We found Daily Recess on Yelp and decided to give it a try while we were visiting the area, and we're so glad we did! The ice cream was absolutely delicious, and all of the flavors we sampled were fantastic. It was hard to choose a favorite because each one was so good. The staff was exceptionally friendly and made the experience even more enjoyable. Since it's located in the mall, there was plenty of seating in the food court, making it a relaxing place to sit and enjoy our treats. If you're looking for a great ice cream spot on a warm day, definitely check out Daily Recess. We'll absolutely be back the next time we're in the area! read more

So glad we found this place! Outstanding gelato, creative, delicious flavors, & wonderful service. We tried pistachio, ricotta honey walnut, blueberry buttermilk, & orange blossom dip de latte. All were excellent. We'll be back! read more

While Northgate seems to be slowly dying, there are few signs of life and Daily Recess is one of the reasons to still visit! On a hot afternoon, I decided to swing by for a gelato based on a past great experience. Sadly, Daily Recess is one of the last storefronts open in the Northgate food court. They have a rotation of unique flavors as well as standard classics like vanilla and chocolate. For example, when I went they were doing Girl Scout Cookie flavors! While I sampled a few flavors, I went ahead with the Thin Mint (4.5/5) which reminded me of a mint chip with a clean minty flavor and pieces of thin mint, and Pistachio (5/5) which had a strong pistachio flavor that wasn't too sweet. Surprisingly, the combination even tasted really great together. The service was super friendly. Parking is plenty available in the mall parking. Because it is one of the few spots open at Northgate, there is plenty of open seating but you can just as easily walk around the (empty) mall. Daily Recess offers great tasting gelato that is worth the visit! Such a great ice cream shop that I hope is able to stay open for awhile! read more

Daily Recess - Double Scoop with Thin Mint and Pistachio - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

This place is currently tucked away at the Nortgate Mall in San Rafael. I tasted both the dark chocolate and summer peach flavors, and opted for the peach flavor. The summer peach had the perfect blend of sweet and tart flavors, which is something that I gravitate towards. When I first took a bite, it just reminded me of summer, especially on this beautiful warm day in the Bay Area. I had the chance to talk to the owner, and he said that his ice creams were all organic too. If you are in the area and looking for a tasty gelato shop with seasonal flavors, come on down to this place. read more

Daily Recess - Summer peach - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Absolutely amazing gelato! Every flavor I've tried has been delicious, and I love that they keep things fresh with unique flavors on rotation. You can enjoy it in so many fun ways too.. cup, waffle cone, brownie cookie ice cream sandwich, affogato, choco taco, or even take home a pint. The employees are very helpful and friendly when tasting samples to help choose a flavor. It's currently a pop-up in the old Northgate mall food court, actually the only spot still open in that section. There's plenty of seating in the food court indoors or tables and chairs right outside the mall. I really hope they land a permanent location soon because this is definitely a place I want to keep coming back to. Highly recommend checking them out while you can! read more

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I found myself in the area and wanted a sweet treat, and found Daily Recess on Yelp. Glad I stopped by! Although it's in a dying mall, that didn't stop the owner from being really friendly while we tried out flavors. I landed on the strawberries and cream flavor and my boyfriend got the Chocotaco (he's a chocotaco fanatic). We both loved the textures of our ice cream, and the Chocotaco especially was crunchy despite it being premade! You can tell a lot of love goes into the ice cream that's made on-site. read more

Daily Recess - Strawberries and cream flavor - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

so creamy and delightful and amazing service! I can't wait to come back for more flavors next month!

I happened to be in the area and was craving a sweet treat! Perfect stop for a ice cream! Loved the customer service and the variety in unique flavors! read more

Daily Recess - Menu - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Tasty gelato that's located in a very dead mall. I can't wrap my head around why such a delicious gelato place is in this location. We got the Dubai chocolate and blueberry cheesecake. Both were delicious and complimented each other well. The blueberry cheesecake provided fresh notes of blueberry and rich cheesecake. The Dubai chocolate one was richer and very flavorful. We would definitely come here again but wish it was in a different location. read more

Daily Recess - Blueberry cheesecake and Dubai chocolate - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

I think this is the best ice cream in Marin and as a native New Englander, I fancy myself something of an expert (we eat more ice cream per capita than any other region and our best ice cream spots are on dairy farms). The flavors are so enticingly gourmet (ricotta fig jam! Pumpkin latte!) and grown up, with enough kid appeal to satisfy everyone (malted milk chocolate and cookies!) I love that you can pick two flavors even for a small. I especially loved the eggnog gelato. You can tell the ingredients are high quality and everything is homemade. And be sure to try the fresh waffle cones! read more

Daily Recess - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

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One of the best Gelato I've had in awhile! I got one of the seasonal flavors eggnog mixed with the white chocolate cranberry and omg it was so delicious I'm still thinking about it to this day. This shop is located at the NorthGate mall, however they definitely need to move some where else so they can get more foot traffic in cause i wouldn't have found this place if it wasn't for yelp. The service we received was so friendly and they let my boyfriend and i try all the flavors we wanted with no rush. I definitely will be back to try more flavors. read more

Daily Recess - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

Amazing creative ice cream that belongs on everybody's radar . It's in an odd abandon mall but worth visiting especially the cherry fudge flavor and all the fresh flavors. read more

Limited but creative flavors, the yuzu vanilla was creative and delicious! Give them a try!

GREAT gelato! I wish we lived closer, but that also means that would be dangerous! We tried a couple flavors: yuzu & vanilla, thin mint, and pistachio All were good, but the pistachio won my heart - so so good! The owner was super friendly! Will be back to try more flavors! The flavors are refreshed on a monthly basis. read more

They have handmade cones that taste phenomenal. Flavors rotate on a regular basis, and they offer tastings so you can always be sure you get the flavor you want. They also offer sorbet flavors as nondairy options. Very clean and fun atmosphere. Staff are always friendly and willing to explain the flavors. Please come support them so they can find a long-term home! read more

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The woman at the counter was so nice, thank you for suggesting and offering samples. Dark chocolate with sea salt and buddhas hand were so good! Def recommend. Hope you get an even better location soon! read more

Daily Recess - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

Delicious gelato, great service, 10/10 recommend. They made gelato using thin mints from a local Girl Scout troop and it's so good, you'll have to get some to go. read more

Daily Recess - Thin mint and dark chocolate (dairy free) sea salt in a waffle cone. Will leave you wanting more - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

Was looking for a place to stop for ice cream (preferably gelato) on the way home from a day in SF. Daily Recess came up and, despite thinking there was nothing in Northgate Mall anymore, we decided to stop by. So glad we did! This is a great little pop-up shop that serves amazing gelato and sorbet. Unique and incredibly delicious flavors that rotate each month. This place is run by a couple looking to find a permanent home somewhere in Marin. Stop by and support this business so we can keep them local!!! read more

Stopped in today because I wanted a little pick me up. & wow, this affogato was absolutely delicious. The owners are always the sweetest and recognized us coming back! We have fallen in love with this place and cannot wait to continue to support this small business and try new flavors! It's in the food court in the mall and the bright neon signs pull you in. If you're ever in the area, I think you'll truly love this gelato shop. All ingredients are local and found in the farmers market. read more

Daily Recess - affogato with vanilla gelato! - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

Was looking for an ice cream place in the area and found daily recess gelato. I was thankful for the sign outside the door to help me find the store. Parking was easy. Once you go through the doors, it's easy to find the place. The lady was really nice and gave us samples to figure out which flavors to get. I only wanted one, but the flavors too good to just get one. The bathrooms at Northgate are clean and love how's there's a family room with a little toilet for the kids. There's plenty of seating! The mall is a little dead but love the space and how there's kids/families there. read more

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​Growing up in San Rafael in the 80s, Northgate Mall used to be the place to hang out. Unfortunately, the property has seen better days. While I've moved out of the area, my parents still live in my childhood home, so I visit fairly often. Over the years, I've driven by the mall without giving it a second thought, as the shops of my youth have closed down. Thankfully, I have a new reason to visit Northgate. Since Daily Recess opened in the fall, I make sure to stop by for a sweet treat after visiting my parents (IYKYK). All of the gelato flavors are available for sampling and are made with fresh ingredients, many of them sourced from one of the local Farmers' Markets. While there is the classic Vanilla flavor, Daily Recess puts a different spin on the rest of their offerings, like Ricotta & Fig Jam, Peanut Butter & Chocolate Pretzels and Maple & Waffles. They also offer seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Swirl Cheesecake, Pomegranate Sorbet, and Tangerinesicle. So far, my favorites have been Brown Butterscotch & Pecan, Malted Milk Chocolate & Nibs, Apple Cider and Melon. And always served on one of their handmade waffle cones (less trash, sometimes more mess). While the relics of my childhood are slowly vanishing with the passage of time, I can still reclaim a memory of my past with a sweet treat from Daily Recess. At least, it helps with the drive back to the East Bay. read more

All I have to say is wow! This place has such amazing flavors I will definitely be coming back. My favorite flavor was the Blood Orange, I am still craving it. Every flavor I tried was very good and I like how they switch flavors pretty often! The person who helped us was very nice and informative. The only thing I would say is that it is not in a good location, it would be better off in town center in Corte madera or even any high traffic shopping centers. This place has incredible potential. read more

Daily Recess - Blood orange gelatin and tangerine cream - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

This is AMAZING gelato!! Just came here with my kids after roller skating. My daughter's exact words were: "this is the best chocolate sorbet in the whole world!" And it really was. We also had the orange flower which was like a sweet cream with a hint of orange essence, and it went really well combined with the strawberry! My husband LOVED the pistachio, it's real pistachio! You can taste the high quality ingredients. Soooooo good, so fresh, can't wait to come back! The owner is really really nice too! read more

Great gelato, great service. Had a cup of the blood orange hibiscus sorbet with the dark chocolate sea salt sorbet. The sorbets were flavorful and had nice texture. We also tried the banana stracciatella and matcha gelato, also good flavor and texture. Can't see the shop from the street or parking lot because it's in the empty mall, but that just means plenty of seating and space to enjoy a cold treat. Would definitely come back. read more

Oh my goodness I'm so happy we stopped here. THIS is what gelato should taste like. Our first sample was so compelling, we ordered a couple singles and a pint to go. We can't wait to come back! read more

Stopped by to try something new and purchased the pomegranate rose sorbet for my sister. It was absolutely delicious! The rose flavor really stood out and the scoop was the perfect size. I'm glad that we were able to taste samples and the lady behind the counter was so informative and kind. The food court was brightly lit and there weren't many people but it was nice and clean. read more

Daily Recess - Pomegranate Rose Sorbert - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

This is a new business in the food court at Northgate Mall. The owners are very nice and they have some incredible flavors of gelato and sorbet. Apparently, the flavors change on a regular basis and they make their products on-site. I got a small with two flavors. I ordered the first two flavors I sampled. One was a banana and chocolate (?) flavor and the other was coconut / passion fruit. Both were amazing. This is probably not the best location for this business because the mall will be going through some major construction in the coming years. I suggested that they look in Novato because we need a great gelato place there. If you are ever in Terra Linda and are looking for a sweet treat, check out Daily Recess. I will be back. read more

They're in the once bustling Northgate Mall food court, the only one there, but don't let that discourage you. Their gelato is fantastic, with flavors that change every month. The flavors are interesting and very tasty, and they have a couple of sorbets also. They make their product on-site, and they're super friendly. read more

Little ice cream shop that's oddly suited for a stop with the kids. They have non-dairy options. The defunct mall location means parking is easy and you have ample seating options (indoor and out) along with a play space close by. Perhaps, most importantly, there is a kid-friendly sink area nearby for washing up before and after. And the ice cream is goood! read more

Delicious dark chocolate sea salt sorbet. Dairy free! I can't wait to come back and try the chocolate taco. And the kids loved theirs too! read more

The gelato i got was the matcha strawberry swirl and it was good! Very smooth! The staff was very friendly too! Their flavors change every month read more

Great gelato and inventive flavors! It's completely worth a detour to the Northgate Mall (inside at the old food court behind the Home Goods), whether you're a local or passing through. read more

Very delish and great service. I recommend the vanilla x3 on these sunny days, thanks for coming to my local farmers market! read more

Daily Recess - Vanilla x3 - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

Delicious ice cream and waffle cone, unique flavors. I had the saffron pistachio - it was yummy!

Delicious gelato and great service. Loved the chocolate and cocoa nibs flavor probably the most. But the pumpkin cheesecake was also amazing. Also liked the brown butterscotch pecan. The hot chocolate comes with a marshmallow cream top browned with a butane torch- quite the presentation. Will be back! read more

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My wife read about Daily Recess while browsing NextDoor (where she also stumbled into Bubbala's in Red Hill shopping center in San Anselmo) - subject of a subsequent review.) Daily Recess is located in the Northgate Mall food court, where only Sbarro's is a direct neighbor. From the moment the owner kindly and warmly greeted us, to the dynamite flavor combinations, and finally when we sat down to taste our choices (you can combine two in a single), our taste buds shouted out "finally, damned good gelato." In the all the year's I've been in the Bay Area, I've only had one comparable product, a place that's now closed in Walnut Creek. My choices were brown butterscotch pecan and ricotta/fig jam, while my wife opted for the pomegranate and melon/lemon/thyme. It didn't take long for both of us to stare at one another and realize something special is going down here. This gelato is just fantastic. The combinations were sometimes unique but completely worked; no flavor overpowered the other. The consistency is spot-on; the gelato canisters are covered (best gelato practice) and thus there are no huge mounds of artificially colored gelato bulging out of the canister. The thyme in my wife's gelato was actually really thyme...there was a tiny piece of it. The ricotta/fig jam is arguably one of the most joyous gelato or ice cream flavors I've had; I just don't how to describe it. All the essences, sweet or savory, balanc Northgate Mall is going through a bit of mini-renaissance that largely targets kids right now (in the transition between what was and what will be, whenever that happens), and there's some buzz on the weekends here not only with families, but many of us who might not visit a mall like this at all except for the innovations that can surprisingly pop up. Daily Recess - what a concept. Check it out - we will certainly return very soon. read more

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Very nice owner and incredible gelato!! 11/10 experience. Got the triple vanilla flavor, happy we stopped by. read more

Daily Recess - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

Recently had Daily Recess do the dessert catering for an event for work, and man did they ever deliver! We ordered three tubs, with 4 different flavors (they can do half tubs, to allow for more flavors!). The gelato was a huge hit with everyone in the office. They provided dairy free and gluten free options to make sure that nobody was excluded. The pricing was definitely good - I'm not accustomed to reasonable pricing anywhere these days, so when I got the invoice I was pleasantly surprised. Can't say enough about Daily Recess or the great folks that run it! read more

Glad we have this gelato open in the mall. I recommend the egg nog and white chocolate (forgot what it was called). They are happy to give you a sample. I like to treat myself after work and walk around the mall. read more

Daily Recess - Egg nog and peppermint - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

My husband and I love Daily Recess for its delicious gelato in all kinds of creative flavors. So far our favorite is the red velvet cake gelato that has real pieces of cake in it and tastes a little like cream cheese. It completely blew our minds! We want to try all the flavors since each is more tempting than the next. We also enjoy the friendly woman who works at the counter. You can ask for two flavors in the cup, even for a small serving. We haven't tried the afogato, but hope to do so soon. Make sure to check the hours since they are not open every day and also note that they do not take cash, only cards. read more

Daily Recess - The red velvet cake flavor, wow! - Gelato Near Me - San Rafael, California

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