The Penny Ice Creamery | Downtown Santa Cruz

  4.6 – 1,836 reviews  $ • Ice cream shop

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Eclectic & seasonal flavors of organic, made-from-scratch ice cream served in a spare, rustic space.

The Penny Ice Creamery | Downtown Santa Cruz 95060

Hours

Friday12–11 PM
Saturday12–11 PM
Sunday12–11 PM
Monday12–11 PM
Tuesday12–11 PM
Wednesday12–11 PM
Thursday12–11 PM

Address and Contact Information

Address: 913 Cedar St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Phone: (831) 204-2523

Website: http://www.thepennyicecreamery.com/

Menu Photos

Order and Reservations

Order: Order online

Photo Gallery

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Reviews

Benjamin Tan
Penny ice cream is a great ice cream chain in the santa cruz area.

Definitely sample all their flavors before ordering.

The 3 scoops for $1 more seems like the best seal of them all if ur not full.

Their cone is super nice and crunchy.

We got their cranberry sorbet and verve coffee which was a great individually. Nice and crunchy coffee flavor with chocolate chips. The sorbet was not too sweet which made it a nice flavor for the holidays.

Parking might be hard outside but easy in the nearby area
Definitely recommend for anyone in the area!
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KDG
Stumbled on this little oasis while walking the ‘mean streets’ of Santa Cruz. All kinds of flavors and friendliness here. Wouldn’t surprise me to see a banana slug flavor! There’s outdoor seating to enjoy your cone or cup in the sun. My kid loved his double dark chocolate.

Grok says:

The Penny Ice Creamery is a beloved artisan ice cream shop in Santa Cruz, California, renowned for crafting small-batch ice cream, sorbets, and treats entirely from scratch using local, organic, and seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farmers, ranchers, and foragers. Founded in 2010 by chef Kendra Baker—a UCSC alum with a passion for sustainable, farm-fresh desserts—and her partner Zachary E. Davis, it’s the only ice creamery in Santa Cruz (and one of the few in Northern California) with its own on-site dairy processing equipment, allowing full control from pasteurization to churning without pre-made bases, stabilizers, or preservatives. This commitment to sustainability extends to using 100% recycled, biocompostable packaging and even repurposing egg whites from their custard base into daily-made marshmallow meringue (torched fluff topping). Flavors rotate frequently, blending classic comforts with adventurous twists inspired by the Central Coast’s bounty—think wild-foraged herbs from the Santa Cruz Mountains or produce from local farms. It’s expanded from a single downtown spot to multiple locations, including recent Bay Area outposts, while maintaining a hippie-rooted, community-focused vibe that earned it a shoutout from Vice President Joe Biden in 2010 for its local impact.
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Anirud Pande
I stopped by Penny Ice Creamery on a Saturday evening and had a great experience! We ordered the Dark Chocolate and Honey Walnut Yogurt Jam ice creams — both were delicious. Each scoop comes topped with a house-made toasted marshmallow, which was a fun and tasty touch I’d never had before.

What’s also great is that you can sample as many flavors as you like before deciding — and the options rotate daily, so there’s always something new to try. The vibe was relaxed, and the staff was friendly.

If you’re in the area and craving something sweet with a twist, definitely give this place a try. I’d happily come back!
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Victoria Da Silva
The ice cream in itself is good, but prices are crazy. We asked for the smallest size for our toddler who can never finish his cup, and we ended up paying $7 for the “mini cup” (a tiny cup filled in half!) whereas the huge scoop with a waffle cone was $8!! See picture
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Justin Bersamin
Came on a quiet Saturday afternoon. Unfriendly staff
Got a triple, but the ice cream honestly did not taste like the 4.5 star rating. (Overrated?) Got the apple sorbet, sweet potato, and bitter caramel.
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Josh
I love the chocolate sorbet and the Thai tea ice cream! But the rotating menu can be hard to keep a favorite, and the price is a little too high for the amount of ice cream you’re served. The staff are super nice and helpful! Always give great suggestions <3
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James Wang
A delightful ice cream shop that provides great seasonal flavors and a few non-dairy options as well. The highlight here is definitely their marshmallow fluff for $1 atop a waffle cone, but it is also incredible how they’re the only creamery in-town that makes their ice cream from scratch!
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bartika dutta
This ice creamery has a treasure chest of flavors. It is evident that each artisanal flavor has been crafted with creativity and love. The bitter caramel is bold and inventive, and the toasted marshmallows made the flavor an adventure. The staff were as sweet as the ice cream itself, always ready to help you navigate their menu. I wish there was an expanded menu.
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Rocio Carvajal
It was interesting to try cardamom with pistachio. I don’t know if I was able to taste the chocolate chip very well, but I still enjoyed my ice cream and waffle cone. I would return for another sweet treat. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture because I was too excited to taste my ice cream.
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Vincent Tang
Penny Ice Creamery has vegan friendly options and use eco friendly utensils and cups. It can get crowded very quickly, but there are seats inside and outside.

For today, I went with “Strawberry Pink Peppercorn”, which worked well with the “Dark Chocolate Cookie Crumbs.” The cookie crumbs have a sandy texture and can compliment most flavors they have.

Tip: Like with most ice cream spots, ask to sample some to find out what you like before trying new flavors. Say what topping you want in advance so they plan for the right container size.
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