50 Best Ice Cream Shops in San Francisco

“Best gelato in San Francisco.“

“Historically best ice cream in SF!“

“It's amazing, I highly recommend everyone to go here“

“Çok lezzetli sağlıklı hijyenik aile olarak üretim yapılan bir yer kesinlikle ziyaret edilmeli teşekkür ederiz“

“I’ve never been here in person but I’ve frequently ordered the hand-scooped pints from here on Doordash, and they always give a generous amount. The grasshopper pie flavor is the best by far and might be my favorite ice cream flavor ever. The ube and strawberry flavors are also really good.“

“Marshmallow fluff;) Loved the Milkbomb sandwich! Will definitely go again;)“

“$4.5 for a hot freshly roasted beef sandwich, with the side of nachos and potato salad in San Francisco is unimaginable! The pistachio ice cream was really good as well. Tom is a really nice man who is dedicated to his ice cream shop and the customers. Come and get yourself a sweet treat!“

“My favorite ice cream spot in San Francisco. The flavors are unique and taste pure. Their vanilla lilikoi flavor paired with their salty Kaya (pandan coconut jam) is my go-to pairing. Love the ample vegan selections, too, especially their farmer’s market fruit sorbets. Dog-friendly, too!

3 samples max per person, so strategize with your friends accordingly. Expect to wait in line outside for a bit so bring a sweater/coat since it gets chilly in SF, especially in the evenings.“

“Stumbled upon Polly Ann while looking for a source of birthday cake for a friend. Polly Ann is absolutely the best - high quality ice cream, incredibly massive list of flavors, their whipped cream and frosting are the best we've encountered in SF, and the staff all really want to help and worked with me to make every order right! This is now my go-to for birthday cakes, and each one has surprised and delighted. One friend said it's the best birthday cake he ever had. Another friend asked for a 2nd one, because they put left overs in the fridge (ice cream cakes melt in the fridge) and liked the cake so much they wanted a replacement, with the exact same flavors.

When I was delayed and couldn't pick up the cake in time for the birthday party, the shop staff were so helpful and worked with me to get an Uber delivery organized and they made sure the driver got the cake and they saved the day!

Note: if you order through Doordash or Uber, Polly Ann does delivery, but NOT through their website. The website will let you schedule delivery but this is not accurate, I think the owners are working on fixing the website - in the meantime, ensure you plan on pickup if ordering direct.“

“We love this ice cream place not just because of their delicious flavors. They always have, or because of the monthly new flavors that they cook up all the time. But we also love it because they always have vegan options. We don’t do well with dairy, so we’re always willing to take dairy pills to have these delicious flavors. But we also love that they are vegan flavors are also high-quality! It’s nothing fancy, it’s just ice cream. But they do it very well.“

“fabulous! please open another in the San Jose area. great service..the way they encourage you to taste while waiting in line...loved the various, different flavors“

“Yummm. Try the sf cheesecake and the bubbly Texan“

“Delicious, local, worth the wait. The owner, Norman, was a lovely man. The location in the historic Del Monte cannery courtyard was a plus. Quiet, peaceful location to enjoy ice cream away from the frenzy one block away. If you like sampling ice cream from local folks while traveling, this is a must-visit.“

“Stopped by Ghirardelli for a dessert break and ordered the Strawberry Passion Hot Fudge sundae. The portion was huge and packed with a lot of ice cream. The chocolate-dipped strawberries were surprisingly big and sweet, and the hot fudge sauce tasted really good with the ice cream without being overly sweet. Everything balanced together nicely, and it felt like the perfect treat while taking a break around the area.“

“Best hot chocolate ever. Definitely trying the Gelato next!“

“Good stuff, love nondairy options!“

“One of our favorite spots in the Richmond. Sean and Alice are as terrific as their ice cream!“

“Perfect stop for a sunny, hot Sunday. There wasn’t a long wait, and the service was fast and friendly. We didn’t get to see them make the ice cream, but it was definitely the smoothest ice cream I’ve had.

I tried the cookie dough with pretzels and chocolate chips and really enjoyed it, the sweet and salty combo worked really well with how creamy it was.

There aren’t a ton of seats inside, but we were still able to find a spot.a bit pricey for sure“

“Yummm. Try the sf cheesecake and the bubbly Texan“

“The most delicious, fresh, and hand-crafted gelato I’ve ever tasted. You must try! Thank you Philmore!!! Can’t wait to come again!“

“just the best gelato cake this side of Italy. great crew, great owners. their kids are awesome!“

“The crepes and ice cream were not only delicious but also decorated beautifully! The attention to presentation really stands out and makes the experience even more enjoyable. The staff were also very friendly and welcoming, which made the visit even better.“

“Unique and exquisite homemade ice cream, original, tasty and so much more!😍 Don't hesitate to visit their cute shop and try them all!“

“Happiness in a cup. And a cone 😁“

“I love these cute little corner stores in San Francisco on potrero Hill. We only had ice cream but the ice cream was great. Nice little tables and chairs to sit out and watch the world go by. Someday we'll have to go back and try some of the other thing on the menu besides ice cream.“

“Walked by this pop-up restaurant on the way back to our car, decided to give it a try and was not disappointed. The young woman providing service was very friendly did a wonderful job putting together are bare basket and cookie sandwiches. They're pretty big two people could easily split it.“

“The first time this happened, I assumed it might have been a mistake and didn’t mind.
However, after ordering an unsweetened matcha latte again and still finding it noticeably sweet, I felt frustrated.
I was told the sweetness came from the milk, but the level of sweetness didn’t seem consistent with milk alone.
My concern is less about taste and more about transparency—there’s no clear indication that “unsweetened” may still contain sugar.
If you’re sensitive to sugar or monitoring intake, I’d strongly recommend confirming the ingredients of the matcha powder before ordering.“

“The ice cream is amazing! I’m a sucker for Juliette’s Vanilla malt milkshake. Never too full for one of those!“

“Well, it is a tad pricey, but it is a must stop when visiting San Francisco. Sure, you can get it elsewhere--the candy bars etc., but they have the best sundaes and the entire store is just packed with anything you want from their line of great chocolate.

The place can get packed so chill out. During tourist season it is busy, but the line moves fast and there is just so much to look at and so much to buy.

The place is just spotless and everything tastes fresh and you want to buy a gift or two for friends. They even sell hot chocolate mix. There is just nothing not to love.

The staff is super and knows where everything is. Go to this one. Sure the tourists love it. I am a tourist and I love it.

Now, don't leave your candy bars in the sun. They will melt and you will be sad.“

“Vegan caramel chai with chocolate rocks...because I’m 7 ❤️“

“Delicious Harvey Milk and Peanut Butter. As good as it gets.“

“Enjoyed the pineapple fruit juice beverage with Pomegranate pearls on a hot day in San Francisco“

“gluten free, vegan, coconut based froyo! yum!“

“~follow me on IG at @summer.ishungry if you found this helpful :) <3

Stopped by Kiss of Matcha for an afternoon pick-me-up and ordered the jasmine matcha latte. The drink came out surprisingly fast and was smooth, refreshing, and well balanced.

The café had a cozy atmosphere and wasn’t too crowded when I visited, making it a great spot to relax for a bit. I’ve tried quite a few matcha spots around the Bay Area, and Kiss of Matcha continues to be one of my favorites. Definitely a place I’ll keep coming back to.“

“Amazing tasting pizza, the pepperoni was just the right amount of spicy, the honey added a lot of depth. The pizza was light, but still filling enough that you are not hungry, but not so much you feel stuffed. Perfect balance and great pizzas.“

“Great Milkshakes and cookies“

“Great spot for a family meetup! Visited with relatives living in the US and loved the cozy atmosphere. The cup ice cream is very tasty—the chocolate flavor was rich and delicious. Highly recommend, but please note there is no restroom available inside.“

“First time having shaved ice cream. It was Tachata which is cinnamon vanilla. Texture and taste was outstanding.“

“Their service and their soft serve is amazing! I always stop by their store when I'm in the area! 😀“

“Talk about a hidden gem in the slums of downtown San Francisco! For a corner store they sure do have an amazing food selection. Went to go get pizza across the street around midnight and they just closed, went here instead and got some fruit salad and fettuccine. They had kebabs, wings, pasta salads etc and it all looked super fresh.

Great place to go for quick meals to take back to your hotel if you’re staying nearby.“

“se te hace agua la boca 🤤 The food is BOOOOMB, bomb.com!!! The Crepes are AMAZING 🤩 The esquites are magically delicious 😋 and the customer service is great 👍🏻 super friendly and nice. Definitely our favorite place to snack at whenever we are in San Francisco“

“Son divinas, si pruebas las de café son un sueño y sobre todo a la hora de la película familiar. Altamente recomendadas“

“Giving 5 stars because the chocolate is good; but the icecream options are limited and very expensive! $27 for a three scoop sundae, ehhh, not really worth it. But , it is a great stop to grab a decent dessert after a day on alcatraz island!“

“I used to get Yomie’s in SoCal, and it was a yummy alternative to boba when I wanted something different. The yogurt smoothies at the North Beach location taste pretty similar but seem to be blended a little thicker. I got the passion fruit smoothie with less sugar and purple rice as a topping, and it was very filling. Definitely recommend as a drinkable snack.“

“Delicious rolled ice cream with free toppings!!! Yummm!!!“

“gluten free, vegan, coconut based froyo! yum!“

“Mangonada, nieve de garrafa, raspados, bionicos, tostilocos, tejuinos“

“Great little find while touring the city! Had to stop by three times in two days. Fantastic sandwich’s and great pastries.“

“They are clean and organized and the prices are fair, especially being in the tenderloin where the struggle and homelessness is really the over all attraction. But one employee just doesn't seem to be happy. He doesn't smile is unfriendly and somewhat rude!! And the other one is completely the opposite. But over all I enjoyed there food... And definitely there milkshakes are a must have. I will be a consistent customer since I'm new to the area!“

“So yummy ! Choose any cookies and any ice cream flavor.“