Great Spots for Unique Ice-Cream Flavors in the Bay Area

Since it is national ice-cream month, I thought I’d make a list of ice cream parlors that are unique to the San Francisco Bay Area. Please feel free to add your flavor recommendations!

1) Ici Berkeley, CA Ici (Pronounced “Ee-cee”, French for over here or there): This is my favorite ice cream in the bay area. Although I enjoy fruity flavors and sherbets from Marco Polo, Ici has my heart. From the best flavor yet, earl grey to their richer flavors candied bacon, the quality of their ice cream is superb. It ties in a lot of what Berkeley represents. A little bit of hipster, sophistication, and freshness.

• Rose-Matcha Marshmallow
• Earl Grey

2) Bi-Rite San Francisco, CA: A San Francisco classic. Not much you can complain about other than a line that wraps around the block. The location is prime. Located right in front of Dolores Park, you can enjoy the sun/fog (or lack the of) while slurping double scoops of salted caramel. It is the one of the best, you have to try it. It differentiates from the other salted caramel because there is a hint of bitterness, confusing your palette of espresso. So good! With walks around the park and cone from Bi-Rite, sounds like a panty-droppin’ date to me.

• Salted Caramel
• Roasted Banana

3) Smitten San Francisco, CA: By far the cutest name for an ice-cream parlor. Smitten, the first steps into infatuation; maybe a little of puppy love. Something like puppies running the field of wheat. When I get smitten (:-)), I like to take the classic route. Classic Vanilla will always be a hit!

• Tcho chocolate
• Classic Vanilla 

4) Humphry Slocombe San Francisco, CA: The bougie-est ice cream parlor you can ask for. Located in Hayes Valley, I always feel like I am in another part of town even though it is only 10 minutes away from the Financial District. For the flavors, they definitely have ice cream on the decadent side, but not too creamy where you become overwhelmed. I am a javaholic and nothing can beat either blue bottle or Vietnamese Coffee. When it is both? Oh my goodness! It cannot get any better!

• Vietnamese Coffee (aka ca phe sua da)
• Carrot Mango

5) Marco Polo San Francisco, CA: Finally an ice cream spot that has exotic flavors, I have a weakness for exotic fruits like mangosteen, soursop, jackfruit, etc. I love them all, dare I say even durian?  They are CASHONLY, since it’s totally a mom n’ pop shop. Support your local businesses. My two favorite are:

• Mangosteen
• Taro