In San Diego, we take our ice cream very seriously. Maybe it's our warm weather or laid-back lifestyle, but nobody does frozen treats quite like we do! From Chula Vista to Oceanside, you'll discover delicious homemade ice cream, gelato, frozen yogurt, shave ice, decadent milkshakes, freshly made popsicles, even Hula Pie! Plan a trip to one of our favorite San Diego ice cream shops or frozen treat spots. Better yet, visit several!
San Diego's Best Ice Cream Shops
(including Gelato, Shave Ice and Frozen Yogurt)
An's Dry Cleaning
3017 Adams Avenue, North Park
Voted #1 ice cream shop in America by USA Today two years in a row! Don't be fooled by the funky name or odd props in the window, this former dry-cleaning store turned gelato shop serves up some of the best ice cream in the country. Paying homage to its former life as the neighborhood dry cleaning store, this scoop shop names its unique flavors after freshly-washed fabrics. Other celebrated locations include An's Hatmakers (Del Mar), An's Athletic Fields Services (Petco Park.) and An's Electronics Repair (Ocean Beach).
An’s Gate D5
250 N Pacific St., Oceanside
An's Gelato opens its fifth location inside the iconic “Top Gun House” this summer (2026)! Other celebrated locations include An’s Dry Cleaning (North Park) and those listed above.
The Baked Bear
Pacific Beach, Encinitas, Carmel Mountain
Is there anything better than custom-made ice cream sandwiches? Choose from freshly baked brownies or cookies (rotating flavors) for your sandwich (or mix and match). Ask for it "hot-pressed" if you like your sandwich extra gooey. Don't forget to add toppings like sprinkles or chopped nuts for that extra touch.
Boba Bar and Desserts
4619 Convoy St. #F, Kearny Mesa
1132 E Plaza Blvd., National City
Your one-stop shop for sweet treats! Boba Bar offers ice cream, shaved snow, boba drinks and more. Be sure to try the ice cream puffle, an egg-shaped waffle filled with your choice of soft-serve ice cream.
Bobboi Natural Gelato
8008 Girard Ave., La Jolla
2175 Kettner Blvd., Little Italy
736 Ventura Pl, Mission Beach
Bobboi Natural Gelato was voted #8 in Yelp's 100 Best-Reviewed Places to eat in the country for a reason! Hundreds of online reviews don’t lie; Bobboi has top-notch gelato made daily with fresh, organic and local ingredients.
Bruster’s Real Ice Cream
8497 Fletcher Pkwy., La Mesa
A drive-thru ice cream shop? Yes! Enjoy a variety of handcrafted frozen treats featuring premium ice cream and sherbet that’s freshly made on site. Check menu for rotating flavors. Walk-up window and outdoor patio seating also available.
Cali Cream Homemade Ice Cream
90 N. Coast Hwy 101 #101, Encinitas
425 Market St., Downtown San Diego
Locally owned and operated shop serving delicious homemade ice cream scoops, malts, shakes, sundaes, ice cream cakes and more.
Crispy Cones
2967 Carlsbad Blvd., Carlsbad
Revolutionizing the soft-serve cone, this European-inspired treat features hand-rolled dough cones grilled rotisserie-style for a warm, crispy finish. Coated in cinnamon sugar or specialty powder, each cone is filled with gourmet soft-serve, sauces and toppings for an indulgent dessert experience.
Duke's La Jolla
1216 Prospect St., La Jolla
Hidden within Duke's menu is a delicious prize in the dessert world that originated in Maui: Hula Pie, featuring macadamia nut ice cream, cookie crust and hot fudge. Stop by for a slice of this incredible Hawaiian dessert and enjoy a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean and La Jolla Cove.
EscoGelato
122 S. Kalmia St, Escondido
If you're craving something a little lighter and creamier, head to Escondido's beloved gelato shop for unique flavors like Strawberry Balsamic and Spicy Mango or indulge in more traditional flavors like Rocky Road and Chocolate Peanut Butter. Whatever you choose, you can't go wrong!
Gelato Paradiso
918 Orange Ave., Coronado
Treat your tastebuds to handmade artisanal gelato made with old-world traditions and recipes that have been passed down through the generations. Ask about the flavor of the month.
Hanna’s Creamery & Café
4313 La Jolla Village Dr. #2270 (Westfield UTC Mall)
Get your sweet fix at Hanna’s Creamery & Café, a treat-filled wonderland snuggled in the heart of University Town Center. Enjoy the yummy goodness of homemade ice cream, try their irresistible, freshly-baked cookies, specialty coffees or a delicious delicious panini.
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Multiple Locations
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream has been serving scoops to happy customers since 1945. With locations across the county (now open in Carmel Mountain), Handel's is the perfect spot for a post-beach-day treat. Choose from sundaes, shakes, smoothies or a "Handel's Hurricane." Over 100 flavors vary by store.
Holy Paleta
4230 Bonita Rd., #B, Bonita
2040 India St., Little Italy
Inspired by the traditional treats of Michoacan, Mexico, Holy Paleta's handcrafted paletas (ice cream bars) are made with all-natural, premium ingredients with tons of tasty toppings for guests to create one-of-a-kind treats. Vegan flavors also available.
Iceskimo
4609 Convoy #B, Kearny Mesa
Iceskimo specializes in Taiwanese shaved snow, a tasty hybrid between traditional American ice cream and Hawaiian shaved ice. Each snow is shaved fresh to order.
Lighthouse Ice Cream
5059 Newport Ave. #102, Ocean Beach
Stop by this locally owned mom-and-pop scoop shop just steps away from the water in OB. We recommend the Hot Waffle Ice Cream Sandwich, but don't take our word for it. Lighthouse offers malts, cones, sundaes and sorbets in all your favorite flavors.
Little Fox Cups + Cones
1940 S. Freeman St. #100, Oceanside
Craft ice cream with delicious, whimsical flavors like Banana Pancake, S’more the Merrier, Golden Hour and You Otta Horchata. Vegan options. Also in Cardiff.
Mariposa Ice Cream
3450 Adams Ave., Normal Heights
With 25+ years under their belt, Mariposa knows how to make small-batch ice cream. This mom-and-pop shop prides itself on inexpensive, old-fashioned ice cream served by the people who make it. Plus, if you're a Beatles fan you'll love the eclectic mix of paraphernalia and posters covering the walls from floor to ceiling! Open Thursday–Sunday.
MooTime Creamery
1025 Orange Ave., Coronado
MooTime has been serving creamy, scratch-made ice cream to residents and tourists for nearly 30 years. Check their website for special flavors of the month.
Mr. Frostie
1470 Garnet Ave., Pacific Beach
Mr. Frostie is San Diego's gem for incredible soft-serve bliss. Its variety of treat options and reasonable prices make the long summer lines worth the wait.
Mutual Friend
3004 Juniper St., South Park
Small-batch handcrafted ice cream with a unique variety of flavors. Can't decide on one flavor? Indulge in a flight of four generous scoops to share with family or friends. Shares space with Dark Horse Coffee Roasters.
Pappalecco
1602 State St., Little Italy
4202 Adams Ave., Kensington
Pappalecco is an Italian eatery that offers more than just delicious dining and great service. Rich with flavor, creamy and dense, Pappalecco's gelato definitely ranks as some of the best in San Diego.
Pepper Tree Frosty
270 S Santa Fe Ave., Vista
This soft-serve shop has been serving up ice cream specialties and smiles for 70 years! If you love a dose of nostalgia with an old-school walk-up window, this is the spot. Locals go for the hand-crafted, award-winning shakes, in addition to dipped cones, banana splits, frozen bananas and hot fudge sundaes.
Rockie’s Frozen Yogurt
3546 Ashford St.
Tucked away in a Kearny Mesa strip mall is a local treasure: Rockie’s Frozen Yogurt. With reasonable prices, large portions, delicious yogurt and friendly atmosphere, it’s no wonder that Rockie’s has been a neighborhood favorite for many years.
Salt & Straw
1670 India St., Little Italy
3705 Caminito Ct., Carmel Valley (One Paseo retail shops)
4575 La Jolla Village Dr. (UTC Mall)
This beloved Portland-based ice cream shop boasts inventive flavors such as Honey Lavender and Meyer Lemon Meringue Pie. An extensive vegan menu offers dairy-free customers a range of delicious flavors to choose from. Visit often for new and rotating flavors. Feel free to taste when you're in the store!
Snowpops San Diego
1005 E. Plaza Blvd. #101, National City
Locally owned Snowpops SD features frozen treats such as Louisiana Snowballs (the fluffiest shaved ice!), gourmet ice pops, premium ice cream and Dole soft serve. Yum!
Photo By: Katie Sigeti
SomiSomi
4620 Convoy St., Kearny Mesa
9168 Mira Mesa Blvd.
4577 La Jolla Village Dr. #1230
This one-of-a-kind soft-serve spot offers delectable ice cream creations in a fish-shaped waffle cone. The special dessert is popular in both Japan and Korea where it's known as "Taiyaki" and "Ah-Boong" respectively. Choose a unique flavor like ube, black sesame or matcha. Then pick from a variety of toppings like Fruity Pebbles, sprinkles, Oreo crumbs and more.
Stella Jean's
Multiple locations
With six San Diego locations, Stella Jeans is a must-try for local ice cream enthusiasts. Mainstay flavors include S'mores, Brown Butter Pecan and Madagascar Vanilla. For those who want to try something a little different, we highly recommend the ever-popular Mango Sticky Rice and Strawberry Oat Crumble.
Ululani's Hawaiian Shave Ice
736 Otay Lakes Rd., Chula Vista
Consistently voted the best shave ice in the world, Ululani's offers melt-in-your-mouth goodness like you've never tasted before. Straight from Hawaii, this shave ice haven offers unique frozen concoctions made with fresh, all natural syrups and Maui's own Roselani ice cream. We recommend topping off your creation with a "snowcap" (drizzle of sweetened condensed milk) for the ultimate Ululani's experience.
Wahine Kai Shave Ice
10545 Scripps Poway Pkwy., Scripps Ranch
Locals from Hawaii rave that Wahine Kai is the best and closest thing to authentic Hawaiian shave ice with creations such as The Sandy Jewel and the Kona Luau. Order one of their suggested combos or create your own.
Wynston's Ice Cream
250 N. City Dr. #7, San Marcos
8250 Merge Ave., San Diego (Torrey Highlands)
Award winning, small-batch ice cream with rotating flavors every month. Dairy-free flavors available.
The Yogurt Mill
935 Broadway, El Cajon
The Yogurt Mill has been a local favorite for more than 40 years. Popular flavors include Coconut, Oreo & Cream and Red Velvet. Stop by between 10 a.m.–2 p.m. to avoid the crowd, or make new friends while waiting in the line that forms after 3 p.m. Flavors change daily.
Zonkey Paletas
3016 University Ave., North Park
Offers fruity (vegan) or creamy handcrafted paletas with customizable toppings and “dunk it” options. Savory snacks and agua frescas also available. All made with high-quality ingredients. Want to try several flavors? Ask about the flight of mini paletas! Open Thurs.–Sun.
Do you have a favorite place in San Diego to get a frozen treat? Tell us about it! Email the details (including what makes it special) to
Adrienne Sigeti is a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur, she loves discovering new frozen treat spots to share with families across San Diego County.
Updated: June 2026
