“Summer would not be summer without ice cream. Ice cream is the favorite currency of love.” – Puck Magazine, 1881
Society has known for a while about the power that ice cream has to bring people happiness. You scream, I scream, we all scream…
What better place to enjoy this sweet, dreamy treat than on the sandy beaches of Santa Monica? (Though you’ll probably eat it all on the way there).
Whether you’re looking for soft serve, gelato, sorbet, vegan options, simple chocolate and vanilla, or more experimental flavors, there is no shortage of good ice cream in Los Angeles County.
But you deserve the best, right?
So take a look at our list of the most delicious ice cream joints in Santa Monica. Your taste buds will thank you.
Sweet Rose Creamery
Sweet Rose uses top quality, GMO-free, locally sourced ingredients to create small-batch masterpieces. Their work is a labor of love, and the proof is in the pudding.
Sweet Rose Creamery cooks up interesting new flavors every day, so don’t be surprised to see things like Orange Guava Sorbet, Sweet Corn, or Cherimoya. They also make their own cones and toppings.
Sweet Rose has several locations, but if you’re a soft serve fan, make sure to visit the shop by Santa Monica High School because it’s the only one that has it.
If you can’t do lactose, Sweet Rose also offers exciting dairy-free options like Bergamot Basil and German Chocolate Cake. Veganism never tasted so good.
Rori’s Artisanal Creamery
Rori Trovato is the mastermind behind Rori’s Artisanal Creamery. She wanted a place that made such fresh, delicious ice cream that all of your worries would melt away.
Everything served at the Creamery is handmade by the queen of ice cream herself. Her gift for creating mind-blowing flavors falls somewhere between an art and a science.
You’ll usually have between one or two dozen flavors to choose from (as long as she’s not sold out) and they include things like Lemon Curd, Black Pepper Pistachio, and Serious Dark Chocolate. Rori is not messing around.
Beach City Creamery
There are a lot of bold women making delicious ice cream in Santa Monica. Beach City Creamery is run by a mother and daughter who are all about organic, gourmet ingredients.
The signature ice cream sandwiches are a crowd favorite, with daily churned ice cream made from grass-fed cow’s milk pressed between two gooey homemade cookies.
If that’s not enough to make you forget your troubles, we don’t know what is.
Soda Jerks
If you’re looking for old-fashioned ice cream sundaes and root beer floats served fresh on the Santa Monica Pier, then look no further.
Soda Jerks takes you back to simpler times, embodying the spirit of the 1920s and 30s when everything was full service and made by hand. They’re located in the Carousel Building, which is a little piece of history in itself.
Soda Jerks name their sundaes after popular local landmarks, something both tourists and Santa Monicans can enjoy. Their malts, shakes, and ice cream sodas are all served with Fosselman’s famous ice cream.
The Best Ice Cream Should Follow the Best Meal
Now that you have some ideas for where to find the best ice cream in Santa Monica, what about your plans for dinner?
(We get it, dessert is a priority.)
Big Dean’s Ocean Front Cafe is the place to be, with fantastic food in a nostalgic atmosphere.
Check out our menu to see what we’ve got, or take a look at our blog for other newsworthy things happening in the Santa Monica area.
