3 Beloved California Ice Cream Shops Named Among Best In The U.S.

OCEANSIDE, CA — Only a dozen ice cream shops across the country made a new list from Fodor's Travel — and three California classics are among them.

When it comes to ice cream, the experts at Fodor's Travel know their stuff. This list, curated for the summer of 2025, includes classics, innovative flavors, and incredible frozen treats sprinkled with creativity.

In California, Fodor's Travel suggestions for must-try frozen treats include:

An's Dry Cleaning:

In Southern California, a San Diego-area ice cream shop with an odd name received recognition from the famed travel guide. An’s Dry Cleaning is located at 3017 Adams Avenue in North Park. This location was formerly a 1930s dry cleaning store and is a "made-from-scratch gelato shop that has been slowly garnering nationwide acclaim thanks to its inventive flavors and perfect execution of them," according to Fodor's.

But why is it called An's Dry Cleaning? During their search for the perfect location, the owners discovered a historic building built in 1934 on Adams Avenue, but felt it would be wrong to change the name of a long-standing establishment.

"We immediately fell in love with the location, the community, and the people. But changing the name of an old establishment, in an even older building, didn’t feel right," the owners wrote on their website.

The shop has named flavors after different fabrics, like Full Grain Leather, a brown butter mix with brownie and cookie crumbles, and Phin, a Vietnamese coffee concoction. The shop changes flavors every two weeks, and returning guests are invited on tasting tours before committing to new creations.

The shop's "biggest success story" is its burnt caramel flavor, which is "earning acclaim and following for its smoky aftertaste on a heavy cream base," according to Fodor's.

The shop offers a weekly rotating menu and a roster of quirky items, including leather and lingerie. Find their current menu here. The shop is open daily from noon to 11 p.m.

Bi-Rite Creamery:

In the Bay Area, Bi-Rite Creamery also received a sweet acknowledgement from the Fodor's guide.

"If there’s only one salted caramel ice cream you have for the rest of your life, you’ll want it to be Bi-Rite Creamery’s. It was here that the trend for the French-invented flavor exploded in the early 2000s…a time when—hard to believe—Americans hadn’t yet developed a taste for it. Bi-Rite’s Salted Caramel is made with premium organic milk, gray sea salt, and sugar that is cooked longer for a smoky finish. Other equally delectable flavors on offer include Mint Chip and Tiramisu."

Find it open every day from noon to 9 p.m. in San Francisco, located at 3692 18th Street.

Salt & Straw:

You can find this next delicious ice cream shop at one of the many franchise locations across the Golden State. Although the chain began in Oregon, Salt & Straw is available nationwide, with many locations in California, including San Diego, Downtown Disney, and the San Francisco Bay Area, among others.

Though it has grown, not much has changed by way of technique and taste since the company first opened in 2011 in Portland, Oregon, by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek," says Fodor's. Take a trip down the bestseller route by ordering Chocolate Gooey Brownie or Double Fold Vanilla, or on more out-there monthly specials like Gruyère and Tomato Custard Tart," according to Fodor's Guide.

The chain has a strong celeb-strong following, which includes Jeff Goldblum, Chrissy Teigen, and Dwayne Johnson. The Rock loves it so much that he is both an investor and a creative collaborator.

Other shops that made Fodor's list include the Annapolis Ice Cream Company, Sugarwitch in St. Louis, Chinatown Ice Cream Factory, and Loblolly Creamery in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Check out the full list at Fodor's Travel.

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