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I still think about this place all the time. It's been a few years since I've been, but I always recommend it to friends that are visiting SF. We stayed walking distance and I probably walked there every night to get my scoop of spumoni ice cream. It was my absolute favorite. I'm not sure if the spumoni was seasonal since the last time I was there it was January and I know it can be a seasonal flavor but if you're looking for a good scoop of ice cream, you gotta check this place out.
It's never too cold for ice cream. At least it wasn't when we were getting Swensen's! The night before we had driven past and there was a line out the door! Their curb was completely filled with people, so it deterred us from going. But after our dinner, we were seriously craving a sweet treat. They keep the doors open, so you can walk in and the delicious smell of ice cream wafts on to the street. And would you believe--no line! I walked right up to the counter and placed my order! Now, I always love niche flavors and they had plenty of them to choose from! I could've spent time going through and sampling some (which they offer), but I decided on their banana ice cream in a waffle cone. It was spectacular gimme 14 of them. The banana ice cream was creamy and didn't give off that artificial taste that some ice creams tend to have. And the waffle cone was the right move! Highly recommend to get it with whatever ice cream flavor you end up choosing. It was crispy and perfectly sweet! I now understand the line. Definitely a must visit for a sweet treat to end your night!
I've been trying to hit more ice cream spots in the city, so what's better to try than Swensen's--an absolute classic! I got the Sticky Chewy Chocolate which I really liked! It was very rich (tasted very fudgey) and dense, which is exactly how I like my ice cream. The service was also good and I got to try a couple different flavors since it was my first time. I'll definitely be back at some point!
Finally got to try Swensen's after a few years of living in SF and I see what the hype is all about! The flavors were so good, and so fresh! We tried the lemon custard, lychee, and sticky chocolate (my safe flavor haha) but wow I was blown away by the lemon and lychee! They were unbelievably refreshing yet not so sweet. I highly recommend trying those flavors and I will be back to try more!!
I was in the area for dinner so after eating, I had to stop by here for some ice cream across the street. We were greeted as soon as it was our turn to order. I ordered the Bordeaux Cherry ice cream in a cup since I was kind of full from my meal. The Bordeaux Cherry ice cream had a great balance of cherry flavor and wasn't overly sweet, which I really liked. The line may look long while you're waiting outside but it moves very quickly so don't let it scare you. I'll definitely be back to try their other flavors. The only downside is that parking can be a challenge since it's located in a residential area.
Decided to stop by after dinner on a Friday night. First time at swensens after seeing and hearing about it for years. It did not disappoint. Decided to get 2 flavors the cookies and cream and banana flavor. So good the banana was super creamy and soft and the perfect riped banana Line wasn't too bad, probably 3 people in front of me. The servers were young and just having a good ol time. Love to see it! Would come back to try their other flavors.
Try the banana flavor and any other. I was hesitant but listened to other reviews and the banana flavor was addicting. $8 and some change for a double and it's a huge double. Shareable Definitely worth going once and IMO I'd go again if I'm in area. Walking distance from Lombard St.
Lines can get crazy here at night, but they move quick because of the staff inside are efficient. Small little corner spot, but packed with many flavors! I tried a bit of everything with my crew, but honestly I just like vanilla . They definitely make a good scoop here and love the vibe of the location and the staff uniform.
so many flavors to pick from and the shop is super old school, aesthetic, and cute! definitely a must visit if you're a fan of Swensen's. I highly recommend the root beer float as they let you choose any flavors, and give you a gigantic scoop of ice cream in the cup. We got oreos and cream root beer float and it was a 10/10 experience. Service is super friendly and they give many samples!
I've always been intrigued by the line out the door as someone who lives in the area, but Swensen's didn't live up to the hype for me. I thought their ice cream was fine, but all in all quite standard. I tried the caramel marble, which was a bit disappointing. It was a vanilla base with very little caramel. I also tried the raspberry brownie chunk, which had a good raspberry base, but the brownie chunks tasted like tootise rolls - doughy and not fresh. The flavors are more traditional, and perhaps I didn't order well. There's no seating, and lots of people stand around the ice cream shop to enjoy their treats.
No visit to the Russian Hill neighborhood near the Lombard Street tourist trap would be complete without a stop at the charming original Swensen's Ice Cream shop, open since 1948 at Hyde & Union. The shop is tiny, just a walk-up counter where you can check out the menu board, taste a few flavors, make & receive your order, pay, and get out - there is no seating and no place to linger inside. You'll likely see a line out the door and around the corner, but don't worry, it moves fast. Staff were wonderful, skilled at handling the crowd and quickly moving people through their transactions while still being friendly. Payment with smart phone was a snap. We visited in August 2025 on Sunday around 4:20p. The line was about 5 parties deep and we had our ice cream in hand by 4:40. I loved seeing the old classic menu flavors like Mint Chip and Rocky Road, as well as some more modern options like Lychee and Turkish Coffee. You can get typical cups and cones as well as sundaes, shakes, and floats, or pints and quarts for later. Almost everyone we saw (and our own group) veered toward the cones. I went with the flavor of the day, Lemon Blueberry Parfait, and it was a delight of tart lemon ice cream with a ribbon of blueberry syrup filled with giant, crunchy, frozen blueberries. My family went with cookies & cream and sticky peanut butter. Smiles all around for our group!
I'm definitely biased but trust me...Swenson's is the local ice cream shop to go to for fresh strawberry ice cream. All their other flavors are just as good. I've been going since I was 4 because my grandma lived up the street and no matter what, I always go for strawberry, coffee, or cookies and cream. You won't find another shop in the city with big chunks of real strawberry like this. You might as well pick up a pint or two while you're at it!
I got to start off by saying I don't like ice cream or sweets but this place is probably one of the best if not the best ice cream places I've been to in my life haha. When it comes to ice cream I've only liked vanilla growing up but slowly I've started liking flavors that weren't sweet or the typical fruit flavors. My girlfriend and I came here because I finally decided to try it out and I did not expect it to be this good. I ended up getting the coffee and the toasted almond on a plain cone. Coffee is a flavor I always go for just cause I drink coffee almost everyday. Nothing crazy about this flavor but super good. The toasted almond though was super good. It had little chunks of almond and the flavor was just right. Service and staff were super friendly and they let you try as many flavors as you like so you get the best ones! It's a little small inside but the way they display the flavors on the wall and just the atmosphere inside is great. 10/10 experience and ice cream. You can even take it togo too!
2 months ago
2 months ago
Came here on a sunny afternoon and it was unusually warm in town. Decided to swing by Swensens for a delicious scoop. I have to warn you, if you are going to walk here, prepare for really steep hills! Your calves will be screaming. In a good way most likely! There's also a bus that drops you off closeby. No worries, guys. But the scoops are generous here. Staff are also very friendly. I got a scoop of their Mint Chip on a cone and it was super delicious. Creamy and minty on a perfect afternoon. They do accept cards here, so don't be shy, grab a cone...or two! read more
6 days ago
I still think about this place all the time. It's been a few years since I've been, but I always recommend it to friends that are visiting SF. We stayed walking distance and I probably walked there every night to get my scoop of spumoni ice cream. It was my absolute favorite. I'm not sure if the spumoni was seasonal since the last time I was there it was January and I know it can be a seasonal flavor but if you're looking for a good scoop of ice cream, you gotta check this place out. read more
3 months ago
It's never too cold for ice cream. At least it wasn't when we were getting Swensen's! The night before we had driven past and there was a line out the door! Their curb was completely filled with people, so it deterred us from going. But after our dinner, we were seriously craving a sweet treat. They keep the doors open, so you can walk in and the delicious smell of ice cream wafts on to the street. And would you believe--no line! I walked right up to the counter and placed my order! Now, I always love niche flavors and they had plenty of them to choose from! I could've spent time going through and sampling some (which they offer), but I decided on their banana ice cream in a waffle cone. It was spectacular gimme 14 of them. The banana ice cream was creamy and didn't give off that artificial taste that some ice creams tend to have. And the waffle cone was the right move! Highly recommend to get it with whatever ice cream flavor you end up choosing. It was crispy and perfectly sweet! I now understand the line. Definitely a must visit for a sweet treat to end your night! read more
I've been trying to hit more ice cream spots in the city, so what's better to try than Swensen's--an absolute classic! I got the Sticky Chewy Chocolate which I really liked! It was very rich (tasted very fudgey) and dense, which is exactly how I like my ice cream. The service was also good and I got to try a couple different flavors since it was my first time. I'll definitely be back at some point! read more
7 months ago
Finally got to try Swensen's after a few years of living in SF and I see what the hype is all about! The flavors were so good, and so fresh! We tried the lemon custard, lychee, and sticky chocolate (my safe flavor haha) but wow I was blown away by the lemon and lychee! They were unbelievably refreshing yet not so sweet. I highly recommend trying those flavors and I will be back to try more!! read more
I was in the area for dinner so after eating, I had to stop by here for some ice cream across the street. We were greeted as soon as it was our turn to order. I ordered the Bordeaux Cherry ice cream in a cup since I was kind of full from my meal. The Bordeaux Cherry ice cream had a great balance of cherry flavor and wasn't overly sweet, which I really liked. The line may look long while you're waiting outside but it moves very quickly so don't let it scare you. I'll definitely be back to try their other flavors. The only downside is that parking can be a challenge since it's located in a residential area. read more
Business owner information
Jim L.
So glad you stopped in after dinner and enjoyed the Bordeaux Cherry,…
Decided to stop by after dinner on a Friday night. First time at swensens after seeing and hearing about it for years. It did not disappoint. Decided to get 2 flavors the cookies and cream and banana flavor. So good the banana was super creamy and soft and the perfect riped banana Line wasn't too bad, probably 3 people in front of me. The servers were young and just having a good ol time. Love to see it! Would come back to try their other flavors. read more
Try the banana flavor and any other. I was hesitant but listened to other reviews and the banana flavor was addicting. $8 and some change for a double and it's a huge double. Shareable Definitely worth going once and IMO I'd go again if I'm in area. Walking distance from Lombard St. read more
Lines can get crazy here at night, but they move quick because of the staff inside are efficient. Small little corner spot, but packed with many flavors! I tried a bit of everything with my crew, but honestly I just like vanilla . They definitely make a good scoop here and love the vibe of the location and the staff uniform. read more
so many flavors to pick from and the shop is super old school, aesthetic, and cute! definitely a must visit if you're a fan of Swensen's. I highly recommend the root beer float as they let you choose any flavors, and give you a gigantic scoop of ice cream in the cup. We got oreos and cream root beer float and it was a 10/10 experience. Service is super friendly and they give many samples! read more
I've always been intrigued by the line out the door as someone who lives in the area, but Swensen's didn't live up to the hype for me. I thought their ice cream was fine, but all in all quite standard. I tried the caramel marble, which was a bit disappointing. It was a vanilla base with very little caramel. I also tried the raspberry brownie chunk, which had a good raspberry base, but the brownie chunks tasted like tootise rolls - doughy and not fresh. The flavors are more traditional, and perhaps I didn't order well. There's no seating, and lots of people stand around the ice cream shop to enjoy their treats. read more
1 year ago
No visit to the Russian Hill neighborhood near the Lombard Street tourist trap would be complete without a stop at the charming original Swensen's Ice Cream shop, open since 1948 at Hyde & Union. The shop is tiny, just a walk-up counter where you can check out the menu board, taste a few flavors, make & receive your order, pay, and get out - there is no seating and no place to linger inside. You'll likely see a line out the door and around the corner, but don't worry, it moves fast. Staff were wonderful, skilled at handling the crowd and quickly moving people through their transactions while still being friendly. Payment with smart phone was a snap. We visited in August 2025 on Sunday around 4:20p. The line was about 5 parties deep and we had our ice cream in hand by 4:40. I loved seeing the old classic menu flavors like Mint Chip and Rocky Road, as well as some more modern options like Lychee and Turkish Coffee. You can get typical cups and cones as well as sundaes, shakes, and floats, or pints and quarts for later. Almost everyone we saw (and our own group) veered toward the cones. I went with the flavor of the day, Lemon Blueberry Parfait, and it was a delight of tart lemon ice cream with a ribbon of blueberry syrup filled with giant, crunchy, frozen blueberries. My family went with cookies & cream and sticky peanut butter. Smiles all around for our group! read more
Business owner information
Jim L.
Thank you for the review!
21 days ago
I'm definitely biased but trust me...Swenson's is the local ice cream shop to go to for fresh strawberry ice cream. All their other flavors are just as good. I've been going since I was 4 because my grandma lived up the street and no matter what, I always go for strawberry, coffee, or cookies and cream. You won't find another shop in the city with big chunks of real strawberry like this. You might as well pick up a pint or two while you're at it! read more
I got to start off by saying I don't like ice cream or sweets but this place is probably one of the best if not the best ice cream places I've been to in my life haha. When it comes to ice cream I've only liked vanilla growing up but slowly I've started liking flavors that weren't sweet or the typical fruit flavors. My girlfriend and I came here because I finally decided to try it out and I did not expect it to be this good. I ended up getting the coffee and the toasted almond on a plain cone. Coffee is a flavor I always go for just cause I drink coffee almost everyday. Nothing crazy about this flavor but super good. The toasted almond though was super good. It had little chunks of almond and the flavor was just right. Service and staff were super friendly and they let you try as many flavors as you like so you get the best ones! It's a little small inside but the way they display the flavors on the wall and just the atmosphere inside is great. 10/10 experience and ice cream. You can even take it togo too! read more
Business owner information
Jim L.
Derek,…
5 months ago
4 months ago
I am so happy that we decided to visit. This is one of the few remaining, true "old-fashioned" ice cream shops. Their flavor selection and ice cream quality are absolutely standout- I would highly suggest trying their Swiss chip. The owner is a truly kind human. They have a wonderful, quintessential ice cream shop ambiance. He overheard that it was my birthday and made me an incredible layered sundae- which blew away any other I have had. Swensen's is the kind of place where you can have a genuine connection with them. We will absolutely be coming back, and I highly recommend you make a trip out to Swensen's. read more
19 days ago
Swensen's is a true San Francisco classic! I stopped by on a Sunday around 4pm. It was definitely busy, but the line moved quickly. The flavors here lean more traditional, so don't expect anything too experimental like you might find at some of the trendier spots around the city. There's no seating, so it's more of a grab-and-go kind of place. I got the Caramel Turtle Fudge and Sticky Peanut Butter in a cup, and the scoops were super generous. Both flavors were rich and creamy. The combo of the salty peanut butter, sweet caramel, and crunchy pecans was perfect. read more
2 months ago
2 months ago
Best ice cream in the Bay Area. I love the chocolate chip, which I have been eating since the late 60's. They closed our local store, the last one is in San Francisco, always a fun city to visit. read more
10 months ago
We drove by and decided to come! I was not impressed with the menu. I like weird flavors, and I just ordered strawberry and cookies n cream. I was amazed!!!! The strawberry flavor was so good!! It's basic, but so exquisite. I like the real strawberry, big pieces, in the ice cream. It's added a sorbet flavor and texture to it. The cookies n cream one was also delicious. It has big chunks of cookies in it. It was satisfying!!! The place is cute with cute young workers. They are fast and efficient. read more
1 year ago
I was so pleased to find out that they have lychee (with real lychee bits)! Their ice cream has the nice sticky texture. There was a bit of a line, but it goes quickly. They also let you sample a few flavors. read more
7 months ago
Business owner information
Jim L.
Hi Jane thank you for the kind words and we will see you next time!
6 months ago
Some history: I grew up in Austin, Texas and there was a Swensen's there. They had my favorite flavor of ice cream of all time; Swiss orange chip, a delicious dark chocolate/orange ice cream with chocolate chips. But it closed about 30 years ago, so I've never been able to get any since then. I was thrilled to discover there was still the flagship location in San Francisco when I went there on vacation with my family, and we had to go for the memories and of course the ice cream. The older man serving us was one of the most sweet and kind person I've ever met. He very graciously took a few pictures with us. We got some sundaes and a quart of swiss orange chip. This was some of the best ice cream I've ever had, and my family heavily agreed. He told us he grew up right around this Swensen's and his dream was to work there. And then his family moved away and a good probably 60 years later, he started working there. Apparently though, he's only been working there for one year although he seemed very experienced and competent. Going back to the ice cream, there were a ton of flavors and I'm assuming all were very good, but the sum of flavors my family got were Swiss orange chip, marble fudge, cookies and cream, Turkish Coffee, and vanilla. The overall ambience was great, we got there right before the big dinner rush came, and there were only about 2 people in front of us. I also got a VERY cute sweatshirt there. About an hour and a half later, there was a line stretching halfway down the block. Strongly recommend! (PS My 11-year-old wrote most of this review, but I agree with every word!) read more
Business owner information
Jim L.
Thank you Rachel we are so glad you enjoyed the history, the…
Swenson's is the city's true historic classic ice cream store that's been around for a long time. I started coming here as a little kid before it became more well-known, and I'm glad it still stands today. It's a solid ice cream shop. Lots of good flavors all over and the line is pretty bustling. Expect it to be busy on the weekends. But the lines move quickly. The flavors aren't anything crazy or super unique, but they cater more to classic flavors for the most part. I ended up getting the blueberry lemon ice cream and it was good! I liked the blueberry bits in the ice cream and the texture was creamy. The lemon tasted a bit too artificial for me since it had that candy lemon flavor to it. But that's just me, I still liked it regardless. I'll make my stops here again. I'll definitely lean more on their traditional flavors that they have next time! read more
While on our honeymoon, my wife and I wanted ice cream. We ended up choosing Ghirardelli, but found it disappointing. So much so, we wanted to find a locally renowned, hidden gem before leaving town. That's how we came across Swensen's. Swensen's was franchised many years back. However, this location, the original, remained exclusively owned by Earle Swensen until 1993. At that point, Richard Campana, who began working at Swensen's in 1959 at the age of 15, took over. Richard handed the business over to his daughter and her husband, Diane and Jim, in 2020. This location remains the only Swensen's left in the U.S. The ice cream, sorbet, and even the cones are all made in-house. My wife and I shared cups of cookies and cream ice cream and orange sorbet. Both were to die for. After coming here, I have a newfound respect for ice cream shops that still make their own product. If you're looking for a dessert shop in San Francisco, this should be your choice. read more
1 year ago
Came here after dinner on a Friday and there was a decent line. The employees were super nice about sampling flavors, which is great because there are tons of interesting ones that I've never seen in other places. I loved the Chocolate Raspberry Truffle flavor that I got -- such rich, creamy chocolate with a tart raspberry jam swirled in it. Perfect for sitting in the brightly lit shop or taking on a nice walk in the neighborhood. Can't wait to stop by again! read more
4 months ago
Swensen's is one of the oldest ice cream shops in San Francisco and it still emanates that old school charm. The bulbous lights and stripped down aesthetic make it feel like something ripped straight off of Main Street in Disneyland -- it's undeniably nostalgic. Yet, in comparison to the vast array of other offerings in the city it feels like a place that could use a little bit of an upgrade to improve the experience. The service is efficient but cold, the flavors are classic but basic, and the options are slim but priced very fair. The landscape of ice cream in San Francisco changed greatly with Humphry Slocombe in 2008 and has continued to evolve and become more competitive with other homegrown companies like Smitten and West Coast heavy weights like Salt & Straw. Even though it's not perfect, I'm really happy that places like Swensen's are still able to exist and remain as classic as the SF cable car, 49ers, and cioppino. Standout flavors are their iconic Sticky Chewy Chocolate, along with the Sticky Peanut Butter and Caramel Marble; but of course that will vary greatly on your personal preferences. This places as it currently stands is a 3 star establishment but for the the sake of San Francisco's history and the perseverance of Swensen's to make it through the pandemic and so many cultural and financial shifts over so many decades, I'm adding a full star. Anyone in the area should absolutely stop by for a scoop for a little sweet taste of the city's past. read more
2 months ago
5 months ago
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More info about Swensen's
1999 Hyde St
San Francisco, CA 94109
Russian Hill
Directions
(415) 775-6818
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http://swensensicecream.com
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Ask the Community - Swensen's
Does anyone know if this is the same place that was in Newark, CA decades ago?
This is the original Swensen’s that opened in 1948. It has always been in the same location..The other Swensen’s were all franchises.
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