13 Best Ice Cream Shops in Santa Cruz

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

“Donnelly's chocolates is already well known for their heavenly taste - however, I am writing this five-star review for a different reason. I wanted to send a birthday gift-pack of chocolates - recepient lives in Santa Cruz but I live on the other coast. I ended up sharing wrong contact details by mistake. Richard personally reached out to me when the number could not be reached and sorted things out. In fact he added in two milk chocolate bars because the delivery was 'easy' :)
Thank you so much!“

“My go-to ice cream fix anytime I’m in Santa Cruz! Organic, delicious, home made flavors. Burnt cinnamon, dark chocolate sorbet and salted caramel toffee are among my favorites!“

“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.“

“Good for people who suffer from choice paralysis, there’s only a few flavours of yogurt but I could see them all going good with each other. You put your toppings and then you pay. It couldn’t be simpler! Cute and clean and seating available. Staff working was very kind and diligent with maintaining toppings. Will return.“

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

“Toasted marshmallow topper 👍🏽“

“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.“

“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.“

“I actually have good judgement and taste and love to go around actually giving good reviews on establishments that deserve a good review . When I had tasted the Oreo flavor , i was able to distinguish the exact taste that Michoacana , the streets, vendor ice cream that I have tasted as a child only . I knew instantly I had to get myself some . Only saddens my heart to say that I’ll only be able to enjoy that exact flavor only when I visit Santa Cruz but most definitely will stop by here every time before leaving . I am writing this review after my birthday & I still can’t stop thinking about that rich flavor that brought a little bit of home from Mexico to my mouth . The gentleman was very nice and very sweet. Go support this amazing place because the ice cream is no doubt will worth a tasty snack . The 5 stars doesn’t not deny on this one .“

“I just had an amazing experience at Pleasure Point Juice, definitely my new favorite spot! I tried their spinach, cucumber, and pineapple juice, and it was absolutely delicious. The combination was so refreshing and flavorful, and you could tell the ingredients were super fresh. I also had their strawberry agua fresca (which, if you’ve never had one, is a traditional Mexican drink made by blending fruit with water, sugar, and a little lime—light, sweet, and so hydrating!). It was the perfect balance of sweetness and tang.

But it’s not just the drinks that impressed me. I also tried their tacos, and they were so good! The flavors were on point, and everything tasted fresh and homemade. Honestly, the food alone would be enough to keep me coming back, but paired with the refreshing drinks, this place is a total winner.

I highly recommend Please Point Juice, whether you’re looking for a healthy juice, a flavorful agua fresca, or just a delicious meal. This place is a gem!“

“The service was friendly and efficient, and the staff made sure everything was well-organized despite the busy location. The whole experience felt fun and nostalgic, with a clean and inviting setup that made it easy to enjoy a quick treat.

My only small complaint is that the line moved a bit slower than I would have liked, but it wasn’t enough to ruin the good vibes. Overall, it was a solid visit and I’d happily stop by again.“

“First time trying it and oh boy! I did not expect it to taste so good and be that size. They mix everything at the moment and you can see the process, which is always appreciated, even the waffle cone was still warm. I had the Coffee Mud Pie Mojo and it's truly amazing. If you love coffee, I recommend trying this one, the touch of oreos, peanut butter, roasted almonds and fudge give it a delicious taste. Definitely worth the 10 bucks!“