Malai

- 268 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Welcome to the vibrant, flavorful world of Malai Ice Cream, a true gem in Brooklyn that has captured the hearts and taste buds of New Yorkers looking for a dessert experience beyond the ordinary. Nestled in the charming neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, Malai is far more than your typical ice cream parlor; it is a culinary adventure that draws deep inspiration from South Asian ingredients, culture, and aromatic spices. The name itself, Malai, is a North Indian term that figuratively means “cream of the crop,” a perfect moniker for the unique, handcrafted, and supremely creamy desserts this shop offers.

Since its founding in 2015, Malai has carved out a distinctive niche in the highly competitive New York dessert scene. It is renowned for creating incredibly rich, velvety ice cream that is always eggless and churned with very little air, resulting in purer, more robust flavor profiles. Founder Pooja Bavishi was inspired by the familiar, magical spices of her childhood—like ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and saffron—and realized they offered a perfect blank canvas for ice cream. This vision has led to a menu filled with both familiar comfort and surprising twists, all delivered with an intense depth of flavor. Whether you're a long-time resident or just visiting the borough, a stop at Malai is a mandatory part of any New York food tour for those seeking something genuinely original and delicious.

Malai's dedication to quality is evident in every scoop. The ice cream itself is a celebration of global flavors blended with a deep South Asian heritage. This combination results in a dessert that is both universally appealing and wonderfully exotic. New Yorkers appreciate authenticity, and Malai delivers a taste of India with its spice-forward flavors and signature creamy textures. The shop offers not just a cold treat but a delightful exploration of culture, tradition, and a lifelong passion for aromatic spices. Customers consistently rave about the friendly staff, who are always happy to guide you through their extensive and intriguing flavor list, ensuring you find your perfect scoop. It is a casual, trendy spot that is good for kids and a quick, satisfying visit, making it an ideal destination for a cool-down treat on a warm Brooklyn afternoon or a decadent ending to an evening out.

Location and Accessibility

Malai’s flagship Brooklyn location is a neighborhood fixture, perfectly situated at 268 Smith Street in the vibrant and welcoming Carroll Gardens neighborhood. This corner of Brooklyn, known for its tree-lined streets and brownstones, makes for an ideal setting to enjoy a perfectly-crafted dessert. The shop’s prime address ensures it is highly accessible for locals and visitors traveling throughout New York City.

The location is easily reachable via public transportation, making it convenient for those traveling from other parts of Brooklyn or Manhattan. The Smith-Ninth Streets subway station is the closest accessible transit stop, served by the F and G lines. While a direct search for the closest subway to the address doesn't provide a single explicit station name, the Carroll Street station, also served by the F and G lines, is commonly known to be within walking distance of Smith Street businesses in the area. We advise New Yorkers to consult their preferred map application for the most up-to-date and specific walking directions from the nearest F/G train station to the 268 Smith Street address. The shop also ensures inclusivity, featuring a wheelchair-accessible entrance, allowing all members of the community to come in and enjoy their extraordinary offerings.

Services Offered

Malai is committed to making its unique frozen desserts accessible to customers through a variety of convenient services. Whether you prefer to pick up your order quickly or have it delivered right to your door, the shop provides multiple options to cater to your needs.

• Delivery: Have your favorite pints and frozen treats delivered directly to your home or office in the New York area.
• In-store Pickup: Place your order ahead of time and pick it up quickly at the shop's location.
• In-store Shopping: Experience the friendly, trendy atmosphere by visiting the scoop shop for an immediate treat and browse their full selection.
• Onsite Services: The shop offers services like enjoying your ice cream on location for a quick, casual visit.
• Takeout: Perfect for grabbing a pint or a dessert to enjoy elsewhere.
• Catering: Malai offers catering options, including beautifully designed ice cream carts for events such as weddings, corporate parties, fairs, and markets.
• Multiple Payment Options: The shop accepts all major Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and NFC Mobile Payments for ease of transaction.

Features / Highlights

Malai stands out in New York City's dense ice cream landscape by offering a distinct product and experience, rooted in its unique South Asian-inspired philosophy.

• South Asian-Inspired, Aromatic Flavors: The shop is famous for its bold, spice-forward flavors like Masala Chai, Coffee Cardamom, Orange Fennel, and Apricot Mace. These are not your typical supermarket flavors, providing an exciting culinary exploration.
• Signature Creamy Texture: All of Malai's ice cream is handcrafted, eggless, and churned with very little air. This process results in an incredibly dense, pure, and uniquely creamy texture that customers consistently describe as superior.
• The Most Popular Flavor: The undisputed customer favorite is the Rose With Cinnamon Roasted Almonds, a perfectly balanced blend of floral, warm spice, and nutty crunch.
• Eggless Ice Cream Base: All ice cream served at Malai is eggless, making it a welcoming option for those with dietary preferences or certain restrictions.
• Diverse Product Line: Beyond pints, the shop offers specialty items like the Kulfi Pop Pack and the Ice Cream Sando Pack, along with two varieties of Ice Cream Cakes (including a Vegan Spiced Crumb option).
• Curated Merchandise: For devoted fans, Malai offers branded merchandise, including the official Malai Cookbook, specialized Ice Cream Bowls, apparel like T-shirts and Hoodies, and South Asian essentials like Chai Masala.
• High Customer Praise: Reviews highlight the phenomenal flavors and the excellent service, with staff being described as "awesome and super nice about letting us try different types of ice cream."

Contact Information

For New Yorkers eager to experience the 'cream of the crop' ice cream, you can visit the flagship store or reach out directly.

Address: 268 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, USA

Phone: (347) 889-5789

What is Worth Choosing

The expansive menu at Malai can be delightfully overwhelming, but a few items stand out as essential choices for first-timers and seasoned fans alike. The core of Malai’s appeal is the innovative and perfectly executed ice cream pints, each priced at $12.50.

The Rose With Cinnamon Roasted Almonds is non-negotiable for a first visit. As the shop’s most popular flavor, it represents the brand's signature blend of traditional South Asian flavor profiles and modern ice cream technique. The floral sweetness of rose, combined with the warmth of cinnamon and the satisfying crunch of roasted almonds, creates a flavor that is both exotic and immediately comforting.

For those who love a cozy, spiced beverage, the Masala Chai flavor is a must-try. Inspired by the founder's own family recipe, this flavor transforms the ritualistic morning cup of spiced tea into a rich, creamy frozen dessert. It's a fantastic illustration of the unique depth Malai brings to classic flavors. Another highly recommended choice is the Mango & Cream, which offers a perfect, refreshing balance of sweet fruit and rich cream, often likened to the experience of enjoying traditional Indian desserts.

Beyond the best-sellers, the more adventurous palate will be rewarded by exploring flavors that feature less common spices. For example, the Tamarind Spice or Guava Chili offer a surprising, delightful balance of sweet, tangy, and a subtle kick of heat, showcasing the kitchen’s mastery of complex flavor profiles. Don't overlook the Apricot Mace and Thandai flavors, which introduce key South Asian spice notes. Mace, often called javitri in Hindi, is the lacy outer covering of the nutmeg seed, providing a warm, sweet, and slightly more delicate peppery aroma than nutmeg itself. Thandai is a traditional North Indian cold beverage made from a fragrant blend of nuts and spices, including cardamom, fennel, rose petals, and sometimes mace and poppy seeds, and is known for its cooling properties—a perfect inspiration for a refreshing ice cream.

Finally, as a gift for any New York-based dessert enthusiast, the Malai Cookbook or an Electronic Gift Card is a wonderful choice. The cookbook allows fans to recreate Malai's South Asian-inspired frozen desserts at home, while the gift card offers the ultimate flexibility to explore the full, ever-evolving menu of this New York treasure. Malai Ice Cream is truly a destination for anyone in the region seeking the next great dessert experience.

Malai

268 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY 11231, USA