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    Dippin' Dots

    3.4 (157 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 6:00 PM

    Dippin' Dots Photos

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    Cookies and cream / rainbow ice
    Nick G.

    This place is awesome aside from the pricing. It's very overpriced for what you get a small is $7, medium is $9, large is $11. The flavors are great, but for the amount you get at that price point it's just not worth it. You'd be better off getting Marianne's ice cream at a cheaper price and it's top tier for a larger portion. The service is great and the ambiance is very dated. I wouldn't really recommend coming here unless you just want this for a nostalgic experience. The pricing is just too inflated.

    Inside layout
    Corinna T.

    My husband discovered there was a Dippin' Dots storefront in Monterey prior to our visit here so we had to check it out! After our eventful day at the Monterey Bay Aquarium this was a nice treat for our family. The storefront was located not far from the aquarium and sure enough had plenty of flavors like you'd see in a normal ice cream shop. Two of our kids got Rainbow Ice & Cherry & Blue Razz Ice combined and our toddler birthday girl got the Frozetti Dough. Flavors were just as tasty and authentic to what you'd get at a Dippin' Dots stand. Pricing is comparable to what you'd see in theme parks too and worth it. Knocking off one star because this is not wheelchair or stroller friendly. Speaking as someone who was previously disabled and had our toddler in her stroller during our visit. There were at least 10+ steps so heads up to future customers.

    Jessica G.

    I meannn, it's Dippin' Dots right? If you're looking to just get your dippin' dots fix in, this place gets the job done. I've always loved that it's an actual store for dippin' dots. Howeverrrr, that's pretty much all there is to this store. Besides, the actual dippin' dots ice cream, the ambiance is pretty dark and dreary. While the art and decor on the walls are cool to look at, it does look pretty overdue for an upgrade. Even the chairs/tables look like they could use a refresh. It was silent when we got there, no one was really inside and no music was playing. I will say, the staff was quick to help once we came in so that was great. We were in and out in maybe 5 minutes. Price wise, your smallest dippin' dots scoop will go for $7 - a little pricey for ice cream in my opinion but I guess you're also paying for the dippin' dots specialty ice cream. I was also expecting more flavors available but they basically had the regular flavors you can get at mall kiosks with the addition of a new hawaiian flavor. They also offer Marianne's Ice Cream here if you'd rather have the classic ice cream experience. If you've never had dippin' dots before, definitely check it out and give it a try! My go-to is the banana split. It's a novelty unique experience you'll enjoy. Enjoy it at the store, or take it down to the beach.

    Diana R.

    Stopped by here a few days ago. We poked our heads in that other ice cream place but the line was way to long. We happened across this place, so we stopped in. They have a good selection of Dip N Dot ice cream and a small selection of Marianne's ice cream. Oddly enough they didn't have chocolate, but we found something we each liked anyway. The decor on the walls are cute, but the walls could use a fresh coat of paint. The price is probably a third of the other ice cream place. No warm and fuzzy atmosphere, but if you want a sweet treat without the high price tag, this is your place.

    Flavors during February 2024
    Katy Z.

    One of my childhood memories of coming to Monterey are going to the aquarium, getting food at Bubba Gump and getting a snack at Dippin' Dots. I am so glad it is still here even after who knows how long. It's been a while since I had Dippin' Dots because the only real other place you can get them now seems to be at random outlet malls in a vending machine :/. I originally came on Saturday of President's weekend at 7:15pm. However, it was already closed even though Google and Yelp both said it would be open til 8pm. A bit disappointing considering this place was one that I wanted to check off with my boyfriend since he has NEVER tried it. I know shocking, how is that even possible? Anyways, we decided to give it another try after our day at the aquarium on Sunday afternoon and it was OPEN! The interior looks exactly like what I remember it to be some 15 years ago. It could be a bad thing or a good thing in people's eyes, but I considered it as a staple that people should try at least once even if it looks a little dated. There were maybe 10+ tables for those that would like to sit and enjoy their tasty treat. There are 3 sizes to choose from small ($6.75), medium ($8.75), and large ($11). Flavors available while I was there included: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, mint chip, rainbow, cookies n' cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, cotton candy, candy cane ice cream, banana split, rainbow ice, and Fozeti dough (not sure what that was). Besides Dippin' Dots, they also have Marianne's ice cream as well. We both got a small cup, I got half mint chip and half chocolate cookie dough and he got banana split. Eating these Dippin' Dots brings back so many happy memories and taste exactly how I remember it. The mint was what you expected it to be and the chocolate cookie dough was basically vanilla dots with cookie dough bits. The banana split, even before taking a bite, you can smell the aroma of the banana. He said it was the ice cream version of fruity pebbles except banana. I considered this a win in my book. FYI, the girl working said that you can choose up to two flavors per a cup. Considering there aren't many places that sell Dippin' Dots anymore, I would definitely recommend others give this place a try. I know if I am back in town, I would definitely be stopping by again!

    Catherine N.

    Typical dippin' dots store! Had all the options I wanted to have and three different sizes. The largest size was $11 which I think is a little pricey. I love dippin' dots and this place was right next to the Monterey Bay Aquarium! The service was quite fast, there was only one employee there when we came in and there were no other customers. The ambiance definitely gave off oldies vibes to me. Some of their chairs were dirty though.

    My order
    Oliver G.

    This Dippin' Dots location is super awesome. I used to come here all the time whenever my friends and I went into Monterey for the day back in high school and the vibe inside is really nice, with cool historical stuff on the walls and good seating. The staff is almost always incredibly friendly and the selection of flavors is great. On top of that it's in a great location, being so close to other places to visit like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Lovers Point. Whenever I come through Monterey I almost always make sure to stop by.

    Michelle D.

    We really love Dippin' Dots so we were super happy to see one next to the Starbucks when we were leaving the aquarium to walk back to the parking garage. $6 each for 3 regular dippin dots is really not bad and we will definitely be making this a tradition now ;) I am a banana split loyalist, but my daughter tried cookie dough and that was tasty too. Employees didn't seem very enthused or happy because they didn't smile or welcome us, (just asked "what do you want"?), but other than that my only small complaint was that the record player looked pretty gross upon walking in like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Still , for such a treat we left very happy.

    Offerings
    Kristine F.

    Yum! We love Dippin' Dots! Ecstatic it was located right on Cannery Row and it was open before we went to the Aquarium. I read lots of reviews saying the shop was closed during normal business hours, and that employees weren't the nicest. Not the case during my visit-- the two ladies were polite and did their job right. We ordered two mediums and a small, pricey at $7.50 & $5.50 each, but cryogenically freezing little bits of perfectly rotund ice cream dots is costly. Nostalgia of my youth and missing Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during the pandemic all at once! Alas, seems like Mint Chocolate has been replaced by plain mint with Oreo cookie pieces. Not the same without the chocolate ice cream dots. Good thing I also got half banana split. So good! For some reason, I thought the banana tasted like pineapple for a minute. Go in when it's open! Never know when they'll close early. Flavors available when I dropped by late September: Banana Split Mint Oreo Cookie Crunch Vanilla Chocolate Brownie Batter Cotton Candy Rainbow Ice (like popsicles) Chocolate chip cookie dough Cookies n Cream Oreo Birthday Cake *Note: I found prepackaged single serving containers at Candy World at the front of Old Fisherman's Wharf in case you need an even pricier Dippin' Dots fix (we got some again before leaving Monterey).

    Daniela A.

    I always forget that we have a Dippin' Dots in cannery row, Great spot to head after the aquarium, They have a variety of flavors they also sale marianne's ice cream ! the girls at the front are always very nice. I love the vintage decor , even tho it does look a bit on the older side lol Parking is tricky here because cannery row is always busy. But come November it's usually a ghost town in cannery row

    Large banana split $10
    Emily W.

    Was so excited to see that there was a dippin' dots store that had actual bowls and not the vending machine pack types. I got a large bowl of banana split. Tastes just like it does everywhere else you can buy dippin' dots. Pretty pricy at $10 but I think still better pricing than most amusement parks/tourist attractions.

    Adelina P.

    The service was great they were nice and the Dippin dots were great it was nice in there and was very clean and colorful this was an amazing place it was more expensive then the amusement parks but it still was big and was really good

    View from counter to entrance
    Tiffany K.

    Right in the heart of Cannery Row, you can't miss this ice cream spot. Walk up some stairs, not too far from the Aquarium, and you'll see the counter serving nothing but Dippin' Dots. They do not serve regular ice cream here. Rather than focus on taste, I was trying to figure out how they make these Dippin' Dots. Is it dripped in liquid nitrogen? I later found out that they are indeed cryogenically produced this way. Crazy I tell ya. They have so many flavors and it was the first time (*gasp*) that I had tried this amazing concoction of frozen sweetness. This ice cream is not the velvety texture of your childhood, think more like cold and tasty melty bean bag beads ha ha. Samples of these ice cream beads are served in small plastic cups. Apparently there are 2,000 dots in a 5 oz cup. Decor is 50s themed and service is friendly. I don't recall how many flavors they have here but daughter was going crazy as their were flavors that she had never seen before!

    One of the tiniest most expensive scoops of mediocre ice cream I've ever bought.  Literally a half scoop.

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    4 months ago

    We love stopping in and trying the unique flavors we can't find other places. There's other plenty of seating. Service is friendly.

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    4 years ago

    The kids loves their ice cream. It is within walking distance to our hotel and everything else.

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    This place is not for kids. They fill the cup to the rim, no lids, huge spoons letting it all spill out. Terrible service.

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    3 years ago

    Not many ice cream flavors. The service was pretty quick, no complaints. Pretty casual ice cream place, nothing extraordinary.

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    Revival Ice Cream

    Revival Ice Cream

    4.4
    (1.6k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    my bf and i wanted to finish dinner with a sweet treat, and revival ice cream had been on my bucket…read morelist when i was planning my monterey trip. i think the ice cream definitely lived up to the hype! we got the single scoop of the award-winning bee's knees flavor in a waffle cone, and i really appreciate how the worker packed the ice cream into the cone. the bee's knees flavor itself was so yummy and perfectly sweet with the crunchiest honeycomb mixed into the ice cream! it had no beesknees being that good hahaha the cone was a bit burnt tho i'd say, but it still tasted good with the ice cream. parking is all street parking here, so beware that you may have to park further out and walk over. the line can get pretty long but i feel like it moves pretty fast. also, they don't offer free samples here unfortunately but they are willing to replace your ice cream if you don't like your flavor. overall, a really yummy ice cream spot in monterey!!

    Second time visit to this shop in the past few years…read more Ice cream quality is solid here-- definitely the award winning bee's knees is worth trying. Outside of that they have a lot of good flavors to try from-- this time I got the apple pie and something else that I don't quite remember at this moment. Both had the impression of being delicious, but nothing extremely life changing. Service is helpful here! They don't offer samples, but will offer to swap out if you don't like your initial pick. Otherwise, they are quick to churn through a long line, so don't be discouraged by the length of line! It's long only because people in front of you are taking a while to decide. In the shop itself, there are a handful of counter seats, and some tables outside, but if you happen to catch yourself on a Monterey day with the marine layer in, then you'll probably want to stay inside so you're not eating cold in the cold.

    Photos
    Double scoop of dairy-free Bee's Knees and Apple Pie with gluten-free waffle cone
    Double scoop of dairy-free Bee's Knees and Apple Pie with gluten-free waffle cone
    Bees Knees with Toasted Marshmallow topping
    Bees Knees with Toasted Marshmallow topping
    Bees Knees

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    Bees Knees
    ALTA Bakery & Cafe

    ALTA Bakery & Cafe

    4.2
    (959 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Very cool and hip cafe in old town Monterey. I think it is in a historic building as it totally…read morelooks like a Spanish Mission era type of building. Super open and airy, there's a separate room off to the side with some haphazardly laid out tables and seats. The main retail area is pretty busy with people lined up placing orders/waiting for an order, or people fixing up their coffee drinks. Now even though I took my goods to-go I had to go out to their patio to find a restroom. That outdoor area is totally cool, totally out in the open but you're like in a square inside a fort, surrounded by walls, so you can't see any street action. But you're totally open to roam in here from the street. Next time I'm in this area, I'm definitely gonna make time to chill on that patio. Cold Brew ($6.50/5*) Perfect to my taste, smooth and mellow on the roast. Pricey for a small cup but this is a touristy area. Banana Bread Slice ($5.25/4*) Very thick slice. Super soft yet moist in the center but firmer and more well done on the edges. Pretty dark in color, maybe some cocoa powder went in but there were also tiny hits of dark chocolate throughout. Mild natural banana flavor, wished it were stronger but that's me. Blue Corn Cookie ($5/5*) Never had a cookie like this before but I was pretty impressed. Kinda like a cornbread but made into the texture of a good cookie, so it was crisp and buttery on the bottom and moist and chewy in the center. All whilst having a pronounced corn meal flavor and texture. Major props for exposing me to something new that I enjoyed immensely. Went great with sips of black cold brew. Most other things in their pastry case seemed a tad fancier than most other regular coffee shops. I'm just glad I was able to run into and choose a more special cafe to end my beautiful trip out in the central coast.

    if there is one thing i ate from monterey bay that i'll be thinking about all the time now, it…read morewould definitely be the salmon croissant from ALTA !!!! i had heard so much about ALTA bakery from online itineraries for monterey bay, and i think this place definitely lives up to the hype! there was a pretty long line out the door, but it moved by really quickly and efficiently with the pastries! the drinks do have a bit of a wait tho, and i personally would not get them again since my bf and i didn't enjoy either the watermelon mint matcha or the cinnamon latte. all you could taste in the watermelon mint matcha was watermelon LOL and the latte didn't taste like anything special. i would skip out on these and just enjoy the pastries. speaking of the pastries, every single one was soooo yummy! my clear favorite is definitely the salmon croissant, which was so perfectly flakey and crispy and buttery with a good amount of cream cheese and smoked salmon inside. i also loved the everything seasoning crust on the croissant that went well with the salmon. 10/10, will be dreaming about it all the time now. i also really enjoyed the raspberry sweet bun, which was so soft and pillowy and had a nice tanginess from the raspberry! the pistachio-rose swirl was also really yummy and reminded me of a cinnamon roll in texture, and it was pretty soft and not too sweet. overall, every pastry was a banger and i would love to try the other ones if i'm ever in town again!

    Photos
    Inside the cafe
    Inside the cafe
    Chocolate strudel
    Chocolate strudel
    Mixed berry strudel

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    Mixed berry strudel
    Captain + Stoker

    Captain + Stoker

    4.4
    (965 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    Stopped by Captain + Stoker and really enjoyed it. The matcha latte was DELICIOUS, best matcha yet!…read moreI subbed oat milk and a little vanilla sweetener and it was perfect. Service was quick and friendly, and parking was super easy with plenty of open spots nearby. When I got there there was no line at all, but by the time I left there was a line out the door, which definitely says something. I didn't try the food this time, but everything coming out looked amazing. Looking forward to going back!

    I've always enjoyed coming here. The coffee is consistently great, and that's one of the reasons I…read morecontinue to return. Today's visit was disappointing. I ordered two avocado bowls and requested that two eggs be added to each bowl, for a total of four added eggs, which the cashier repeated back to me to confirm the order. I understood there would be an additional charge for the eggs. Unfortunately, when I got to my destination and opened the containers, each bowl only had one added egg, even though I was charged for a total of four added eggs. The avocado bowls are already on the expensive side, so it's frustrating to pay for something that wasn't provided. I immediately tried calling the café so I could speak with a manager and have the issue corrected, but my call was disconnected, and I wasn't able to reach anyone. I understand that mistakes happen, and I appreciate that the cashier entered the order correctly. My frustration is with the order not being prepared as requested and not being able to reach anyone to resolve the issue. I hope the team can be more attentive to verifying orders before they leave the kitchen and ensure customers have a reliable way to contact someone when there is a problem. I enjoy supporting this business and genuinely hope this feedback helps improve the customer experience.

    Photos
    The ordering counter.  Still nostalgic
    The ordering counter. Still nostalgic
    Iced matcha latte
    Iced matcha latte
    Iced Matcha Latte w/ extra matcha shot, oat milk ($7.50) + Shaken Sesame w/ espresso, housemade black sesame syrup, milk ($6.75)

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    Iced Matcha Latte w/ extra matcha shot, oat milk ($7.50) + Shaken Sesame w/ espresso, housemade black sesame syrup, milk ($6.75)

    Dippin' Dots - icecream - Updated July 2026

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