It is a great little small business. They were super busy, with a line outside the door waiting to…read moreget their ice cream of choice.

Ice cream according to my wife was awesome (Stella Coffee) flavor…read more Hot chocolate was good and rich... small shop, limited seating, but there are a few seats outside also. Staff was cordial and accommodating, and prices were what you would expect. We will go back...

It's got to be me...with all the rave reviews, I was so excited to try dessert from La Dolce Vita…read moreGelato and Pastry. I just don't understand why everyone but me is raving about this place. My friend went in to order sfogliatelle and a black and white cookie. He said the woman behind the counter was a bit impatient with him as he was looking at all the pastries and actually shook her head in frustration. I took one bite of the cookie and couldn't eat it. Both it and the sfogliatelle had a musty taste, though my friend said the inside of the shop didn't smell musty. I wanted to be one of the ones to rave about this place. Sadly, I cannot.

La Dolce Vita Gelato & Pastry is one of those rare gems that doesn't just serve dessert - it builds…read morecommunity, connection, and genuine joy with every visit. From day one, the owner has made us feel welcomed, remembered, and truly part of his world, and that level of hospitality is something you can't manufacture. It's real, and it's why this place stands out. The gelato is on another level entirely. I've traveled, tasted, and tried gelato in major cities and abroad, and nothing (absolutely nothing) compares to what's being crafted right here in our growing Ocala. The flavors rotate constantly, keeping every visit exciting and perfectly matched to whatever mood you're in. Each batch is rich, smooth, balanced, and made with a passion you can taste. We've never left with a single regret, only smiles and that satisfied "this hit the spot" feeling. And honestly, the gelato here deserves worldwide recognition. It's that exceptional. But what truly elevates La Dolce Vita is the owner himself - someone who cares deeply not just about his shop, but about the people who walk through his doors. His pride, kindness, and consistency have created a place that feels like home for so many of us. Ocala is lucky to have this treasure. Thank you to the AMAZING owner who has poured years of heart into serving this community. This is a must‑visit, a must‑return, and a place that continues to set the bar for what great gelato (and great hospitality) should be.

The elote is so good and the owner is super nice . My favorite place for Antojitos in Ocala !!read more

Craving some ice cream in Ocala and this place popped up in our searches. It's just a little…read morefurther down the street from the city, but an easy drive. We walked in and was greeted. The menu had so much to look at, so they were patient with us. We got the 15-mini pancake with two scoops of ice cream. The pancakes were made-to-order, and their ice cream is hard ice cream. The pancakes were very delicious but the ice cream was okay. Prices are through the roof though. Spent $16.

Basically traveled to WEC solely to give this place a try…read more Pretty unassuming being in the hotel but was surprised at the variety and quality of the pastries. Specifically had the raspberry and chocolate croissants and was very happy with both. Raspberry croissant was super flaky with a nice cream and jelly inside. Little messy to eat, but delicious and not too sweet. The chocolate croissant was also very good and both pastries were large. Price for both was a little steep but given size, quality, and being at WEC it really wasn't bad. Coffee was also pretty good with the price surprisingly reasonable be given its location. Place was fairly busy but the line moved quickly so it wasn't an issue. If you're looking for a nice pastry and coffee I would definitely repeat if you're at or near WEC.

Cute and fancy little French bakery inside the hotel. We tried all kinds of things. Sticky bun,…read morespinach quiche, sausage egg and cheese English muffin, vanilla frosted with sprinkles donut, raspberry filled donut, and a chocolate croissant. Everything was delicious! Highly recommend checking it out if you're at WEC or in Ocala. It's worth going out of your way. There's a Toy Store next door.

Wow! What an exceptional experience. I stopped by Sugar Moon Donuts... and I'm really glad I did…read more This tiny shop is producing epic donut delights. It's quality over quantity with a creative flair. I restrained myself, and only selected 2 (you know, moderation)... 1. Sugar Raised - it's a classic and this one was outstanding. Big, light, fluffy and not at all greasy. Coated with crunchy granulated sugar. Just sweet enough. 2. Viral Dubai Chocolate bar inspired donut!! Dark chocolate glazed, and generously filled with crispy kunafeh and PISTACHIO CREAM! It was beyond delicious. Looking forward to trying some of the other flavors. Definitely give them a try!

This defines the Mom and Pop experience! Mom and Dad behind counter and the baby playing in a…read morebassinet. So sweet. TIP: Pre-order or get there early. We arrived at 10 am on a Saturday morning and all the filled donuts were sold out. There were 4 maple bacon donuts left that we bought by the gentlemen just in front of us! We got 6 glazed donuts of varying flavors. Great donuts but looking forward already to getting there earlier for the filled ones!

We first saw the billboard for Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop on the highway and had been wanting to stop…read morein for a while, so we finally made the trip! Parking is a little tricky, but definitely doable. There's quite a bit of metered parking, and we were able to find a free meter on a Saturday by parking on a nearby side street. The moment we walked in, we were amazed, and clearly hungry, because everything looked so delicious! My daughter made a beeline straight for the $5 candy buffet, which she absolutely loved. It's such a fun and unique option for kids. The vintage bottle drink freezer was another highlight, so colorful and stocked with all kinds of interesting and nostalgic flavors. They also had some funny gag gifts and a great selection of bulk candy at reasonable prices. One of our favorite touches was the little train running around the ceiling, it's such a cute detail that really adds to the experience. They even have a penny press, so be sure to bring two quarters and a shiny penny! We will definitely be back and highly recommend this spot if you're looking for fun gifts or a sweet treat, especially for kids.

Great candy shop down town Ocala! If you love sugar this place is where you will want to be. Crazy…read morethe variety of sweets they have and it will definitely stir up emotions from yesteryear. If you had candy as a child they will have it and you can relive the past flavors of your youth. Now they have other items just know some of their socks are probably not kid appropriate but just stir them toward the sugar which is everywhere. Fun spot check it out!

if you like overly sweet gummy goo cakes, you'll love NBC…read more Commercial chain of goo. Do yourself a favor and DIY. Or take in a local bakery.

Super cute and staff is always helpful. Love the we can get a nut free carrot cake. So delicious…read more Great little treats but also excellent for a special occasion!

And here we have another gem to add to Ocala's increasingly cool selection of places to eat…read more Located in the heart of downtown Ocala, Soleil Bakery is a gluten-free bakery offering locals and visitors alike a delicious selection of pastries both savory and sweet without the traditional gluten filled ingredients. The perfect place for a book club meet-up, or catch up with friends at any time of day, the cafe is sweetly decorated and uber cozy. I was so glad to see they were open as the few times I had visited before they were closed. With that said, I recommend to call beforehand as my understanding is that the bakery has odd hours sometimes. The staff was friendly and helped me choose a selection of goods to take home with me. I ended up with their very last snickerdoodle cookie, two spinach quiches, and their peanut butter chocolate cheesecake with an Oreo crust. Yum, yum, and yum! All of it. The quiche was particularly good and heated up well the next day keeping the center moist and fluffy while still being loaded with spinach. Sorry to say my review won't come with photos of the treats I picked up as I ran out quickly to get home in the rain. But...I guess you'll just have to go see yourself! Soleil Bakery & Social House is a must try!

After residing in Ocala for 9 months, we finally made it here. To be honest, this business was not…read moreon my list of bookmarks, nor had I even checked it out. We finally explored the square due to one of the art walk events. Since it we visited twice here on Friday evenings, we decided to have espresso. During the events in the square, the businesses usually stay open later than usual. This also means they are busy. I have yet to visit during normal business hours so I am not sure how the traffic is usually. Our first visit was just to check it out and get whatever on a spontaneous decision. I did not know they serve beer and wine so I opted for wine our first time. I picked out some French white wine, which wound up being over $20 for a tiny bottle! The staff member warned me she was unsure of the price and we were both shocked when she scanned it lol. I then switched it for a sparkling wine, which was half the price. The espresso hubs and I split was as good as it gets. We love our espressos and coffee bold and strong so we were happy. The staff member also gave me a teacher's discount, which I appreciate so much because therapists don't usually get discounts! The next time we visited, we ordered another espresso, as well as a cinnamon bun and an Andes cake. OMFG how orgasmic!! I love mint chocolate anything so I was sooooo excited! We saved it for later and it was just amazing! Hubs loves cinnamon buns and he approved as well. Both times we sat for a while, sipped our coffee, and talked. I am definitely interested in checking Soleil out when it is less busy to soak it in. The place was clean and the staff were personable and friendly. They serve a lot of vegan products and honestly, they are so good, you probably could not tell the difference which is vegan or not. They have comfy seating and it does feel very cozy in there.