For when you're craving a cold treat, here are the 15 best ice cream shops to try in San Francisco.
San Francisco is a hotspot for all sorts of sweet treats— especially ice cream. From fresh vegan sorbets and photo-worthy ice cream sandwiches topped with sprinkles and brownies to old-school scoops in house-recipe waffle cones, there is never a shortage of creameries and shops to try. In a place with so much to offer, it can be difficult to narrow down the best. Thankfully, our guide has got your sweet tooth covered.
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Multiple locations | Website
With fresh-churned, smooth scoops served in hand-rolled, house-recipe waffle cones, Smitten Ice Cream sets the sweet treat bar high. With multiple locations throughout the city, the company achieves its delectable flavors with its one-of-a-kind, patented Brrr ice cream machine that churns creamy desserts in just 90 seconds.
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1447 Taraval St. | 415.731.2833
Established in 1983, this artisan Gelato producer expertly hand-crafts exotic fruit and traditional Italian flavors. Known for its distinctive scoops made from natural ingredients, you can taste real fruit bits in each spoonful. With flavors like banana walnut, durian, guava, pistachio, lychee and more, you'll find yourself deliberating over Marco Polo's selection of rich, creamy and dense treats. Don't fret, though—you can pick up to four flavors in a cup or cone.
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815 Cole St. | Website
Take a quick, sweet trip to the past at The Ice Cream Bar, a 1930's style soda fountain serving ice cream and baked treats made in-house. Open from Wednesday through Sunday, this ice cream shop serves an assortment of flavors like Banana Puddin', Caramelized Honey and Creme Fraiche. Pair any of their ice cream flavors (they have vegan options!) with their chocolate chip cookies or a slice of pie. If you're in the mood for a shake instead, try one (or all) of their 'Boozy Drinks.'
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303 Columbus Ave., 2824 Jones St. | Website
The Baked Bear serves sweet treats for those with a big heart, appetite and sweet tooth. Serving "monstrous ice cream sandwiches," as their website describes, each dessert is made from an original recipe and fresh-baked cookies and brownies. With over a dozen cookie and ice cream flavor options, guests can mix and match their sandwiches to their desire. To make each sandwich seriously photo-worthy, they can be rolled through any topping imaginable, from Oreo crumble to brownie bites.
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Multiple locations | Website
Humphry Slocombe is ice cream, ice cream cake and ice cream pie galore. First opened in 2008, the company has eight locations across the Bay Area, serving unusual and eccentric flavors that are sure to intrigue and delight guests. They create vegan options like Vegan Cherry Elderflower, along with some uncommonly named flavors like Secret Breakfast and Vietnamese Coffee.
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Multiple locations | Website
Although Souvla is known for its Greek lunch and dinner options, its frozen Greek yogurt is a serious showstopper. Four of the mouthwatering topping options include Greek Sour Cherry Syrup, Greek Olive Oil & Flaky Sea Salt, Baklava Crumbles & Honey Syrup and Cretan Wildflower Honey. They're so delicious, you can find various copycat recipes online, but be sure to try the originals first.
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1470 Fillmore St.
For nearly 30 years, this old-fashioned ice cream parlor has been serving delicious scoops, milkshakes, a large selection of candies, sundaes and more. Boasting a reputation of the friendliest service, Miyako is a true city gem. With an attention-grabbing sign that reads "We have over 100 flavors," the ice cream parlor is a hit among the local community that gathered thousands of dollars last year in an effort to save the business after an overwhelming break-in.
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260 Divisadero St. | Website
If you haven't heard of Shaved Snow, here is your formal introduction. It's a creamy, delicate and airy Taiwanese dessert, best described by Powder as "ice cream meets shaved ice." Each made-to-order Shaved Snow replicates rich, fluffy ribbons so pretty, you won't want to eat it. With flavors like Thai Tea and toppings like azuki red bean, mochi and toasted marshmallows, the sweet possibilities at Powder are endless.
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2144 Chestnut St., 5 Embarcadero Center| Website
While you can enjoy Over the Moon's exquisite flavors in a cup or cone, the creamery is especially known for its sensational ice cream cookie sandwiches. Pair any of their 24 flavors, like Funfetti or Honey Lavendar, with any of Grandma Millie's freshly baked cookies, like Snickerdoodle or Sea Salt Chocolate Chip. For more options, try a shake or old-fashioned root beer float.
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3566 20th St. | Website
For fresh ingredients and organic dairy from family farms, coconut-based vegan sorbet and other locally hand-crafted treats, Garden Creamery is the spot to try. The Mission District ice cream shop offers nine vegan flavors and 15 dairy flavors, with new flavors that are added to their scoop case weekly, all made from scratch. Dairy options include Banana Salted Caramel and Mexanilla Mango, while vegan sorbet options include Kona Coffee and Orange Creamsicle.
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1999 Hyde St. | Website
Swensen's has been scooping up sweet treats with the highest quality of ingredients since 1948. Out of all the ice cream shops in San Francisco, Swensen's is one of the few that makes their ice cream in-house, as well as the handmade waffle cones. Enjoy up to 35 flavors, from Swiss Orange Chip to Turkish Coffee and Bordeaux Cherry.
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688 San Jose Ave. at 29th Street| Website
Family business Michell's Ice Cream has been around for more than 69 years. The shop started out with 19 flavors and was the first to launch mango ice cream in the Bay Area. The ice cream is made fresh every day with 40 flavors, including Thai tea, avocado and coconut pineapple.
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3692 18th St. | Website
Bi-Rite Creamery is all about community as the business uses over 200 local producers, makers and growers for their creamery, market, catering and farm. The iconic spot's menu features a variety of options with seasonal flavors, sundaes, dairy-free flavors, soft serve, ice cream cakes, novelties and signature flavors like lavender honey, roasted banana and birthday cake. Sustainability is also a key component as the creamery partners with Guittard Chocolate Company, who locally and globally uses sustainable practices to source quality cocoa.
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Rethink Ice Cream is always a great choice as it is lower in carbs, calories and sugar than most other options. As dairy intolerance is so common these days, ReThink uses lactose-free A2/A2 dairy for the milk source. What also makes the ice cream guilt-free is that it's safer for diabetics and pre-diabetics to consume because it is low in sugar and low-glycemic. The company sells pints with 10 flavors on offer including lemon poppy seed and cardamom pistachio. Find ReThink Ice Cream in over 50 stores in the Bay Area and mainly in Lucky California stores.
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699 22nd St. | Website
Sunday Social, formerly Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous, regularly changes its menu with updates found on their Instagram. The shop also serves baked goods, cappuccinos, lattes and affogatos. Some of the unique signature flavors you can find at the shop include strawberry matcha, fruity pebbles and minty grasshopper pie.
Photography by: ISTOCK
