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Morris County has a serious ice cream scene. From historic parlors that have been scooping for nearly 70 years to creative shops slinging dairy-free flavors and ice cream tacos, the lineup here is one of the deepest in New Jersey. Whether you’re chasing a classic cone, an ice cream cake for a party, or a vegan pint you can take home, there’s a Morris County shop that handles it better than any chain.
Here are 7 ice cream spots you need to try in Morris County, NJ.
1. Taylor’s Ice Cream Parlor, Chester
Taylor’s has been scooping since 1956, making it one of the oldest ice cream shops in Morris County. Set inside the historic 1876 Centennial building at 18 Main Street in downtown Chester, the parlor serves more than 50 homemade flavors a day, plus soft serve, hand-dipped shakes, banana splits, vegan and sugar-free options, Italian ices, and custom ice cream cakes. Black raspberry and cherry vanilla are local favorites. Pair a scoop with a walk through Chester’s downtown shops and you have a full Sunday afternoon.
Address: 18 Main Street, Chester, NJ 07930
2. Denville Dairy, Denville
A Morris County institution. Denville Dairy at 34 A Broadway has been making homemade ice cream for more than 50 years. The shop hand-packs its own pints, builds custom ice cream cakes, and stocks deep-cut flavors like Coffee Oreo, Vanilla Peanut Butter, Guinness, and Maple Walnut, plus a wildly popular American Pie made with real strawberries and blueberries. Expect a line in the summer, take a number, and trust that the wait is part of the experience.
Address: 34A Broadway, Denville, NJ 07834
3. Cliff’s Homemade Ice Cream, Ledgewood
If you grew up in Roxbury or anywhere in northwestern Morris County, Cliff’s is a memory. Founded in 1975 by ice cream salesman and former Roxbury teacher Cliff Freund, the Ledgewood shop runs 11 soft-serve flavors and more than 60 hard-scoop flavors, including award-winners like Graham Central Station, Holy Cannoli, and the signature Morris County Mud. The shop is open year-round, seven days a week, from noon to 10 PM, and the picnic area out back has been hosting families for nearly five decades.
Address: 1475 US Highway 46, Ledgewood, NJ 07852
4. Beenie’s Ice Cream, Morristown
Beenie’s opened in 2017 on Morris Street and quickly became one of the most creative ice cream shops in New Jersey. Named after the owner’s quirky family dog, Beenie’s leans into bold flavors like Midnight Snack, Honey Lavender, Dr. Darkness, Jelly Donut with Sprinkles, and Mallomar. There’s a full dairy-free and vegan section, a strong gluten-free lineup with a dedicated scoop, and a signature ice cream taco that has its own following. The shop is closed on Mondays and stays open late the rest of the week.
Address: 38 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
5. Curly’s Ice Cream, Boonton
Curly’s brought its long-standing North Jersey reputation to 121 Monroe Street in Boonton and has been a downtown favorite ever since. The shop makes its own hard ice cream and soft serve daily, with gluten-free, fat-free, sugar-free, and vegan options on the board. Butter pecan, maple walnut, and pistachio get name-checked in reviews, the ice cream sandwiches and Flying Saucers are local staples, and the custom ice cream cakes are a go-to for Boonton birthday parties. Open seven days a week, noon to 9:30 PM.
Address: 121 Monroe Street, Boonton, NJ 07005
6. South Street Creamery, Morristown
Family-owned since 1999, South Street Creamery at 146 South Street makes everything in-house: 26 ice creams and 8 gelatos rotating at any given time, plus sorbets, coconut soft serve for vegan customers, sugar-free options, fudge, baked goods, and ice cream cookie sandwiches. Co-owner Peter trained on ice cream at the University of Wisconsin and on gelato in Italy, and it shows. Flavors like Jockey Hollow, Grandma’s Kitchen, and seasonal pumpkin keep regulars rotating in year-round. The cafe side serves crepes, waffles, soups, and an Eritrean-Ethiopian dinner menu through the connected Red Sea Cafe.
Address: 146-148 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
7. Mendham Creamery, Mendham
After nearly 20 years without a dedicated ice cream shop, Mendham Creamery brought premium homemade ice cream back to Mendham Borough. Located at 2A Hilltop Road in the heart of downtown, the Creamery serves both hard and soft ice cream, shakes, sundaes, ice cream sandwiches, chipwiches, and DIY sundae kits for at-home family nights. Creative flavors like Oatmeal Cookie Craving sit next to the classics, and the small-batch homemade approach keeps the quality high. A friendly stop after a walk through Mendham’s downtown.
Address: 2A Hilltop Road, Mendham, NJ 07945
The Takeaway
Morris County has a serious ice cream scene, and it spans the whole county: Denville, Ledgewood, Morristown, Chester, Boonton, and Mendham all have shops worth driving to. Pick your favorite, bring the family, and skip the chains.
