20 Best Ice Cream Shops in Berkeley

“Came here as an act of kindness for a school assignment because my group wanted to support a small business. Let me tell you, the staff was so nice ! The ice cream was SO GOOD (I got strawberry matcha with a waffle cone) and flavorful. Their ice cream flavors are so different that gives them a unique advantage compared to other shops. I will be coming back, it’s definitely worth the stop.“

“How do you spell “Enrapture”? “Lexie’s Frozen Custard” of course, offering a wide array of heart-stopping pleasures and confections. Charm and charisma? Delivered with each serving! Pictured: Beguiling owner Alexis LeCount and arresting assistant Sadie Sprenkle.“

“Vegan (& Gluten-free) flavors! I loved the pluot, the dark chocolate, and the walnut (that has no pieces of nuts in it, which is really helpful to those like me who can’t have much fiber). Additionally, I found all three flavors more refreshing than (sickeningly) heavy, and the flavors 🤩 🎇—like the grand finale of a fireworks show for the taste buds. I’ve only had about a spoonful of each so far but am in love 😍🤤😋. I didn’t go to the shop, someone brought me some, so I’m not able to give my opinion on the actual shop. From what I heard, though, it wasn’t as crazy as many ice cream places are on hot weekends! 😊“

“We visited from across the country, and this was our first visit to any of The Yard's locations. Sean was a bright spark in the place. They were just beautifully kind, and incredibly helpful. We went in for the milkshakes and they were very good, all the flavors, it was difficult to decide. I got the Pecan Turtle, which was so rich and good. We also ended up getting some cookie dough to bring back home (in our checked bag, which made it home beautifully after talking to Sean about if he thought it would work). The dough was also sooooo good! I think that there is something different about the dairy products in the PNW versus the South East, it's richer, and perhaps fresher. I definitely recommend this location, especially if you're lucky enough to see Sean 💙“

“The best gelato I’ve found with many unique and delicious flavors using fresh fruits and ingredients on a daily basis. I come in every time I am in Berkeley, because it’s head and shoulders above the gelato in the Sacramento area!“

“Not too sweet and great place to hang out!!!“

“"a mini is small, a small is large, and a large is gigantic"“

“Amazing waffle & flavour and lovely atmosphere. Would definitely recommend you check them out!!!!!“

“Very distinctive flavors made with fresh and organic ingredients!!!“

“Amazing! I tried chocolate flavor and it was sooooo good! It was super soft and melt immediately in my mouth. And it’s not super sweet that makes me to drink water after taking it. And I could feel the very light good smell of cinnamon as I eating it. Definitely going to be back again!“

“My experience at Passione Caffè in their gorgeous two-story, well-decorated café at 91 Shattuck Square was simply marvelous. The staff was friendly, quick, and accommodating and the food, drinks, and desserts were delicious! I highly recommend Passione Caffè to those looking for a quick and yummy lunch (or breakfast/brunch everyday), to snack and study, or for an authentic Italian coffee. Don’t miss out on the great happy hour/aperativo deals between 4-7PM! It almost goes without mentioning, but Passione Caffè is absolutely true to its slogan: “A corner of Italy in Berkeley.” From the food and drink to the atmosphere and the service, this is the only truly Italian café I have found in Berkeley! And that comes from over a year of experience living and traveling in Italy! Besides the beautiful architecture and interior design of Passione Caffè—not to mention its convenient location next to Downtown Berkeley BART—I would like to point out some highlights on the menu. The pastas are all made with homemade, organic noodles and made-to-order sauces. The pasta dishes are so fresh and authentic! The spaghetti with meatballs, their only Americanized dish, is to die for! The pizzas also are also made with home-made dough and gluten-free options are offered. Try one with fresh prosciutto, mozzarella, and arugula! The fresh panini with Italian meats and cheeses round out the lunch menu. It is possible to have a filling lunch for $7-15, which is definitely reasonably priced by Berkeley standards! A serious final highlight was the artisanal gelato, made in-house by the Italian co-owner, Eleanora Cercatore. There are 12 flavors, weekly made with gluten-free options, that are displayed on a beautiful rotating wheel. The gelato is spectacularly tasty—I cannot recommend it highly enough! For your time, money, and fine Italian bites and drinks, I cannot recommend a Berkeley café more highly than Passione Caffè! Please pay them a visit soon—you won’t be disappointed!“

“This is purely a review of their food - I'm not about to judge them on the space since they're kinda in a parking lot. I've had their food a few times, and I usually start on my meal about 5 mins after I got it from them. This is kind of a factor for burgers and fries...

...And they are excellent! Their burgers are solid, and very reasonably priced. I like Jack in the Box, but if I'm paying $8-10 on a nice burger from either place, Fosters Freeze is by far the better choice. Minimal grease or salt, doesn't make me want to run and grab a salad afterwards - yeah, these guys are legit!

As for fries, I'd rate them as pretty good overall, but you can't go wrong with their waffle fries - so good that I'm tempted to go back just to order only those!

If you think of them as a takeout spot and not a sit down restaurant, then they're definitely up there at the top. Thanks guys!“

“Best ever! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗😋😋😋😋💕💕💕💕😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋😋🖤“

“Love Crumbl! This location is located right by UC Berkeley so the parking is pretty wild. Usually my Husband will pull up and I’ll hop out and run in while he parks around the block. TEAMWORK MAKE THE DREAM WORK! The cookies are soooo good and the sugar here is always nice and welcoming!“

“Stopped for breakfast one morning; what a delight! Tasty filling on a scrumptious bagel. The sight of all the donuts and pastries had us vowing to return. Which we did, scoring a box of various donuts and pastries and the biggest croissants I’ve ever seen. Definitely worth a return visit.“

“A fantastic assortment of eclectic ice cream flavors.“

“This is the best boba place in Berkeley. The lady working here is so nice and she even gave my friend a free drink for his birthday! If you ever pull up here make sure to get the grape sparkling or any of the Thai tea. Their sushi roll is also amazing. I swear you won’t be disappointed :)

P.S. this was the drink that my friend requested“

“The guy & girl at the counter knew their ice cream and were very helpful and polite, don’t always get that kind of service. Keep up the good work! 👍🏼“

“If you desire slightly less sweet cookies than Crumbl, then this is the place for you. They probably still have the same caloric intake, except these are more akin to actual cookies rather than cake. It is better to get something like a cookie sandwich since buying the cookie itself lacks novelty, but you still pay for the price of something novel like that at Crumbl. My only complaint about this place's service is quite slow for something as simple as cookies. However, the place is never dirty, which makes waiting for cookies more palpable.“