Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

If you're looking for the absolute BEST vegan ice cream in Philadelphia, look no further! Seriously, you cannot tell the difference between their vegan options and traditional dairy ice cream – it's that good. As someone with dietary needs (vegan and gluten-free), I was ecstatic to discover their Peanut Butter Honeycomb flavor. It's my personal favorite and a total game-changer. But what's even better is that my kids, who are big fans of "regular" ice cream, absolutely love this place too! That speaks volumes about the quality and taste. You truly can't go wrong with any of their offerings. We also highly recommend their milkshakes – the flavor is simply fabulous and makes for a perfect family treat. Beyond the incredible ice cream, the staff is also incredibly friendly and helpful. They are happy to answer any questions you have and make the whole experience even better. We are now regulars and this has become our go-to spot for delicious ice cream, vegan or otherwise. Don't miss out on this gem!

While the prices are high and the lines are long, it is worth it. The flavors were rich, the texture was dence and the portions were large. Particularly the sour cherry was my favorite by far. The contrast of sour and sweet worked really well. The waffles cone added a great texture and they can even make it vegan too. The staff was super friendly and had tones of energy which is more than I could say for myself if I was taking care of so many people all fay long. The line when we went wasn't too bad since it was late on a weekday.

I usually enjoy the vegan ice cream here but the seasonal mango sorbet was delicious! So flavorful and not watery. Staff was extremely kind and helpful. I love it here 😌😋

This was the highlight of my trip to Philadelphia. It’s the best I’ve cream I’ve had in a long time. I got the Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb on a whim and it was DELICIOUS!! Planning to go back for more. Also, the staff was kind and professional. Great ice cream spot!

It’s such a cute dainty shop! I love how bright & yellow the inside is. They have lots of ice cream flavors and also offer milkshakes, root beer float, sundaes, etc. They also have pints or quarts of ice cream to take home with you! I love how fast the line move and they also give you samples to try before purchasing!

The ice cream here did not disappoint! My sister and I shared the three scoop ice cream with the peanut butter honeycomb brownie, brown butter cookie dough brownie, and mint chip ice cream. It was a little pricey. There was also a long line but it was worth it in my opinion!

Loved the vibe! Friendly staff! Yummy vegan flavors. The sweet potato marshmallow and cookies and cream was a great double scoop combo.

Great customer service, and great location. I remembered that this location use to be another ice cream shop a few years back. The only gripe I have is paying $8.00 for a few scoops of ice cream. Besides that, the ice cream was fantastic.

My review of Van Leeuwen is pretty simple: absolutely DELICIOUS! I had a scoop of the Cookies and Cream and a scoop of the seasonal flavor, Sweet Potato Marshmallow Pie. The cookies and cream flavor was a classic with a caramel swirl twist. I was hesitant to try the sweet potato marshmallow pie, but I was blown away by how delicious this flavor was. I wish it was permanently on the menu. The sweet potato flavor and marshmallow pieces melt in your mouth. It was incredible. The best part is that both of these flavors were vegan and they had so many more vegan flavors. An excellent spot for ice cream lovers who have a dairy sensitivity! You can't even tell the options are vegan! They're just as rich and creamy and their dairy-based flavors.

Went to Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in downtown Philadelphia during a trip to visit the city. Clean and cute little ice cream shop and the staff at Van Leewen were friendly and attentive at the counter as they served customers. A small seating area was present that provided a nice reprieve from all the walking that we had done while enjoying our ice cream. I chose the honeycomb ice cream and didn't pick wrong here. Delicious flavor and the perfect consistency as the ice cream was creamy and smooth and a delight to enjoy. Everyone else loved their flavor selections, as well, and it seemed like if we were to head back here at some point everyone would want to pick a new option to try as so many good flavors were available.

I love Van Leeuwen ice cream! They offer such a fun approach to flavors. During my most recent visit, I was able to enjoy the vegan chocolate chip cookie kids cup. Before I landed on my decision the staff was kind enough to let me sample a few of the seasonal flavors. The establishment was clean and super quick in getting people in and out of the door!

Wonderful and some unique flavors. We came on a cold night and it was surprisingly busy. There was only one employee working and he was doing his best to manage all the commotion. I tried a couple flavors, and my fiance and I shared a two scoop bowl. My sister-in-law sent it with the candied apples and latkes seasonal flavor and it was not great. Tasted mostly like onions. Smelled like sweetness when you walked in and they had some seating available.

Delicious ice cream! I was visiting the city so can only compare the ice cream to shops in LA but this is one of my favorites! Though, I have to be transparent that I only got the honeycomb (which I was told was popular) and I totally understand why!!! It was sooo flavorful. The texture was creamy (not a fan when ice cream is too hard and difficult to scoop). It was sweet but not overwhelming. I went around 6pm on a Monday and didn't have to wait in line at all. The staff were extremely nice. Seating is very limited inside but wasn't an issue for me since I wanted to stand outside.

I can't believe I've been here 3 years now and I've never been here until recently. I've been missing out! I love the location of this store (heart of Center City) on Sansom. It was great to stop by after dinner. The flavor I got was phenomenal! I appreciated seeing the wide range of options and extending to vegan options. It smells wonderful in here, of course! It has such a great vibe and ambiance. The staff here were so sweet and have been on several occasions when I've come in and asked for directions or anything other than trying the cream! So glad I made the visit.

Rich and creamy ice cream that will bring you to your knees begging for more. Quick service every time. Also, the branding and packaging is so cute and aesthetic great for pics. We don't care if it's hot, cold, rainy, snowy we love this dang place.

Great spot for an ice cream. I stopped in right at closing and was eagerly served. Ice cream is tasty with a fridge full of flavors that cover the most discriminating tastebuds. Highly recommend!

Quick lines and delicious ice cream. I thought the flavors would be more creative and plentiful like Jeni's but we still enjoyed our Sunday. It was busy after dinner on Friday! He gave us rainbow instead of chocolate sprinkles but we didn't care

I should have gotten a little treat and not a gigantic monster treat. But it was hot outside and I saw the placard and needed it. The shop is an unassuming little space in the Middle of a busy area...and many times when I have walked by it's been packed. But I was the only customer the other day. The woman running the counter seemed genuinely excited about selling ice cream. I had never been before and she offered to let me sample, but I had my eye on the black forest cherry sundae and she was thrilled to make it because it's also so cute! The Sundae was delicious. A little fruity a little chocolate and some whip cream to make things festive. Great experience. Great staff, great ice cream. And a nice break from trudging around in the city heat.

So yum. I ordered a scoop of Chocolate Fudge Brownie (vegan) and a scoop of Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Chunk. Sprinkles, cookie crumble, whip cream. Delicious.

As Scoops for Snoots rolls on here in Philly, I find I have had more ice cream in the past few weeks than I've had my whole life! But why stop there? It's a 70 degree day? Long walk to MORE ice cream it is. Maybe it's just because I've eaten a LOT of amazing, artisan, locally made ice cream in the last few weeks, but my brown sugar brownie cookie dough scoops here at VL left me a little cold (no pun intended). There was no flavor punch and, while the ice cream was creamy adjacent, it lacked the richness I've come to expect from ice cream at this price point. I'd put it one step above Turkey Hill/Breyers at double the price. Mix ins were also lack luster. As someone who loves cookie dough, my scoops only having ~3 hunks left me bummed. I did try the chocolate ice cream with brownies as well and this was a much, much better call. Perhaps chocolate is what they do best and should heed that notice in the future. The staff here is super friendly and all was very efficient, so this is no knock to this location and more a feeling on the ice cream itself. Not my personal cup of tea but try for yourself!

I've been to Philly so many times but just happened to stumble upon this place this past Saturday. Didn't even know this recently opened here but nevertheless I was happy! I got the flavor brown sugar cookie dough, and it was amazing. I almost got earl grey tea which was amazing as well.

Came here for a little treat after dinner and will definitely return. The friendliest and sweetest service I have received in a while. The person who helped me would not stop smiling, giving out free samples of ice cream and was so kind! I ended up trying the vegan cookies and cream caramel swirl ice cream, and my friend ordered the vegan strawberry shortcake. Both 10/10! Would highly recommend for a sweet treat!

Is it overpriced? Yep. Is it overhyped? Yes sir. Is it good? Absolutely, and it came screaming to us on a scorching July afternoon last week. Tried the pistachio and honeycomb and both were excellent. Very creamy and very interesting flavors. Even our vegan friend was able to order something delicious and refreshing. On a red hot summer day, Van Leeuwen won't disappoint, and it'll even keep your snooty foodie friends interested with several out of the box choices. Probably not worth going out of your way for, but definitely worth stopping in when you're in the area.

I popped into Van Leeuwen for a sweet treat to end the night. I got the earl grey and black cherry chip ice cream. The workers at the store were very friendly and the service was quick. If you are looking for a late night treat , I suggest you check out van leeuwen!

cute & fun shop, perfect for a sweet bite after dinner! i personally love the vibrant/pastel-y color palette. the ice cream flavors here are solid, my all-time favorites are the honeycomb and the earl grey. i tried a couple of the new flavors this time, but defaulted to my tried and true honeycomb flavor. the ice cream here is definitely on the more expensive side, the smallest size (single scoop) comes out to be over $6. overall, this place is a great place with solid flavor options. staff is friendly and patient when taste-testing flavors. the shop is also open until pretty late at night, making it perfect for a post-dinner sweet treat.

FOOD We tried their honeycomb and cookies and cream scoops and both were delicious. The honeycomb was sweet, decadent, and definitely packed a punch of honey flavor more than I thought it would be able to. The cookies and cream was a classic option-- very chunky and rich, so can't go wrong here. Though for $6.75 for a single scoop, I would rather buy their pint from the grocery store to bring home and enjoy, but it was a great place to try out in-store once. SERVICE The staff are kind and friendly. We were able to sample a couple flavors before picking the one we liked. AMBIANCE The shop is small with limited seating, but makes for a cozy place to chat with friends while enjoying ice cream or a quick grab-and-go. I was surprised at how many people frequented the place even on a cold day, but the ice cream was well worth it.

Stopped by this place before dinner, and got two scoops of icecream. The employees were super sweet and allowed my friend and I to sample the flavors! Ice-cream flavors: Early Grey Honeycomb $6.75 for single scoop $8.35 for double scoop IG: @gabxeatz

Lots of ice cream options and also vegan ice cream/non dairy ice cream options. They've got some unique flavors as well. They also have pints for sale. They let you sample flavors before buying. I would go back for ice cream because the quality is pretty good. They do have long lines though especially in the evenings in the warmers months. The only other downside I can think of is the price. Pretty expensive for a regular scoop. Also their pints are almost $12. Yikes.

This ice cream was sooo good! I loved the earl grey tea. Be mindful that it is on the pricier side but worth it as a treat once in a while

Cozy, friendly and popular! A few friends and I decided on an impromptu day trip into Philly - best part about it was none of it was planned, so we played it by ear. After dinner, I was craving sweet, since we were from out of town, we sought out an ice cream spot that was nearby and had great ratings. Our explorations brought us to Van Leeuwen - the Philly location. The store itself is on the smaller side with just a few side tables available for the indoor seating. The décor on the walls was fun to look at - not your regular greenery and nature scenes. I enjoyed taking in the different images/sayings they had around the store as I waited for my friends to finish ordering what they wanted. The line can be quite long depending on the time of day. While we were in there, there were points of time that the line reached the door and other points in time when the line was just a few people long. The employees, regardless of the length of the line, were spectacular with each customer they dealt with and didn't exhibit any signs of impatience even with the out-of-towners who asked lots of questions and requested a couple of samples to try. :) Their flavor options were excellent. They had a few common flavors, but many of them were DIFFERENT which was nice. If I'm making a stop at an ice cream store, it's nice to see something I can't just get while I'm doing my regular grocery shopping. In addition to the exceptional flavors available, there were vegan options offered here and it made my on/off vegan heart happy. When you're looking for places to meet/hang out with friends, it's tough when you're a vegan and don't consume many items that are commonly found in every day items. To have a place that makes both sides of the spectrum happy is exciting. All in all, for an impromptu trip based off of a craving, it was well worth the visit. You should absolutely check it out if you're in the area.

Outstanding ice cream!!!! Cute store inside, with a few seats and booths. The server was so nice too, despite our indecisiveness on what ice cream to get. Earl gray ice cream was delicious!!! So creamy and perfect amount of sweetness.

We were having lunch and I was pleasantly surprised to see Van Leeuwen across the way. I enjoy their ice cream, especially their earl grey tea and pistachio. They also have some interesting collabs. This is my first time at one of their shops though. The employee was nice. She encouraged us to sample different flavors. I decided to go with BigFace Coffee Affogato. It was creamy and delicious.

Good ice cream spot with an excellent location in Midtown - fun flavors, cool interior, tastes good. Can confirm the to-go pints are a viable option as well after giving them a try recently. Bonus points for having vegan options too. Only real negatives would be 1) there's always an immense line and I prefer the served ice cream experience to the pints, 2) everything is a bit pricey, and 3) the flavors are good but perhaps not as unique and exceptional as other ice cream spots IMO. Even so these are minor qualms overall. Still a great ice cream option and well worth a visit. Strong 4/5

We shared 5 - yes 5! - scoops of ice cream after a hot night of soccer. It was hard to decide what flavors to choose but finally decided on sour cherry creamsicle, chocolate chunk cereal milk, peanut butter brownie honeycomb, black cherry chip, and another berry flavor. We even saw a Kraft Mac and cheese flavor in the cooler but didn't feel brave enough to try it! Ice creams were excellent, smooth and creamy; the fan favorite was the peanut butter brownie honeycomb. Service was friendly and it was bright and clean inside.

I've heard great things about this ice cream and there are locations all over Philly and it's even sold in my local grocery stores back home. The line for the 13th street location was about 20 mins. long. It's a popular destination for all of us tourists seeing the sights. Plus, the day was super hot. I would've liked to have seen and sampled the ice cream, but with the line and the fact that the ice cream was covered in freezer bins made my decision difficult. I ended up with the sour cherry and the black cherry chip. The sour cherry was indeed sour, and I wouldn't order it again. The black cherry chip was delicious, but I don't know if one scoop in a cup is worth 6-7 dollars. Honestly, I think Oberweis in Illinois has better ice cream.

The earl grey ice cream is to die for! It was very rich and creamy, the earl grey flavor was pretty pronounced but not too strong. The shop itself is very cute!! I would have loved to try the ranch flavor though..

Holy cannoli! Stopped in hoping that there would be some decent vegan options. Was absolutely blown away by how incredibly delicious all the vegan options were! Hands down some of the best vegan ice cream I have ever had. I recommend all of their flavors they were that good! The server was extremely nice too!

Varied options and delicious results. My nephew and I stopped here after a Friday night show at the Academy of Music, so there was naturally a long line (which the two workers served efficiently). They were out of waffle cones and the flavor I wanted by the time we got there, but my Earl Grey was delicious, and my nephew's honeycomb ice cream was fantastic. So good. It is pricey, but when you order one scoop or two, you're definitely getting more than that. And it's a specialty ice cream place, so what do you expect? They also have lots of vegan options, which makes it an easy spot to satisfy different dietary needs. I'll definitely be back... and daydream about that honeycomb ice cream.

I love love eating ice cream any time of the year. While looking for decent places in the Philly area, I saw the reviews looking promising, so I said why not. Although it's hard to find with the construction happening right in front. When I did, I was glad. Free samples, because it's so hard to choose. I got mine, something with cookie dough. It tasted homemade and with sprinkles added, it made it 10x better. I'll definitely return.

The ice cream was perfect! The service was average and the person giving us the ice cream did not look happy working. It's definitely a good place to swing by for a quick dessert. Inside there is seating available but can get filled up quickly. The vibe is very calm. I recommend swinging by before late night. So more of grab and go type of place.

If you like to get ice cream for dessert after dinner Van Leeuwen is a great option. It's open till 11pm and Midnight on weekends. The strawberry was creamy and refreshing it did not have an artificial strawberry flavor. There were plenty of strawberry chunks in the ice cream which was so satisfying. I paired it with another flavor both were quality and delicious. The cones are fresh and made in-house you get a pretty decent amount with two scoops for the price. You can try different flavors to sample like most ice cream shops with similar concepts but the staff are nice about it if you try multiple flavors. They have some specialty flavors at times and vegan options. It's definitely a solid option if you love ice cream. So if you go Enjoy!

My East Coast folks don't understand how lucky they are. I have always wondered about this ice cream brand. I only see it in the freeEr section of my local grocery store. When I realized there was a shop and the reviews were great I had to give it a try. I'll keep it simple: Van Leeuwen's for the win! Go get a scoop, or two, three

It is pretty and delicious and Vegan~so it doesn't have milk in it~ amazing for sensitive stomach

Cute ice cream shop. Really loved their mission and brand. Unique selections! I had the Praline Butter Cake which was amazing. They have vegan options as well. The staff was really friendly and I enjoyed the ambiance inside.

This past Sunday, I stopped in DC while waiting for the train. I tried this Ice Cream at the Amtrak station. I must say I am obsessed; the customer service was fantastic. The young lady was friendly and patient. The two flavors I had were "Dark Chocolate Fudge Brownie" and "Bigface Coffee Affogato." had my taste buds dancing the rest of the night.

Great service! We came here cuz the line was super long for Franklin Fountain. What a great choice! I got the planet earth- as pictured. Spirulina VEGAN ice cream with matcha cake pieces- an INSTANT win for me. Y'all know I love 90s music, and there were 90s r&b classics spinning in the background. I'm familiar with Van Leeuwen from back home in NYC, and this spot did NOT disappoint! I was able to get a small taste before I placed my order, and I am so happy with my choice. I will be back, very soon.

First time at a storefront but definitely not the first time having a scoop of Van Leeuwen ice cream! I'm more used to their vegan ice cream so I didn't realize they also made regular dairy/milk ice cream! Came here around 8:30pm and there was still a lot of people waiting to get their ice cream fix. There were more milk-based ice cream flavors rather than vegan ice cream flavors and by that time they were out of waffle cones. There were some seats near the front that were hugging the wall but other than that I think it was more of a to-go place. Decided to get the vegan seasonal flavor which was Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Pie. The ice cream tasted like chocolate sorbet--super creamy and rich. There were pockets of pumpkin pie mixed in and thankfully those pieces weren't too sweet as I think it would have been overwhelming.

Yes, the ice cream is delicious and you should get some! The staff is friendly and the prices are reasonable for the craftiness/creativity of the products. The Brown Sugar Cookie Dough was delicious. Hopefully you can avoid the long lines.

This may be your spot if you love love love oce cream. Ice cream is an OK dessert for me unless there are unique flavors. Which I don't think VL offers. I have their Earl Grey pint at home, so obviously I'm not going to pay the same price for a scope for a pint I have sitting in my freezer. I tried the honeycomb which was ok, I just super sugary. There weren't chunks of honeycomb or anything and it definitely didn't taste like honey. I also sampled the lemon elderflower which just tasted like lemon.

Honestly, my first visit to Van Leeuwen was disappointing. The shop had just opened, the staff were still working out the kinks, and the cookies and cream scoop I ordered was so sweet, I basically couldn't taste the cookie flavor - it just tasted like sugar. But since then, I've really warmed to the place. The matcha ice cream was great. I like that they also provide exciting and interesting flavor options for vegans, and not just some fruit sorbets. The service is efficient and consistent. The milkshake made with their chocolate ice cream is decadent - and the one made with their strawberry ice cream is outstanding, capturing the fresh essence of the fruit. I'm not much of a toppings person, but if I happen to be in on a Tuesday (when they do free toppings), I can't pass up on the pastel rainbow sprinkles. I've stopped in at least four or five times now and it seems each time is a little better than the time before, which definitely keeps me - and if the long lines indicate anything, the rest of the neighborhood - coming back!

Staff was extremely accommodating and pleasant. Ice cream was DELICIOUS and they had very inventive flavors. The ambiance was of an old town parlor. Pleasantly surprised!

Delicious hand dipped ice cream with unusual flavors - the dark cherry chip was great! But the outside and inside appearance of the restaurant needs to be improved- very dismal and dirty.

100% recommend. Their flavors are unique and their ice cream is heaven sent! I recently tried their "Planet Earth" flavor which was blue spirulina almond ice cream with pieces of matcha green tea cake. A+. I am not the biggest fan of ice cream but am always down to come here for dessert. I grew up next to two farms that made their own icecream fresh from their cows milk- so my ice cream standards are pretty high. Van Leeuwen is fantastic!

Tasty ice cream. They have a sign inside that says something along the lines of "Is our ice cream healthy? No. But it is good for you? Yes! Our ice cream brings customers joy and happiness and that's equally as important." And I agree. I ate some tasty ice cream here and left satisfied and happy :)

I'm very happy that this ice cream place has opened in Philadelpha. It has been in my list of places to visit in NYC. Now I don't have to go to NYC to enjoy the ice cream. The list of flavors is on the wall. You can ask for samples. There are several options of non dairy ice cream. The pints are available in the freezer. I was hoping to try Mac and cheese ice cream by the scoop but it is only available in pints. The employee who helped me was friendly. I ended up getting PB brownie chips and mint with waffles cone. The waffle is ok. The mint is refreshing and I could definitely taste the peanut butter.

I was one of the many waiting in the long line for $1 scoops in honor of Van Leeuwen's Grand Opening in Philly. I had never tried their ice cream before, so I was excited for the chance to taste it at such a great price. Sadly, I was not one of the lucky ones to snag a swag bag or give away prize. Once I finally made it inside, I was delighted by the delicious smells and cute aesthetic. They had a wide assortment of flavors with a menu that clearly highlights potential allergen information. The reason that this experience lost a star for me is because when my friend with a severe nut allergy mention this to the employee taking his order, we learned that there is cross contamination. This was a huge bummer after having to wait 45 minutes in the heat for a scoop of ice cream. I understand that the same scoops are put back into a bucket of water with other scoops that may have touched other nut containing ice cream flavors. However, there was no signing advertising potential cross contamination. Warning to those with nut allergies: make sure to ask if cross contamination is going to be an issue. Maybe this was just a grand opening issue, and in the future they'd be able to get a clean scoop for those with allergies. Luckily, we were able to grab a pint for him to take home to make the trip (and line) worth it! I ordered a scoop of the Peanut Butter Brownie Chip ice cream on a cone. Sadly, the employee scooping my ice cream misunderstood me and served it in a cup. The place was packed and that paired with wearing masks led to unclear communication which is no worries! I thought the ice cream flavor was good, but not my favorite. I would definitely return to try other flavors!

Great ice cream!! I didn't care for the vegan but the regular ice cream is so smooth and flavorful. I'm visiting from out of town and have come twice so far!