The Guide: Ice Cream Shops in Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Part of the Monmouth County ice cream guide
How We Selected These Ice Cream Shops
To appear on this guide, a business sells ice cream to eat on the spot — scooped, soft serve, gelato, sundae, float or an ice cream shake — regardless of what else it sells, with premises in Atlantic Highlands, Highlands or Keansburg, NJ. That is a test, not a judgment, and it is the only route onto this page.
About This Guide
This guide is produced by Garden State Circle. Ice cream shops, gelaterias, dessert cafés and other businesses selling ice cream appear here because they meet the criteria described above — a published item for sale, and a location in Atlantic Highlands, Highlands or Keansburg, NJ. That is a test, not a judgment, and it is the only route onto this page. No business can pay to be included in this guide, to be listed higher, or to change what the table says about it.
Everything under the heading that begins this guide is governed by the rules above, on every guide we publish. Garden State Circle is supported by the businesses that participate in it. Participation pays for our ongoing work: keeping a business’s entry accurate, re-checking its record, and publishing a page of its own details that the business maintains. There is no paid placement in this guide. Participation does not buy a place here, a position here, or anything the comparison table says. Where a row carries a verification date, that is when we last checked that business’s record ourselves. A row without one has not been checked recently — that is a fact about our work, not about the business. Ingredients, preparation and allergen handling change, and we record what each business publishes rather than inspecting kitchens. If you have a food allergy, confirm directly with the business before you order. Hours, menus and alcohol policy change often. Every detail here was verified on the date shown above.
Garden State Circle is published in New Jersey by Tiffany and Jake Slowinski and covers Monmouth County. Contact the publisher at jake@gardenstatecircle.com. How every guide is made, in one place: how every guide is made.
Ice Cream Shops in Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Keansburg — Compared
| Shop | Type | Made on premises | Monday | Dairy-free published | Record checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Creamery (Atlantic Highlands) — 84 1st Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716 | Homemade ice cream | Yes — states “We hand-make small batch ice cream and ice cream cakes” | 12PM–9:30PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Hinlickity’s Ice Cream Parlor — 120 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ 07732 | Ice cream shop | Not published | 4pm–8pm | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Polar Bear Ice Cream — 130 State Route 36 E, Keansburg, NJ 07748 | Ice cream shop | Yes — states “Homemade soft serve” | Not published | Not published | Sep 2026 |
They sell ice cream among other things, but not their primary thing
| Shop | Type | Made on premises | Monday | Dairy-free published | Record checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s — 970 Rt 36, Atlantic Highlands, NJ | No — national chain | 06:30 AM to 11:00 PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
Nearby Ice Cream Shops — Compared
| Shop | Type | Made on premises | Monday | Dairy-free published | Record checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices (Aberdeen) — 1077L Highway 34, Aberdeen, New Jersey 07747 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain | 12:00 PM–10:00 PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Carvel (Leonardville Road) — 46 Leonardville Rd., Belford, NJ 07718 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”) | 10:00 AM–10:00 PM | Yes — “SORBET ALL DAY – Like a bite of sunshine in every dairy-free & delicious bite” | Sep 2026 |
| Nicholas Creamery (Fair Haven) — 586 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704 | Homemade ice cream | Yes — states “We hand make all of our ice cream in small batches” | 12PM–9:30PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Carvel (Route 36) — Rte 36 & Middle Rd., Hazlet, NJ 07730 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”) | 9:30 AM–9:30 PM | Yes — “SORBET ALL DAY – Like a bite of sunshine in every dairy-free & delicious bite” | Sep 2026 |
| Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices (Hazlet) — 1731 Union Ave, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain | 2:00 PM–9:00 PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Dairy Queen (Treat Only) — 673 NEWMAN SPRINGS RD, Lincroft, NJ 07738-1721 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain | 1:00 PM–9:00 PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Carvel (Prospect Plaza) — 523 Prospect Ave., Little Silver, NJ 07739 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”) | 11:00 AM–10:00 PM | Yes — “SORBET ALL DAY – Like a bite of sunshine in every dairy-free & delicious bite” | Sep 2026 |
| The Chocolate Bar (Little Silver) — 78 Oceanport Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739 | Ice cream and chocolate shop | Not published | Closed | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Carvel (State Highway) — 1050 State Hwy. #34, Matawan, NJ 07747 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”) | 10:00 AM–10:00 PM | Yes — “SORBET ALL DAY – Like a bite of sunshine in every dairy-free & delicious bite” | Sep 2026 |
| Nicholas Creamery (Middletown) — 1500 Route 35 Unit 19, Middletown, NJ 07748 | Homemade ice cream | Yes — states “Homemade small batch-ice cream is our specialty” | Not published | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Coney Waffle (Red Bank) — 13 Broad St, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701-1901 | Ice cream and dessert café | Not published | Not published | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Dairy Queen (Treat Only) — 449 STATE RTE 35, Red Bank, NJ 07701-5036 | Chain ice cream | No — national chain | 12:00 PM–9:00 PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Fable Creamery — 14 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ | Ice cream shop | Not published | Closed | Yes — “FABLE CREAMERY IS 100% VEGAN, GLUTEN-FREE, SOY-FREE, GUM-FREE, ARTIFICIAL COLOR-FREE” | Sep 2026 |
| Rita’s of Red Bank — 19 W. Front Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701 | Chain (Italian ice and custard) | No — national chain | 3pm–8pm (Fall Hours note; the hours list prints “3:00 PM – 8:00 AM” as printed) | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Strollo’s Lighthouse (Red Bank) — 64 North Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701 | Ice cream and Italian ice | Yes — states “Homemade Italian Ice” (soft ice cream maker not stated) | Not published | Not published | Sep 2026 |
| Crazees — 2 West River Road, Rumson, NJ 07760 | Ice cream shop | No — Thomas Sweet Ice Cream (“We feature Thomas Sweet Ice Cream”, named supplier) | 11am–9pm | Yes — “Dairy-free Vegan – We have vegan options! Delicious dairy-free flavors made with a coconut milk base.” | Sep 2026 |
| Rita’s of Union Beach — 865 State Route 36, Union Beach, NJ 07735 | Chain (Italian ice and custard) | No — national chain | 3:00 PM–8:00 PM | Not published | Sep 2026 |
The Ice Cream Shops
Nicholas Creamery (Atlantic Highlands) · 84 1st Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
Homemade ice cream. Made on premises: Yes — states “We hand-make small batch ice cream and ice cream cakes”. nicholascreamery.com
Hinlickity’s Ice Cream Parlor · 120 Bay Ave, Highlands, NJ 07732
Ice cream shop. Made on premises: Not published. hinlickitysicecream.com
Polar Bear Ice Cream · 130 State Route 36 E, Keansburg, NJ 07748
Ice cream shop. Made on premises: Yes — states “Homemade soft serve”. facebook.com
McDonald’s · 970 Rt 36, Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Made on premises: No — national chain. Monday: 06:30 AM to 11:00 PM. Dairy-free published: Not published. mcdonalds.com
Nearby Ice Cream Shops
Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices (Aberdeen) · 1077L Highway 34, Aberdeen, New Jersey 07747
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain. ralphsices.com
Carvel (Leonardville Road) · 46 Leonardville Rd., Belford, NJ 07718
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”). locations.carvel.com
Nicholas Creamery (Fair Haven) · 586 River Road, Fair Haven, NJ 07704
Homemade ice cream. Made on premises: Yes — states “We hand make all of our ice cream in small batches”. nicholascreamery.com
Carvel (Route 36) · Rte 36 & Middle Rd., Hazlet, NJ 07730
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”). locations.carvel.com
Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices (Hazlet) · 1731 Union Ave, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain. ralphsices.com
Dairy Queen (Treat Only) · 673 NEWMAN SPRINGS RD, Lincroft, NJ 07738-1721
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain. dairyqueen.com
Carvel (Prospect Plaza) · 523 Prospect Ave., Little Silver, NJ 07739
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”). locations.carvel.com
The Chocolate Bar (Little Silver) · 78 Oceanport Avenue, Little Silver, NJ 07739
Ice cream and chocolate shop. Made on premises: Not published. thechocolatebarnj.com
Carvel (State Highway) · 1050 State Hwy. #34, Matawan, NJ 07747
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain (“Everything is made fresh”). locations.carvel.com
Nicholas Creamery (Middletown) · 1500 Route 35 Unit 19, Middletown, NJ 07748
Homemade ice cream. Made on premises: Yes — states “Homemade small batch-ice cream is our specialty”. nicholascreamery.com
Coney Waffle (Red Bank) · 13 Broad St, Red Bank, New Jersey 07701-1901
Ice cream and dessert café. Made on premises: Not published. coneywaffle.com
Dairy Queen (Treat Only) · 449 STATE RTE 35, Red Bank, NJ 07701-5036
Chain ice cream. Made on premises: No — national chain. dairyqueen.com
Fable Creamery · 14 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ
Ice cream shop. Made on premises: Not published. fablecreamery.com
Rita’s of Red Bank · 19 W. Front Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Chain (Italian ice and custard). Made on premises: No — national chain. ritasice.com
Strollo’s Lighthouse (Red Bank) · 64 North Bridge Avenue, Red Bank, NJ 07701
Ice cream and Italian ice. Made on premises: Yes — states “Homemade Italian Ice” (soft ice cream maker not stated). strolloslighthouse.com
Crazees · 2 West River Road, Rumson, NJ 07760
Ice cream shop. Made on premises: No — Thomas Sweet Ice Cream (“We feature Thomas Sweet Ice Cream”, named supplier). crazees.com
Rita’s of Union Beach · 865 State Route 36, Union Beach, NJ 07735
Chain (Italian ice and custard). Made on premises: No — national chain. ritasice.com
Common Questions
What does “as published” mean in the table?
Each cell prints what the business itself states on its own website or its own channel, read on the date in the Record checked column. Where a business does not state something, the cell says Not published; where we searched and found nothing, it says Not found by us.
Are chains included?
Yes. Businesses selling ice cream to eat on the spot, with premises in Atlantic Highlands, Highlands or Keansburg, NJ, are here on the same terms as anyone else, and the Type column shows what each one is.
When was this list last checked?
The Record checked column shows the month each business’s details were last read. If something here is wrong or has changed, the correction note at the end of this guide says how to tell us.
Published September 30, 2026.
Additional Resources
Ice Cream in Somerset County, NJ
Ice Cream in Morris County, NJ
Something out of date?
This guide is maintained. If anything here is wrong or has changed — a name, an address, hours or ownership — tell us and we will check it. And if you run a business selling ice cream that should be on this list and is not: the test is the same one every business here cleared — that you sell ice cream to eat on the spot, regardless of what else you sell, with premises in Atlantic Highlands, Highlands or Keansburg, NJ. Show us that and you go on the page.
admin@gardenstatecircle.com
This is not a ranking.
Part of Atlantic Highlands Guides · Ice Cream in Monmouth County, NJ