Bruster's Real Ice Cream

Marianne's Ice Cream The PERFECT sweet stop after a day at…read moreSeacliff State Beach! So many delicious flavors, whether you're craving a cone, sundae, or milkshake! And the location makes it super easy to turn your beach day into a full-on day of fun, food & treats! The beach was beaching... and now the ice cream is ice-creaming! Definitely worth stopping in for a scoop--or two!

We give this place a 10 out of 5. Eight years of a family trip, with a plan to beat the spend from…read morethe previous year. Our favorites include: lavender, fresh banana, bittersweet chocolate, lemon custard, pistachio, and the strawberry shake. The best ice cream in the galaxy.

1020

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Everyone LOVES Marianne's Ice cream!

The Penny Ice Creamery

4.3(66 reviews)

0.3 mi

Cute seating inside Great service - got to try all flavors,…read morevery patient! Strong coffee (affogato)

Such charm and whimsy in this place. Ava was amazing! She had so much patience and awesome…read moresuggestions. These aren't your normal flavors, but slightly ajar from them. Definitely come in and have the marshmallow toasted on top.

Cookies and cream and strawberry sherbet

Inside

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Dark chocolate sorbet

Polar Bear Ice Cream

4.5(217 reviews)

2.6 mi

First things first, I did not eat here (yet), we just happen to walk past this place after they…read morewere closed, on our way home from dinner down the way, and what I saw blew my mind. In the window, was the hardest worker I've ever seen!! She was scrubbing the heck out of the floors and counters, I just stood there in awe. Even had my friends witness the incredible-ness that was happening right in front of our eyeballs. I would hire this girl ANY DAY even if I wasn't hiring! This place has a true gem in there, and I hope she is appreciated for her hard work. Side note: I guess at the same time its kinda sad that seeing a person working THAT hard, is actually a rare occurrence these days. That's all. Someone please high-five her for me!!

Oh me, oh my! If you…read morecheck my reviews, you'll find LOTS of ice cream spots in my history. I'm a glutton for a creamy, frozen ball of deliciousness. Polar Bear did not disappoint. Ate lunch in the area but had to grab some scoops from the oval spot. I ordered the thin mint and chocolate/peanut butter double in a waffle cone. It was ice cream perfection! The mint was fresh and tasty with HUGE chunks of chocolate and the peanut butter/chocolate was deep and rich. The waffle cone added a nice crunch overall. The employees were friendly, fast, and helpful in answering questions about ingredients and allowing a few samples. Shop is small but was walk through so the layout works well being on the corner or a busy intersection. Highly recommend Polar Bear Ice Cream - like, seriously, you have to stop here!!

"Thin mint"

Large Milkshake

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2 Scoops - Waffle Cone

Sno-White Drive In

3.1(198 reviews)

0.4 mi

great old Asian man big large cones and delicious soft serve. ice cream deserves five starsread more

The 3-star is the rarest number to hit. Very few restaurants nail the 3 as adeptly as Sno-White…read moreDrive In. Everything, literally everything is so precisely mid, it takes adept strategery to walk the line between good and bad so uniformly across the entire experience. Bun: The cheapest sesame bun from Safeway is comparable. Hamburger: Hot, cooked properly, but really cheap tasting meat. These cows were either ending up at McDonalds or Sno-White from the day they were born. Soda: Pepsi for fountain soda. Coke in cans. Fries: Hot & crispy, but definitely pre-made and coming out of a large bag in the freezer every morning before dropping them in the fryer. No major failures, but no wins either. If this place were a boxer, their record would be 0-0-35. Always a draw. The parking is easy and always available. You can watch people doing laundry at the laundromat behind the restaurant while waiting for your food. Be prepared for a $20-22/person bill. Good enough that you'll give it another shot every once in a while.

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The Penny Ice Creamery

4.2(389 reviews)

3.4 mi

Can you please open a branch in Davis, CA? I would love to have some of your affogato at least once…read morea week! We stopped by for some ice cream while exploring Capitola and I needed a caffeine boost so I decided to go with the affogato which is a shot of espresso with a scoop of the vanilla ice cream. It was so creamy and the espresso was made well because it wasn't bitter. I also had a taste of the pistachio and a scoop of that is what I shall order when I come back. They also have a marshmallow fluff topping which they toast right in front of you!!!! I also remember walking in and smelling the freshly cooked waffle cones! The shop had a seating area outside and a really cute aesthetically pleasing art wall inside! The employees were super nice and answered all our questions and was gracious about our taste requests! 11/10

The ice cream and root beer float were delicious you can taste the quality, the mini cone was so…read moreperfect and tasty! We had chocolate and strawberry cheesecake flavors. The customer wasn't good ..it was whatever

Outside

Dark Chocolate Ice Cream with Marshmallow Fluff

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Inside

Yogurtland

Solid froyo with a wide assortment of toppings. The service was really friendly. Tables were a…read morelittle sticky but otherwise the restaurant was clean and bright.

Super disappointed in the yogurt places I go with no samples…read more I'm a fan of trying ones to know what I want. The kids in front of me were having to put it on the side so that way we could try to lick it out and taste it. Thankfully, the caramel apple was hanging down a little bit, so I was able to taste some of that which was so delicious but with it be the holiday season? I would've never known that I liked it otherwise. I wanted to try the peppermint mocha I was not able to and one other One of my favorite yogurt places remains the place that lets us get samples. I don't overdo it. I just like to taste one that I may not have tasted before to add to my yogurt. The other thing is, I don't like having somebody else put my hot fudge or anything else on my yogurt. I am very big on hygiene. I don't know this area. I'm here from out of town. I don't know if they've had troubles with the teens or anything like that but from the last few days of being here in the area seems nice enough that I don't understand why you can't have a sample or put on your own toppings, meaning the hot fudge caramel, etc.

A festive swirl of cool peppermint and rich mocha creates a refreshing, creamy frozen yogurt that's pure holiday magic.

Peppermint Mocha Frozen Yogurt topped with Mini Gingerbread Men Cookies, Mini M&M’s, and Cookies & Cream Crumbles

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Take your taste buds back to the future with this nostalgic flavor of crisp apple pie with warm cinnamon and a hint of buttery caramel.

Sevys Bar and Kitchen

3.6(412 reviews)

0.3 mi

We stayed the Seacliff, came here for dinner, and was really impressed. It's also super dog…read morefriendly like the whole property. Our server Erica was on top of everything from the very start. Super friendly, honest, and made sure we were well taken care of. For food, we got the rib eye steak that was cooked to perfection with a side of garlic mashed potatoes that were addicting. We also tried the fish tacos (average) and the chicken wings (a little bit dry and overcooked). Not on the menu but we wanted a side of fries and that ended up being the best part of the meal. The kitchen's only open until 10 but the bar serves until 12 on a Friday so we didn't feel rushed at all. A variety of drinks on the menu and pretty good as well! Lots of dessert options too if you have a sweet tooth.

Had breakfast here for Labor Day Weekend. I enjoyed the brisket and grits, and the ambiance was…read morerelaxing. Beautiful koi fish and water features make this a great place to relax.

Sevy's Bar

Street view sign

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Sevy's dining/bar area with live music stage

Safeway

2.0(178 reviews)

0.2 mi

Santiago helped me with a balloon arrangement. He was awesome, very helpful and pointed out the…read morediscount with buying a dozen balloons

Not sure how this place is even considered a Safeway. As many people know it needs help with almost…read moreeverything from parking to stocking items to overall customer service.

Out front

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Self checkout

Dairy Queen Grill & Chill

2.3(185 reviews)

2.7 mi

Wow i just love dq the staff is great everytime i go in there they are friendly and i love how its…read moreclean i love the snickers blizzard i have no trouble with eating there my dsp Bradford loves it to thank u to the staff at dq im going there a lot and especially to the mangers you guys deserve a raise

This had to be the most disappointing thing I've ever gotten from Dairy Queen. The dipped cone…read morelooked absolutely awful--lumpy, uneven, and full of weird frozen chunks instead of being smooth and creamy. It honestly looked like it had been dropped, refrozen, and then served anyway. And the pretzel? Embarrassing. It looked like a shriveled-up sea slug someone forgot in a heat lamp--dry, misshapen, and honestly kind of disturbing to even look at. It snapped like cardboard and tasted just as stale. The case of sauce was also sour... I hope it was over due or left in the sun. I don't know what happened back there, but this was less of a treat and more of a regret. Total waste of money and appetite.

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The Ugly Mug

4.4(275 reviews)

2.9 mi

Super cute local cafe! Very glad we popped in while visiting Capitola. Great vibes, nice place to…read morehangout. Espresso was good and house-made syrups hit the spot. They use Oatly milk, which I usually dislike, but they clearly know what they're doing because we loved both beverages that used the oat milk! Much better than another place we tried closer to the beach, and much better prices! Baristas were super friendly. Highly recommend.

Really great coffee and seasonal specials (pumpkin pie was perfect), interior vibe is also great…read more Coffee also came out quick and fresh which was a plus.

Cappy time! Siempre!

Olallieberry pie

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Outside

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Aaliyah J.

4 years ago

I have a deaf daughter who's 10. We decided to try out this place after a beach day. dealt with an employee who was very rude to my daughter. I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl. Their name started with an A. They kept asking my daughter what she wanted and after I told them that she was deaf, they started yelling even louder at her and started laughing with their friends in the back. My daughter was very shook by the experience but after a girl with red hair came out and signed with her made it a lot better. Most likely won't return for a while. The ice cream was okay and the service made it taste worse. Won't be returning , huge disappointment. read more

Janice H.

2 years ago

A young man with glasses was very helpful in describing flavors and was beyond patient when we couldn't decide, offering a plethora of samples and efficiently making our order within minutes. Didn't catch his name, but am thankful nonetheless! Very good ice cream, 10/10 customer service and amazing flavors. read more

Ronald W.

3 years ago

Hands-down, the best ice cream! A large selection of flavors is available every day. I think my current favorites are Rocky Road and strawberry banana ice cream. The service is always cordial and quick. Thank you, and keep up the good work! read more

Sofia I.

3 years ago

it's pretty good idk. I mean it just tastes like basic ice cream but i like ice cream so

Bruster's Real Ice Cream - icecream - Updated November 2026

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People who viewed Bruster's Real Ice Cream also viewed

The Penny Ice Creamery

4.3

(66 reviews)

Cute seating inside Great service - got to try all flavors,…read morevery patient! Strong coffee (affogato)

Ice Cream on Fair

4.8

(31 reviews)

So many flavors for Marianne's, so little time. A review has been long overdue. This place has been…read morementioned you me several times by friends and coworkers! Staff was accommodating in letting us try multiple flavors. The pink lemonade sherbert was refreshing on the super hot day. It wasn't overly sour. Chocolate mint flake was your classic mint chocolate chip ice cream. I really liked how it held shape/texture and didn't immediately melt upon consumption. There was plenty of seating for us to enjoy chatting with ice cream. It wasn't too busy which was nice. Definitely a great place to relax and cool off from warmer weather. Will be back to try the variety of flavors!

Heard about Santa Cruz's famous Marianne's ice cream years ago but finally had chance to stop by…read moreafter visit to Natural Bridges State Park to see Monarch butterflies. This is the newer shop attached to the factory (would be so cool if there were window to peek into the factory). I thought Marianne's would be like Fenton's in Oakland with more classic American flavors but I was immediately impressed by the vast selection of flavors listed on wall grouped by more classic, chocolate based, fruity, nut based and original creations. Can ask for free samples. Staff is kind and patient as you try to decide. DH and I split a double cup with ollaliberry with honey and classic vanilla in cup with a cone on top. Definitely very rich and creamy. Will definitely stop by next time in area! Parking lot is very small, street parking is available. Some bar seating inside and benches outside.

Yogurtland

3.9

(100 reviews)

Solid froyo with a wide assortment of toppings. The service was really friendly. Tables were a…read morelittle sticky but otherwise the restaurant was clean and bright.

Capitola Ice Cream & Cookies

3.7

(7 reviews)

We were a family of 5 and we decided to come in to the shop and grab few desserts, cookies and ice…read morecream ! We really love the fresh cookies and our kids were in love with ice cream flavors. We enjoyed the waffle cones loaded with ice cream. Staff was super friendly and Kyle was easy to order from. Thank you for great service!

Disclaimer: I DID NOT get to try any of the confections at this location. Let me explain…read more.. Although this literal hole in the wall filled the Capitola air with freshly poured waffle cone batter, and the line was out the door... once inside the cramped quarters, I immediately lost my appetite. What I can excuse: the lack of ice cream options due to there being a limited supply.... of course they're sold out, they were super busy! What I can't excuse: DISGUSTING business practices. For the duration of the time I was waiting in line in hopes of getting a nice cool treat, I saw so many things that made me change my mind and ultimately leave, empty-handed. Firstly, the display cases where the huge cookies are located had several flies in them... not just buzzing around, but landing ON the cookies that were then picked-up and served to patrons ahead of me in line. The young man at the register kept bouncing from handling cash to serving food, without gloves and no attempt to wash his hands either. But the icing on the cake for me was watching a young lady working the waffle cone maker, mess with her hair to put it up into a bun.... and then go back to making waffle cones again, without washing her hands or putting on gloves. I honestly have been bummed out because I really wanted to try this place that I heard so many good things about... but for now... I'll take a hard pass.

Cold Stone Creamery

3.3

(91 reviews)

Cold Stone Creamery, Santa Cruz, CA. August, 2026. Our first time to a Cold Stone Creamery in…read moreyears -- and our visit to this one in Santa Cruz was very good. My husband went in, while I waited on a bench watching our sleeping granddaughter in her stroller. I told my husband that I didn't want anything, but I'd take a bite of whatever he ordered. Famous last words. He ordered the Cookie Doughn't You Want Some, that featured French vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips, cookie dough, fudge, and caramel. It was available in three sizes -- the smaller Like It for $7.49, the Love It for $7.99, and Gotta Have It for $8.49. He selected the medium size, with two spoons please, anticipating that this would be a good size for the two of us to split as he guessed that I would be eating more than one bite. He was right! What's particularly special about Cold Stone ice cream is that the fillings are mixed into the ice cream so you get the taste of the fillings with most bites. Both of us still prefer hard ice cream to Cold Stone's soft, and I tend to prefer a chocolate base, but overall this was a nice treat while we waited for baby to wake up. The restaurant was clean, and the girl at the counter was friendly and helpful. We would order from here again.

Hours vary. Sliders are tasty withb salad and fries.Employees do well with customers. Sometimes…read moreshort handed.

Marianne's Ice Cream

4.5

(2.6k reviews)

It was delicious! Highly recommend the chocolate chip cookie dough! Fun atmosphere, and was crowded…read morebut the line was efficient and organized!

Marianne's has some delicious ice cream. They have so many flavors and it's honestly sometimes…read moreoverwhelming. They have a good mix of fruit flavors, chocolate or nut flavors, and sorbets, etc. They will happily answer any questions and get you a sample of as many flavors as your want. A tip for folks who haven't been, grab a number from dispenser. Don't just get in the line. They call the numbers to take your order, not just those who are in the line. On an evening the line can be long. So don't just jump into the back of the line. There's some seats to enjoy your ice cream and they have a jug of water if you need it. Marianne's has a cool vintage vibe and I love the old school feel and setup. They do at least take card so they aren't sooooo old school.

Pacific Cookie Company

4.4

(948 reviews)