In 2024, New Jersey Monthly asked whether Denville is the dessert capital of New Jersey. Walk down Broadway and it is hard to argue. In a few short blocks you can get homemade ice cream from a shop that has been scooping since 1968, square beignets fried to order, handmade truffles and a custom cake. Here is the dessert walk, stop by stop.
Stop 1: Denville Dairy, 34A Broadway
The institution. Jack Fine and Lois Ciecinski left their Dairy Queen franchises in 1968 to make their own hard ice cream, and their children run the shop today. It rotates more than 100 specialty and seasonal flavors, with about 28 in the case at a time, plus soft serve, Italian ices and ice cream cakes. It is open year round and closed Mondays.
Stop 2: Sweet Expressions by Geri, 26 Broadway
Gourmet chocolates and truffles inside the Art Deco building that used to be the Denville movie theater. Chocolate dipped fruit, cookies, macarons, cupcakes and gift boxes, plus cooking classes and birthday parties.
Stop 3: Beignets, 45 Broadway
Square, powdered sugar beignets and donuts made fresh to order, in flavors like maple bacon, Boston cream, cannoli and Nutella. The coffee bar pours specialty lattes, and there is gelato too. Hours are shorter than most Broadway shops, so check before you go.
Stop 4: Cleopatra Sweets, 34 First Avenue
Handmade pastries, cookies, custom cakes and coffee from a family with more than 30 years of baking experience. It opened in May 2025, just off Broadway.
Bonus stops
- Denville Dog and Ice Cream, 99 Bloomfield Avenue. Hot dogs, burgers and ice cream at a Stewart’s Root Beer shop.
- Playa Bowls, 4 Broadway. Acai bowls and smoothies, the lighter option.
- Anthony and Sons Bakery and Market, 20 Luger Road. Italian bread, pastries and custom cakes, a short drive from downtown.
How to do it
Park once. Street parking on Broadway is free with a one-hour limit, and the Lower Bloomfield Avenue and Church Street lots have no time limit during the day. Then walk. Dinner first? Start with the best restaurants in Denville.
For hours, phone numbers and what has closed, see the full Denville bakeries, desserts and ice cream guide and our Downtown Denville guide.
So, is Denville the dessert capital of New Jersey? Tell us your favorite stop at Denville Now.
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