I walked into this ice cream shop while waiting for AAA after my tire blew out on the highway. I was having a pretty rough day and decided to treat myself to some ice cream. I started chatting with a cheerful couple and shared what had happened. They were incredibly kind and empathetic. After I ordered, the gentleman surprised me by saying, "This is on the house." That's when I realized the couple were actually the owners. Such a simple gesture, but it truly made my day. The ice cream was delicious, but the kindness I received was even sweeter. Thank you for turning a stressful day into a memorable one! read more

Best lemon chiffon ice-cream ever! The server greeted me with a gigantic smile and so happy to help. Music playing in the background. It was so nostalgic, took me way back. I meant to take pictures. However I was so excited to be there and reminiscing about the wonderful memories I had as I child I forgot to take pictures of the place. I immediately began to devour my ice-cream. So there's only the one pic of my half eaten cone. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Delicious Lemon Chiffon - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

Recently, my wife and I visited the Loard's Ice Cream Shop in Orinda for the first time. Since we weren't familiar with the flavors, we agreed to order whatever Brian, the guy behind the counter, recommended. He definitely knew what he was talking about! Brian presented us with a double scoop of peanut butter and chocolate, along with Jamoca Almond Fudge, all in a huge, crispy waffle cone. It was awesome! The scoops were so generous, and the cone was so large that we only needed to buy one to share. The combination of flavors was fantastic, and Brian was certainly right as well about the crispy waffle cone. It was one of the best ice cream cones we have ever had. Since it was such a beautiful evening, we shared the cone while sitting on the romantic little bench out front, feeling a bit like two teenagers on our first date. It was a wonderful experience, and we will certainly be going back - SOON! read more

Took my grandson after school for an ice cream last month. Limited choices but large servings. Nothing memorable that would make us want to return. read more

Where do I even begin? Loard's is an institution. It's been the ice cream of my childhood, and even now, it still makes me so happy. There's something whimsical and nostalgic about this place that makes it feel special every time I walk in. The interior is adorable--pink and white bench seating, a huge assortment of ice cream flavors, and all kinds of sweet treats lining the shelves. It feels like a throwback to what ice cream parlors might've been like in the '50s, and it's just a genuinely cheerful space to be in. The staff is always friendly, and even though ownership has changed over the years, the quality and charm of the shop have stayed consistent. I've been to more modern ice cream spots with sleek interiors and creative flavors, but they don't have the same warmth or nostalgic feel that Loard's has. It's not trying to be trendy--it's just classic in the best way. I've loved their sundaes for as long as I can remember, and Loard's remains my favorite after all this time. I'm really grateful it's stuck around, and I hope it's still here for years to come. One day, I'd love to bring my future family here and keep the tradition going. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Ice cream sundae with a cherry on top :) - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

Loards may not be the bays best ice cream but it's up there. And the locations are kinda perfect no matter where you are. The guy I usually see running this place is very friendly. read more

The ice cream cakes are awesome! I've been to this Loard's many times for ice cream but someone recommended them for a birthday cake. My son wanted a Grinch themed cake for his birthday and boy did Tyler deliver! So impressed by his artistry. It was a huge hit with all our guests. Thank you Tyler and the Loard's team! read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Mint chocolate chip ice cream cake with custom decorations - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

So much fun coming in today! Upon my parents and I's arrival, we immediately smelt all the smells that you would smell in an ice cream parlor. I immediately felt like a kid again just walking in here. I didn't catch his name but whoever was working today around 1 deserves a raise. He was so patient with my parents and taking his time to make sure he got everything right and that they were happy before moving on. I brought my parents in and as we were looking for ice cream to eat, they both noticed that Loards has a Matcha ice cream flavor and they were happy to say the least. They have been both on a Matcha kick lately so they were pretty pleased. As usual, I got my mocha chip. All in all, a fun time was had by all. I can't wait for the weather to get even warmer so we can come here again. :) read more

The service was excellent. The ice cream was amazing. We got the Cookie Monster sundae to share, thinking we wouldn't finish. It was gone so fast and was built with the perfect ratio of ingredients. My daughter loved their selection of dairy free ice cream flavors since they have more than most other places. The seating is cool and retro. We will be back next time we come through Orinda. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Sundae - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

What a ridiculously amazing tiny ice cream joint but very beautifully decorated! Kate and Grace were totally awesome ladies in aprons serving us with huge smiles. Grace whipped up our banana split and made us taste some crazy good ice cream flavors, including the Ube, which is basically the national treasure of my homeland, the Philippines. Plus, Grace suggested the flavor of the month, blueberry cheesecake, and we went bananas for it, literally ordering a banana split. We dug in so fast I had to challenge my partner to an eat-off to see who could finish their half first! read more

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I've been to Loard's a few times in the 4 years I've lived in CCC and haven't been disappointed. I've had peppermint a few years ago and ube today. I could definitely taste the peppermint and the ube isn't overly sweet. In addition to ice cream, they have pints, ice cream cakes, and chocolates. Also noticed they have non-dairy flavors. Staff is friendly. Can't wait to try more flavors or maybe the Cookie Monster sundae! read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Peppermint was amazing! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

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Our fav ice cream spot in Lamorinda. There is nowhere that's better than Loard's! Friendly service, comfortable family atmosphere and delicious ice cream! Don't miss out on a great experience. You will enjoy coming here just like we do. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Double of Lemon Chiffon and Mocha Almond Fudge - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

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Had experience enjoying Loard's ice cream living in Lamorinda and it is delicious. Never ordered an ice cream cake before. Had a smooth and good experience with them. From ordering with Tyler (he was very reassuring and helped me pick a size), to communications with store order Diane (also reassuring and kind) all went off smoothly. Big shout out to Kaia, who decorated our birthday cake. She did a beautiful job! read more

Super cute decorations! Isabel was very nice and helpful with my toddler who wanted samples and took a longer time to order. Love that they have organic Mr Dewies (cashew/allergy free). Also ice cream cakes! read more

Retro set up in white and pink. It smells sooooo good in here and the staff are so lovely. The ice cream is high quality and the flavors never disappoint. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - B'day girl enjoying her treat. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

Great place for ice cream. Large selection of flaxors, including tropical options. Very affordable and generous servings compared to other places. Friendly and fast service! A neighborhood gem! read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Inside seating area - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

Blast from the past. This is a cute spot. Clean and always friendly! Great ice cream. Quality. And the space is bright and inviting. Always has people there but never too long of a line. Recommend for a scoop (or two) of ice cream. read more

Certainly in the Bay Area, there are plenty of high-end artisan ice cream purveyors with ingredients sourced and curated from remote areas of the world. But sometimes you want something more old-fashioned when it comes to something sweet, an ice cream that gets scooped up in a candy-striped parlor. Like where Wally took out Mary Ellen Rogers after the prom on "Leave It to Beaver". That's what Loard's is about. I've been to the one at South Shore in Alameda before (review: https://bit.ly/3DKkw1c) but never to this one in Orinda. Jamie W. and I came here after a hearty meal at the equally old-fashioned Casa Orinda (review: https://bit.ly/3Ht0VDW). Sure, we were stuffed, but that wouldn't have stopped Wally or the Beav. We both went for Single Scoops, $5 per cup. Nothing natively sourced or remotely exotic. Jamie went for Pecan Praline because he likes gooey swirls (photo: https://bit.ly/3Y7TKbg). I had Coffee because that's just me (photo: https://bit.ly/3HYx0oF). Creamy and enough room in the parlor to sit and recreate a post-prom date in the Eisenhower era. ICE CREAM - 4 stars...creamy like the good ole days AMBIANCE - 4 stars...mid-century parlor SERVICE - 4 stars...service with a smile TOTAL - 4 stars...oh Lord, it's Loard's RELATED - Exploring past the Caldecott Tunnel? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: read more

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I love this Loard's! Super clean and has the cutest retro decor. Staff friendly, accommodating and professional. Stop in for a great selection of ice cream and yogurt in a delightful, stylish and fun environment. read more

I loved the pecan praline. The service was very nice, Cooper was polite and funny. There is a cool space to sit down, felt very cozy.

Traditional ice cream shop that has sundaes and shaved ice. Super friendly guy served us, and the peanut butter fudge might be my new favorite flavor! read more

Omg; I found my new favorite ice cream shop!! First and foremost - the ice cream & milkshakes are so yum (just go for the double scoop)! Also, the customer service is superb - the minute I walked in, I felt embraced by their warm and welcoming atmosphere (I think the employee's name is Areana and she is SO KIND). I will be frequenting here in the future. read more

Where is the best ice cream in town? If you ask the locals, they'll point you to Loard's--where you can taste "how ice cream used to be"! So of course I went to Loard's in Orinda to go see for myself. The smell of freshly baked waffle cones greeted me when I opened the door. The menu had everything from ice cream to floats to sundaes. Yes, I was in for a good time. Ube, double Dutch, and champagne sherbet--there were so many fascinating flavors to pick from! The server graciously offered to let me sample a few flavors. I tried lemon chiffon and toasted almond. I wanted a pick-me-up in this summer heat, so I decided to get the mocha almond fudge. Creamy coffee ice cream with chocolate bits and sliced almonds--delicious! I sat at the cute table outside where I could savor the ice cream and watch the world go by. Loard's ice cream is a classic! I'll definitely be back for more. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Mocha almond fudge ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

it's like a bygone era: 1. they answer the phone! 2. they're nice! 3. they help! and make quality, personalized desserts in less than 24hrs! hands-down best place we've been to in the east bay. truly a local gem! read more

Quiet and tasty ice cream shop! Loard's has all the classic flavors nestled in downtown sleepy Orinda. Enjoy some people watching and your scoops. The movie theater you can see from highway 24 and would be a great place to stop by after a quick treat. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Chocolate Mint Cookies N' Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

I tried hard to resist. I even had ice cream at home. I assumed I wouldn't be impressed because I live close to Fentons and don't think their ice cream is that spectacular. But holy smokes, this place is amazing. You can smell the sugar in the air while you figure out what you want to order. I was pretty full from Saffron (Indian place across the street), so I ordered a single scoop of cookie dough but in a waffle cone. It was humongous! So delicious! My 2 friends got a kids scoop and wanted more. Service is great and you're allowed to sample flavors. read more

Good things come in small packages, ice cream shops maybe most of all. In beautiful downtown Orinda CA, you can relive the experience your great-grandparents enjoyed in their childhood: going to the town's ice cream shop. I don't know if their ice cream is homemade, but it certainly tastes like it is, and that's what matters. We've been there several times and always considered the calories involved well spent on one of the few guilty pleasures we boomers can still enjoy. The staff is friendly, we have yet to encounter a line, and there are chairs outside the shop where you can enjoy your great before it melts. Give your kids a small-town ice cream shop to remember. read more

The flavors, the taste, the knowledge of the staff. The wonderful aroma in the darling shop.

I was in Orinda, and happen to park near this Loard's ice cream shop. There was a steady stream of kids and grown ups going inside. Social distancing in effect, some people waited outside. I went in and ordered 2 scoops of chocolate marble. The server asked me what size bowl I wanted. I said large, thinking I'll be getting 2 big balls of ice cream. Oh boy, "2 scoops in a large bowl" means they jam as much ice cream as possible into that container! I even commented that that's alot of ice cream for $5.95. The young lady who was serving me said this is the best deal.....2 scoops in a large bowl. In a world where places are charging $10-12/ a pint for ice cream. It's nice to know you can still get good ice cream at a fair price. Loard's Ice Cream is located on Brookwood Rd (near Moraga Way) in Orinda, next door to First Republic Bank. There's a 1-hour green zone in front. read more

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Awesome ice cream, very good menu, relaxed atmosphere, nice people: both workers and patrons. Who can be out of sorts while eating ice cream? 5 stars review! read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

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Outstanding, thick, handmade shakes! Just like an old-fashioned ice cream parlor! Be sure to ask for the "chocolate sprinkle ice cream," which essentially is chocolate chip ice cream. read more

Delicious locally made ice cream and reasonably priced. Staff is very friendly and helpful, even gave us multiple different samples. Highly recommend! read more

Found this delicious gem for the first time in Orinda, CA. Then, we found another location when we were in Santa Cruz on vacation. My husband is a self-proclaimed "ice cream boy" and he is thoroughly satisfied each time we have visited. Their banana ice cream is the bomb!!!! I highly recommend grabbing a waffle cone with banana ice cream. Simple, but delicious! read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Banana ice cream served with a warm waffle cone. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

Ice cream was great. The two young ladies behind the counter were helpful. It was kind of odd that they were just standing around. Kind of looking into space/bored. It wasn't busy and I'm guessing they aren't allowed to be on their phones. They did a little cleaning up but I guess everything was done. Just my random observation. read more

Tasty ice cream and sherbets in 30+ flavors and scoops as big as a cantaloupe if you get a large or a double scoop. Often a long line at nights, but it moves pretty fast. The street parking is always a challenge and that keeps me away more that I'd otherwise go. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - They have high chairs in case you have too much ice cream and get all wild running around the joint - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

Last minute B-day request ... accommodated ... compliments of Loard's Orinda! Thanks guys! Chocolate Showers Ice Cream Cake featuring Republic of Cake cake base! Awesomeness! Gian and Max were AWESOME! Thanks so much gents, you guys ROCK! . read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Last minute B-day request ... accommodated ... compliments of Loard's Orinda! - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

Fresh, smooth, and perfectly sweetened ice cream! I ordered their Black Rasberry and Chocolate Marble flavors...just the right combo. My mom ordered strawberry and coffee ice cream. I loved their creamy texture and the subtle sweetness. Clean dining environment with an old Tran duo all pink diner setting with candies. Cute wall light fixtures of "Loard's" with shiny smiles from their staff. Excellent customer service. Our 1st visit at Orinda's Traditional ice cream parlor was purely satisfying. read more

Loard's Ice Cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Orinda, California

We've had wonderful service every time we have been to Loard's in Orinda. My only complaint is they close so early! Even their summer hours are so early that by the time we get done with dinner they're closed. Please stay open later! read more

Loard's has super friendly staff, cute seating, and great ice cream :) There is even a whole section of Mr Dewies vegan ice cream!!! my favorite is the chocolate raspberry! read more

Really great high quality ice cream with delicious flavors. Huge fan of the Matcha and Almond flavors!