Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

I ordered the Praline Butter Cake through DoorDash, and it arrived well-packaged. The ice cream wasn’t melted, but it was just the right softness that I like when I eat my ice cream. However, I was expecting more of a crunch. The pralines were very finely chopped, which was a bit disappointing. Being from the South, I eat pralines often and they’re one of my favorite sweets. Bigger chunks in the ice cream would go so far and it definitely would have made this a five-star experience. For me it didn't immediately vault into my top five, but the quality of the ice cream is obvious. I’m definitely willing to give Van Leeuwen one more shot to win me over with a different flavor next time.

The Cinnamon Caramel Apple ice cream is the best flavor I’ve had in a long time. Tiff provides exceptional customer service and truly deserves all her flowers. She’s an absolute joy! I’ll definitely be back!!!

10/10 best ice cream ever! Love that you can buy pints to enjoy at home too! Tiphanie was absolutely amazing and was super helpful explaining the flavors. I will definitely be coming back again and again. :)

Loved the service. Loved the ice cream even more. OMG. The pistachio was my favorite. Mixed with coffee. Must have with fresh made waffle. Great after dinner spot.

I went here a couple of weeks ago looking for a flavor I tried years ago, and unfortunately it was seasonal. HOWEVER, Tiff asked me questions about the flavors I like, and recommended some of the most delicious ice cream i've ever had. I'm not even that into ice cream, but her recommendation was so so delicious. Besides that, the store was clean, the line moved efficiently, and the staff (namely Tiff) were SO nice and helpful. Will definitely be back and will definitely bring my friends! Thank you Tiff!!!

Stopped by Van Leeuwen DC at Union Market to celebrate a win for the kiddos and was blown away by Tiph’s customer service. I wish I could give her 10 stars alone for her greeting. She was warm, attentive, and incredibly thoughtful from the start. I came in craving vegan Cookies & Cream and Strawberry Shortcake but was curious about the Sicilian Pistachio. After a sample didn’t quite sway me, Tiph suggested a pistachio topper instead—and it paired perfectly. She truly elevated the experience. Thanks again, Tiph! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Every Flavor I tried was amazing! Totally better than Jenni’s ! Excited to be eating great ice cream again! Kihm was so amazing with helping me choose the perfect scoop for me! Tiff was also instrumental in making the experience pleasant with showing me her favorite signs! “Counting Calories is easy if you Stop”. I got the Gooder (2 scoops) with Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb & Vegan Cookies& Cream Caramel Swirl. Honeybee Mentions: Mango Sorbet Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Brownie!

Lovely ice cream shop by Union Market. They had such a wide variety of ice creams! I got the blue jasmine passion fruit swirl. The jasmine taste was too strong for me, but it was sweet and creamy. Seemed very family friendly, service was good as well!

I had to try Van Leeuwen when I saw that they are near Union Market! There was a line, but it was worth the wait. The playlist was awesome, and it felt like club music! The price for one scoop is $8, which breaks the bank and my heart. But the ice cream is delicious, and I suppose I shouldn't be shocked by the price of anything these days. I got the brown sugar cookie dough brownie flavor. Very good!! I will be back.

Nothing better than yummy ice cream I took my niece after a show to get some ice cream from this NYC brand. We tasted flavors, got toppings, and enjoyed the creamy dreamy dessert while people watching.

I was thrilled to discover this addition to Union Market, offering a delightful sweet complement to the array of great food in the area. The ice cream selection is both extensive and distinctive, with a variety of flavors that continually surprise and satisfy. What sets Van Leeuwen apart is their commitment to providing a plethora of vegan options, a rarity among ice cream establishments. A visit here promises a fresh experience with ever-changing seasonal flavors. The atmosphere offers a lively and playful vibe, perfectly encapsulating the joy of indulging in a scoop of ice cream. While the warmer months may bring longer lines that stretch out the door, the staff at Van Leeuwen are adept at managing the crowds, ensuring a seamless experience. Additionally, the option to purchase pints to-go right in the shop is a convenient perk, ideal for those cozy nights in.

Amazing ice cream! So good that when I saw it again in NYC, we lined right up. They have unique flavors, and everything we tried was great!

The pricing is ridiculous. And disappointing that they were out of stock of the seasonal flavors. But the ice cream itself is so delicious and no line in the middle of a hot Wednesday, so it's 4 stars!

I am a Jenis/Morellis type of girl so my expectations were high. The earl grey tasted exactly like the tea, the brown sugar one mainly tasted like brownies. The ice cream was good but just good. The taste was very milky and the texture of ice cream from a tub. I would've preferred a creamier, softer ice cream, but still good.

Was just ok. I prefer haagen dasz. Their ginger flavor was bad. The guy at the counter seemed a little annoyed when I asked to try different flavors. Parking is on the street and it is free on Sunday. Honestly I don't see myself coming back here. It was just okay

Unique ice cream with 24 flavors including 8 vegan flavors and 1/2 dozen seasonal flavors. While I enjoying sampling the fall flavors (pumpkin cheesecake), I'm glad I chose the Brown Sugar Cookie Dough Brownie in a large housemade waffle cone! The brown sugar flavor was decadent with chunks of cookie dough and brownie pieces mixed in. The crunchy waffle cone was quite sweet and reminded me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. The pairing was a bit of a sugar overload. Next time, I'll get the ice cream just by itself. The service was just as sweet as the ice cream! After I got a scoop, a staff member gave me a card for complimentary ice cream! About a month ago, I didn't get anything, and the staff was still really nice. I see pints of Van Leeuwen Ice cream at my local grocery store and glad there are more storefront locations popping up in the city. Happy to support this sweet local business!

If I could give it a 10/5 I would. Amazingly friendly staff and amazing icecream. I was a little confused buy honey comb flavored ice cream but omg is was amazing!! Definitely would go again

I like how they have a variety of flavors and several vegan options for those who need them. It's pricy and more than I normally spend on ice cream, but I really enjoyed the flavors that I tried (brown sugar cookie dough brownie and honeycomb). The line moves a bit slow as well but they do let you try flavors before ordering!

I visited because I've heard awesome things about their unique flavors. Luckily I was within walking distance to the shop and went in with two friends. The line was long BUT it moved fast. The staff could have worked a little more efficiently in my opinion as someone who's worked in the food industry before but alas that's neither here nor there and does not affect the taste of the ice cream. I was so close to buying their super cute bag but decided to just focus on ice cream this visit. Maybe next visit!! I got the cookies and cream with the mint as well, which was super tasty. Such a nice combo if you need a refreshing flavor for a hot day!

Overall, 3.5/5 for location and cost, but bumping it to a 4/5 because Van Leeuwen ice cream is so smooth & creamy with unique flavors. I came here on a Monday night with a couple friends after dinner in Shaw. We thought this was inside of Union Market, but it's not. It's two blocks away, lol. The interior has a lot of yellow and lots of colors on top of yellow. And some cute little posters about heavy cream is like kale and not counting calories, I think. I haven't had Van Leeuwen Ice Cream since last year March (which was actually in NYC). Seeing a Van Leeuwen open in DC made me super happy because I remembered how good it was, so I knew I had to stop by again. ONE SCOOP - 6.90 The one scoop is also ridiculously small. Like someone else had said, they also brought the NYC pricing to DC, yuck! Fortunately, the staff was nice and let me sample a few different flavors before I made my final choice. The "Malted Milkshake & Fries" was a unique and funny flavor I've never seen elsewhere, so I knew I had to choose that one. It's essentially vanilla ice cream with some bits of fries, LOL. So not too sweet, with crumbs of savory potatoes/fries per bite. Definitely a very unique flavor and while I enjoyed it, I probably won't get it in the future. If I wanted something like this, I'll just go to McDonald's nearby and get a vanilla cone + order of fries for the same experience (1/2 the price and 3x the quantity). My friends enjoyed their waffle cones. I got to try the "Birch Bark" which has a strong and deep raspberry puree flavor, but a bit too sweet for my taste. The "Honeycomb" was nice with a nice crunch (would definitely recommend to the honey lovers out there!).

I walked in on a Sunday around 4pm and the place was empty - completely opposite of how it was about a month ago with a line down the block. I hopped in because a friend told me they had vegan ice cream options and I was excited! The place was quiet and had about 5-6 vegan options in their own section. I wasn't too excited about the vegan option but then an employee told me they had gingerbread ice cream behind the counter ...And it was FANTASTIC! You could see pieces of ginger bread cookie in the ice cream. It was GREAT! I will be back soon for an ice cream meet up with my friend

Steps away from Union Market is D.C.'s first location of Brooklyn-based Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Park for free in the Union Market or the La Cosecha parking lot/garage and walk into a yellow-painted ice cream shop with quotes on the walls, one public restroom, a few seats, and lots of ice cream scoops. With more than 20 flavors of ice cream, vanilla bean and strawberry are their more standard flavors. Malted milkshake and fries, birch bark (by a local chef), and early grey tea are their more unique flavors. They have a few vegan options too. I went for a scoop of brown sugar cookie dough brownie in a freshly-made waffle cone and it was very creamy. My daughter got a sundae with creamy whipped cream, thick fudge, and a fancy cherry on top. If you love ice cream, drop in and try a scoop or buy a pint from the feezer inside.

Pretty good ice cream with nice flavours! Had some sampling which was nice to have too. The place is extremely yellow coloured. Their bathroom was clean. Decent ice cream!

This place opened up very recently, and it is very popping! I think that this place has some pretty unique flavors with very distinct/strong tastes. I personally think the scoops sizes are pretty stingy, and the prices higher than other ice cream locations in the DC area. I got the earl grey flavor and the bark flavor. This place also has a lot of merchandise such as a tot bag, and t-shirts. Currently they are giving out free stickers which I would gladly use to rep because they are really cute. Definitely a place to watch grow as they have opened several locations in the DC area.

Great place to have ice cream. We went there after dinner late night . Done if the flavors were finished. Managed to get praline and walnuts . The person who served me the ice cream have me a tiny portion . My small serving ice team was almost at the bottom of my waffle cone .many family got better servo g from another person. Great taxing ice cream. I posted the pictures .Also my walnuts I got three only .

Service: waiting in like was a little long but expected as this location had only opened yesterday! Service went quickly but at some points there was a wait for waffle cones since they were hand made. All the workers were friendly and helpful when asking questions about the flavors. Best part is that you can get a sample so you're not stuck with a flavor you don't like. Flavors: Cookies and Cream - basic but done well nonetheless! Nothing special I would opt for something more unusual especially for the price. Honeycomb - actually really good! The actual pieces give a good texture in the rich ice cream. Malted Milkshake with fries - honestly just strange. The texture is weird and it tasted like meat to me. Not sure about this flavor wouldn't recommend. I would try a sample first if you're that insistent on trying it. Marion Berry Cheesecake - amazing! I hadn't heard of a Marion Berry before but it was really good with the cheesecake bits in it! Birch Bark - smoky with raspberry. I was hesitant to get it after the sample but definitely worth a try at least once. Overall my favorites were the Honeycomb and Marion Berry. I would be interested in trying the vegan flavors! They sound really good! Ambiance is moderate noise. They have music playing and most people don't stay in the shop since there's very little seating. A nice treat every once in a while but a bit pricey considering it's craft ice cream.

A new restaurant/shop in Union Market is always exciting! This is Van Leeuwen's first DC store location. There will be two more opening in / around DC in the summer, closer to June/July. I went and tried every single flavor. They were all fantastic! The staff is SO nice and very friendly. They even took a picture of me with the ice cream which was appreciated. They have such a variety of unique flavors to choose from. There's something for everyone, and they have many vegan options as well! Their waffle cones are fresh and crunchy. I will say it is on the pricier side for ice cream, but worth it in my opinion. After debating, I settled on the vanilla (yes it is a great vanilla), and the Black Cherry Chip flavors! Honorable mention are honeycomb and peanut butter brownie chip. You can't go wrong with any flavor here though. Really excited to see this open, just in time for spring and summer!

I'm not native to DC. I come from the land of traffic and wannabe actors, Los Angeles. So I stumbled upon this place with zero context outside of ice creaaaammmmmm. It's been a week since I was in D.C. and I can still remember the taste of the ice cream. I still think and dream about the ice cream. Writing this review makes me sad because I know I won't be able to have their ice cream in LA. People were kind and patient with me while I got my fill of samples. The place inside is very hip and speaks to millenial parents and nonparents. After sampling, I decided for their brownie cookie dough and honey crunch. I truly truly am sad that I can't have it again and was debating on having it for breakfast before I left because it was that delicious to me. It's definitely pricey but that's the cost of artisanal ice cream. I thought it was worth every penny and would do it over and over and over again if I could.

A great edition to the union market area but definitely try to time it right or plan on standing in line! In the evenings after 9 is when it's really crowded (after dinner rush I suppose) so plan to wait for 30 minutes. Is it worth a 30 minute wait? Honestly no, you can buy the same pints at Giant, but if you have time to kill or the shop happens to be empty definitely give it a try! I've tried the regular ice cream, milk shakes, and cones, and really think the milkshakes are the way to go. They are thick, creamy, and decadent. Since it's french ice cream, it blends really well into a shake. The waffle cones are also great! Earl Grey is definitely my favorite flavor but love the brown sugar cookie dough as well. They also have some limited seasonal flavors. I tried ice cream cake when it was available which was a fun take on those ice cream bar sandwiches and tasted like cookies and cream but softer. The colors of the shop are fun and playful but it's way too crowded to think about taking cute pictures. Definitely check it out!

I didn't know Van Leeuwen had brick and mortar stores, but I'm really glad I tried it! The prices you see in grocery stores match the steepness of the scoops here. $7 is very expensive for a smaller than usual portion, but an ice cream splurge once in a while is okay. It was delicious and the perfect mix of creamy but still frozen/holding together and not melting easily. There is also limited indoor seating, but we were able to grab a table on a Sunday afternoon. I will be back to try other flavors if I'm in the area!

I came here to satisfy my sweet tooth after contemplating going to get cookies and let's just say one baby scoop of Ice cream satisfied my craving. This establishment has quite a variety of vegan options and even a flavor option named after the Late Great "Marion Berry Cheesecake", which is a great choice, they let me sample it and my taste buds had a party. I ultimately decided on the brown sugar cookie dough brownie flavor, I was craving chocolate. I enjoyed this flavor very much. The ice cream had the right amount of cookie dough pieces and brownie bits which complemented each other well‼

I had no idea that this was the ice cream that they sell at every major supermarket! Now I understand why. The unique flavors and the service here were great! There was no limit on how many flavors you could try. And the flavors were unique like: Honeycomb, passionfruit, espresso affagato, earl grey tea, all the cookies, and others. Note that there are no kids scoops and you can't do split scoops so you will likely get two scoops because it is that good! LOTS of vegan options which were equally delicious too! I liked the lemon sorbet flavor.

The staff was quick to scoop the ice cream and provide samples. I love that they have vegan options especially for my lactose intolerant foodies. I love how they have unique ice cream cream flavors. I personally got the Earl grey flavor it was so light and tasted like the tea. The cone you get for free but if you don't want a mess get the cup and put the cone on top with it. It's walking distance from union market so come here on a hot summer day!

For the indecisive soul (me), choosing a flavor can be stressful. KB was an incredible wordsmith, detailing the food science and source of some of their flavors -- including pistachio (from Italy), earl grey tea (steeped every morning with cream), strawberry (harvested from Oregon), and Birch Bark (created with actual bark, steeped delicately with custard). They were super friendly, patient and reassuring of the limitless taste samples, and my friend and I ended up happy campers! My order: root beer float + birch bark; friend ordered a single scoop of pistachio Ambiance: fun bright colors, limited seating indoors but plenty of walking space and area to sit outside to enjoy some sun

What DC needs is another cute ice cream shop!! So excited to learn Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is making it way to dc and in one of the best neighborhoods. I was driving by and saw the bright yellow and pink decor and told my friend we must check in out after doing dinner in Union Market.... We happily walked over and of course it was a line. I must say it was worth the wait! I had to opt in for the two scoops because why not!! I also love that they had adventures options for everyone .... My vegan lovers can really enjoy something more than a basic flavor. I love that they stay open late for those leaving dinner and the staff kept it fun and exciting made we wanna hang for a while! Totally going back

Reason for rating is due to slow service, lack of seating, and cost for what you get. In my opinion it's just not worth the wait if it's cold or raining. I love the ice cream but I want something quick and easy. Hire more people and invest in some seating.

The best ice cream. Period. Lost of vegan and none vegan options and all of them are fire. Try the affagato.

This location feels smaller than the AdMo one and the line seemed to move a bit slower, but I will continue to wait in line for this ice cream. The vegan options are top notch, and actually taste like dairy-based ice cream. The peanut butter brownie honeycomb is fantastic, but the cookies and cream caramel swirl and the chocolate chip cookie dough are also amazing. It's expensive but worth it!

My boyfriend and I visit NYC regularly and try to visit a Van Leeuwen shop, especially for a late-night treat. So we were thrilled to learn they were opening shops in DC. We headed to their Union Market location on a lovely spring day. It's not actually in Union Market, but about a block south, just off 5th Street NE. The interior is bright and cheery, with a few seats off to both sides. (I agree with another reviewer who suggests adding chairs to the tables for more seating. But I've been to a location with even less seating.) What I love about Van Leeuwen is that they have a good selection of vegan options, made with cashew milk, oat milk, or a blend of both. While some places offer only one or two vegan flavors, the Van Leeuwen scoop shops offer six or seven, plus a sorbet. I tried the Peanut Butter Brownie Honeycomb (which isn't real honeycomb), while my boyfriend got Strawberry Shortcake and Planet Earth, which is a spring special, made with spirulina. While my ice cream had a lot going on, it was really good. The Planet Earth had a slight mint flavor (not peppermint or spearmint, but a plain mint). I don't get to the Union Market area often, so I'm really excited for the Adams Morgan location to open.

Cute new ice cream shop in union market area! Most notable pros - allergen information is CLEARLY posted and there's unique flavors and a super cute vibe. Only cons - not much seating (only two spots inside and no outdoor seating) and it was kind of silly that they charge $1 extra for whip on the milkshake (but don't tell you)... overall, cute little spot and love the art and they play good music!

10/10 - smooth, creamy and the perfect amount of Oreo in every bite. I love it it here, I'm definitely going back.

Stopped by after dinner nearby and expected the long line since there has been a lot of buzz around Van Leeuwen's opening. The line did move more quickly than I expected though, because there was a lot of staff behind the counter. There was a bit of a log jam because the line crosses the front door. It took us a minute to figure out where the line ended because so many people were standing around, either eating or waiting. It is so hard to decide on a flavor because there are so many delicious sounding options. Speaking of which, it appeared that the menu signage didn't match all the offerings because I saw a flavor in the display case at the last second (after I ordered) that I would have liked, that I didn't see on the menu while I was waiting. The staff were super friendly and provided samples when asked. There were three of us and we all agreed that the ice cream was delicious! The ambiance is fun and cheery, but there are very few seats and it was pretty cramped. So, you are better off taking your ice cream with you and going for a stroll.

Great dark chocolate fudge brownie ice cream in waffle cone. I like there are more ice cream options to the Union Market area now, besides The Creamery (which is also good).

Ambiance wa great. Had 4 speakers 5 cameras and 3 video display menu. Flavors were good we had a coffee honeycomb milkshake and a scoop of cookie and cream caramel/ scoop of brown sugar cookie dough brownie. Delectable! Service was great as well!

Filthy floor. Woefully understaffed. They have serious issues that they need to work out, especially with those prices.

Took a star off for the price point which is like $7/1 scoop, $9/2, $11/3. But otherwise the ice cream was really good and the staff super friendly. Tried the birch bark raspberry and it had that wintergreen/spicy flavor that you expect with birch bark/beer and super creamy. My friend got the vegan chocolate PB brownie honeycomb and it was excellent--tons of fillings and no hint at all that it was vegan. Also tried samples of the vegan planet earth (spirulina and match cake) which was better than I expected as well as the milkshake and fries which was def on the genuine potato side of the factors but wasn't bad

Pricey but solid! They let me sample several flavors before I settled with the Lemon Yuzu Sorbet and Honeycomb Ice cream. I wish there was more honeycomb pieces in the honeycomb ice cream but the Lemon Yuzu sorbet was refreshing and delicious. They have a ton of dairy free options as well like the sorbet. The waffle cone is a must get, it was the best waffle cone I've ever had

I love Van Leeuwen! The shops are an extra fun experience as you can get flavors not available in stores. Even got a tshirt so cute!

Poor attention to detail. They left the cookie out of my Uber order :( I only ordered two things and we were looking forward to that cookie.

I was eating next door, and for two hours, I watched so many people line up for this place. So I decided to give it a try. I sampled a couple of flavors--the vegan cookies and cream was a definite no. So I got two classic flavors--regular cookies and cream and dark chocolate fudge brownie--on a waffle cone. First, the waffle cone was not great, and it almost immediately started to get soggy. Second, the ice cream was lackluster. It had little flavor or depth. I've had better at Baskin-Robbins. I was very disappointed and wished I could get my money back. The service was decent and friendly, but at their prices, you are not getting what you pay for. If you want good ice cream, I recommend going to Jeni's.

First off, let me say that I love love LOVE Van Leeuwen ice cream. My favorites are the pistachio and earl grey and both are in regular rotation at our home. We were so excited to have the union market scoop shop open up so close to us. We've been a few times and don't think we'll be going back. Every time we've gone, we have felt a little ripped off. The prices are very high, and the serving size is super stingy. A single scoop is very literal. It's a single scoop, that's it. And it's 7 dollars. It's a good size for a child, but any adult is going to leave feeling ripped off and angry. For comparison, you can pick up a pint of Van Leeuwen at the grocery for $7.99. I understand that there is going to have to be some mark up to support the brick and mortar store, but the combination of extreme mark up and tiny portion size just leaves me feeling taken advantage of. Not to mention, we've gotten a couple of servings that had ice crystals in them. We'll keep eating Van Leeuwen, but we won't be back to the scoop shop.

Beyond the best ice cream I've ever had. By that I mean swear loudly because it was that good. I've also never seen someone hand out samples of food that they were that proud of, and rightfully so. Definitely a going to be a regular, dare I say daily, stop.

Excellent ice cream my son's favorite spot! Great flavors and varieties to choose from

I was super excited to try Van Leeuwen because of their vegan ice cream. When I asked for a scoop of something, the worker mistakenly scooped ice cream with peanuts in it. Once she realized, she used the same ice cream scoop to scoop the correct ice cream. When I told her that I have a peanut allergy, she went to go rinse off the scoop, but didn't seem to realize that she had cross contaminated a whole barrel of ice cream. As someone who has a serious peanut allergy and has had to go to the emergency room because of cross contamination and careless food preparation, I was alarmed and just wanted to warn others who may have similar allergy concerns.

Has anyone else noticed that the ice cream here has freezer burn? I was just there yesterday and was shocked by how horrible the ice cream texture was. For how expensive it is I expected a much higher quality and no freezer burn at the least. My husband got a strawberry milkshake for $11.50 and it was devoid of flavor, like drinking a glass of milk. The one positive is the customer service. The people who work there were all very nice. I feel bad that they have to serve such bad ice cream!