Highest-rated ice cream shops in Santa Cruz, according to Yelp
Ice cream is a treat all year round, although the frequency and volume consumed during the hotter months might eclipse the colder months. The range of flavors in ice cream shops has evolved since the olden days when flavors were mainly limited to vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.
The best shops nowadays offer fresh combinations and ingredients you may never have imagined could be made into ice cream. Yes, you can find your classics, but also new concoctions like black sesame cookies and cream or honey lavender. Some shops boast flavors with even more unheard-of ingredients and combinations, like the savory herb tarragon or pineapple with pink peppercorns.
Ice cream creators have also expanded into rethinking frozen yogurt, soft serve, and vegan options. The dairy-free folks no longer have to order the only sorbet on the menu. There are non-dairy milk ice creams made from plant-based milks like oat or almond and other plant-based products like avocado or sunflower butter.
One of the best parts about getting a scoop at your local shop is picking out the toppings. Pour on the condensed milk or dulce de leche. Sprinkle bits of honeycomb or your childhood cereal. If you are an '80s kid, you might have had your fair share of popping candy rocks, which you can sometimes find as an offering to go with your latest ice cream craving.
Shops everywhere have made it their job to serve up the smoothest, creamiest, and most craveable ice cream ever. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated ice cream shops in Santa Cruz using data from Yelp. Rankings factor in how many reviewed the shop and how high they rated it. Keep reading to find your future go-to ice cream stop on the list.
#17. Boardwalk Grille - formerly Barbary Coast Restaurant
- Rating: 2.5/5 (38 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 400 Beach St Neptune's Kingdom Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Fosters Freeze
- Rating: 2.5/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 229 Laurel St Santa Cruz, CA 95062
- Categories: Burgers, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, American (Traditional)
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Loard's Ice Cream
- Rating: 2.5/5 (61 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 307 Beach St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#14. Cold Stone Creamery
- Rating: 3.5/5 (74 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1129 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Custom Cakes, Cupcakes
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Whiting's Foods
- Rating: 3.5/5 (17 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 613 Beach St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Food Stands
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Marini's At the Beach
- Rating: 4.0/5 (114 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 Beach St Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Candy Stores, Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Marini's Candies
- Rating: 4.0/5 (172 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf 55 Municipal Wharf Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Candy Stores, Desserts, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Top A Lot Yogurt
- Rating: 4.0/5 (121 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 738 Water St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Cruz Creamery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (176 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 815 Ocean St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Penny Ice Creamery
- Rating: 4.0/5 (332 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 820 41st Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95062
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Tiki Hut
- Rating: 4.5/5 (10 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 400 Beach St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Food Stands, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#6. The Penny Ice Creamery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2165 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 913 Cedar St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Pacific Cookie Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (806 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1203 Pacific Ave Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Desserts, Bakeries, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Mission Hill Creamery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (471 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1101 Pacific Ave Ste B Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Coffee & Tea, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Marianne's Ice Cream
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2260 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1020 Ocean St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Donnelly Fine Chocolates
- Rating: 4.5/5 (197 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 1509 Mission St Santa Cruz, CA 95060
- Categories: Candy Stores, Chocolatiers & Shops, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Pleasure Point Juice
- Rating: 4.5/5 (137 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 3520 Portola Dr Santa Cruz, CA 95062
- Categories: Juice Bars & Smoothies, Fruits & Veggies, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt
- Read more on Yelp
