Our San Francisco Ice Cream Tasting Tour takes you on a whimsical journey through 3 stops, with a dash of ice cream history, trivia, and silliness sprinkled in between.This private group experience caters to 2 to 6 guests per vehicle. We prioritize quality over quantity but rest assured, you won’t leave with an empty stomach!
Join our ice cream aficionados as they lead you through a sweet maze of three unique stops. At each, indulge in three delightful tastings that are bite-sized pockets of heaven – not giant, overwhelming scoops.
We’ve handpicked destinations that promise an enchanting mix of classic ice creams, luscious gelatos, and daring flavors that will tantalize and satisfy your taste buds.
To ensure maximum tasting enjoyment and minimize waiting time, we’ve thoughtfully pre-ordered a spectrum of flavors from each parlor.
We’ve mapped out two distinct tasting routes. Depending on the day and the parlors’ availability, our experts select the most flavorful path for your journey.
As we hop from one parlor to the next, we’ll sprinkle in amusing tidbits: quirky ice cream trivia, its fascinating history, and delightful facts that’ll enhance your ice cream adventure.
Join us on a lip-smacking expedition, savoring a symphony of textures and tastes in every delectable bite.
Note: If dairy isn’t your ally, tread lightly. The majority of our selections, roughly 75-85%, contain dairy, with very limited or no alternatives.
What’s the Scoop on Ice Cream Flavors?
Our San Francisco Ice Cream Tour takes you on a whimsical journey through 3 stops, with a dash of ice cream history, trivia, and silliness sprinkled in between. This private group experience caters to 2 to 6 guests per vehicle. We prioritize quality over quantity but rest assured, you won’t leave with an empty stomach!
Year Round: Daily starting at 1:00 pm, 5:00 pm
Cost: 2.5 Hours of fully guided fun
Sweet Upgrades & Add-ons
Feeling like a little sightseeing with your Ice Cream extravaganza? Add an extra 30 minutes or a full hour, and we’ll take you to can’t-miss attractions or a few hidden gems!
Our private tours are perfect for five riders per Tuk Tuk (6 guests are ok with a group that includes children and adults).
Larger groups can rent multiple Tuk Tuks to cruise around together.
No children or infants seated on laps.
Tours start in Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco’s #1 destination
We do not offer Hotel Pick-Up
We kick things off at Umbrella Alley on the western edge of Fisherman’s Wharf for a quick intro. Depending on the day, you’ll either explore The Mission and Potrero Hill districts or The Fillmore and Lower Haight Districts.
The route for the day is determined by the operating hours of our selected purveyors. Unfortunately, we can’t mix and match routes, as these locations are scattered across the city.
Buckle up, ice cream adventurers! Our journey kicks off at Smitten in the Mission District. Smitten’s liquid nitrogen magic turns fresh ingredients into frozen marvels.
You’ll taste the future of ice cream as you dive into their exotic flavors, like Honey Lavender and Rose Petal Gelato. Who needs a time machine when you’ve got liquid nitrogen?
Hold onto your cones, because we’re off to Humphry Slocombe in the Mission District! These ice cream rebels are known for their crazy, unexpected flavors like Secret Breakfast Bourbon Ice Cream with Cornflakes and, believe it or not, a Cookie Dough with Pretzels & Chocolate Chips that will make your taste buds do the Macarena.
Prepare for a scoop of the unexpected – it’s the wild card of our ice cream journey, and you’ll be begging for an encore
Next stop on the Mission and Potrero District Route, Hila Gelato! With roots in Sicily, they serve up creamy, dreamy gelato that’ll make you question reality. Taste their Sicilian Pistachio Gelato and Mango Sorbet – a flavor explosion worth the trip.
Warning: You might start speaking Italian after this!
Other possible choices (depending on the day)
Hold on to your cones! We’re heading to Salt & Straw in the Fillmore District. They’re famous for their inventive flavors, like Blackberry Tamale and Cinnamon and Honey Fried Chicken. It’s an ice cream adventure for your taste buds. Embrace the strange, folks!
Powder – Lower Haight is our next pit stop. Known for their snowy, dreamy treats, they’ll serve you Black Sesame Snow and Mexican Chocolate Snow.
It’s like a snow day for your mouth, but better – no mittens required!
And for something a bit different, we roll into Uji Time in Japantown. Their Matcha and Yuzu Passion Fruit flavors will tantalize your taste buds.
It’s the grand finale of our ice cream adventure, where you’ll savor every last bite before bidding farewell to your sweet, sweet journey through San Francisco’s ice cream wonderland.
Other possible choices (depending on the day)
Nope, that’s our job! We’ve scoured the city, taste-testing at all the coolest ice cream spots, and mingling with the quirkiest characters. Trust us, we’re the experts you came here for!
Absolutely! Our tasting sizes are designed to let you savor a wide variety of flavors and styles. If we served full-size cones or cups, you’d miss out on the adventure. We’re all about discovery, so get ready for some unconventional, mind-blowing flavors. Plain vanilla and chocolate lovers, beware – this tour is for the adventurous!
Nah, we like to keep you in suspense! The tasting choices and stops are part of the adventure itself, so you’ll discover them as we go along. If you’re curious, though, check out our example flavors and the caliber of ice cream shops we visit for a sneak peek.
Sorry, this isn’t a lactose intolerant’s dream. This tour is all about tasting, and about 75-85% of the items we’ve pre-selected are dairy-packed delights. Be warned, there might also be nuts, bacon, and other non-dairy ingredients in the mix. Unfortunately, vegetarian and gluten-free options are not a big part of this experience. To keep things on track and avoid endless lines, we order pints of ice cream in advance, so accommodating individual dietary restrictions can wreck the schedule.
Sorry, no mix-and-match magic here! Depending on the day, you’ll either dive into The Mission and Potrero Hill districts or explore The Fillmore and Lower Haight Districts. Our route is dictated by the operating day/hours of our chosen ice cream havens. But alas, we can’t blend these routes because these delightful parlors are sprinkled across the city like sweet surprises.
For our tours, we suggest a minimum 1-week lead time. Bookings made with less than one week’s notice will occasionally limit the available shops and tasting selections Book early!
We’ll meet you at the whimsically named Umbrella Alley, 757 Beach Street in San Francisco. Umbrella Alley is where the magic begins!
Nope, our pricing already includes everything but the gratuity! No sneaky “booking fees” or hidden charges here. We like to keep things as sweet and straightforward as possible!
Nope, we don’t include gratuity. In the tourism world, it’s customary to tip around 15%-20%, which comes to approximately $20.00 per guest. You can think of it as a sweet way to show your appreciation.
Bookings are refundable if you let us know 24 hours in advance. Within that 24-hour window, there are no refunds, and you can’t reschedule. We have to pre-order and prepay for all those delicious tastings, and being a small company, last-minute cancels are impossible to refill. So, please be sure before you book!
Dietary Restrictions: Please be aware that all food tours operated by SFETC Inc. may not accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions. There is no guarantee that the foods/beverages provided during the tour will be free of allergens or meet specific dietary needs. Participants assume all risks related to food/beverage consumption during the tour.
Inherent Risks and Dangers: Participants understand and acknowledge that all food tours operated by SFETC Inc. involve inherent risks and dangers, including food allergies, foodborne illnesses, slips, falls, and related injuries. Participants voluntarily choose to participate in the tour and assume all known and unknown risks associated with their participation.
Photo and Video Release: By participating, you grant SFETC Inc. and its representatives the right to photograph or record you during the tour. You authorize SFETC Inc. to use such photos or videos for any lawful purpose, including promotional materials and social media.
Governing Law and Jurisdiction: All participants on this tour shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of San Francisco, California, USA. Participants agree to submit to the jurisdiction of San Francisco, California for any disputes arising from their participation in this tour.
Liability Agreement: Please review our full terms and conditions, which are an integral part of any reservation /participation.
SFETC Inc. is not liable for delays due to accidents, breakdowns, road conditions, or unforeseen circumstances.
Tour routes, destinations, menu selections, and attractions may change without notice, and we are not responsible for lost or damaged property left onboard.
Expertly Guided: Our San Francisco Ice Cream Tour is led by a trained, expert guide. Sit back, relax, and enjoy as your guide takes care of all the logistics while regaling you with rich storytelling and group engagement.
Not Just Ice Cream Tasting: It’s a fully immersive and entertaining experience, complete with ice cream history, fun facts, trivia, and maybe even a few dad jokes.
VIP Treatment: Visit San Francisco’s most popular and beloved spots. Our private tours offer an intimate small-group experience.
Taste the Cream of the Crop: Instead of hopping around town, we take you to 3 phenomenal ice cream destinations that not only serve top-notch ice cream but also go the extra mile to ensure a fantastic guest experience.
We’ll whisk you away to 3 of San Francisco’s ice cream treasures, a mix of renowned hot spots and hidden gems. Each choice comes with a captivating story and has earned its place on both local and national must-try lists.