some of the best persian ice cream I've had - the saffron pistachio is a must!! 10/10 recommend

Where do I even begin... Saffron & Rose is so much more than my favorite ice cream place (and this is coming from a true ice cream connoisseur) -- it's a place that holds some of my fiancé and my most special memories. We stumbled upon Saffron & Rose early on in our dating season, and we fell in love with their Saffron Pistachio ice cream almost as quickly as we fell in love with one another. As our relationship grew, we found ourselves talking about engagement and dreaming about our future together -- all while sharing a Saffron & Rose ice cream in hand. So when we found out they catered and had this Del Mar location, it felt like everything aligned perfectly. It only made sense to have this oh-so-special ice cream at our wedding this year. This is more than a review -- it's a thank you to Saffron & Rose (special shoutout to the loveliest Nooshin) and a love letter to the truly palate-altering, mind-blowing, made-with-love deliciousness that is their ice cream. If you haven't tried it yet, make your way down to Del Mar -- you'll understand after the very first bite. read more

It's great that we have Persian ice cream locally. I appreciate that even with a busy service, employees still offer samples. The saffron pistachios has great flavor but it was too sweet. We ended up tossing the small cup we purchased. It would be great if they use only natural colors and flavors as some items (ube-taro, green pistachio) weren't appealing. Lastly, they don't offer kids cup/ size so the smallest portion consists of 2 scoops. Overall place has potential with a few suggestions for improvement. read more

This ice cream spot has been popping up on my feed & I am glad I tried it! Located close to Torrey Pines Beach across the street from IG famous Monarch. My girlfriend & I came around 8p on a weeknight & luckily we beat the line. The workers were kind & happily let us sample many flavors, thank you! Saffron Pistachio & Pink Rose are a must order! read more

On our way back to LA from SD we wanted some ice cream. Did a quick Yelp search- Saffron and Rose, what are you doing here?! So excited to see them pop up and had to grab some scoops. I always love the Nutella flavor and paired it with the coffee. The staff were very friendly yet efficient with the long line (they deserve all the love!). Make sure to do some testers before you decide on your flavs! The small size is big enough for me. This location is on such a charming street in Del Mar. We were easily able to find parking as it was later at night and took our dessert on a little evening walk by the beach. Perfect end to my SD getaway. read more

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My friends and I were craving for some ice cream while we were enjoying the sunset at the del mar beach. After a quick yelp search, we found this spot! We parked at the del mar plaza because they have free one hour parking. As soon as we walked up the ice cream place, we found a long line but decided to stick around. The line moved fairly quickly. As soon as we entered the place, we were excited to see so many flavors. The server was gracious enough to let us try some flavors before choosing the one! I got the saffron pistachio and white rose. My husband got chocolate and passion fruit. They also had an option to get waffle cone but we got the normal cup. The ice cream itself was very flavorful and yummy. It was the right amount of sweetness. We liked how they had interesting persian flavors. I highly recommend checking out this spot if you are craving for some yummy ice cream. read more

Saffron And Rose - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

These flavors are the real deal. Orange blossom and the pink rose ones are legit amazing My fav new ice cream spot read more

First time here and it was a positive experience ! Many varieties of ice cream to choose from and samples were offered by the friendly staffer Caitlyn ! Prices reasonable and the portion size good - I would definitely return ! read more

Saffron And Rose - Coffee & Vanilla Overload Cup - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

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The texture of saffron and rose ice cream is phenomenal--it's unique and sticky. The selections of flavors are eclectic but specialized to the Persian theme. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable. But ultimately the ice cream flavors are VERY sweet, I find that I can have but a bite or two before I'm overwhelmed by the sweetness, I wish that some of their flavors came in 1/2 sweetness because I would really love to enjoy a date, or fig and almond or a saffron pistachio ice cream but cannot fully at their current level read more

We were in the mood for a sweet treat after brunch. The service was very fast. The inside doesn't have seating so you order to go. There are no tables. They have lots of unique flavors to choose from. Not the best ice cream shop in town but great for a quick treat. read more

Saffron And Rose - Ice cream - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

Saffron and Rose Persian ice cream has a wide variety of unique flavors including date, white rose, and jasmine. I wanted to try the saffron pistachio but unfortunately it wasn't available when I visited. The ube ended up being my favorite. The ice cream was thick but a little icy. The scoop size was generous and the small size was $7.75. The staff was knowledgeable about allergens in each flavor. read more

Saffron And Rose - Display case - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

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PERSIAN GELATO (3 stars) I prefer Italian gelato. - GELATO, ok - PRICE, ok - SERVICE, good but line moves extremely slow - AMBIANCE, tiny Never had Persian Gelato and my expectations fell flat. Yes, you can sample the flavors and there were flavors I were excited to try only to feel the flavors weee too light and nothing really stood out. Also, the smaller board they post didn't have all the flavors available behind the glass case. 2 SCOOPS ($7.50) - after sampling several, I went for "safe" and picked Nutella and Pomegranate. The Pomegranate was nice - light with its sweet and tartness and it paired well with a chocolate, however my first choice of chocolate wasn't available and settled for Nutella. After eating 1/4 of the small bowl, I was over it (not easy to say for someone who loves ice cream and gelato). There are other gelato and ice cream shops to be hand in the neighborhood. Until the next review.... read more

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I was super excited to try this ice cream as I had heard a lot of hype about it. The sizes were generous for the price. The texture was great (not too soft, kind of chewy ) but I tried most of the flavors and they were all incredibly sweet. I like sweet ice cream but these were almost sickenly sweet. The one flavor that was not was the Passion Fruit and it was delish. I am not sure I would go out of my way to go back as there weren't a ton of flavors and the ones they had were all so overly sweet. But if you like overly sweet ice cream this is your place because the portion sizes and prices were better than the competition. read more

In the mood for a cool treat, but tired of your typical ice cream (nah... that stuff never gets old!), we'll, if you're in Del Mar, then is is a must-try dessert shop. So many fresh flavors like orange blossom, pomegranate, and white rose, plus mango, cookies and cream and of course vanilla! This is a small place... we had a line out the door in the early afternoon, and there was only a single worker while we were there, so be prepared for a wait! It's not gelato and it's not Italian ice... it's Persian ice cream, and it's amazing! We've tried mango, passion fruit, coconut, and coffee. All delicious... can't wait to go back to try some other flavors! read more

Saffron And Rose - All the flavors of the day. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I was super excited to try Saffron and Rose! My friend from LA had raved about the fresh flavors and now we have a location in Del Mar! I absolutely loved the Jasmine and Pink Rose flavors. The texture is so smooth and light - like a hybrid between gelato, traditional ice cream, and a sorbet. I appreciated that the flavors weren't too sweet. Service was stellar and the workers cheerfully got us a wide range of samples. I need to come back ASAP! read more

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My first time trying Saffron and Rose was a couple years ago in LA, and I love how unique the flavors are. I was thrilled to find out that a location opened in San Diego! The service was amazing from both Rachel and Camila. They both had smiles the entire time, and were so helpful with our questions. There were some popular flavors that ran out such as saffron pistachio. Rachel and Camila said that the store rotates through the different flavors, so eventually flavors like cucumber should come back into the rotation. I decided to get a small scoop ($7.25) of the pink rose and jasmine. The ice cream tasted very floral, unique, and the texture was a cross between ice cream and sorbet. I ended up also buying a pint of pink rose ($12.50) to eat at home. There is also an area where you can add chocolate syrup, cherry syrup, or lemon juice to your ice cream if you would like. Just a heads up that there is no seating inside and only a small bench outside, so prepare to eat standing! read more

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So happy we have a saffron and rose in SD now!! Delicious, creamy, stretchy ice cream with a variety of Persian flavors like saffron and pistachio, white rose, falodeh, or fruit flavors like passion fruit, mango, etc. and many more flavors. The saffron and pistachio is the OG and so delicious. All fresh, quality ingredients. They are also happy to offer samples. No seating but easy to take it to the beach or benches outside. read more

Saffron And Rose - Saffron and pistachio - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

There was literal freeze burn in the ice cream. Apart from their saffron pistachio ice cream everything else is a hard pass! SPECIALLY for the price you pay read more

Hidden gem by the beach! I'm so glad I stumbled upon Saffron & Rose before walking into the park by the beach Their ice cream is incredibly creamy and thick. honestly, some of the best I've ever had. The flavor selection is unique and fun, with everything from fruity seasonal options to Persian-inspired picks. I went with the Date flavor, which completely surprised me in the best way! rich, sweet, and so flavorful. Everything here is a hit, and at $5 a scoop, it feels totally worth it for the quality read more

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Loved the mint chip flavor and the coconut had REAL coconut bits in it. Unique flavors and are able to try before choosing. Service was "fine" -- Ambiance is a small store front -- read more

Saffron And Rose - Mint chip and coconut - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

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Saffron and Rose is t one of the best ice cream shops in Del Mar! Every visit, the ice cream tastes incredibly fresh and absolutely delicious. The flavors are unique and unlike anything you'll find at a typical ice cream shop. You can tell that great care goes into the ingredients. The service is always warm, friendly, and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. Highly recommend to anyone looking for exceptional ice cream and a great customer experience read more

Saffron and Rose is an LA-based ice cream business that has set up shop in downtown Del Mar across the street from the US Post Office. Their suite was very small with no inside seating. When you walked in, there was a color-coded map on the wall displaying which countries were involved to produce the different flavors. Although it's described as Persian ice cream, the map showed nearly 20 countries across multiple continents where some ingredients were procured. The prices started at $6.50 for a small (2 scoops) and then $2 more for each additional scoop. You could also purchase pint and quart containers to take home. Twenty flavors were on display with taste samples available upon request. From what I tried, the flavors were quite floral while the consistency was slightly less creamy than some of the other gourmet ice cream spots in town. The latter may be due to less cream/milk used in creating the batches. Since I select this flavor frequently for my boba tea drinks, I picked a small serving of Passion Fruit (sourced from New Zealand) in a cup. The taste was not too sweet and not too tart either. It was right in the middle which was perfect. If Saffron and Rose was closer to where I live, then I would return more frequently to try some of their other unique varieties (e.g. Faloodeh - Persian granita). read more

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Incredible flavors!!! Favorite: saffron pistachio & faloodeh with the cherry juice Surprise top contender: cucumber, omg! Literally tasted like i was biting into a cucumber and not in a weird way. My bf ended up getting this flavor. The pink rose was also amazing, def will pair that with the faloodeh next time :) read more

Saffron and Rose is an ice cream shop located two blocks from the Seagrove Park, Powerhouse Park and Del Mar beach. Limited street parking is a challenge. This shop is a branch of the OG located in Westwood Village aka Tehrangeles for its heavy Iranian/Persian population, who have several restaurants and specialty shops like ice cream. While you can savor the classic persian flavors: saffron, cucumber and faloodeh. Flavors from other countries might perk your taste buds, as it did mine and I ended up ordering: Pomegranate from Lebanon and Passion fruit from New Zealand, both fruity and not overly sweet, perfect for a sunny day, post beach time. There's a list of many flavors offerings, with ingredients sourced globally showing the country of origin. Unfortunately, I did not see any vegan options, I asked and there's none :( Also, in addition to the packed ice cream in the freezer, I wished they offered bottled water, currently not available :( The shop is super small, with only a counter to order from, no indoor seating. Only limited outdoor seating. It does get crowded and usually always a line. The staff/server was nice, helpful and more importantly wore gloves prior to touching the ice cream, which made me feel at ease about cleanliness and I was able to enjoy the yummy ice cream. Recommend read more

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Hands down.... The best ice cream ever!!! Every time I visit SD, I come here. I wish you guys had a location in San Francisco area. :)

Being Middle Eastern, I was thrilled to see this spot open in San Diego especially within walking distance of my home and right across from the beach. One happy gal here! I had previously visited Saffron & Rose in OC and was excited they finally opened a location here. I've been waiting for this! I ordered two of their popular flavors: the Saffron Pistachio Ice Cream and Faloodeh, in a small cup for $6.50. I think I may have caught them at a rough moment since they had just opened the flavor I wanted wasn't in the display case and was out on the counter. After I paid for it and served it was already semi-melted. I also asked about the wafer sandwich cones, and the staff let me know they're not available yet. That said, it's a great location, and I'm really glad there's a Persian ice cream shop in town. Looking forward to coming back when they're fully up and running! read more

Saffron And Rose - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

THE BEST ICE CREAM out there. If you like incredible taste, perfect consistency and generous portions look no further. Spoiler alert the Saffron Pistachio is the best flavor, dare I call it the GOAT (Greatest of all time). The service is friendly, you are able to sample the flavors before selecting and there are multiple sizes and options to pick. The space is small and there is usually a line outside, don't worry it is worth the wait! These don't taste or feel overly sugary. If you want a tasty treat stop by here. read more

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Price is not transparent. They don't market for 1 scoop. Even they mention one scoop. They would not mentioned the price difference. Taste is so so. read more

I had been eyeing this ice cream shop for the past two weeks and made it a point to make a visit at the end of my work week as the "decompression treat". Parking was fairly easy in the plaza street; there are various spots allowing anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours free. While the worker did not seem too enthused to be there, I'd say the quality of the product overrode the customer experience. I was hoping there would be more vegan options, but only the grapefruit sorbet and faloodeh (rice noodles and rosewater) fell under that category amongst 10+ flavors. I ended up picking the saffron pistachio and faloodeh. By the time I walked the two minutes down to the beach, a good amount of the saffron pistachio had already melted. It was absolutely divine, though. Paired with a view of the ocean waves and San Diego sun, it was the most perfect way to close out my week. I think I'll be back soon to try their lavender scoop. read more

Saffron And Rose - Saffron pistachio and faloodeh - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

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I've been a longtime fan of this ice cream shop since my days going to their Westwood and Irvine locations, so I was beyond excited to see them open in Del Mar. Even though I've since moved out of state, I visit Southern California often, and it makes me so happy knowing I can now stop by any of their three locations. Their flavors are truly something special. The saffron and pistachio is still my absolute favorite--rich, fragrant, and perfectly balanced. And the rose flavor is beautifully delicate, not overpowering at all, which is rare to find done so well. It's always been one of my go-to spots, and I'm so glad it continues to expand while keeping the same quality and unique flavors I fell in love with. Highly recommend if you're looking for something beyond your typical ice cream experience! read more

I've been a huge fan of Saffron & Rose for about a decade now, and would love going to their Westwood location in LA. I'm so excited that there is a Del Mar location now! There's not much in the way of seating and it's a pretty small location, but it's so much closer now. Here are some of my favorites, which I recommend at least getting a sample of (they do have all the basics like vanilla, chocolate, etc., but I highly encourage you to try something you haven't seen before): Saffron pistachio: This is such a fantastic flavor, and it has actual pistachio pieces in it. I think it is made with rosewater. Both vegan and gluten free! Cucumber ice cream: I find this super refreshing--if you like cucumber water, this is the next step up. It can be a little icy at times though so if you're looking for something really smooth, then this may not be it. Taro and ube: This is a delightful purple color and is super sweet but not in a cloying way. The texture of this one is superb. I would definitely give this place a shot. If you haven't yet tried Persian ice cream, you're in for a real treat. read more

Such interesting flavors! I loved trying a few of the ones I've never heard of. Thankfully there was someone there to explain what they were. read more

I went to this ice cream shop with very high expectations and it did not disappoint, the store is more however, the location is prime right near the beach. Many flavors to choose from. I went with pistachio and it was absolutely delicious. The service was fast and courteous and I finished it off with a wafer and it was just perfection. I highly recommend this location and this ice cream shop if you are near one of these shops. read more

Saffron And Rose - Different flavors of ice cream. - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

The nondairy pomegranate and passion fruits were out of ordinary. They carry multiple nondairy options such as coconut, chocolate and saffron with Pistachio that I was generously offered to try but I was in mood of a fruity taste, and they nailed it! My son loved his Nutella scoop on a waffle cone which was made right in front of us. The shop is conveniently located by the Del Mar beach which is a block away. read more

I was waiting for a while for this place to open. I am not usually an ice cream person...except for the Persian flavors. I have tried numerous flavors at the middle eastern stores and oh my, always dreaming of that travel with your palate experience. This store offers that experience, telling you the characteristics of each version of ice cream they offer. I had the rose one just because I was feeling I wanted something very aromatic as well as looking good with the Del Mar beach background. Best ice cream I have had in a long time. read more

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I was beyond excited that Saffron and Rose has opened a store in Del Mar. I have always wanted to go to their original LA location after having read stellar reviews on Yelp. But nothing beats a store within driving distance from home. We were here on a weekend and the place was bustling. We tried a few different flavors - Saffron and Pistachio, Rose, Chocolate and Walnut, Nutella. My fam couldn't stop raving about the Saffron flavor and my personal favorite was the Rose. Refreshing is the word I would describe the ice cream here! Definitely a must in my opinion. read more

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Food - Persian Ice cream. A very good one at that. Reminiscent of Italian gelato. Some unique flavors as well. Light and delish! Service - fairly on point, fast, and friendly. Ambiance - a small place without inside seating. But plenty of space outside so no biggie whatsoever. Verdict - yes! read more

We already had two fantastic shops in the area: Gelato 101 in nearby Solana Beach, and An's Hatmakers in the Del Mar Plaza. Saffron and Rose is a new addition that I am happy to report garners 5 stars with its very tasty unique flavors that will keep you coming back for more (along with great employees). Of course, this isn't unexpected given that their L.A. location (in Westwood) has 3K Yelp reviews averaging a 4.7 rating....wow! Order a cup (or cone) of "SAFFRON WITH PISTACHIO"; you will not be disappointed. The first bite or two tastes like you are eating a flower, and then your mouth adjusts to the flavors and it becomes a completely blissful epicurean experience.....dang, just writing this review is going to make me go back for a second one (and I was just there two days ago). If you are looking for a more traditional flavor, I took my father in law there and he ordered their dark chocolate w/ walnuts: he said it was delicious. read more

Delicious and the scooper was super nice!! Tried the Taro & Ube flavor and it was good!! read more

Saffron And Rose - Taro & Ube - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Del Mar, California

Delicious and quality ice cream! Staff are so friendly and make the experience lovely, definitely give this place a try!