Spring is upon us, and with it is that ever-familiar craving for a cold, refreshing dessert. This year, however, ice cream is getting kicked to the curb as frozen yogurt is taking the Village by storm. You may remember the classic 2010s frozen yogurt craze, when colorful self-serve, pay-by-weight froyo shops seemed to line every block. Customers enjoyed having control over their creation and its cost, believing that they were indulging in a healthier sweet treat. But in New York City, the froyo that everyone’s waiting in line for — sometimes for over an hour — is more upscale than ever. Here’s my ranking of the five best spots near NYU, all of which are partaking in the froyo renaissance.

​5. 16 Handles | $

178 8th Ave.

16 Handles, where cups are priced by weight, most closely resembles the froyo of decades past. Though the chain’s East Village location recently closed after serving as New York City’s first self-serve froyo shop since 2008, the company has multiple locations across the city and the entire East Coast and said it would open another shop near NYU this spring. The biggest thing going for 16 Handles is probably the nostalgia factor, and walking inside brought me back to being a kid in 2016. It has a wide assortment of flavors, including Chocolicious, Arriba Coffee and Black Matcha, along with a set of traditional toppings. Despite evoking fond memories, 16 Handles’ quality falls short — the froyo base was not tart enough and had too much of a liquidy consistency, while some toppings weren’t particularly fresh. ​ 

4. Madison Fare | $$

1 W. 8th St.

Madison Fare first opened on the Upper East Side in 2022, and became an internet sensation after adding froyo to its menu. This past fall, the company expanded to Greenwich Village, opening next to Washington Square Park. Madison Fare has fewer flavor options than the rest — it always has original tart plus two other rotating flavors — and on the day I went, they were mango and banana. Overall, Madison Fare’s frozen yogurt is tart and thick. There’s no store-bought candy in sight, as most of the toppings are homemade, including a crunchy chocolate-peanut sauce, a pureed raspberry sauce and the famous pistachio knafeh. Here, you pay a flat rate for different sizes of cups, which includes the yogurt plus one to three toppings depending on cup size. Additional toppings cost $1.50 extra, while specialties like the pistachio knafeh cost $2.50. While Madison Fare is solid, in a market that seems to get more crowded by the minute, there was nothing particularly special to make it stand out from the pack. 

3. Birdie’s | $$

152 7th Ave. S.

This TikTok-popular spot, which opened in the West Village in January, is akin to Madison Fare but offers a wider variety of flavors and a different set of toppings. The yogurt is thick and creamy, but only the tart flavor really has that classic yogurt tang. Since Birdie’s doubles as a candy store, it has more classic name-brand toppings like M&M’s, Oreo cookies and Fruity Pebbles, along with homemade toppings such as cookie dough, granola and a milk chocolate crunch sauce. The store’s prices are comparable to Madison Fare: You choose either a small ($8), medium ($10) or large ($12) with one topping included for free. Any specialty or extra regular toppings cost an additional $1.50 or $2.50. Birdie’s does a good job of making customers feel cared for: Employees served free samples to customers waiting in line, and the owner told me about how the team is working to streamline their operations to reduce wait times, making it a worthwhile try.

​2. Mimi’s | $$$

84 University Place

With two locations — the original in Soho and one that opened near Weinstein Hall earlier this month — it seems like just about everyone is waiting to try this newcomer Australian-style shop. In fact, it took me two nights of trying and failing to get in, since I couldn’t reach the front of the line before closing. Despite the long line, Mimi’s largely lives up to the hype, reimagining classic froyo as an elevated treat. Customers can choose from classic flavors such as tart, chocolate and vanilla, as well as coffee, coconut, and raspberry. After dispensing your desired amount, move over to the topping section to finish off your cup with fresh fruit, homemade brownies, cookie dough or sauce from flowing pistachio and chocolate fountains, among other toppings. At $1.20 an ounce, Mimi’s pay-by-weight policy means it gets expensive fast — my cup cost close to $20. Still, the high-quality toppings and thick, creamy yogurt make every bite feel luxurious enough to justify the price.

​1. Culture An American Yogurt Company | $$

60 W. 8th St.

In many ways, Culture pioneered this upscale approach to froyo that its fellow shops aspire to recreate. Opened in Brooklyn in 2011 and later expanding to a Village location, Culture has a rotating set of six flavors, which always includes original tart. It also offers an NYU student discount, and its smallest cup starts at just $5.50. Toppings include luxuries like homemade brownies and granola, balsamic vinegar strawberries and fresh key lime custard, alongside classics such as rainbow sprinkles and mochi. Using locally sourced milk and live probiotic cultures, Culture is the only froyo shop on the list where every flavor is, above all, always tart. Its longevity is a testament to its ability to nail a simple product — one that strikes a balance between the familiar and the novel — that keeps customers lined up around the block.

Contact Sara Karp at [email protected].