This place smells and tastes like heaven. Adorable little ice cream shop run by the happiest people that are just ready to fill your tummy with delight! They are generous with their samples so you can be sure you'll be happy with whatever flavor you choose. The ice cream itself is creamy goodness and tasty toppings! You really can't go wrong!
Small, cozy great ice cream.. Sorry no restrooms available.
Just had to try it and was not disappointed. It's small though so don't expect to sit down anywhere. It's a grab and go. So definitely, go and grab one! Tons of flavors to chose from.
I got a milkshake there which was over blended and not thick at all. I mainly tasted the milk rather than having a nice thick milkshake as expected.
Tourist stop. Nothing special about the store or the ice cream.
Timeless ice cream. Highly recommend the sticky chocolate peanut butter, fresh banana , and toasted almond.
Cash only btw!!!
Great old school ice cream. Small place with no seating inside, but perfect to grab for a walk on a nice day.
Swansons is decent, good ice cream, though the flavors we tried weren t all outstanding. We had turtle, vanilla custard, and chocolate. The vanilla custard came in below par for custard - it was missing the density of a good custard. The turtle was okay, but only just okay. The chocolate was excellent. Dark and gritty and rich.
Grew up 1/2 block away from Swensen's. My dad always got me a hot fudge sundae on Sunday afternoons. Nowadays, I still head up the hill to Swensen's to get ice cream cones all the time. It's been a LONG time since I had the hot fudge sundae, but I got one the other day and was happy to see it was EXACTLY the same as it was when I was a lad (except my dad always got me the small size--I didn't even know they had huge ones too). It's always great when a classic doesn't try to change.
First Swensen's store, cash only. Staff we not exactly very friendly, but the milkshake was pretty good.
Historical.
They still make the icecream in store.
And it's the only one in San Francisco.
Very premium quality icecream.
A little on the creamy side, so not the place if you're looking for gelato. Definitely an institution.
Get three scoops: Almond, Almond, Almond.
Then go for a walk in Russian Hill. I'm nut sure they accept credit card, cash is safer. I haven't tried all the flavors, but I'm working on it.
Nothing special, I've had a lot better elsewhere. Cash only. Don't recommend.
This place is awesome it a must if your in San Francisco, California
Milkshakes & ice cream. Currently closed Mondays and cash only.
*Cash only*
Delicious flavors, nice location. Unfortunately there is nowhere to seat around the shop.
The missing star is because the place didn't look extremely clean.
I love ice cream, and this place's waffle cones ROCK!
Amazing ice cream sundaes!! For three people, we got two sundaes: The Saddleback Brownie and the Cookie Connection. Once we saw them come in, we knew we had made a mistake. The ice cream sundaes are huge - 1 sundae is probably enough for 3-4 people.
Delicious. I would recommend trying to chop the peanut butter into smaller chunks.
Quite an interesting experience to be there, good taste, more home taste than the commercial Swensen's franchise one I get in BKK...love it
I was a bit disappointed with our visit. I think I was hoping for the comfortable and happy Swenson's ice cream parlor I remembered as a kid. This place was small with standing room only. The selection of ice cream flavors and items on the menu was very tiny.
I am a long-time customer at Swensen's, and their ice cream is always so good. The quality is always high and consistent. I try to branch out from sticky chewy chocolate to try other flavors, but so far one scoop has to be sticky chewy. It seems that the staff that has been there a while are always friendly. It's kind of hit or miss with the others. It's mostly a teenager job (I remember I wanted to work there when I was a teenager!) and sometimes teens aren't outgoing and friendly. That said, everyone is helpful and polite, serving up the best ice cream in the city, for sure, in the world, probably.
This place seem old and tiny no seat. But their ice cream is awesome
A cute place with simple yet quality ice cream. I had the strawberry and it was exellent. Brings you back to a time of magic quaintness. The place is nice and clean as well. Not ever too crowded or crazy. Again, they don't have flavors you've never heard of, but the pureness of the ice cream is all that is needed to make a memorable cone.
Sooooo good, and nostalgic!! Brings back childhood memories of the swensen's in Napa
Butterscotch candy ice cream; black walnut ice cream...
Ice cream wasn t anything to write home about. Some of the samples had freezer burn.
I've been coming here since I was a child and the ice cream has changed a bit, but it is still delicious. I'm a little disappointed that they removed coconut pineapple from the menu, but the other flavors are just as tasty. Althought it is in a secluded location, I do recommend visiting for the ice cream.
Small ice cream store with no place to sit in the store but it's the very first store that Swensen's started.
First time going inside this place, i ve lived in SF all my life & i ve never had the chance of going to this place til today, thought this place was bigger than it looks, it s a really small ice cream shop, they even have an old school water fountain inside! haven t seen one of does since elementary school! anyway i asked the girl behind the counter what were their best flavored ice creams she gave me samples of the top three but i got the orange chocolate, you can literally taste the orange in this ice cream! when i was inside this place i felt like i was a kid again, it has that nostalgic feeling, too bad there aren t more ice cream shops like these in SF, i really miss does days but at least i have Swensen s hope they never close, this place brings me back to my childhood!
This has been a San Francisco staple for ice cream for generations. If you get a receipt with a red star on it, it means you get an ice cream for free.
With the rise of more boutique ice cream places like Smitten, it's hard to say I'd go out of my way to Russian Hill anymore. If you're in the 'hood though it's worth a try.
The ice cream is fresh and delicious (we had the Fresh Banana which was amazing) and the service is excellent as well. The sign advertises clearly the size of each "small", "single", and "double" cone, but the staff piled our "single" to mammoth proportions!
Definitely give it a try if you are in the area and want something sweet and cold.
Good Ice cream really creamy and also the portion was generous
Good ice cream, small store.their sticky peanut butter was uneven though, huge chunk of peanut butter but very little ice cream and the other scoop was the opposite.
Been going to this store since I was a child. The fresh banana ice cream is a MUST try if you have never had it. You can't go wrong no matter your choice. I once met basketball great Wilt Chamberlin at this store. He rose out of a Rolls Royce and was nice as could be. The ice cream topped off that great memory.
Swensen's is definitely my all-time favorite ice cream place in the city! I have been coming here ever since I was little. My favorite are the black raspberry marble and the marble fudge. The guys who work there are really friendly. The ice cream has a nice thick consistency, and there are tons of flavors to choose from.
HISTORY...
The company started in 1948 by Earle Swensen, who learned to make ice cream while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.[2] Swensen opened his first shop at the corner of Union and Hyde Streets, along the cable car tracks in Russian Hill in San Francisco at what had been a failed ice cream parlor.[3] Although vanilla was his lifelong favorite, he developed more than 150 flavors, which he marketed under the motto "Good as Father Used to Make". The original store sold ice cream and other frozen dessert specialties (such as sundaes and banana splits), with primarily take out service. Later other Swensen's franchisees added indoor seating and offered various types of food, including sandwiches and hamburgers.
Ive been here a few times (every time I come to San Francisco). It's a great stop when I'm walking down the hill after seeing Lombard Street. The ice cream is fantastic and there are a ton of great choices - including many that might not be available elsewhere. A nice treat for anyone!
Fresh icecream. Still has that old store family run vibe.
Standard hard ice cream. Not super expensive for this part of SF but the ice cream is not particularly memorable. Small interior that gets crowded easily.
Just as I remembered it as a kid, except there was no Lychee. Which was delicious!
Simply my favorite ice cream. Swiss orange chip. Get a cone and walk down and back up Lombard Street for an authentic SF experience.
Good classic ice cream. A bit expensive for single scoops. Ice cream here is generally sweeter than other brands.
Ice cream was nice but nothing special. Staff was pretty bored and not overly friendly.
Cash Only.
Absolutely nothing special here. Staff is just a bunch of teens messing around, normal I guess?
I asked the guy who helped me what's a good caramel flavor, and he didn't know what to say other than: " Oh uhh, Caramel Turtle Fudge is pretty popular " that's fine, but I asked what's good not what's popular. Got it, was average. Paid 3.50 for 3oz of normal ice cream.
If you're craving ice cream and in the area sure why not. Otherwise if you want ice cream save yourself the trouble and go buy a TUB of ice cream at a grocery store for better value / taste.
good place for famliy, most flavours are available , worth price quality
Got seriously hooked up on Sticky Peanut Butter Chocolate. Coolest ice creamery)
Best ice cream West of the mississippi...maybe the whole country
I would give this place 5 stars if they took credit cards. That's the only thing I hold against this shop.
Other than having limited ways to pay, the ice cream was awesome. Check out their security camera, it's huge. They also have a drinking fountain or something inside the shop. I liked the theme.
Great ice cream place - the sticky peanut butter is like eating an ice cream version of a reeses peanut butter cup
Cash only
Good ice cream, but not great. Swensen's is very famous in Asia and will have buses drop off people regularly on the weekend to take photos and get a scoop.
I live next door and am not a frequent customer, but lover of ice cream. I think that says enough about it
Local food, have a chance to eat ice cream when you have the chance
Brings back memories of simpler days. Genuine flavorful ice cream
It doesn't get more awesome than this Russian Hill, San Francisco gem. A real institution that nails it, and doesn't even try. They make their own ice cream on site. They don't take credit cards. They don't have an interior designer. They don't have a flavorist that advises them on which flavors will be on trend in 18 months. They have none of this, except exceptionally delicious, well aerated and turned ice cream, with the correct flavor load, and density, and ingredients your grandmother will know. (Sorry, essence of corn, there is no place for you here.)
They have famous flavors like Vanilla, Rocky Road and the like, but pepper it up with peach, lychee, black cherry, oatmeal, etc. Quick service, and usually packed, but not obnoxiously so. Clients are happy, excited folks from the neighborhood, kids that grew up that want to take their own kids to a fond place, and professionals exploring Swensen's. Enjoy it while it lasts, because ice cream tastes better before it melts.
Walking past and couldn't help but go into Swensen's. It was a magical moment as the sun was setting, enjoying cookies and cream. Perfect.
A very large choice of ice cream in all formats while making the best sanfransisco ice creams at a very affordable price even if it only accepts liquid and there is no seating space which doesn t is not bad either because its forces us to taste while visiting so what more
Food was so delish. The service here is above par. The place has an awesome feel to it.
It was good ice cream but it was in that perfect spot where I didn't want to wait for public transit so it was a heck of a walk. And then the ice cream was just decent.
The Icecream here is great! Worth a visit if you re ever in the area. Just be weary that parking might be difficult to find and that there isn t space to sit down and eat your Icecream inside.
It's ok. Not as good or as inventive as shakedown. Pretty basic ice cream place with no where to sit.
This is one of my favorite spots, I always come here with my children. they have great ice cream at great prices. Their homemade waffle cones are to die for!
Came in right at closing time...they actually had the door locked but the employees allowed us in as the last customers. Had my friends kid with us so we really appreciated it! My friend had the chewy chocolate and Turkish coffee while I had the black raspberry marble (which was recommended by he employee). All 3 were amazing but the best one, for me, was the marble.
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