You Can Build Your Own Sundae At This Century Old New Hampshire Sweet Shop

The ice cream is creamy and the toppings are endless. The counter is lined with jars of sprinkles, nuts, and sauces.

This century old New Hampshire sweet shop lets you build your own sundae, and it is a tradition that never gets old. I walked in on a warm afternoon and felt like a kid again.

The shop has been here for over a hundred years, and it has not changed much. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is nostalgic.

I filled my bowl with vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. Every bite was perfect.

That is the thing about this New Hampshire sweet shop. It is simple, delicious, and full of history.

A New England Sweet Escape Worth Every Mile

Arriving at Kellerhaus for the first time feels like stumbling onto a secret that half of New Hampshire has been keeping for over a century. The building itself has this wonderfully warm, old-world personality that makes you slow down before you even walk through the door.

Perched in Laconia’s Lakes Region, it sits close enough to Lake Winnipesaukee that the whole visit feels like part of a larger, sun-soaked adventure. The surrounding scenery adds a naturally cinematic backdrop to what is already a pretty spectacular outing.

New Hampshire has no shortage of charming stops, but Kellerhaus operates on a different level entirely. It’s the kind of place that earns repeat visits not because it reinvents itself, but because it never needed to.

The recipes, the atmosphere, and the sheer joyful energy of the spot have been the draw for generations of sweet-toothed explorers. My first visit turned into a two-hour stay, and I left already planning my return.

That tells you everything you need to know about the magnetic pull of this remarkable little corner of the state.

Stepping Into the Most Charming Retro Interior in the State

Crossing the threshold at Kellerhaus is a full sensory experience. The interior greets you with a delightfully retro vibe, complete with classic metal chairs, warm lighting, and the kind of old-school charm that modern design simply cannot replicate.

An antique player piano sits in the corner, occasionally filling the air with a cheerful melody that somehow makes the whole place feel even more alive. Every detail has been thoughtfully preserved, creating a space that feels genuinely rooted in history rather than staged for aesthetic effect.

The layout flows naturally from one delightful room to the next, each section revealing a new layer of the Kellerhaus experience. New Hampshire is full of lovely shops, but few manage to balance nostalgia with genuine warmth quite this effortlessly.

The vintage atmosphere isn’t just decoration, it’s the soul of the place. Wandering through the various rooms, I kept finding small details that made me smile, a quirky display here, a classic sign there.

It all adds up to an interior that feels more like a living museum of joy than a conventional shop. You’ll want to take your time here.

The Build-Your-Own Sundae Bar That Changes Everything

Forget everything you thought you knew about ordering ice cream. At Kellerhaus, the build-your-own sundae bar puts you completely in charge of your dessert destiny, and the results are spectacular every single time.

The process starts with a scoop of their homemade ice cream, crafted on-site using equipment that carries serious historical weight. From there, the topping bar opens up like a candy lover’s dream.

It offers hot fudge, butterscotch, caramel, peanut butter sauce, strawberries, pineapple, raspberries, marshmallow, whipped cream, sprinkles, banana chips, peanuts, walnuts, and macaroon crunch.

The best part? There’s no weighing, no rationing, and no one giving you a look when you pile on an extra ladle of hot fudge.

You load up your cup or cone exactly the way you want it, which is a rare and genuinely liberating experience. A tiny American flag gets planted on top of the finished creation as a playful finishing touch.

My sundae on the last visit was a masterpiece of personal expression. Kellerhaus has turned the simple act of ordering ice cream into something genuinely memorable and fun for all ages.

Homemade Ice Cream Flavors That Earn Serious Loyalty

Not all ice cream is created equal, and Kellerhaus proves that point with every single scoop. Made entirely on-site using their own creamery setup, the flavors here carry a richness and freshness that mass-produced options simply cannot match.

The rotating lineup keeps things exciting, with classic favorites sitting alongside more adventurous creations. Mint chip, French toast, and other inventive options have developed devoted followings among regulars who make the trip specifically for their preferred flavor.

The texture is notably dense and creamy, a result of the careful process and quality ingredients used throughout production.

Served in a cup or a freshly pressed waffle cone, the scoops are generously sized and packed with genuine flavor from the first bite to the last. New Hampshire is no stranger to great dairy traditions, and Kellerhaus fits right into that proud heritage.

What sets this place apart is the consistency. Visit after visit, the ice cream delivers the same high-quality experience that built its reputation over more than a century of operation.

Trying a new flavor each time has become my personal ritual here, and I have yet to encounter a disappointment.

A Candy Room That Rivals Anything You Have Ever Seen

Walking into the Kellerhaus candy room for the first time is a genuine jaw-dropper. Over a hundred types of handmade chocolates and confections line the displays, each one crafted in-house using original family recipes passed down through generations.

Rich fudges, chewy molasses chews, caramel clusters, peppermint patties, and delicate thin mints are just a few of the options waiting to be discovered. A staffed candy counter lets you point and choose from an impressive array of caramels, jellies, and nut or raisin clusters enrobed in either dark or milk chocolate.

A separate sugar-free counter ensures everyone gets to participate in the fun.

One of the most fascinating features is a live honeybee colony viewable through glass, giving the candy room an unexpected educational twist that kids absolutely love. The quality of the chocolate here is notably high, with a richness that speaks to the care taken in production.

Molasses chews, in particular, have developed a devoted following far beyond the Lakes Region. Kellerhaus ships its chocolates across the country, which tells you just how seriously people take these confections.

This candy room alone is worth the trip to Laconia.

Ribbon Candy and the Art of Old-World Confectionery

There’s something almost hypnotic about watching ribbon candy being made by hand, and Kellerhaus is one of the rare places in New Hampshire where this old-world craft is still practiced with genuine dedication. The process is meticulous, weather-dependent, and absolutely fascinating to observe.

Ribbon candy production ramps up around the holiday season, making a winter visit to Kellerhaus a particularly special experience. The finished product is as beautiful as it is delicious, with its delicate swirls and vivid colors making it as much a visual treat as a culinary one.

It’s the kind of confectionery tradition that connects the present directly to the earliest days of the shop’s history.

Gifting a box of Kellerhaus ribbon candy has become a beloved tradition for many families who visit the Lakes Region year after year. The care that goes into each piece reflects a broader commitment to quality that runs through every product in the shop.

Knowing that this candy is made using time-honored techniques rather than shortcuts makes each piece taste even better. It’s a genuine labor of love, and you can taste that dedication in every fragile, sweet, perfectly crafted strip.

The Gift Shop That Keeps Surprising You

Plenty of sweet shops tack on a small gift section as an afterthought. Kellerhaus takes a very different approach, offering a sprawling gift shop that is genuinely worth exploring on its own merits.

Vintage games, whimsical trinkets, seasonal decor, stuffed animals, stickers, and a wide range of souvenirs fill the space with an energy that feels more like a treasure hunt than a typical retail experience. Locally made items are mixed in throughout, including metalwork, woodworking pieces, glass and wood ornaments, soaps, and other New Hampshire-crafted goods.

A staff member is always happy to point you toward the locally sourced products if that’s your priority.

The overall vibe of the gift shop matches the rest of Kellerhaus perfectly, playful, nostalgic, and full of personality. Finding the right souvenir here takes time because there are simply so many good options to consider.

My personal weakness is the selection of vintage-style games that remind me of childhood summers spent at the lake. Whether you’re shopping for a friend, a family member, or just treating yourself, the gift shop at Kellerhaus delivers a satisfying and genuinely fun browsing experience every single time.

Open Year-Round and Always Worth the Drive

A lot of Lakes Region attractions pack up when summer fades, but Kellerhaus keeps its doors open throughout the year, and that commitment makes a real difference for anyone exploring New Hampshire beyond the peak season.

Winter visits carry their own particular magic. The shop feels cozier, the candy room smells even more inviting, and the ribbon candy production is in full swing.

Stopping in on a crisp autumn afternoon or a snowy winter day adds a whole new dimension to the Kellerhaus experience that summer-only visitors simply never get to enjoy.

Operating hours run from 10 AM through the evening most days, giving plenty of flexibility to work a visit into any itinerary. The consistency of the hours reflects the same reliability that defines the shop’s entire approach to quality and hospitality.

New Hampshire’s Lakes Region has four genuinely distinct seasons, each one offering a different reason to make the drive to Laconia. Kellerhaus leans into that seasonal variety beautifully, ensuring that no matter when you arrive, the experience feels fresh, welcoming, and completely worth the trip.

Year-round dedication like this is increasingly rare, and deeply appreciated.

Laconia and the Lakes Region Magic Surrounding It

Kellerhaus doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Part of what makes a visit so satisfying is the spectacular setting it calls home.

Laconia sits at the heart of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region, surrounded by the kind of natural beauty that makes you want to stay for a week rather than an afternoon.

Lake Winnipesaukee stretches out nearby, offering boating, scenic cruises, and shoreline strolls that pair perfectly with a post-sundae walk. The Weirs Beach boardwalk is just minutes away, adding a lively, carnival-esque energy to the area that complements the sweet-shop experience beautifully.

The Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad offers a charming way to take in the landscape from a different angle.

Hiking trails, mountain views, and charming downtown areas round out a region that genuinely rewards exploration. Planning a full day around a Kellerhaus visit is easy and deeply satisfying.

Start with the lake, hit the boardwalk, grab your sundae, wander the candy room, and finish with a gift shop haul. New Hampshire’s Lakes Region is one of those places that earns its reputation honestly, and Kellerhaus is one of its most beloved anchors.

A Living Tradition Worth Passing Down to Every Generation

What separates Kellerhaus from every other sweet shop in New England is the weight of genuine history behind every product it makes. Ice cream crafted on equipment that has been in use for over a century.

Chocolates made from recipes that predate most of our grandparents. Ribbon candy shaped by hands following a tradition that stretches back generations.

That kind of continuity is extraordinarily rare, and it gives every visit a depth that goes far beyond the simple pleasure of eating something delicious. Families who came here as children are now bringing their own kids, creating a chain of memory and tradition that is genuinely moving to witness.

The chalk wall inside the shop lets you leave your own mark on that ongoing story, adding your name and message to the growing collection of people who found something special here.

Kellerhaus is located at 259 Endicott St N, Laconia, NH 03246, right in the heart of the Lakes Region. Pack up the car, point it toward New Hampshire, and make the trip.

A century of happy visitors cannot be wrong, and your sundae is already waiting.