Browse all 19 dessert spots in the Outside Eats dining guide to the San Francisco Peninsula. Select any restaurant for photos, hours, directions, reviews, and the full profile.
See our picks: The Best Dessert Spots on the SF Peninsula →
- Antoine's Cookie Shop San MateoAntoine's Cookie Shop is a Dessert restaurant in San Mateo, California.
- Bacio di Latte Palo AltoBrazil's premier gelateria makes its Bay Area debut at Stanford Shopping Center with 22+ rotating flavors and a new flavor introduced every three weeks. Over 200 locations in Brazil and 16 in Southern California. Authentic Italian gelato made fresh daily with premium ingredients, blending traditional recipes, local dairy, and imported Italian flavors into every handcrafted scoop
- Cruel Donuts & Ice Cream San MateoHomemade ice cream and donuts. Ice cream is made in house by highly experienced ice cream chef. Unique flavors.
- It's-It Ice Cream BurlingameSan Francisco's iconic ice cream sandwich since 1928, vanilla ice cream between two oatmeal cookies, dipped in dark chocolate.
- Jolly's Old-Fashioned Teas Cream BelmontIce cream parlor meets tea house with unique tea-flavored creations.
- Preston's Candy & Ice Cream BurlingamePreston's has been offering a collection of the finest chocolates for over 80 years. Combining premium chocolate, fruit, herbs, fresh cream and butter, their chocolates have locals coming back for generations.
- Romolo's Cannoli San MateoA three-generation Sicilian family bakery in San Mateo since 1968, hand-crafting cannoli filled to order with fresh ricotta, plus gelato, tiramisu, spumoni, and traditional Italian pastries.
- Rosi's Alfajores Daly CitySpecialty Latin American bakery in Daly City known for handmade Argentine alfajores, dulce de leche pastries, and South American sweets.
- Salt & Straw BurlingamePortland-born craft ice cream brand serving small-batch, chef-driven scoops with rotating monthly flavor menus, dairy-free options, nationwide shipping, and scoop shops across the US.
- See's Candies (Redwood City) Redwood CityIconic California candy brand famous for hand-dipped chocolates, truffles, brittles, and seasonal gift boxes since 1921.
- Sibby's Cupcakery San MateoSibby's Cupcakery is a Dessert restaurant in San Mateo, California.
- Simple Delights San MateoA Laurelwood Shopping Center staple in San Mateo serving Double Rainbow ice cream, frozen yogurt, milkshakes, sundaes, and custom cakes made by an in-house pastry chef.
- Sugar Cinns BelmontA Belmont cottage bakery creating the Original Homespun — a moist, scratch-made treat born from the love of muffins and donuts — available for order and at select Peninsula cafes.
- Sweet Connections Ice Cream San BrunoA family-owned San Bruno dessert shop and event space since 2008 serving Lappert's ice cream, Korean bingsoo, Hawaiian shave ice, Dole Whip, frozen yogurt, and gelato.
- Timothy Adams Chocolates Palo AltoHandcrafted luxury chocolates created in small batches using the finest all natural French chocolate and ingredients. Artistic designs are as beautiful as they are delicious. Order online and delivered in 2 days.
- TinyB Chocolate Shop San MateoTinyB Chocolate handcrafts authentic Brazilian brigadeiros in small batches using premium ingredients, creating rich, gluten-free chocolate treats inspired by tradition and made in San Mateo.
- Tong Sui San MateoOrganic coconut pudding made with fresh coconut water and seasonal ingredients.
- Yumi Yogurt Redwood CityRedwood City outpost of the Bay Area's beloved Yumi Yogurt, serving rotating soft serve and a vast selection of named ice cream flavors, sorbets, and a full toppings bar daily until 10 PM.
- Yumi Yogurt San MateoA San Mateo institution since 1985 serving daily-rotating soft serve frozen yogurt and ice cream with generous portions, creative flavors, and a full toppings bar.
About Dessert Spots on the SF Peninsula
Dessert spots give the San Francisco Peninsula a sweet finish, from ice cream and gelato shops to bakeries, boba and shaved-ice counters, and specialists in cakes, cookies, and pastries. The guide's dessert category is where to look when the occasion is a treat rather than a meal.
The range is happily wide. You will find scoop shops churning classic and inventive flavors, gelaterias with a lighter, denser style, and Asian-influenced dessert cafes serving shaved snow, boba tea, and custard buns. Bakeries add cakes for birthdays and celebrations, along with cookies, macarons, and laminated pastries. Some spots focus on a single craft done exceptionally well, whether that is doughnuts, chocolate, or soft serve.
Dessert is a social outing here, a stop after dinner, an afternoon pick-me-up, or the reason for a short drive when a craving hits. Many shops stay open late, especially in the downtown districts, making them a natural cap to an evening out. Seasonal and limited flavors give regulars a reason to keep checking back.
This category is easy for groups and families, since there is usually something for everyone, and plenty of shops offer dairy-free sorbets, vegan options, and lighter choices. Portions and prices are approachable, which suits the treat-yourself spirit.
Use the list below to browse dessert spots by city, then open a profile for hours, photos, and directions. Whether you want a cone on a warm afternoon, a celebration cake, or something sweet to end the night, the Peninsula has a spot ready to satisfy.
