Softside NYC is a simple and fun soft serve stop in NoLita. Set beside Upside Pizza on Spring Street, it brings an easy dessert option to one of downtown New York’s best walking neighborhoods.
The idea is not complicated. You get soft serve, choose a flavor or swirl, add toppings, and keep walking. That is exactly why it works. Softside feels like the kind of place you stop after pizza, after shopping, after dinner, or during a warm afternoon downtown.
It is not a full dessert restaurant. It is more casual than that. The appeal is quick soft serve with a clean look, classic flavors, and enough topping options to make the order feel personal.
Review of Softside NYC – Details
- Best For: Soft serve, quick dessert, NoLita walks, post pizza treats, casual dates, summer afternoons
- Location: 51 Spring Street, New York, NY
- Area: NoLita
- Type: Soft serve kiosk and dessert stop
- Style: Casual, simple, playful, downtown
- Known For: Soft serve cones, cups, toppings, sundaes, and milkshakes
- Flavors: Options may include vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, pistachio, and rotating combinations
- Website: SoftSide Ice Cream
- Instagram: @softside
Softside NYC Review – Highlights
- Great NoLita Location: Softside sits in a perfect downtown pocket. It is easy to visit while walking around NoLita, SoHo, the Lower East Side, or the Bowery.
- Perfect After Pizza: Since it is tied to Upside Pizza, the natural move is pizza first, soft serve after.
- Classic Soft Serve Feel: The product is simple, cold, creamy, and easy to enjoy without overthinking it.
- Good Flavor Range: Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and pistachio style options give enough range without making the menu feel crowded.
- Toppings Make It Fun: Sprinkles, crushed cookies, and other toppings turn a basic cone or cup into more of a treat.
- Milkshakes Available: Softside also works if you want a cold drinkable dessert instead of a cone.
- Easy Walk Up Stop: This is the kind of place that fits naturally into a New York day without needing a plan.
Review of Softside Soft Serve NYC – Things to Note
- It Is a Quick Stop: Softside is better for grab and go dessert than a long sit down experience.
- Peak Times Can Bring Lines: NoLita gets busy, especially on weekends and warm evenings.
- Flavors May Rotate: Check before going if you are after a specific flavor.
- Toppings Add Up: A simple soft serve can get more expensive once you start adding extras.
- Best in Good Weather: Soft serve is always more fun when you can walk around with it.
- Seating Is Not the Point: Plan to eat it outside or while exploring the neighborhood.
Review of Softside Ice Cream NYC – Tips
- Go After Upside Pizza: Pizza and soft serve make the most natural pairing.
- Try a Swirl: It gives more flavor without needing a complicated order.
- Add One Crunchy Topping: Sprinkles or crushed cookies make the texture better.
- Visit Off Peak: Mid afternoon is usually easier than weekend evenings.
- Get a Cup If Walking Far: A cone is fun, but a cup is cleaner for walking through downtown.
- Keep It Simple First: Try the base soft serve before building a loaded sundae.

