The Perfect Summer Treat: 16 Handles or Downtown Yogurt?

Out of all the desserts available to purchase near Stuyvesant High School, frozen yogurt is one students keep going back to. A middle ground between ice cream and yogurt, frozen yogurt, commonly referred to as froyo, is a favorite of the Stuyvesant community. As temperatures rise and the sun lingers later into the evening, two popular froyo shops near Chambers Street—16 Handles and Downtown Yogurt—begin to fill with students.

16 Handles was founded in 2008 by Solomon Choi, with its first location opening in the East Village. As New York City’s first self-serve yogurt shop, it quickly gained attention. Customers were drawn to its rotating selection of 16 flavors, ten percent student discount, and its monthly limited-edition releases on the 16th. The brand also built a strong identity through partnerships, including one with Trees for the Future, which plants 16 trees daily. With strong advertising and a variety of flavors, 16 Handles attracts many Stuyvesant students.

Downtown Yogurt was founded six years later by Mark Kahn. The company expanded from Jersey City to Tribeca in 2019. What began as an independent, non-franchise shop grew to be a community of Manhattan citizens who love Downtown Yogurt’s desserts. From its homemade gelato and ten percent student discount to its open and casual atmosphere, Downtown Yogurt focuses on customer satisfaction. Other notable aspects of Downtown Yogurt include its participation in Taste of Tribeca, an annual outdoor food festival, and frequent additions to its menu.

Both shops are enjoyed by the Stuyvesant community; however, many students express strong preferences based on experience. When questioned about their favorite aspects of the froyo stores, most students immediately noted the varying numbers of flavors between the shops. Junior Nafsan Rahman shared in an interview, “16 Handles has more flavors. Downtown Yogurt has only around eight.” However, she also noted, “Downtown Yogurt has better toppings.” 

This sentiment was echoed by sophomore Emer O’Driscoll, who shared, “Downtown Yogurt has better quality flavors, although they have less variety.” When it comes to froyo, quality often comes before quantity, but 16 Handles’ 16 flavors attract students who want to have a good deal of options. Despite this, the two locations do appear to sit on opposite ends of the spectrum: one lacks options, while the other offers many lower-quality ones. 

Because of this divide, students described what they believed the ideal froyo shop should offer. According to Stuyvesant students, the ideal froyo shop should have a balance of quality and variety. Sophomore Serena Shao explained, “There has to be enough toppings, but not so many that the quality decreases.” This response suggested that neither location fully satisfies students, as each falls short of achieving the balance that many consider essential to the ideal froyo shop.

Sophomore ZiQi Deng voiced, “I got a cone once [at Downtown Yogurt] with mint chocolate. I didn’t really like it, plus it had a strong odor,” demonstrating that high quality does not always equal perfect taste. She also brought up another idea: “16 Handles is closer to the station.” Positioned along the route many students take to the subway, 16 Handles fits perfectly into students’ commutes. Downtown Yogurt, however, is located slightly off that path, making it less visible. Many students don’t even know Downtown Yogurt exists, which could be due to a lack of advertisement.

In addition to poor taste and inconvenient location, Downtown Yogurt seems to lack other parts of the froyo experience that students get at 16 Handles. Sophomore Rosemel Vilchez shared, “You get the liberty of applying the toppings yourself [at 16 Handles].” Both froyo places are advertised as self-serve, but it is evident that 16 Handles is the only one out of the two shops giving customers the freedom to serve themselves. 

O’Driscoll touched on this point when sharing a story about Downtown Yogurt: “You have to tell the employees what you want, and they give it to you one by one. I remember wanting like fifteen toppings, so I spent a good ten minutes telling them what I wanted.” This system did not seem to accommodate students’ time efficiently. Additionally, if the froyo is priced based on weight, every self-serve location should encourage customers to add as many toppings as they want, something Downtown Yogurt fails to do.

Each establishment’s atmosphere also plays a role in determining students’ opinions about which froyo place is better. After being asked about which shop is better and why, an employee at Downtown Yogurt confidently listed various parts of the customer experience: “Our shop looks better [than 16 Handles’s], is bigger, and has better machines and yogurt. We have also heard negative comments from customers about the floor in 16 Handles deteriorating.”

Vilchez also criticized 16 Handles’ customer service, noting, “The workers don’t care. When you’re at the cashier, they don’t talk at all, or they are on their phone while talking to you.” Despite these drawbacks, 16 Handles remains popular among students. Vilchez concluded, “It’s cheap and fast.” The efficiency of 16 Handles outweighs any bad service or uncomfortable atmosphere students notice. 

Students also connect with the froyo experience beyond just taste. Students bond over eating froyo together, and have fun changing up their order. Sophomore Siddha Bajracharya reflected, “[Getting frozen yogurt] was memorable because of the experience of creating your own dessert. In the end, it is a sweet treat of your own creation and liking. I like that.” There is a sense of achievement one can feel when creating the perfect frozen yogurt order and getting to enjoy it. 

Sophomore Kaylee Olguin added, “Froyo is one of the new things I tried when I came to Stuyvesant, and I always go with my closest friends, so it’s kinda like a step in my friendships.” For many, it is clear that these shops are spaces for connection. The froyo experience is really about sharing it with others. 

Determining which frozen yogurt shop is better is difficult and subjective, but it seems as though 16 Handles is Stuyvesant students’ favorite. From its numerous flavors to its convenient location, 16 Handles stands out to students. Downtown Yogurt, although a great option with high-quality toppings and friendly customer service, seems to lack the variety, advertisement, and taste of 16 Handles. Downtown Yogurt has a better atmosphere, but it does not let students self-serve, which is vital to the froyo experience.

No matter the winner of the competition, both 16 Handles and Downtown Yogurt continue to delight customers with desserts that never fail to satisfy. More than just froyo, the shops create moments of fun and connection, developing stronger bonds between friends and turning a simple outing into a shared memory. The rivalry between 16 Handles and Downtown Yogurt will remain heated, but the students and customers will always be satisfied on a hot summer day with a cold treat of their choosing.