San Diego County may be known for its sandy beaches and theme parks like SeaWorld San Diego, but this region also has a sweet tooth! A few hours south of Los Angeles, San Diego County boasts a vibrant culinary scene, with plenty of options for freshly made desserts and sweet treats. Whether you’re in the mood for classic American desserts or international specialties, there are so many bakeries, cafes, and restaurants to choose from. From artisanal pies and cakes to gourmet cupcakes and cookies, there is no shortage of delicious dessert options in San Diego County.
Here are some of the best places in San Diego County to satisfy your sweet tooth in this popular tourist destination.
VG Donut & Bakery
Located in Cardiff-by-the-Sea, this family-owned European-style bakery has been serving up fresh donuts, pastries, and cakes since 1969. They offer a wide selection of desserts, including fruit tarts, eclairs, and cupcakes. One of the most popular items at VG Donut & Bakery is its classic glazed donuts, which are made fresh daily using high-quality ingredients. Other popular donut flavors include chocolate glazed, maple bacon, and apple fritter. In addition to donuts, VG Donut & Bakery offers a wide variety of pastries, such as croissants, turnovers, and Danish pastries, as well as freshly baked breads and cakes.
Address: 106 Aberdeen Dr, Cardiff, CA 92007
Extraordinary Desserts
Located in Little Italy, San Diego, Extraordinary Desserts is known for its decadent and visually stunning desserts. This upscale bakery and cafe is known for its beautifully crafted and luxurious desserts that are not only delicious but also visually stunning. Founded by Karen Krasne in 1988, Extraordinary Desserts has become a beloved spot for dessert lovers. The menu at Extraordinary Desserts features an extensive selection of cakes, tarts, pastries, cookies, and more. Each dessert is meticulously crafted with artistic flair, showcasing intricate designs and vibrant colors. The bakery takes pride in using high-quality ingredients, including European chocolates, fresh fruits, and premium ingredients, to create their decadent creations.
Address: 2929 Fifth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92103.
Holy Matcha
Holy Matcha is a trendy and vibrant cafe located in San Diego, known for its focus on matcha-based beverages and Instagram-worthy aesthetics. The cafe offers a menu featuring a variety of matcha-based drinks, including matcha lattes, matcha lemonades, and matcha lattes infused with lavender or rose. They also serve traditional Japanese matcha tea and a selection of non-matcha beverages for those looking for alternatives. Holy Matcha takes pride in sourcing high-quality matcha from Japan, ensuring an authentic and flavorful experience. In addition to their matcha drinks, the cafe offers a small but delightful menu of food options, including matcha-infused pastries, toasts, and bowls. The interior of Holy Matcha is a visual delight, with its iconic pink and green decor, stylish furniture, and charming plant accents. It has become a popular spot for social media enthusiasts and matcha lovers alike, seeking both delicious beverages and a visually captivating atmosphere.
Address: 3118 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104.
EscoGelato
Located in Escondido, this gelato shop is known for serving authentic Italian gelato made with high-quality ingredients, including fresh fruit, nuts, and premium chocolate. The gelato is made in small batches on site, ensuring that each serving is fresh and delicious. EscoGelato offers a variety of delicious gelato flavors, including traditional options like pistachio and chocolate, as well as unique flavors like blueberry cheesecake and honey lavender. Additionally, EscoGelato also serves a variety of baked goods, including cannoli, tiramisu, and cookies.
Address: 122 S Kalmia St, Escondido, CA 92025
The Yellow Deli
Located in Vista, The Yellow Deli is a unique cafe that is part of a chain of delis owned and operated by a religious community called the Twelve Tribes. The menu features a variety of sandwiches, salads, soups, and baked goods, with a focus on healthy, natural ingredients. The Deli makes all their desserts from scratch, including cakes, pies, and pastries. They also offer a variety of teas and coffees to pair with your sweet treat. The decor of the restaurant is warm and welcoming, with a relaxing, earthy feel that matches the natural and organic food they serve. It’s a really cool place to wander around and there are many cool photo-taking spots.
Address: 315 East Broadway, Vista Village, Vista, CA 92084
Le Parfait Paris
Le Parfait Paris is a charming French bakery and cafe located in the heart of the Gaslamp Quarter in downtown San Diego. This delightful establishment captures the essence of a traditional French patisserie, offering a wide range of delectable pastries, desserts, and French-inspired delicacies.
Le Parfait Paris is known for its exquisite selection of macarons, which are small, delicate meringue-based cookies filled with various flavors of ganache, buttercream, or jam. These colorful and flavorful treats are made with precision and attention to detail, resulting in a perfect balance of textures and tastes. From classic flavors like chocolate and vanilla to unique combinations like lavender honey and pistachio raspberry, Le Parfait Paris offers an array of macaron options to please every palate. My kids (and I) love macarons; I’ve found this to be a really family-friendly dessert! Bon appétit!
Address: 555 G St, San Diego, CA 92101.
Andrea’s Truffles
Andrea’s Truffles is a charming chocolate shop in San Diego’s Little Italy. Handmade truffles, crafted with love and precision, are artful creations of high-quality chocolate and delicious fillings. Each truffle is a work of art, meticulously created using high-quality chocolate and a variety of delicious fillings, such as creamy ganache, fruit purees, and nutty pralines. Andrea’s Truffles offers a wide array of flavors to satisfy any chocolate lover’s cravings, including classics like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate, as well as unique combinations like sea salt caramel, lavender honey, and espresso. This inviting boutique is a must-visit for chocolate lovers.
Address: 12925 El Camino Real #J26, San Diego, CA 92130.
The Baked Bear
Located in Encinitas, The Baked Bear serves custom ice cream sandwiches made with fresh-baked cookies, brownies, and waffles that are made to order with customers choosing their own cookie and ice cream flavors to create a unique dessert. The cookies are freshly baked on-site daily, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor. In addition to ice cream sandwiches, The Baked Bear offers a variety of other desserts, including brownies, hot fudge sundaes, and cookie sundaes. They also offer beverages such as coffee, hot cocoa, and milkshakes to complement their desserts. Sounds delish!
Address: 587 South Coast Highway 101, Suite B, Encinitas, CA 92024
Leucadia Donut Shoppe
Located in Encinitas, this donut shop serves up fresh donuts and pastries daily. They offer a wide variety of classic and creative flavors, including glazed, chocolate, jelly-filled, apple fritters, cinnamon twists, old-fashioned, and more. The shop also offers coffee and espresso drinks to pair with the donuts. The donuts are made in small batches throughout the day to ensure that they are always fresh and delicious. Many locals and visitors consider Leucadia Donut Shoppe to be one of the best donut shops in San Diego County.
Address: 1604 N Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, CA 92024
Elizabethan Desserts & The 50’s Cafe
Located in Encinitas, this bakery specializes in handmade pastries, cakes, and pies. They offer a variety of cheesecakes, including classic New York-style and seasonal flavors like pumpkin and eggnog. They only use the finest ingredients like real butter, heavy cream, premium chocolate, and local eggs. You won’t find shortening-based frostings; synthetic dairy-based whipped toppings or commercial mixes in their food.
Address: 114 N El Camino Real, Encinitas, CA 92024
Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream
Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream is a beloved ice cream parlor located in San Diego’s North Park neighborhood. With its retro-inspired decor and cozy atmosphere, it offers a nostalgic experience that takes you back to the classic ice cream shops of yesteryears. Hammond’s prides itself on using only the finest and freshest ingredients to create their delectable ice cream flavors. They make their ice cream in small batches, ensuring exceptional quality and flavor in every scoop. The menu features a wide variety of traditional and inventive flavors, from classics like chocolate and vanilla to unique options like lavender honey, black sesame, and bourbon butter pecan. Whether you prefer a cone, cup, or indulgent sundae, Hammond’s has a variety of options. Additionally, they offer dairy-free and vegan options for those with dietary restrictions.
Address: 3077 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104.
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory was founded in Beverly Hills, California, in 1972. With a location in Carlsbad, The Cheesecake Factory offers a wide selection of decadent cheesecakes, including flavors like tiramisu, Oreo Dream Extreme, and Dulce de Leche Caramel. The Cheesecake Factory has branched out into a national chain, but their cheesecakes are some of the best around. Can’t go wrong with a Lemon Merengue cheesecake! Or a slice of classic New York Cheesecake.
Several locations to choose from:
Address: 2525 El Camino Real, Suite 105 Carlsbad, CA 92008
Address: 200 E. Via Rancho Parkway Suite 370, Escondido, CA 92025
Old California Coffee House and Eatery
Old California Coffee House and Eatery is a cozy cafe located in San Marcos, California. They are known for their homemade pies and cheesecakes, which are made from scratch using quality ingredients. The selection of desserts at Old California Coffee House and Eatery changes regularly, but you can expect to find classic flavors like apple and cherry pie, as well as some unique and seasonal options. Their pies are made with a buttery and flaky crust, filled with delicious fruit fillings, and baked to perfection. The cheesecakes are rich, creamy, and available in various flavors.
Address: 1080 W San Marcos Blvd Ste 176, San Marcos, California, 92078
Twiggs Bakery and Coffeehouse
With two locations in San Diego, Twiggs Bakery and Coffeehouse specializes in a variety of baked goods, including pies and cheesecakes. At Twiggs, you’ll find a range of delectable desserts to satisfy your sweet tooth. Their pie selection varies, but you can typically find classic flavors like pumpkin and pecan, as well as some unique options that change seasonally. Their pies are made with care, using high-quality ingredients and traditional baking techniques, resulting in a perfect balance of flavors and a flaky crust. When it comes to cheesecakes, Twiggs offers a delightful assortment. From classic New York-style cheesecakes to specialty flavors, each slice is rich, creamy, and indulgent. The bakery takes pride in using real butter, heavy cream, premium chocolate, and local eggs. As a result, that every bite is a taste sensation.
Two locations to choose from:
Address: 4590 Park Blvd., San Diego, CA 92116
Address: 2804 Adams Ave, San Diego, CA 92116
Mariposa Ice Cream
Located in San Diego, Mariposa Ice Cream specializes in handcrafted and small batch ice cream. Mariposa’s ice cream has one-third the sugar compared to most store bought ice cream and has half the air! It does not contain eggs nor gluten. Mariposa Ice Cream makes flavorful and creamy ice cream creations.
Address: 3450 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA 92116
The Cravory
The Cravory is a popular cookie shop based in San Diego, known for its innovative and decadent cookie creations. What sets The Cravory apart is its dedication to pushing the boundaries of traditional cookie flavors and combinations. They offer an extensive menu of unique cookie flavors that cater to all tastes and preferences. From classics like chocolate chip and snickerdoodle to more adventurous options like salted caramel cream, and birthday cake, there is a cookie for every palate. The Cravory takes pride in using high-quality ingredients, including real butter, premium chocolate, and other gourmet ingredients. As a result, each cookie is rich, flavorful, and satisfying. They also offer gluten-free and vegan options. The Cravory’s cookies are baked fresh daily. Plus, you can even order custom cookie gift boxes or join their monthly cookie subscription service.
Address: 3960 W Point Loma Blvd, San Diego, CA 92110.
Paris Baguette
Paris Baguette is a Korean bakery that serves a variety of croissants, pastries, bread, and cakes, including Japanese-style cheesecakes and Korean rice cakes. They also have a variety of savory items such as sandwiches, salads, and quiches. Their coffee and tea selection includes espresso drinks, drip coffee, and iced drinks.
Address: 2588 El Camino Real, Carlsbad, CA 92010
Little Cakes Cupcake Kitchen
Located in Vista, specializes in gourmet cupcakes made from scratch using high-quality ingredients. Their cupcakes come in a variety of classic and unique flavors, including red velvet, chocolate peanut butter, and salted caramel. They also offer gluten-free and vegan options. In addition to cupcakes, Little Cakes also serves other desserts like cookies, bars, and cakes. The bakery has a cozy and welcoming atmosphere, making it a great spot to enjoy a sweet treat with friends or family.
Address: 30 Main St #180, Vista, CA 92083
Cream of the Crop
Located in Oceanside, California, Cream of the Crop is a natural food store and farm-to-table cafe known for their organic and locally-sourced products. Their offerings include a selection of artisanal pies, cakes, and gluten-free baked goods. Cream of the Crop’ pies are made from scratch using fresh, seasonal fruits and ingredients, resulting in mouthwatering flavors and flaky crusts. Their menus includes classics like apple and cherry pie to creative combinations like mixed berry and peach. Additionally, their cakes are a true treat, with options like chocolate, vanilla, carrot, and more. Each cake is moist, flavorful, and beautifully decorated. Plus, for those with dietary restrictions, Cream of the Crop also offers gluten-free baked goods.
Address: 2009 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
San Diego County is a haven for dessert lovers, with a wide range of sweet treats to satisfy any craving. From indulgent cakes to artisanal chocolates and handcrafted ice cream, San Diego County has so many sweet options. Whether you’re in the mood for traditional favorites or seeking unique creations, you’ll find something to tickle your taste buds. Explore places like Extraordinary Desserts for exquisite cakes, Le Parfait Paris for delectable French pastries. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Hammond’s Gourmet Ice Cream or with The Cravory’s irresistible cookies. Don’t miss the trendy and Instagram-worthy experience at Holy Matcha. With so many delightful options, San Diego County is truly a dessert lover’s paradise.