Cool Off with the Bay’s Favorite Ice Cream Shops

As the school year ends for many, it’s ice cream time. You should consider stopping by some of the area’s top five ice cream shops. From classic vanilla to black raspberry and honey lavender, some of the most unique treats await you to discover. With over 100 options in the area, it can be hard to pick the best, but these are worth a stop.

Mitchell’s Ice Cream

Mitchell’s ice cream has grown popular on San Jose Ave in San Francisco, with customers loving their Grasshopper Pie and Avocado Ice Cream flavors. As they come up on their 72nd year of operation, Mitchell’s continues to deliver high-quality, delicious ice cream and never misses their rotating seasonal flavors. The fun doesn’t stop with their ice cream; the shop offers cakes, sandwiches, sundaes, and vegan options!

Preston’s Candy and Ice Cream

Often recognized by its retro sign sitting on Broadway, Burlingame, Preston’s is a quaint ice cream shop and confectionery. Not only will you be greeted by cases of classic ice cream flavors and house-made chocolate, but you’ll also feel like you’ve stepped back into the 1950s with the store’s checkered floors and retro design. With 75 years of operation, the store has perfected its range of flavors and excels in chocolate creations.

Yumi Yogurt 

Yumi Yogurt is a Bay Area staple with two locations along the peninsula. Serving up vast cups of soft serve with a plethora of toppings, Yumi is the perfect place to stop in and satisfy your sweet tooth. Over the last 40 years, the shop has perfected its rotating flavor lists, providing options to satisfy all palettes and even offering low-sugar options. The shop has two locations, one in San Mateo and another in Santa Clara, and offers excellent treats.

Fenton’s Creamery

Popularized for its decadent ice cream sundaes, Fenton’s Creamery is one of Oakland’s sweetest landmarks. This shop has been featured in dozens of magazines and shows and has earned a spot as one of the best retro ice cream shops and diners. The shop offers over 50 flavors, and guests can schedule an Arctic tour to go behind the scenes and enjoy ice cream samples! 

Bi-Rite Ice Cream

Serving small-batch ice cream and homemade desserts, Bi-Rite Ice Cream is a must-stop creamery. Using locally sourced ingredients and seasonal flavors, this shop creates irresistible ice cream and soft serve, perfect for cooling off on a hot summer day. They are known to have a line, which can be deterring, but let that stand as a testament to the flavors they’re scooping up.