This scoop shop on 18th Street always has a line of people out the door eager to satisfy their craving for housemade, small-batch, organic ice cream. Even when it’s 55 degrees and the piercing onshore wind makes it feel like it’s 35 degrees. Well-worth it, of course, for the salted caramel (the most popular flavor because who doesn’t love some salty with their sweet?) and whichever seasonal flavors strike your fancy.

Thanks to its growing presence at local grocers, it’s pretty easy to pick up a pint of ice cream from this Mission-based brand, but if you want to get your scoops in a house-made waffle cone or if you want one of the stranger flavors, you’ll have to visit one of the locations in SF, Oakland, or Berkeley. Humphry Slocombe is probably best known for its Secret Breakfast flavor (bourbon ice cream with cornflakes), but all of the flavors have a creative flair.

The Embarcadero outpost of Humphry Slocombe, SF's endlessly creative ice cream shop.

A lot has changed recently in San Francisco, but time stands still at this 66-year-old Sunset classic, where you can still have staff spin the big wheel to pick your flavor for you. If you prefer to retain freedom of choice, we like the jasmine tea, lychee, and “Bumpy Freeway,” aka rocky road. Don’t fall too in love with any of the more obscure flavors because Polly Ann makes 500 flavors in total, “only” 50 of which are available at any one time.

Grab a stool and settle in for a malt, milkshake, sundae, or float at this ‘30s-inspired soda fountain where everything is made in-house. If the roasted pineapple is on the menu, that is your only choice. It comes and goes quickly, so you’ve gotta snag it when you can. Otherwise, go wild. (Even wilder, perhaps, if you order from the adults-only boozy drinks menu, which includes boozy milkshakes and floats.)

This family-owned business has been delighting San Franciscans with rich, creamy, hand-crafted ice cream for over 65 years. There are 40 flavors in total, all with a 16% butterfat base (yeah, when we said “rich and creamy,” we meant it), including avocado, cantaloupe, and Filipino-inspired ube-macapuno (summer-only). Mitchell’s also has pre-made and made-to-order ice cream cakes.

Salt & Straw may have originated in Portland, Oregon, but the deliciousness of its inventive seasonal flavors transcends state lines. You can always count on the classics, like sea salt with caramel ribbons and Sightglass coffee cashew praline. But half the fun of visiting the Hayes Valley location is to see what new, wild concoctions they’ve come up with each month based on inspiration from chefs, farmers, food movements, social causes, and more.

Half the fun of visiting Salt & Straw's Pacific Heights outpost is to see what new, wild concoctions they’ve come up with each month.

The brainchild of a husband-and-wife team, this unassuming shop turns out some serious small-batch gelato. Sicilian pistachio, stracciatella, and hazelnut are among the standbys, while rotating flavors like honey lavender or vegan Watson strawberry add a little seasonal flair. Need to know what’s on the menu today? Operators are standing by at 415-400-4076 to fill you in, so you’re ready to go when you pick up your cone, cup, or pint.

The Mission outpost of Smitten Ice Cream, where the made-to-order-while-you-watch ice cream, flash-frozen with liquid nitrogen, is so smooth that it’s hard to comprehend.

You can order a scoop of CREAM’s (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me) true-to-its-name luxuriously creamy ice cream to enjoy in a cup, but that’s not why you’re there. You’re at the 16th Street location to build your own ice cream sandwich with a warm baked cookie base, a scoop of whatever flavor you want, and your choice of toppings. The build-your-own waffle cone tacos are also an acceptable option—three mini scoops of ice cream and all of the toppings your heart desires.

When Toy Boat announced in 2020 that it was closing after nearly 40 years of delight, children with sweet treats, and walls covered with retro toys and movie posters, the owner of SF mini-chain Jane the Bakery saved the day. A year later, Toy Boat by Jane is open with a slightly pared-down toy collection (boo), but the same Double Cream and Mitchell’s—both SF ice cream institutions—on the menu in the form of scoops and sundaes.

Souvla (with multiple locations, including this one in Nopa) is a go-to takeout/delivery meal for many San Franciscans wanting something “healthy,” but also delicious, which is exactly what the rotisserie chicken salad with Greek yogurt sauce is. But one should never eat Souvla without also ordering the Greek frozen yogurt served in a classic New York-inspired cup. It is perfect on its own, but it also comes with topping options like baklava and sour cherry syrup. DIVIS

The Marina location of Souvla, where one should never eat without also ordering the Greek frozen yogurt served in a classic New York-inspired cup.

The Hayes Valley location of Souvla, where one should never eat without also ordering the Greek frozen yogurt served in a classic New York-inspired cup.

The Mission location of Souvla, where one should never eat without also ordering the Greek frozen yogurt served in a classic New York-inspired cup.

This classic SF ice cream shop is never without a line of tourists out the door, drawn in by the wafting aroma of roasting cocoa beans and freshly baked waffle cones. Those of us who live here tend to overlook it, but even locals (especially locals!) deserve the gift that is Ghirardelli’s World Famous Hot Fudge Sundae (vanilla ice cream and handmade hot fudge topped with whipped cream, diced almonds, and a cherry) in a handmade waffle bowl dipped in chocolate.