If you’re craving a cold treat, here are 14 of the best ice cream shops in San Diego.
1. Bobboi Natural Gelato
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While Bobboi offers classic flavors like stracciatella and pistachio, unconventional options such as matchatella (matcha and chocolate shards) or rosehoney (honey and Lebanese rosewater) are what truly stand out. Rather than showcasing their gelato like most shops, they store it away to maintain freshness and temperature, ensuring a flawless consistency every single time. bobboi.com
2. Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams
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Award-winning ice cream shop Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams brought something new to Carlsbad and North Park. Founded in 2002 by Jeni Britton Bauer, the company now operates more than 50 shops in the U.S. Bestsellers include their gooey butter cake, brambleberry crisp and salty caramel pints. Their flavors can stand alone or pair with your favorite desserts, taking them to the next level. jenis.com
3. Jojo’s Creamery
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Enjoy artisanal, homemade ice cream at this family-owned Encinitas creamery, where every order comes with a small chocolate chip cookie—creating the perfect combination. All ice creams are organic, and they never use any ingredients you can’t pronounce. Choose from their generous menu, which includes mostly gluten-free flavors and some vegan options, or pre-order a custom ice cream pie. jojoscreamery.com
4. Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream
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From cookies and cream to green tea to peanut butter and guava jelly, Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream has it all. Their impressive menu boasts over 300 diverse flavors of Tropical Dreams super premium Hawaiian ice cream and sorbet. Order their famous ice cream flights to try out multiple flavors in one sitting. hammondsgourmet.com
5. Lighthouse Ice Cream
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Known for quality ice cream and their Hot Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich, this family-owned business serves a variety of flavors with an impressive selection of toppings (from hot fudge to Oreo cookies to Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups) and specialty items like sundaes and floats. The best part is that they’re pet friendly, so bring your furry friend along and ask for a Frosty Paws high-quality protein treat! lighthouseicecreammob.com
6. Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream
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This old-fashioned shop has been serving San Diego quality ice cream since 2000. The majority of their ice cream contains no eggs, and their sorbet is dairy-free. In addition to their expansive menu, which also features items like sherbet, sundaes, ice cream pies and 2 ½ gallon tubs are available. mariposaicecream.com
7. MooTime Creamery
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Established in 1998, this Coronado store is popular among both locals and tourists. Their goal is to provide the best handcrafted ice cream, yogurt and sorbet in a nostalgic environment, and their 27 flavors are rotated daily for freshness. You can order by the scoop or try their specialty sundaes, cakes and pies. bluebridgehospitality.com
8. Salt & Straw
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This Little Italy ice cream spot celebrates the origins of the beloved dessert and evokes a sense of community. Here, they hand make their ice cream in small batches, resulting in what can only be described as creamy, luxurious perfection. Classic flavors like honey lavender, chocolate gooey brownie and cold brew cashew praline are always available, and new ones make their debut often. At Salt & Straw's newest scoop shop in La Jolla at the Westfield UTC shopping center, you can indulge in the exclusive collaboration flavor, Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese, created by renowned chefs Tyler Malek and Brian Malarkey, and explore the shop's innovative Upcycled Food Series, featuring five flavors highlighting the delicious potential of reducing food waste. saltandstraw.com
9. Stella Jean’s Ice Cream
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Explore University Heights while savoring a scoop or two of Stella Jean’s Ice Cream. This small batch shop makes it their priority to use quality ingredients to create the best ice cream possible. Permanent flavors range from S’mores to ube and pandesal to mango sticky rice. Plus, they currently have limited edition flavors like guava cream cheese and banana coffee cake. stellajeans.com
10. The Baked Bear
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If you’re on the hunt for Insta-worthy ice cream sandwiches, look no further. At The Baked Bear, visitors can choose between over a dozen cookie and ice cream flavors until they find their favorite combination. Ask for your sandwich to be rolled through toppings like brownie bits, Fruity Pebbles or sprinkles. thebakedbear.com
11. An’s Dry Cleaning
While An’s might seem like a typical dry cleaner from the outside, this historic space was converted into a dreamy gelato shop in 2018, offering decadent scoops daily. To pay homage to the store’s original laundering service, each handmade flavor is named for a different fabric. Indulge in plaid, which blends dense dark chocolate with honey and cinnamon, or try plush for a refreshing watermelon and mint sorbet. adcgelato.com
12. Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Using the same techniques for over 77 years, Handel’s continues to handcraft rich, velvety ice cream in an abundance of flavors. The menu ranges from simple and fresh banana all the way to loaded deep dish apple pie. For an extra treat, order a hurricane that mixes premium vanilla with almost any chocolate candy. handelsicecream.com
13. Sundae's at the Del
Stop by Hotel del Coronado for a taste of delicious gelato on a cone or upgrade to a gourmet sundae. Build your own paletas are also a must-try, where guests can choose any ice cream bar to be dipped or drizzled with chocolate and covered in toppings. hoteldel.com/dine/
14. The Craft Creamery
Savor a truly unique ice cream experience at The Craft Creamery, where the concept of "scoops on tap" brings together the nation's top independent creameries and mom-and-pop artisans. With a rotating lineup of flavors sourced from around 50 creameries, including renowned spots like Molly Moon and Graeter's, this neighborhood ice cream shop offers a delightful range of options you won't find at your local grocery store. From leisurely scoops to delicious affogatos, there's something to satisfy every ice cream lover's craving. Enjoy their ice cream happy hour and indulge in a delightful treat! craftcreamerysd.com
Photography by: Kenta Kikuchi/Unsplash
