The Penny Ice Creamery | Downtown Santa Cruz

Penny ice cream is a great ice cream chain in the santa cruz area. Definitely sample all their flavors before ordering. The 3 scoops for $1 more seems like the best seal of them all if ur not full. Their cone is super nice and crunchy. We got their cranberry sorbet and verve coffee which was a great individually. Nice and crunchy coffee flavor with chocolate chips. The sorbet was not too sweet which made it a nice flavor for the holidays. Parking might be hard outside but easy in the nearby area Definitely recommend for anyone in the area!

Stumbled on this little oasis while walking the ‘mean streets’ of Santa Cruz. All kinds of flavors and friendliness here. Wouldn’t surprise me to see a banana slug flavor! There’s outdoor seating to enjoy your cone or cup in the sun. My kid loved his double dark chocolate. Grok says: The Penny Ice Creamery is a beloved artisan ice cream shop in Santa Cruz, California, renowned for crafting small-batch ice cream, sorbets, and treats entirely from scratch using local, organic, and seasonal ingredients sourced from nearby farmers, ranchers, and foragers. Founded in 2010 by chef Kendra Baker—a UCSC alum with a passion for sustainable, farm-fresh desserts—and her partner Zachary E. Davis, it’s the only ice creamery in Santa Cruz (and one of the few in Northern California) with its own on-site

I stopped by Penny Ice Creamery on a Saturday evening and had a great experience! We ordered the Dark Chocolate and Honey Walnut Yogurt Jam ice creams -- both were delicious. Each scoop comes topped with a house-made toasted marshmallow, which was a fun and tasty touch I'd never had before. What's also great is that you can sample as many flavors as you like before deciding -- and the options rotate daily, so there's always something new to try. The vibe was relaxed, and the staff was friendly. If you're in the area and craving something sweet with a twist, definitely give this place a try. I'd happily come back!

The ice cream in itself is good, but prices are crazy. We asked for the smallest size for our toddler who can never finish his cup, and we ended up paying $7 for the “mini cup” (a tiny cup filled in half!) whereas the huge scoop with a waffle cone was $8!! See picture

Came on a quiet Saturday afternoon. Unfriendly staff Got a triple, but the ice cream honestly did not taste like the 4.5 star rating. (Overrated?) Got the apple sorbet, sweet potato, and bitter caramel.