouldn't recommend 3/10. i got the vegan peanut butter, honeycomb flavor & it was mehh, 6/10. i personally wouldn't come back, but if i did it would be strictly for the great customer service that was provide by Andrew & unique interior design which was aesthetically pleasing.

It's nice to have a spot like this that's open for late night hangs. We've been a couple times with friends who have vegan dietary restrictions, and we love that it's an inclusive place for everyone. While I'm not the biggest fan of the ice cream, the vibes and flavor choices are very neat. Unfortunately, the parking situation is a little rough if you're looking for street parking. There is a parking garage for the Collective but this particular place does not validate for parking. The reason this isn't a 5-star review: -The customer service was lacking. We went around 10:45 on a Saturday night, and we were the only people in the shop. Considering they're open until midnight, it was off-putting to be treated like an inconvenience. Customer service is very important to me, and you could feel that the employee had 0 interest in being there. - Their first aid kit does not have Benadryl or anything for people having allergic reactions. Thankfully my husband can run and was able to make it to the nearest gas station when my cousin started to experience her tongue swelling.

Heard the hype about this place so i wanted to try it out. The staff was friendly and the the Ice cream was good. We loved the earl grey tea and affogato coffee. But $9.01 for two scoops (without a cone)? I think the price is steep. And the scoops weren't even big. It was nice to visit and try once but probably wouldn't come again. We didn't feel it was anything special. Interior was beautiful and a happy yellow!

Creamy and dreamy, refreshing ice-cream. I visited exactly a month ago with a good friend of mine. I had never tried Van Leeuwen although I spotted it a few times out in New York. That's where VL is originally from and it's great to have a spot here down in the H. This is not their first location but it's definitely a cozy spot to open up shoppe. We have plenty of ice-cream spots in the area but us gourmand Houstonians will happily welcome any new kid on the block. All prestigious and cute, we visited during their grand opening. Truly was a great experience, folks were friendly and fast, whipping up batches and scooping em up in cones or cups. I was soo excited to try their Royal Wedding cake flavor and it was darn good! Might not be on the menu for too long as it's a seasonal flavor. Royal Wedding cake ice cream// "Floral, sweet cream cheese ice cream. Chunks of lemon sponge cake layered with elderflower frosting." Another flavor that's a total classic is their honeycomb ice-cream. It paired perfectly well with their crispy and fresh waffle cone. I was delighted. The flavor I got was regal, classy and sweet. Just the way I like things. I'm a fan of elderflower notes and the lemon definitely spritzied up the flavor, which goes so well with said notes. This spot has always been known for their vegan flavors. But all those that love moo milk can rejoice, because they have classic dairy flavors as well. I thought VL would outdo itself in a not good way, but it was great and I'm happy to welcome this spot in the new Montrose Collective Plaza. Toodle-oo! You'll be a sweet spot to savour during these warmer months that are coming up ahead. Keep calm, chill out, and eat some ice-cream!

Decided on dessert after a delicious dinner earlier and when I looked up the address it was fairly close. It was kind of hard to find once in Montrose because the ice cream shop is tucked away from the street, but it is directly across Katz in the shopping center. We were greeted and treated to samples. I opted for pistachio with the vegan whip cream (delicious but heavy on the nutty flavor), royal wedding cake also with vegan whip, and a mini sundae with cherries on top. All were delicious and satisfying, not overly rich and you can tell it's real ice cream. There is minimal indoor seating but right outside their shop is a breezeway with chairs and tables. We thoroughly enjoyed our sweet treat and recommend this ice cream shop!

Great spot in a new building - Montrose Collective! They offer a variety of vegan, gluten free and dairy inclusive flavors. I got 3 scoops for $10. A bit pricey, but this area is new and they also need to make rent. So, all in all I give it 4 out of 5.

Such a kind and welcoming staff!! Their happy attitudes are enough to make me go back! The ice cream is also delicious!!! Every thing is so fresh and the shop smells divine. I love this location, it's awesome!

I returned to celebrate Elite Week and I had to try the Montrose exclusive flavor, Bananas for Cheese, again! It didn't disappoint and is a must try if you visit the Montrose location. The chocolate chunks weren't as off-putting as they were when I first tried it. I also got a scoop of the honeycomb icecream and while I can't definitively say it taste like honeycomb, it is undeniably delicious. It taste like a really great sweet cream flavor ice cream. I also sampled the Brownsugar Cookie Dough Chunk which was really good! The only reason why I didn't go with that flavor is because I didn't think it would pair well with Bananas for Cheese. The Brownsugar Cookie Dough slightly reminded me of brownie batter and I felt like it could be "remixed" with a nice espresso flavored ice cream.

Great customer service I've cream is amazing!!! Will definitely be back for more waffle cone was nice and warm and ice cream was flavorful

Might be one of new favorite ice cream shops! Flavor options were plenty and were so yummy! This location is also just in a fun and pretty area.

Tried the Bananas n cheese and brown sugar cookie dough chunk flavors - both delicious and unique! The highlight of my visit was the employee though, who was super helpful at packing up our ice cream to go, as well as advising others on flavor choices! The location was definitely short on parking which was annoying but overall great experience!

Perfect treat in this crazy Texas heat. The Blueberry Shortcake is a perfect summer flavor. The girl working was so friendly and sweet despite being so swamped !

Delicious! Friendly people working and amazing ice cream. The holiday flavors (gingerbread and peppermint) are the bomb. My fave is the vegan mint chip. Soooo good. Love that they have ice cream available to most even those with dietary issues. Come and try it out... you won't be disappointed.

A bit pricey but absolutely loved the praline butter cake and the PB brownie chip. So good!

As soon as we came in the door we were greeted with extremely friendly smiles. The young man behind the counter asked if it was our first time (which it was) and immediately asked us if we would like to sample any of the flavors. He had us try a few of the best sellers and told us a little bit about the difference in vegan and regular offered items. The place inside was small but fun and bright at the same time. Definitely recommend the waffle cones along with your choice of ice cream. This place definitely exceeded our expectations! Can't wait to go back

The ice cream is nothing to write home about for the price. Private selection is way better.

What a great spot for a sweet treat! I loved the building shopping center this ice cream shop is situated within -- there's room outside to sit down or walk around. Plenty of options with unique flavors (including vegan)! I opted for a waffle cone with praline butter cake ice cream, and it was delicious!

LOVED LOVED LOVED this ice cream!!!! I got the earl gray and honeycomb flavor and it's a delight that I keep on thinking about so so much ever since I went and I cannot wait to eat some again TONIGHT!!! Hope these flavours are still there! great place! Very romantic too! And the service was really good as well, they're so nice!

Ice cream is not so creamy or sweet very interesting texture and flavor I got chocolate and pistachio ice cream. Service was very slow and very blunt interaction but ambiance is a good cozy spot and location. The only thing to make sure is expect to pay 6.65 for one scoop in just a cup.

This ice cream is very tasty but has a high price point. If you want an indulgent treat they have a lot of unique flavors and options. I have yet to try the vegan ice cream, but I assume if you want vegan ice cream this is a good place to go, or a good place for the option if you have a split crowd.

Ice cream is great, cookies even better. The staff is very helpful and friendly. Very clean inside, be mindful they do have customers so it does get a little crowded but goes away quick.

Im so glad the Montrose Collective is happening. This was a nice treat in the first floor of the collective (still being built!) . Jeni's in the Heights is still premier for me but the wide array of selections is still really good! I also love the fact that they have a fridge for to-go options!

Yummy ice cream! I love specialty shops that use local ingredients and are quaint. The employee was very helpful and offered us samples to help us choose our order. The Cheese for Bananas (think elevated Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey) was sooooo good.