Everyone deserves a treat from time to time. Thankfully, San Diego has a handful of dessert spots that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
From cake flavors in mason jars to southern-style peach cobbler, these sweet shops are taking the San Diego food scene by storm. So grab a date and check out these best charming shops in town.
Gelato Paradiso
Located within Seaport Village, this cozy wood-paneled dessert shop offers gourmet flavors of Italian gelati & sorbetto made in-house. It has everything from Sicilian pistachio to mint chip and noci di Sorrento to summery sorbet flavors like green apple and peach.
If you’re looking for a unique gift, give the lucky recipient a Gelato Paradiso gift card! It’s delivered in a personalized greeting card and can be redeemed at one of their locations or online. Alternatively, you can purchase one of their gift baskets and have it shipped to their door or sent via Grubhub. Their staff is friendly and dedicated, so you can count on them to make your experience unforgettable! They also have a great selection of drinks and cocktails, so you can indulge in some Italian flair without leaving the comfort of your home.
Incredible Cheesecake Co.
This sweet dessert shop offers a wide selection of cheesecakes in dozens of flavors. The desserts are made using classic techniques and quality ingredients and taste delicious. It’s a great place to stop when you’re craving a slice of cheesecake in San Diego.
Eli Schulman’s father opened the business based on his recipe, but he wanted to uphold that tradition by creating a modern business built around production and distribution. The company recently partnered with coffeehouses, airlines, and counter-service restaurants to bring their delicious desserts to customers who might not otherwise be able to purchase them. The result is a win-win situation for everyone involved. This is also a great place to try one of their Grandma’s Cheesecake Sandwiches, a cheesecake wrapped in two soft-baked cookie wafers.
Cousin’s Sweets
When it comes to candy, Cousin’s Sweets in Old Town is a must-visit. They’re famous for their homemade fudge but also have an impressive selection of taffy and other old-school treats.
They’re located in the heart of Old Town, and you can easily spend a few hours wandering the aisles of this confectionary wonderland. It’s not only one of the best places to shop for candy, but they have a fun ambiance that will leave you feeling like you’ve been transported back in time.
Having a plethora of options to choose from is the name of the game here, and the staff does their part to make sure you’re happy with your purchase. If you’re not in the mood for a sugar rush, many other local treats, including gourmet coffee and artisan bread, keep you busy.
Sugarfina Sweets
Sugarfina Sweets is a luxury candy boutique for grown-ups that uses gourmet ingredients worldwide. Rosie O’Neill and Josh Resnick started Sugarfina in 2012 after realizing there were no candy stores for adults who still love sweets.
They sell gummies and chocolates in pretty Lucite boxes, an excellent choice for gift-giving. They also have bento-style candy boxes that are perfect for festively presenting treats.
They also have cocktail-inspired gummies, like Champagne Bears (made with Dom Perignon) and Birthday Cake Caramels. And for a little more adult-themed fun, they’ve got Martini Olive Almonds and “Green Juice” Gummy Bears.
TikTok Sweets
TikTok has become a popular app for teenagers to create dance, comedy, singing, and lip-sync videos. It has 700 million monthly active users and 2 billion app downloads.
The platform has a diverse, authentic, multigenerational audience that brands highly desire. Having products that align with the audience and using TikTok’s storytelling potential (making funny videos playing with candy, for example) are crucial to marketing success.
One San Diego-based candy store owner, Nema Causey, claims that her store would have gone under without the viral videos she posted on TikTok. She and her brother began filming themselves inside their candy-filled isles and posting 15-to-90-second videos on TikTok three to four days a week.
