Family-Friendly Ice Cream Shops in San Francisco

A San Francisco institution since 1953, famous for unique flavors like ube, buko, and Mexican chocolate.

Artisanal ice cream made with local, seasonal ingredients. Famous for salted caramel and creative flavors.

Known for experimental flavors like Secret Breakfast (bourbon ice cream with cornflakes).

The revived version of Clement Street's longrunning classic ice cream shop, courtesy of Amanda Michael of Jane the Bakery. Preserves the nostalgia of the original Toy Boat, including the vast toy collection, while serving Double Rainbow Ice Cream scoops alongside bakery breads, cookies, and pastries.

Creative ice cream shop known for sandwiching unique flavors like Fruity Pebbles, White Rabbit, and mangonada inside doughnuts. Offers inventive combinations of ice cream with fun toppings and vessels.

Sicilian gelato shop on Valencia Street from chef Ilary Biondo, who ran a gelato shop in Palermo for ten years. Serves authentic Sicilian recipes including ice cream-stuffed cannoli, mint chocolate, blood orange, pistachio, and gianduia gelato. Also offers gelato classes.

A beloved neighborhood ice cream shop open since the 1950s, famous for its spin-the-wheel tradition that lets fate decide your flavor. Offers more than 500 rotating flavors including Asian-inspired options like durian, lychee, and jasmine alongside classics like Rocky Road and mint chocolate chip.

South Asian-inspired ice cream from Priti Narayanan and Madhuri Anji, the San Francisco outpost of the Oakland-born business. Try the banana ice cream paired with gulab jamun bites, or the cake batter-infused Fairy Glitter for a unique treat.

The original Ghirardelli chocolate shop serving famous hot fudge sundaes and chocolate treats since 1852.

Creative gelato and Japanese shaved ice (kakigori) inside the Transamerica Pyramid complex, run by chefs Bradley and Soraya Kilgore. Offers nearly 30 toppings and inventive flavor combinations.

Petaluma-based organic ice cream shop offering around 30 flavors made with organic ingredients. A welcome addition to the Noe Valley neighborhood.

Authentic Italian gelateria on Union Street making every flavor in-house from scratch with all-natural, farm-fresh California ingredients, plus dairy-free and vegan options.

A traditional Italian-style gelateria in the Mission since 2005, crafting premium gelato and sorbet from fresh seasonal fruit, plus handmade Italian frozen cakes and Latin-inspired flavors.

Custom ice cream sandwich shop where you pick cookies baked from scratch daily and premium ice cream, griddled warm to order. Open until midnight, and 2am on weekends.

Chinatown rolled ice cream shop at Grant and Washington where ice cream is made to order on a cold pan and rolled with toppings. Also serves milk tea, fruit tea with boba, and coffee.

Japanese matcha cafe in Japan Center serving award-winning matcha and hojicha soft serve in freshly made waffle cones, plus floats, frappes, and parfaits.

Woman-owned local shop serving organic self-serve frozen yogurt, frozen custard, and vegan soft-serve with a fresh-fruit and candy toppings bar.

Castro matcha cafe and dessert shop known for its signature organic matcha soft serve, along with matcha lattes, boba sundaes, and croffles.

San Francisco's oldest candy store, family-operated on West Portal Avenue since 1931, scooping Mitchell's ice cream alongside hand-dipped chocolates, truffles, and homemade fudge.

Made-to-order Thai-style rolled ice cream shop in the Richmond where ingredients are spread and rolled on a frozen steel pan, with boba milk tea on the menu too.

A Japantown institution in the Japan Center serving crispy Japanese-style crepes filled with Fiorello's artisan gelato, run by the same owner for over 20 years.

French-founded Italian gelato shop known for signature flower-shaped gelato cones with unlimited flavor choices, made from premium single-origin ingredients, near the Chinatown gate.