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    Via Lactea

    5.0 (23 reviews)
    Closed • 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago
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    Pantella sundae
    J J.

    Best vegan ice cream!! Love this place. The pantella is amazing. Staff are really nice. I would highly recommend getting the whip cream and hot fudge. It's so good.

    Alejandra P.

    Best vegan ice cream. So many fun and interesting flavors. My kids absolutely loved it. Fresh ingredients and I'm so happy to have somewhere delicious for vegan ice cream in Connecticut to go to. Street parking available. Seating available. Fair pricing.

    Abiba S.

    Just discovered Via Láctea in downtown New Haven and I'm really impressed!!! This Puerto Rican-inspired spot offers frozen desserts that draw from traditional flavors with unique spices you wouldn't expect like black pepper, turmeric, and cardamom, and it works really well. I tried the golden milk flavor which was smooth and creamy thanks to the coconut milk, with a nice subtle spicy kick. I also had the guava paletela with almond cake pieces which was fruity and balanced. They have other interesting flavors too like hibiscus, coconut with mango, and matcha. Added bonus is everything is vegan and many options are gluten free, which is great if you're avoiding dairy or gluten. I'm usually not into vegan desserts, but this actually tastes like real ice cream. If you're in New Haven, it's definitely worth checking out, especially on a warm day. I'm already looking forward to trying more flavors. Also the shop is so gorgeous! There's a bunch of greenery and seating if you want to enjoy your treat outside. The staff are also helpful and nice :) Definitely check it out!

    Menu

    Great plant-based ice cream shop for people with dairy allergies. I wish there were more of these.

    Emily G.

    Amazing. This isn't a place for just vegan/dairy-free but all! The flavors are fantastic and unique. It is made in small batches and is swapped out seasonally. We tried ginger root, coquito, pb & j, praline, and home planet. So. Good. We are obsessed with their dark matter cones (GF and you'd never know)! They had multiple gf options for ice cream, brownies, cones, etc. The ice cream is a coconut base and very creamy. The owner we met was fantastic and the shop is so cute with little areas for seating. This shop is also DOG FRIENDLY!!! A much needed addition to New Haven.

    Anna S.

    I really liked this new place in new haven! I tried a bunch of flavors and settled on chocolate chip coffee which was gluten free. I enjoyed every flavor and will be going back to try their other flavors I did not get to try. The guava flavor is very popular and tasty too and highly recommend it!

    "Flight" of 4 limited-time flavors (clockwise): Golden Milk (yellow), Watermelon Thai Basil, Coquito, Taro Sesame

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    2 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Reinaldo S.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    3 months ago

    Went here and got the coco ice cream it was very good and refreshing during the heat wave. The servers were also super friendly.

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    Reinaldo S.

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    6 months ago

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    Reinaldo S.

    Thanks for stopping by Apollo! :)

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

    Best ice cream I've had in New Haven. Flavors are amazing and super unique. Alejandra is a sweetheart! I will definitely be returning.

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    Ask the Community - Via Lactea

    Review Highlights - Via Lactea

    “Fresh ingredients and I'm so happy to have somewhere delicious for vegan ice cream in Connecticut to go to.”

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

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    Arethusa Farm - 1 scoop -- coffee & sweet cream

    Arethusa Farm

    4.6(667 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    •$$

    Arethusa Farm Dairy is easily one of the top ice cream spots I have ever tasted in my life. It is…read moresome of the creamiest, smoothest, and most refreshing ice cream I've ever had, without even a hint of artificial taste. According to their story, it's all naturally produced from the milk of their 300 cows housed at Arethusa Farm in Litchfield, CT. The menu is packed with delicious and interesting flavors, and taste-testing is gladly allowed. My daughter got a cup of the mint chip, while I opted for a waffle cone with sweet cream and chocolate. Both were absolutely delicious. The ambiance is that of an upscale ice cream spot. The interior features a bright, clean, and welcoming black-and-white design, with framed photos of their farm cows lining the walls. There is no traditional table seating inside--just two benches and some standing room--so it is mostly an order-to-go setup. It is also conveniently located right around the corner from the Yale University campus, making it a perfect treat to enjoy while walking. The service can be a little on the slow side, but that's likely because they graciously let everyone sample flavors. The employees are incredibly friendly, engaging, and informative about the shop's most popular scoops. An absolute must-visit in New Haven.

    An ice cream shop near Yale Old Campus, sourcing dairy products from a local farm that originated…read morein 1868. Peach: A seasonal flavor, my absolute favorite. Late July is peach season, and the sweet aroma of peaches blends beautifully with the natural richness of milk. The first taste is the sweet and sour peach, with fruit pieces bursting like popping boba, followed by a rich and mellow fruity aroma that instantly transports you to an orchard. All of this is built on a rich and natural milk base. Butter Pecan: A spontaneous choice. Overall, it's slightly salty within the milky flavor, with pecan nuts as a topping, making it a rather full-bodied one. Fortunately, it's not too sweet, so it's not cloying, and the slight saltiness adds a nice touch. I thought it was just okay, but my parents loved it. Sweet Cream Chocolate Chip: Apparently their signature flavor. The sweet cream wasn't actually too sweet, but the cream was very rich and fragrant; the real sweetness came from the chocolate chips, which burst in your mouth with every chew, and even just a sample was slightly cloying. The staff were very friendly, proactively offering recommendations and samples. Taking a break with ice cream while strolling around campus and the art gallery is definitely a great experience.

    Photos
    Arethusa Farm - Inside

    Inside

    Arethusa Farm - Cow phot and ice cream

    Cow phot and ice cream

    Arethusa Farm - Waffle Cone with Toasted Coconut Almond

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    Waffle Cone with Toasted Coconut Almond

    Milkcraft - red velvet, s'mores, milk and cereal ($6 per small scoop)

    Milkcraft

    3.2(173 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    I've always loved Milkcraft, and although I've had both good and bad experiences over the years, my…read moremost recent visit absolutely deserved 5 stars because of the customer service alone. I stopped in on a really hot day while my mom and son waited in the car because, of course, he wanted ice cream. The woman working was completely by herself, yet she was incredibly sweet, patient, and attentive. My son loves the Cookie Monster ice cream in a waffle cone with LOTS of sprinkles, and she even added extra sprinkles for him. It was such a small gesture, but those are the things I remember. I'm huge on customer service, and she genuinely went above and beyond. I actually felt bad that I didn't have cash to tip her because I rarely carry any, so I really hope management sees this and recognizes her! Milkcraft itself is such a cute spot with the beautiful patterned floors, big windows, blue seating, and rustic touches. I also love all the different flavors and cone options. My personal favorite is Cinnamon Churro, if you love cinnamon, you NEED to try it! This visit reminded me why I've always loved this place. Great ice cream, a fun atmosphere, and this time, exceptional service. My son would probably give her 10 stars just for the extra sprinkles.

    They're extremely nice here. The line was not very long. And the blue cookie butter ice cream, with…read morevanilla cookie dust, was fire! The texture was super creamy and perfect and it was very tasty.

    Photos
    Milkcraft
    Milkcraft - Chocolate in a waffle basket with popcorn

    Chocolate in a waffle basket with popcorn

    Milkcraft - Kiddie scoop of Toasted Almond and Vietnamese Coffee

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    Kiddie scoop of Toasted Almond and Vietnamese Coffee

    Bill's Carousel Ice Cream - 2 scoop sundae with 2 flavors of ice cream and almonds

    Bill's Carousel Ice Cream

    3.7(74 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    •$

    Service was so kind! Ice cream tasted incredible. Very cute atmosphere and fast service. They were…read moreawesome

    Bill's Carousel is an old-fashioned drive-up ice cream parlor that opened in New Haven, Connecticut…read morein 1959. It was founded by Bill (whose last name seems to have been lost to history). The location originally opened as a Carvel ice cream shoppe in 1957, before being rebranded as "Bill's Carousel" two years later. Since 2008, the establishment has been owned by E.J. Akdeniz, who purchased it from Bill's widow. Akdeniz has no idea what the "carousel" in the ice cream parlor's name refers to, but after talking ownership he put a vintage carousel horse on display next to the order window. He acquired the horse in New Jersey after an old carousel had been dismantled. The biggest seller at Bill's is their soft serve ice cream (24 flavors to be exact), but the menu also features hard ice cream, sundaes, milkshakes & floats, frozen yogurt, Italian ice, slushies, smoothies, flurries, ice cream cakes, and even hot foods like hot dogs, hamburgers and fries. My family and I recently stopped for ice cream at Bill's Carousel while we were passing through New Haven's Westville neighborhood. My wife lived in an apartment in Westville when we first began dating. We used to make walks down to Bill's often to enjoy their delicious ice cream. Bill's was a seasonal ice cream parlor for several years, but it is now open year-round. On this particular visit, we parked in the lot and ordered from the order window. We all ended up getting cups of hard ice cream. I had "Pumpkin", my wife had "Peach", my older son had "Cotton Candy", and my younger son had "Vanilla". Regardless of what type of frozen treat (or even hot treat) that you order at Bill's, you won't be disappointed.

    Photos
    Bill's Carousel Ice Cream
    Bill's Carousel Ice Cream - "Vanilla" and "Cotton Candy"

    "Vanilla" and "Cotton Candy"

    Bill's Carousel Ice Cream - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Elena’s On Orange - brownie haven ($8.50)

    Elena’s On Orange

    4.6(58 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    It's been many years since I've been in both Connecticut and New Haven, so after some dinner and…read moresome roaming around time a friend of mine suggested we get some soft serve at Elana's in Orange and I was 100% all in. We got lucky with the size of the line when we arrived but it seems this place tends to have an insanely long line down the street, so prepare to wait a bit. I had maybe a 5-6 minute wait in line and that was more than okay with me, you can't get mad at a place for being successful. Although this place doesn't have an insane selection of soft serve flavours, they do have a solid amount of sundae options, but I was here to try that vanilla and chocolate twist cone. I'm a simple man who loves a simple soft serve and this place didn't let me down. The ice cream was very creamy, had great flavour, and truly hit the spot for soft serve ice cream. Overall, Elana's on Orange is a fantastic spot for soft serve ice cream and somewhere I would absolutely enjoy again in the future. New Haven has a good amount of ice cream, but this place definitely runs the soft serve game.

    Long lines, but is it really worth the wait? Three flavors of soft serve. Chocolate, which is oat…read moremilk-based, killing two birds with one stone, I guess, vanilla, milk based, and a third flavor of the month, not sure of the base. Simplified concept, which seems to be quite popular, but likely because there's no other ice cream in that area or anywhere for several miles. I was told the vanilla was very good by others in my party. The chocolate was extreme sweet and not satisfying as an ice cream. I got it as Elena's Favorite, covered in a chocolate ganache and sprinkled with sea salt. The first couple of bites were good, but then got tiring. I didn't go in, but it looked cute inside with a few tables and there are several tables outside, as well. There are tons of ways to top your dessert flavor of choice, so if you're into that, and you like vanilla or vegan chocolate or whatever their weekly flavor is, and you happy be dining at one of the many great places in the neighborhood, you should give it a try.

    Photos
    Elena’s On Orange - Single in a cone ($5) -- ube flavored!

    Single in a cone ($5) -- ube flavored!

    Elena’s On Orange - Outdoor Sign during winter

    Outdoor Sign during winter

    Elena’s On Orange - Warm cookie sundae

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    Warm cookie sundae

    Gioia Cafe & Bar - Mango sorbet

    Gioia Cafe & Bar

    4.2(149 reviews)
    0.6 mi

    Gioia Cafe & Bar is always a great choice, but this was my first time checking out the rooftop with…read morea friend, and it was such a great experience! Our server, Kervin, was absolutely wonderful. He was friendly, knowledgeable about the menu, and made us feel welcome from the moment we sat down. His calm demeanor and genuine smile really stood out and made our visit even more enjoyable. The rooftop ambiance was perfect. It wasn't overly noisy, so we could actually relax and have a conversation. I also appreciated how thoughtful the staff was with the shades--they kept them down while the sun was out to keep everyone comfortable, and once the sun went down, they raised them so everyone could enjoy the beautiful view. The drinks were good, although I think they could've been a little stronger. The pizza, on the other hand, was delicious and definitely something I'd order again. If you're planning to sit on the rooftop, keep in mind that it's first come, first served, so get there early if you want a good spot. Overall, I had a fantastic time and will definitely be back. Highly recommend checking out the rooftop if you haven't already!

    Was disappointed - it was a 10 minute wait for a slice so I ordered a scoop of ice cream 15 minutes…read morelater they forgot to put the pizza sliced order in they refunded the price of a slice, but not the ice cream I had while waiting for the pizza slice for which they never put the order in. It would've been a great gesture to offer a refund on the Ice cream as well because I really only got it because I was waiting for the pizza. That said the kid work in the counter was working her ass off but somebody backstage forgot about me and was disappointed to Manager didn't offer more to rectify the situation. - I never give a one star review, but wish I could here

    Photos
    Gioia Cafe & Bar - The kitchen

    The kitchen

    Gioia Cafe & Bar - Mortadella spread

    Mortadella spread

    Gioia Cafe & Bar - Dinnerware adds to the ambience

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    Dinnerware adds to the ambience

    Via Lactea - icecream - Updated October 2026

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