One Of The Best Ice Cream Spots In Santa Cruz

By Double Meat Please

The local and artisan Penny’s Ice Creamery, an ice cream shop that transcends the ordinary. This establishment combines unique flavors and imagination to redefine the way we experience the classic treat of ice cream.

Upon entering Penny’s, guests are greeted by an ambiance of industrial decor, stainless steel spoons, and beautiful chalkboard of options, with hand written current flavors on the door. Penny’s takes pride in their craft and unique flavors that they make in their Downtown location. Imagine savoring scoops of Pear Coffee Cake, Strawberry Pink Peppercorn, and Honey Lavender. The flavors here are complex, delicious, and definitely for the elevated palette or those that want something “Unique and Artisan”. They also have a Tahitian vanilla and dark chocolate for the less adventures and vegan (the chocolate is a delicious dense dark chocolate vegan option)

Their flavors do change seasonally, and they do an awesome job in working with local businesses to create some of their flavors, like the Verve coffee flavor, using the Santa Cruz local coffeeshop, or some of their fruit forward flavors which uses Dirty Girl Produce. I do recommend going in there and trying a few samples before making your decision.

On the topic of recommendations. If you are walking into Penny’s pass on the cup my friend, grab the waffle cone, and no matter your flavor let them put on their house made marshmallow fluff on your ice cream then flame torch it perfectly for you. Here before you take your first bite, walk outside, take a picture of your art - artisan ice cream with their cool steel logo in the background, then enjoy your Santa Cruz ice cream!

PS. They have an affogato with Verve coffee that goes great with your verve ice cream. Just saying.