July is National Ice Cream Month. But did you know that there’s also a national version? Held on the third Sunday of July, it’s only a few days away to prepare for this extraordinary day. And in one of the world’s best foodie cities, you know the ice cream in San Francisco is incredibly good. Here is a look at just five of the best ice cream shops to visit or order delivery in San Francisco. Please continue practicing social distancing, wearing a mask, and using a credit card.
Best Ice Cream in San Francisco
Bi-Rite Creamery
3692 18th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 626-5600
www.facebook.com/biritecreamery
Hours: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. daily
Regardless of what day it might be, expect a line of customers at Bi-Rite Creamery. That’s because Bi-Rite is probably the city’s most popular ice cream shop. A true San Francisco icon, the Creamery is open to take our orders from its side window. Flavors to try include Strawberry Balsamic and Peach Cobbler. However, consider Blueberry Crisp and vegan flavors like Chai Latte and Seasonal Fruit Sorbet. Customers are encouraged to order ahead by phone for pre-packaged cups and more. Located in the Mission District, Bi-Rite Creamery is just a few blocks from Dolores Park.
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Humphry Slocombe
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 550-6971
www.facebook.com/humphryslocombe
Hours: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends
Another famous shop with a line of customers is Humphry Slocombe at the Ferry Building Marketplace. Enormously popular since its inception in 2008, Humphry Slocombe was once named for serving one of the “Top 5 Ice Creams in America” by the Food Network. Current offerings include Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee, POG Sorbet, and the Food Network-honored Secret Breakfast. Don’t forget to visit the Mission District’s flagship store with extended hours. Humphry Slocombe gets its name from two British comedy characters from the 1970s sitcom “Are You Being Served.”
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Mitchell’s Ice Cream
688 San Jose Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 648-2300
www.mitchellsicecream.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday/Saturday
One of the oldest ice cream shops in the City, Mitchell’s, is accepting orders right at its front door. In business for more than 65 years, Mitchell’s was once named one of the “Best Ice Cream Shops in the World” by Conde Nast. It features an extensive collection of seasonal flavors, including cantaloupe, espresso toffee crunch, and peach. In addition to options for cones and cups, customers can order sundaes, splits, and much more. Deliveries are available, and customers should call ahead for larger quantities. Mitchell’s is located on the lower end of the Mission District, a block from 29th Street and Mission Street.
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Smitten Ice Cream
904 Valencia St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 636-9852
www.smittenicecream.com
Hours: Monday through Friday, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Smitten is another nationally acclaimed local business available for pickup and delivery. Bolstered by a state-of-the-art ice cream machine, Smitten serves more than ten premium quality flavors. Once described by Vogue as “The freshest, if not the best, ice cream on Earth, Smitten has also been covered by CBS San Francisco, Forbes, and Food & Wine. In addition to the Hayes Valley location just west of Van Ness Avenue, stores can be found in Pacific Heights and the Mission. Deliveries can be placed through Uber Eats, Postmates, Caviar, and DoorDash services. The in-shop seating is currently closed. Customers are encouraged to call ahead for any order.
The Ice Cream Bar
815 Cole St.
San Francisco, CA 94117
(415) 742-4932
www.theicecreambarsf.com
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Open to walk-in customers, the popular Ice Cream Bar continues to offer its full menu of flavors. Known for its authentic 1930s-style soda fountain, the Ice Cream Bar offers much more than scoops, sundaes, and shakes. Customers can also order gourmet sandwiches, premium sodas, and “remedies” for those 21 and over. Located in Cole Valley, the Bar also offers a take-out service from a slightly more limited menu. The Bar has been widely covered in national media, including Bon Appetit, Forbes, and the New York Times. The Ice Cream Bar is in Cole Valley, a few blocks south of Haight Street.
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About The Author:
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012 to 2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS Local websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, he reportedly had a digital audience reach of 489 million and more than 5.5 million unique monthly visitors. His other stories have also appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, Engadget.com, NBC.com, NJ.com, and Radio.com.