The Baked Bear

Wow--what an overwhelming amount of ice cream choices! This place seriously has everything,…read moreincluding a bakery and coffee, so it's a great one-stop spot. Service was pretty quick, which I appreciated. They also offer gluten-free cookies and other baked goods, which is a nice bonus. That said, the gluten-free cookie on its own was pretty bland--but I could see it being much better paired with ice cream. One thing to note: they don't really offer a kids size, and when I asked for smaller portions, they said it would still be charged as a regular--so parents of little ones, just a heads up! The ambiance wasn't super inviting--more of a "grab your treat and go" vibe--but with its prime location near the beach, it's easy to see why it stays busy. Overall, still worth checking out!

Not worth the difficult parking…read more Food: 1/5 One flavor is three scoops of ice cream. We ordered two flavors, which was four scoops, hoping we could split the ice cream into two cups so we would each have two scoops. We asked our server if they could split the ice cream for us--just put two Ube Matcha scoops in one cup, two Cookies and Cream scoops in another. This is against company policy, but they were willing to give us a second cup so we can surgically operate on the mixed ice cream and split it ourselves (??). The Matcha Ube was more green tea flavored than matcha or ube. The Cookies and Cream was good. The ice cream--even if three scoops for one flavor--is just not worth the street parking or flavor mashing. There are other better ice cream places. Service: 3/5 Nothing to say or add. No bad news is good news. Atmosphere: 2/5 Holy overstimulation. There were two other families in the ice cream parlor with us, and we were all being serviced at once at the cashier. It's too small of a room to do that. I would recommend this place to kids 12 and under who live down the street and need a quick sweet treat. Final rating: 2/5

Cookies & Cream

Butter cookies

See all

Inside - just rows of freezers

Gelato 101

4.6(369 reviews)

0.1 mi

Best people serving the best Gelato outside of Italy!! We lived in Padova, IT for 2 years with an 8…read moreyear old son, so we're quite qualified to judge.

Gelato 101 has nice vibes. It has both indoor and outdoor seating…read more They don't only have Gelato ,but also they have coffee, Boba, Açai bowl, shake, and smoothies They have many great flavors to choose from. The sizes are Doppio (two flavors) Triplo ( three flavors) Quad (four flavors) and kid gelato size. We stopped here after dinner and ordered two Mango, and one mango and stracciatella. The Gelato had nice and creamy texture.The line was very long, but it moved fast. The staff were nice. Highly recommend.

Latte with boba are fantastic!

See all

Honey lavender

VG Donut & Bakery

4.5(1.6k reviews)

1.8 mi

I'm a big fan of jelly donuts, and here they're are as good as they get. Three filling options, and…read moremost importantly powdered rather than glazed. Light and airy too!

Wow this place smelled amazing. Craving donuts in the morning after our little vacation and stopped…read morehere. Service was so helpful and friendly. Most of the donuts were deliciously incredible. The chocolate chip cookies weren't one of our favorites but it is a donut place ! Would stop here again

My son's first birthday cake! Loved every bite!

The design we got

See all

Single Layer Cakes wedding cake

Broad Street Dough Co.

4.7(594 reviews)

0.4 mi

Locally owned & operated

Gluten-free friendly

I loved these donuts so much these are the best donuts I've had in my life. I dont remember what…read moreflavor I got but I think the chocolate chip one in my photo is Guava chocolate chip or something. I dont like guava, but this made me like it. ITS THAT GOOD Also the workers are very nice and they make the donuts fresh! I LOVE THIS PLACE

Super cute donut shop in the heart of downtown Encinitas! We were in search of a North County donut…read moreshop that serves vegan donuts as we were bringing them to a friend's house for dinner. They make the donuts fresh for you which is a unique touch. Service was very friendly. Vegan Flavors we tried. Nantucket, Strawberry Fields, Funky Monkey, Blueberry Bliss, the Aztec, and Island Bread. Would definitely come back to try their non vegan flavors next!

Roni bites

See all

CARiN de RiA

4.4(593 reviews)

0.4 mi

My friend and I were craving Filipino food, so we decided to come here. I think our server may have…read morebeen the owner, and he made some great suggestions. The sisig was delicious, but I especially loved the Vegetable Coconut Stew (Ginataan). I also really enjoyed the lychee beer! I'm definitely coming back the next time I'm craving Filipino food. I need to try the kare-kare next!

My husband and I came on a Friday afternoon and what a gem of a place. Such a welcoming atmosphere…read morewith excellent service and even better food! My husband had the lunch special with pancit, rice, classic lumpia and chicken bbq. I had the pork rib sinigang (a sour soup) and we ended with the turon (fried banana). Everything was delicious and tasted as if my Lola was in the back making the food. Thanks for the great service and excellent food. We will be returning!

Dining area

Lechon Sisig

See all

Inside restaurant

Prager Brothers Artisan Bread

4.4(196 reviews)

0.0 mi

Im a longtime fan of their sourdough and multigrain loaves from local stores. As a hometown…read morecompany, what really sets them apart is their dedication to organic ingredients and traditional artisan baking methods. I was able finally stopped by the Encinitas backyard location. The store has a pretty good line up of pre-made lunch sandwiches alongside their classic breakfast and savory pastries (the turkey arugula sandwich was fantastic). They also serve espresso and coffee, making it a great morning stop for breakfast. the shop is set up as a grab-and-go spot, though I'd love to see a couple of outdoor tables added in the future so customers can sit and enjoy their food. Highly recommend stopping in!

Prager Bros is one of these sneaky good bakeries that keeps it simple and nails it!…read more We began by buying their sourdough breads which, if you're like me, is just an excuse to eat butter. Ok, PB sourdough stands on it's own AND gives me every excuse to eat some more butter! Toasts up nice no matter what you like from a soft to burnt scale. But the sourdough was the gateway drug for me. It's impossible to go into the Prager Bros bake shops and avoid seeing something even more additive. For me, the almond croissant just sings the perfect duet with a good cup of coffee. They rotate in some scones that are equally tempting. The honey walnut, limited offering, was my favorite until they stopped making it. The seasonal scone (date and coconut) is more than a fine substitution. They serve baguette sandwiches that are crispy crunchy and delicious. Highly recommend them.....the danger is you won't be able to drive by one. Heck, you get hooked enough, when you get in your car your Waze may prompt you with the time and distance to Prager Bros. Could be worse I suppose! You're welcome!

Caprese sandwich

See all

Outside

Solana Sumptuous Cookies

I stumbled upon this place right before Pilates and saw the sumptuous special! The girl told me…read moreabout it and my eyes lit up and I wanted it so bad, but my friend Perla said, "No, we got to go!" Not the best thing to have right before Pilates. The next time we went was after Pilates and I asked my friend if she wanted to share it and she agreed this time! I was so excited to try it! The owner was very sweet she let us try samples of the new marshmallow ice cream that they are testing out. It was so good! I ordered the sumptuous special with frozen hot chocolate. She made it aesthetically pleasing. They asked how I wanted it and I said picture perfect! Watching her make it was so fun and jaw dropping. I was in such awe! The marshmallow alone was so amazing to watch! It was so good and made with such good ingredients. I did share a bit with my friend, but boy I had basically the whole thing to myself and it was perfect. The frozen hot chocolate was bittersweet too. So it was balanced with the cookie, marshmallow, and cream. The perfect amount of sweetness for me. It was pricey, but it was worth it! Well worth it to try it at least once! I am absolutely coming back again!

I had these cookies at my Wedding !…read more My husband and I stumbled across this bakery a few years back on our way home from Los Angeles. I am a cookie feen and these cookies quite literally stopped me in my tracks. The Scarlet letter cookie .... Just get one. In my case I get at least 4 of these each time I go. The most imporant thing in any cookie is the actual dough and theirs is always the perfect balance of buttery and sweet! I despise dry crumbly cookies and these never even come close. They are all so good! The staff has alway been very nice and when I have gone it is never outrageously busy. Worth the detour everytime.

Trifecta stuffed

See all

We're serving 18 flavors of cookies and 16 flavors of ice cream daily. Try one of our homemade waffle cones.

Truly Scrumptious Cakes

5.0(24 reviews)

1.0 mi

Needed a German Chocolate cake on short notice. Monica responded promptly and when I explained the…read moresituation (my late wife's 60th birthday), she didn't hesitate to accept the order. As for the cake, absolutely incredible; appearance, texture and taste off the culinary charts! I can't thank you enough. Don

Beth did such an outstanding job on our dessert table. Every single dessert was delicious! Highly…read morehighly recommended Truly scrumptious cakes!

Wedding Cake

Christian Louboutin Shoe Cake

See all

Jimmy Choo Purse Cake

Versailles Cafe and Pastries

4.3(250 reviews)

1.9 mi

Family-owned & operated

Casual dining

Came here for Sunday breakfast and had such a good experience! We got here around 9am and…read moresurprisingly had no wait. The seating was spacious and comfortable, and the service was great throughout. We tried the goat cheese & spinach quiche, summer salad, crème brûlée, and lemon meringue tart. The quiche was probably my favorite savory item -- super thick and fluffy with a generous piece of goat cheese on top, and the roasted potatoes on the side were really good too. The summer salad was fresh and loaded with smoked salmon, avocado, mango, and pistachios. Definitely save room for dessert. The crème brûlée had that perfect crunchy caramelized top, and the lemon meringue tart was really cute and had a nice balance of tart and sweet. I love the wide variety pastry selection and how pretty everything looks in the display case. Overall, a really nice breakfast spot -- good food, lots of space, great service, and no crazy Sunday morning wait when we went

Such a cute place! Came here for some brunch before heading…read moreto the Botanical Gardens. We stood in line to get in for about 10 minutes-it's definitely a busy place and probably could get busier! Service was good, but again they were busy...food was great! This was our first time here and we didn't get to try the pastries, but they look very promising. I am always on the hunt for the best pastries around because after visiting Europe and having pastries there, nothing here in the US compares!

See all

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

1 review that is not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ace D.

337

132

181

7 months ago

The Baked Bear in Encinitas is a fun and indulgent dessert spot that makes custom ice cream sandwiches a real treat. The cookies are soft and fresh, the ice cream is creamy and flavorful, and the toppings let you get creative with every bite. The staff is friendly and helpful. The casual atmosphere makes it perfect for a sweet stop with friends or family. If you're in the mood for a decadent, personalized dessert, The Baked Bear is definitely worth a visit. read more

The Baked Bear - icecream - Updated October 2026

Browse Nearby

BEST of Encinitas, California Coffee near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Restaurants near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Desserts near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Breakfast near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Things to Do near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Parking near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Boba near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Gelato near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Shopping near The Baked Bear

BEST of Encinitas, California Thrift Stores near The Baked Bear

Best of Encinitas

Things to do in Encinitas

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed The Baked Bear also viewed

Twist

4.0

(13 reviews)

Really delicious and refreshing. The new Zealand's Best was really good because it had real bananas…read moreand not banana flavoring. Strawberries with vegan vanilla was also really good. It's like ninja creami on roids. Kind of pricey for the small. Would definitely come back for this again though. Great dessert addition to the windmill food hall.

We visited Twist Twice twice during our trip--once in the morning for donuts and again that evening…read morefor ice cream. Unfortunately, neither visit lived up to our expectations. The donuts were surprisingly dry and honestly tasted worse than the donuts you can buy at Safeway. We expected fresh, homemade donuts but were disappointed with the quality. Later that evening, we returned for ice cream and arrived at the order window around 8:40 p.m. We were refused service because they said they were closed, even though the posted hours we saw indicated they were open until 9:00 p.m. What was even more disappointing was how rude and dismissive the staff were. A polite explanation would have gone a long way. Based on our experience, we won't be returning. Good customer service and fresh products make all the difference, and unfortunately, we didn't find either here.

Handel's Homemade Ice Cream

(954 reviews)

I absolutely love coming to Handel's. They have a great variety to choose from, I always ask for…read moresamples and find new flavors I like. I chose Graham Cracker and Key Lime Pie. The flavors went well together, their Key Lime Pie ice cream has always been my favorite. This place was packed with people when we stopped by, the lines went quickly, the staff was very nice, and ordering was easy. I am looking forward to my next trip back here.

This spot is a favorite for my daughter and I when we are in Carlsbad. The kids working are always…read morepretty friendly, and they always give a healthy serving of ice cream. Especially if you order a root beer float! In normal Handel's fashion, expect a line. This location can definitely get a little busy, and there is pretty limited seating outside, but we always manage to find a spot or just walk around. The location definitely can't be beat!

Scoopy Scoopy

4.7

(6 reviews)

The best vibes, the best ice cream, the best location! I love Scoopy Scoopy…read more This is their new permanent location for the summer and maybe more. Come check it out - bring a friend! GRAND OPENING EVENT - FRIDAY JULY 10!

Great flavors and they hook it up! New ice cream fav spot unlocked. Kinda a hidden gem and tons of…read moreparking in the lot or street. Also tables outside to sit and enjoy.

GelatoLove

4.7

(696 reviews)

walked in to the case full of options and there is a second smaller area of gluten free options…read more I tasted 3 items: chunky banana, tiramisu and passion fruit. The girl was so helpful and shared her favorites and was kind. I got a small cone of passion fruit and tiramisu. great combo for me because that passion fruit is soooo good. They had some fresh baked chocolate chip and white chocolate macadamia cookies so I got one for my husband. Cute setting in a cute mall with outdoor seating and a water feature. Lovely and clean.

Gelato Love is a gourmet Italian gelato shop located in Carlsbad Village…read more It has a modern decor and inviting ambience. It is well lit, clean and organized. There are both indoor and outdoor seating. We enjoyed the relaxing and delightful atmosphere of the indoor seating. They have a nice selection of purses, jewelries and Stanley Tucci cookbooks. I also enjoyed other merchandise they have around the shop.They sell Italian pasta, tomato sauce and jam. The menu includes ; creamy gelati, dairy free sorbetti, gelato specialties, love shakes, coffe, cannoli, ice cream cakes, and desserts. There are many flavors to choose from. Everything looked tempting and delicious. Finally, we decided to get flight of four different flavors of gelato. We chose Carlsbad strawberry, Cookies and cream, Bacio, Tahitian vanilla bean. Their gelato was rich, creamy and silky. The amount was generous. The owner and the staff were very welcoming and genuinely warm. The service was fast. I really like Gelato Love. It's an authentic Italian Gelato shop to stop by and enjoy their unique flavors. .

Leucadia Donut Shoppe

(425 reviews)

•$

Blueberry buttermilk donut Glazed buttermilk bar…read more Service The blueberry buttermilk donut is my favorite donut of all time. I haven't had one in six years and it was exactly as I remembered, absolutely out of this world amazing. I also got a glazed buttermilk bar and it was fantastic too. During my order he must have misheard me because when I left I was given a regular glazed. I went back in to let him know and he seemed a little annoyed and made a point to tell me he would charge me the difference. I would hope not, you gave me the wrong donut! They are cash or Venmo only, so be prepared. They offer classic donuts, but the real treat is the buttermilk donuts. If you go do not overlook them. They are life changing.

So happy to drive by and see that it was still early enough to be open! This mom and pop shop had a…read moredecent variety to choose from... classic old fashioned, chocolate raised, jelly filled just to name a few! This cozy place had a nice patio to enjoy your treats.

Numbskulls

(15 reviews)

My husband and I stopped by and immediately understood why people recommend this place. The shave…read moreice itself is fantastic. First, the logistics. It's on North Coast Highway 101, so parking during busy hours is...optimistic. The lot is small, street parking is limited, and you'll probably have better luck checking La Veta Avenue behind the building. Speaking of the back of the building, that's where their surprisingly spacious outdoor seating area is. It's a great grassy lounge space with plenty of seating and even little tabletop games. The only funny part is actually finding it. The employees told us it was "really obvious signs," but the directions are basically small Numbskull stickers and thin chalk arrows. We found it eventually, but I think some larger signs or a more obvious walkway from the front would help a lot. My only other suggestion is the hours. An 8:00 PM closing time feels early for a dessert spot on the 101 in a beach town. I'd love to see them stay open until 9:00 or 10:00 PM. Now for the important part. My husband ordered a Little Gnar with guava, passion fruit, and fresh strawberries. I ordered a Little Gnar with a vanilla ice cream core, Tiger's Blood, Orange Passion, and strawberry cream topping. Both were excellent. The shave ice was incredibly soft, the flavors tasted fresh, and the portions were much bigger than we expected. Honestly, most couples could split a Little Gnar. We only got two because my husband is lactose intolerant and didn't have Lactaid with him, and I wasn't giving up my vanilla ice cream core. I also liked that the menu has something for everyone. If you like fruity flavors, there are tons of tropical combinations and add-ons. If you're like me and want dessert disguised as shave ice, they've got plenty of creamy options too. The staff was young, polite, and helpful, and we left with zero complaints. Overall, an easy 5/5. Great shave ice, generous portions, a fun backyard hangout, and enough flavor combinations that I'll definitely be back. Just don't let the name "Little Gnar" fool you...there is absolutely nothing little about it.

Numbskulls is a shave ice place in Encinitas along N coast Hwy 101. There's a small parking lot…read morethat holds about 6-8 cars but also shares it with neighboring businesses so I suggest parking on La Veta ave in the back. I got a little gnar (small) with mango and passion fruit with vanilla ice cream ($2). There were more options for a cap and toppings but they just cost more and I'm a bit of a purist. I was surprised that they didn't have a strawberry flavor which is one of my go to flavors. The small was big enough for me, the ice was fine and the flavors tasty and delicious. I like when the vanilla ice cream mixes with the fruit flavors, it's very refreshing. The small comes with 2 flavors the large 3. The place is skateboard themed, they have premade options listed on skateboard decks which only come in large size. Service was friendly and informative. They let me know there was a back yard area that we could wait and they'd bring it to us. We just waited for our order to be prepared then walked around. It's a little further than you think. You have to walk around the sidewalk to La Veta Ave you'll see a bunch of picnic tables and chairs where you can sit and relax. Their back door opens to that area but you cant walk thru the business to get there. That's why I suggest you park on La Veta so it's closer for you to get to your car after. I wish you could just order from the back yard area. Overall a really good shave ice. I'd consider a condensed milk cap and/or li hing mui powder topping next time.

Scoopy Scoopy

3.0

(2 reviews)

Cute little pop up at Coffee Coffee. Love to grab a scoop of the oatmeal cookie ice cream and walk…read moreup to watch the sunset

while scooping my icecream the guy dropped a little bit on his arm and licked it off. never…read moreexperienced this !!!! couldn't believe he did that in front of us

Broad Street Dough Co.

4.7

(594 reviews)

An's Gate D5