Cream & Culture, Rittenhouse Style: Malai Offers Amazing & Exotic Frozen Desserts
The brand offers an incredible variety of flavorful ice cream, Kulfi pops, soft serve and more, that are unique yet familiar in the best possible way.
If ever there was an argument to be made for transforming a vintage art gallery into an ice cream shop then you need to check out Malai in Philly.
Walking into Malai’s Philly space we were immediately struck by how thoughtfully they’ve preserved elements of the David David art gallery while creating something entirely fresh. The transformation is lovely – an airy, light-filled space accented with vibrant colors that instantly puts you in a good mood.
Unlike many ice cream shops that focus on grab-and-go service, Malai has incorporated comfortable seating areas, inviting customers to linger and savor their treats.
The interior design manages to be both sophisticated and playful, with colorful accents that reflect the vibrancy of their flavor offerings. It’s exactly the kind of thoughtful, design-forward space that fits perfectly in the neighborhood and its location on 18th Street, close to the Square.
What sets Malai apart from other ice cream establishments is founder Pooja Bavishi’s unique approach to flavor development. Drawing inspiration from her Indian heritage, Malai’s flavors strike that perfect balance between familiar and exotic, delivering complex flavor profiles that somehow manage to feel both innovative and comforting at the same time.
Malai’s offering extends well beyond just scoops. Their refrigerated case features several varieties of Kulfi (traditional Indian frozen dairy desserts) as well as pre-packed pints and ice cream sandwiches they call “Sandoos.” The soft serve options are equally impressive, with unique flavor combinations that change regularly – they had Saffron and Pistachio when we stopped by.
What’s particularly exciting about Malai’s arrival is how it contributes to the growing diversity of specialty food shops in our neighborhood. As we’ve seen recently, we now have several unique, independently-owned establishments in the neighborhood, each one elevating the already awesome hospitality and retail scene (we’ll admit, we’re biased.)
While Philly has long had excellent ice cream shops, Malai brings a level of culinary sophistication and global influence to the Rittenhouse dessert landscape, in our humble opinion.
The staff is lovely and the vibes are great so be sure to stop by and say hi! Also, be sure to follow their Insta for new flavor drops!
