Come out and enjoy some ice cream! Ice cream fans in San Francisco are lucky. Why? Even though San Francisco has changed drastically over the years there is still one thing that remains the same: there will always be amazing ice cream shops. The options here are pretty incredible, ranging from old-school favorites to experimental parlors blending the most insane ingredients into their creams to keep us coming back for more (and, yes of course, we’ll wait an hour for it if we have to).
If you want directions on this ice cream trail then click Here for a Driving Directions.
1. Humphrey Slocombe - 1 Ferry Building, San Francisco, 94111
Humphrey Slocombe got the stamp of approval from the Food Network as one of the "Top 5 Ice Creams in America." This Mission shop (and Ferry Building outpost) is inspired by a British 1970s sitcom (hence the strange name) and its flavors are just as lovingly goofy (and ridiculously good). Some of their wildest flavors include Foie, Elvis (The Fat Years), Bacon, Ancho Chilies, Hibiscus Beet, Olive Oil, and Potato Chips.
2. Swensen's Ice Crean: 1999 Hyde St, San Francisco, 94109
Head out to to Russian Hill and check out the original Swensen's Ice Cream for true ice cream goodness. This store has been around since 1948, and has since spread its creamy goodness across the country and even into foreign land. The favorite flavors here include Sticky Chewy Chocolate and good ol' Rocky Road. Yum!
3. The Ice Cream Bar - 815 Cole Street, San Francisco, 94117
Time to head to Cole Valley now. This 1930s-style soda fountain makes everything in-house, including herbal extracts, syrups, and vegan options. This is the best place to satisfy that nostalgic craving for a banana split or hot fudge sundae. And you can still feel somewhat okay with it after consumption, because, you know, it's all organic
4. Bi-Rite Creamery: 3692 18th St, San Francisco, 94110
Head to Dolores Park, but expect lines especially on a weekend day. However, Bi Rite is worth the wait! Using local favorites like TCHO chocolate and Blue Bottle coffee, they make their ice cream in small batches with organic Straus Family milk (and even buffalo milk). For bigger celebrations, get one of their ice cream cakes, which are totally sinful (in the best way possible).
5. Mitchell's Ice Cream - 688 San Jose Ave, San Francisco, 94110
This is the final spot of the tour, and for good reason too. This Mission/Bernal Heights institution has been serving up scoops since 1953 with globally inspired flavors that use ingredients like avocado, mango, purple yam, and coconut from the Philippines, cocoa from the Ivory Coast, coffee from Colombia, and more!
Have you been to any of these spots for ice cream? Let us know about your experiences. Share this story too! If you're still curious about more ice cream spots then check out This Tiny Shop In San Francisco That Serves Homemade Ice Cream To Die For.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!