No matter how hard you try, it is impossible to completely ignore your sweet tooth – and why should you? Now that we have that out of the way, here are some of the best spots for dessert in North Park.
An’s Gelato
Tucked away in a former dry cleaner’s, An’s is a masterpiece of a gelato shop. Offering a smaller menu with weekly rotating flavors (including vegan ones!), An’s is the perfect spot to go if you want to branch out. From pineapple basil to peanut butter caramel Nutella, the menu traverses the whole spectrum of flavor experiences.
For the uninitiated, An’s is not actually an operating dry cleaner, but rather adopted the name after converting an old business into a gelateria. Feeling that it was important to honor the history of the space and the neighborhood, An’s Dry Cleaning was born.
I was lucky enough to talk to Kris, one of the owners of the shop, where I learned that everything is made from scratch, in-house. They emphasize quality over quantity, sourcing local ingredients, and you can truly taste the difference.
The genius behind the recipes is David, whose background in gelato has led him to advise chefs at Michelin-starred restaurants in their gelato endeavors. If you’re looking for traditional ice cream in North Park, then An’s may not be the place for you – but if you want a gelato experience that is unique, full of flavor and excitement, then stop by today!
Golden Donut
Growing up, I had always been a fan of Dunkin’ Donuts. I thought that they were the pinnacle of glazed donuts and remained loyal for years. All of that changed when I moved to San Diego and tried real local donut shops.
Golden Donut was the first small shop I tried when I moved here. Needless to say, it blew me out of the water. Their glazed donuts were just so much softer, flakier, and tasted the way a donut should.
Beyond their glazed donuts, they have croissants, maple bars, and a great assortment of different flavors to try. Other winners include their coconut donuts and oreo topped donuts. The best part is, nothing here is too filling, so you can load up and have some of everything. Add on to the fact that they charge a fair price (seriously, who wants to pay $5 for a donut these days?), and you’ve got your new go-to donuts in North Park.
Solomon’s Bagels and Donuts
While Solomon’s offers much more than desserts, I find that I keep on coming back for their delicious donuts. With vegan-friendly options, Solomon’s has plenty of variety to keep you entertained.
Some flavors rotate in and out, such as my personal favorite, the Passion Fruit Ring. You really can’t go wrong with any of their treats (or bagels!). Their selection is focused more on the light and fluffy glazed-style donuts.
Classic glazed, chocolate frosted, and fruit flavors all adorn the case inside, making it near-impossible to choose just one. While they have other sweet treats, including cinnamon rolls, bear claws, and more (upon availability – they sell out quickly!), their donuts are the stars of the show.
Furthermore, Jeffrey, the owner, is an amazing guy and a true master of his craft. While his background is in bagels, the team at Soloman’s knows their way around donuts. Read more about the shop in my interview with Jeffrey here! If you’re looking for amazing donuts in North Park, make sure to check out Solomon’s!
Hammond’s Ice Cream
While there are loads of different places for ice cream in North Park, Hammonds stands out to me for a few reasons. There is an enormous selection of different flavors to try, from black sesame to brown sugar.
And if the 32 flavors “on tap” isn’t enough, then don’t worry! They rotate flavors pretty regularly and always have something fun and adventurous to try. However, for those looking to stick to the classics, fear not. All of the flavors I have tried have been to die for.
Creamy and smooth, you can really taste that you’re getting high-quality ice cream. For those who don’t want to stick to just one flavor, Hammond’s has pioneered the innovative ice cream flight.
Go to town choosing as many flavors as you’d like, and you’ll get a beautiful arrangement of tiny cones for you to sample. If you’re simply looking for some of the best ice cream in North Park, if not one of the best desserts in North Park, look no further than Hammond’s.
