27 Best Ice Cream Shops near Aptos

“They make the best ice cream in town, with over 100 flavors to choose from“

“It’s one of those places where you can’t go inside you have to order at the window.if it’s cold outside that is the down side you can’t enjoy your ice cream there. I ordered a turtle Sunday and my only complaint is it would of been nice to actually get a brownie in my Sunday since that’s what turtle Sunday’s are known for and it’s was pricey still with out one so yeah.The location is good though.“

“Excellent ice cream with vegan options. Gluten free waffle cone too“

“It's an old fashioned burger joint right by the beach. For some it is a traditional stop when leaving the nearby beach.“

“They make the best ice cream in town, with over 100 flavors to choose from“

“Love that we can grab pizza and snacks all in one place, delicious!“

“Stumbled on this little oasis while walking the ‘mean streets’ of Santa Cruz. All kinds of flavors and friendliness here. Wouldn’t surprise me to see a banana slug flavor! There’s outdoor seating to enjoy your cone or cup in the sun. My kid loved his double dark chocolate.

Grok says:

The Penny Ice Creamery is a beloved artisan ice cream shop in Santa Cruz, California, renowned for crafting small-batch ice cream, sorbets, and treats entirely from scratch using local, organic, and seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farmers, ranchers, and foragers. Founded in 2010 by chef Kendra Baker—a UCSC alum with a passion for sustainable, farm-fresh desserts—and her partner Zachary E. Davis, it’s the only ice creamery in Santa Cruz (and one of the few in Northern California) with its own on-site dairy processing equipment, allowing full control from pasteurization to churning without pre-made bases, stabilizers, or preservatives. This commitment to sustainability extends to using 100% recycled, biocompostable packaging and even repurposing egg whites from their custard base into daily-made marshmallow meringue (torched fluff topping). Flavors rotate frequently, blending classic comforts with adventurous twists inspired by the Central Coast’s bounty—think wild-foraged herbs from the Santa Cruz Mountains or produce from local farms. It’s expanded from a single downtown spot to multiple locations, including recent Bay Area outposts, while maintaining a hippie-rooted, community-focused vibe that earned it a shoutout from Vice President Joe Biden in 2010 for its local impact.“

“After a day at Capitola Beach nothing better than Polar Bear Ice Cream to cool off“

“very good ice cream. right by the water. the flavors change so something new almost every time. makes for a good selection“

“the legends were true. They are one of the best chocolate ice cream bars I’ve tasted. Rich chocolate and a lot thicker than the chocolate on Häagen-Dazs bars. The vanilla ice cream is also very rich. Chocolates can be expensive and you can easily spend over $50 for a sample box. It’s great as gifts. Got lots of parking in the back.“

“Ice cream was very good and really creamy! Servers are very friendly 🙂“

“The staff here is always fantastic and I'm so grateful to have this place in the neighborhood. We only go every few months but each time we do it's a wonderful experience. I won't say it's the best quality fro-yo I've ever had, but it's tasty and extremely fairly priced.“

“Toasted marshmallow topper 👍🏽“

“lo mejor de lo mejor lo que quieras comer delicioso“

“Un Helado 🍦 con sabor a Mexico 🇲🇽 súper delicioso 🤤 endulzado suave 👌me encanta“

“During our 2 night mini vacation in Monterey this week, Feb 2 & 3, 2023, we bought a package of these cookies from a liquor store, on Lighthouse Avenue and now consider them to be our all-time favorite cookie.“

“i love the vibe, coffee and employees. Had the Ray of F* Sunshine today but with cow milk. OMG sooooo great. ty“

“Chocolate Dipped Sandae (7$)The "Chocolate Dipped Sandae" that has ice cream between two crackers is a good try. It costs 7.09$ and you can choose between "Almonds" or "Peanuts" in the Sandae. We chose Almonds and liked it.“

“Love the Capi YL store! It’s where it all started...😊 💚👍🏼🍧👍🏼💖“

“The lady was kind and accommodating. She seemed to know everyone who came in and was just a warm soul. She gave a good amount of ice cream for the price we paid. It is cash only so be prepared. The ice cream was good. One of the better oreo flavored ice creams I have had.“

“it's the best ice cream i have ever had. evan the flavers they have had that doesent sound like it would be good .. is real good. and they give you samples if you want to try a flavor before you buy it.“

“Everything is Delicious .. especially when you have Special Deals 🥰🍦Thank You“

“ice cream so good 😋 😋 yummy“

“I love coming here. It is such a great way to give back to local shops. I feel they deserve all the recognition, they have been established for more than 15 years; their service, and quality has ALWAYS been upket! Safe to say I recommend this shop to you and your family. A hidden gem in Watsonville Btw. My personal favorites on the menu is anything with their delicious cheese accompanied with their signature horchata.“

“Best boba tea in Santa Cruz county!“

“Santa Cruz local instution. This is a legacy NorCal small business chain. If you're not vegan you need to be supporting these people. The employees in Santa Cruz are respectful, efficient and maybe not earning a living wage required for the rents here. They work very late on the weekends until 3am. Shop local is up to YOU.“