Most of our neighborhood guides stick to Hillcrest and the Gaslamp Quarter — the places you can walk to from our homes. But a few of our absolute favorites in San Diego aren't in either neighborhood, and we'd never forgive ourselves for leaving them off. This is a running list of the spots we actually go to — the ones we'd text a friend about.
Coco Bomb — Linda Vista
If we're being honest, the best ice cream sundae in San Diego is a ten-minute drive from Hillcrest. Coco Bomb is a tiny, leafy Thai-inspired café in Linda Vista, and their coconut sundae — served in half a real coconut shell — is the thing we send everyone to. You pick up to three of their vegan, coconut-milk ice creams; ours is always coconut, mango, and pandan. It's the fresh mango slices on top, together with that ice cream, that make the whole thing unreal.
- The order:
- Coconut sundae — coconut, mango & pandan
- Vibe:
- Tiny Thai café, leafy little patio
- Where:
- 2379 Ulric St, Linda Vista
- From Hillcrest:
- ~10 min drive
Host Tip: We first found them at the Hillcrest Farmers Market — and you can still catch their stand there, or at the Ocean Beach Farmers Market on Wednesday evenings (4–8pm) if you'd rather make an evening of it by the water.
An's Dry Cleaning — Normal Heights
Don't let the name throw you — An's Dry Cleaning serves gelato, not laundry. It's named after the old dry cleaner that used to operate out of the 1934 building, and the flavors are all named after fabrics. USA Today has named it America's best independent ice cream shop two years running, and we'd back that without hesitation. The small-batch flavors rotate every couple of weeks, so it's a different treat every visit — but the month they ran a matcha theme, the matcha with black sesame was the easiest "just buy a pint" decision we've ever made.
- The order:
- Whatever's rotating — ask for the staff pick
- Vibe:
- Scratch-made gelato, quirky laundromat theming
- Where:
- 3017 Adams Ave, Normal Heights (also in Ocean Beach)
- Hours:
- 11am–11pm daily
Host Tip: The menu changes often, so check what's on before you make the trip — and if you find a flavor you love, get the pint. You'll want it later.