Hands down one of my favorite ice cream places I've been to yet. We went on a Friday evening, and there was a good long line, but it went through really quick. The service was really good, and although there's no seating inside, there's a lot outside by the ocean. We got a vanilla ice cream with vanilla sprinkles and one of their hurricanes with butterfinger. It was DELICIOUS. I unfortunately think about this on the regular. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

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Genuinely one of the best ice cream and gelato shops I've ever tried! The flavors were incredibly rich, creamy, and well worth the visit. The price is a little steep for a single scoop, so we decided to order the sampler instead, which was only a few dollars more. It comes with three small scoops, but I actually thought the portions were pretty generous and perfect for sharing between two people. Since they don't offer samples, we went with flavors that sounded the most appealing to us: Cookies & Cream, Toasted Almond Coconut, and Triple Chocolate. Thankfully, all three were delicious, and it was hard to pick a favorite! The ice cream melted pretty quickly in the hot weather, but that's to be expected and didn't take away from how much we enjoyed it. The service was straightforward; nothing particularly memorable, but efficient. The shop itself is small with no indoor seating, and it filled up quickly during the busy time we visited, so it's more of a grab-your-treat-and-go kind of place. Overall, I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the area. The quality of the ice cream makes it well worth the visit! read more

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We arrived on the island and ice cream was the first stop. My niece chose Scoops while I chose another shop down the street. Scoops is super clean, serves gelato, ice cream, soft serve, crepes, and Starbucks. My niece ordered a single scoop of the Chocolate Nutella hazelnut in a cake cone for $8. The prices have gone up since the last Yelpie posted 23 days earlier. The gelato was good, overly sweet for my taste, but the bits of hazelnut gave it a good texture and my niece was in heaven. No shop on the island that I went into offers samples which is strange. The Scoops employee said if we don't like the flavor, she would discard and give us something else. There's no seating inside but it's nice and cool to escape the heat. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Single scoop - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Review #1,086 Posted on 7.8.26 Not sure how I didn't review this place after prior visits to Catalina Island in the past. But here we are after getting some ice cream our 1st night on the Island on Wednesday July 8th. This spot is located right on the main walkway looking at the harbor, boats, beach, ocean, etc. They've got a small little spot and serve ice cream & gelato both to go. The ice cream here is good, and tastes creamy which is how I prefer mine to begin with. The Gelato is excellent as well, with the "Nutella & hazelnut" leading the charge there. Definitely will be back. Good ice cream & quick service. read more

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Came by around 1 pm on a Monday for some ice cream and was helped almost right away. They had regular ice cream as well as gelato and so many flavors! One scoop of ice cream was $7.50, which is on the pricier side but the one scoop was enormous. They also sell other baked good and sweet treats. A huge, gourmet rice crispy treat was $8. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Yummmm!!! We got the 3 scoop sampler and it was the perfect sharing size. We got banana pudding, a pretzel flavor, and butter pecan (my personal favorite). The line was pretty long, but it goes by quickly, they don't allow tasting of the flavors. It was a cute little shop, no seating inside but there were plenty of places to sit outside. read more

We had a day trip to Catalina Island - we grabbed some ice cream and it was perfect. It was a warm day so this was a great little cool off. They had so many flavors to pick from and you could even ask for a shake instead. It was fairly busy and the staff was moving as quickly as possible. The only con is you can't try any of the flavors. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

The smell of waffle cones lured us in, and oddly enough, there weren't too many dessert options on this strip. They make their own gelato and ice cream, and they also seem to be part Starbucks? They do not give samples as there's barely enough room in the store for a full family. The employees seemed annoyed. The toasted almond coconut seemed the most appealing, so we got that. Coconut ice cream typically tastes super good, and this one was just okay - perhaps because it was gelato? It needed more creaminess. The almond pieces gave subtle textured chews. The waffle cone was hard, sturdy, and wide. Scoops also sells other sweet treats. They have a monopoly on homemade ice cream, so if there's no crowd, it seems fine to get in, grab a dessert, and chill by the beach with it. read more

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Scoops would be 5 stars if it weren't for their weird line policies. I totally get that Starbucks can only be purchased from the line on the left. That makes sense. But, why must açaí bowls be ordered from the left lane when they are on the menu directly under the ice cream? Put up some signage to direct the crowds. It's a pain when you wait 20 minutes to get to the front of the line only to be told to get into another 20 minute line. But, the ice cream. The ice cream is good, so you'll find yourself stuck waiting in multiple lines with your family. I was a fan of the vanilla bean ice cream with hot fudge. read more

We were in the mood for ice cream. It was good, but nothing really special, which is why I only gave it 4 stars. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Avoid this frozen disaster of a shop unless you enjoy paying top dollar for freezer-burned mush and being treated like an absolute burden by miserable, aggressive staff. Workers moved in slow motion while chatting with friends. Only one register was open during a massive summer rush and the ice cream was a big goop of mush. Texture was grainy, icy, and completely melted around the edges. All of the flavors, especially the dole whip tasted old, stale, and stored way past its expiration date. Flavors lacked any real taste other than plain sugary chemicals I get that most of Catalina is overpriced and underwhelming but this place really stands out. Avoid. You'll thank me later. read more

They won't let you sample and personally, I think that's an atrocity given that they have soooo many flavors and half of them I've never tried.. so already I was feeling some type of way and then I panicked and got mint chip and it was just okay. It gets packed but line moves fast (because there are no samples) and ice cream itself is good. Nothing super extravagant, probably would have been if I had gotten another flavor after I tried. read more

This was a great stop! Friendly, great service and my Green Tea Gelato was super yummy. They have a pretty extensive menu, with many flavors of Ice Cream and Gelato, Açaí Bowls, Drinks read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - The Green Tea Gelato at Scoops in Avalon, Catalina Island. - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Came here while on a Carnival Cruise stop for a morning pick me up and after seeing proudly serving Starbucks we said sign us up! Ordered a white chocolate mocha among other things and it came out just right. The pricing was on par with a standard coffee shop. The location was on the main street and it was adorable. If you are in the area definitely stop in for your morning coffee or some fresh ice cream read more

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Line does move quickly, small space inside so it could get crowded, just be prepared on what to get. We had 2 scoops of bison tracks, it was pretty good. I would try other flavors next time but nothing super special about it. read more

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You can't really go to Catalina without ending up here at some point. It's right in the middle of everything, and the smell of the cones usually does the marketing for them. ​The Vibe: It's a classic, tiny island shop. It gets pretty cramped inside, so don't expect to hang out. Most people just grab their scoops and head across the street to sit by the water, which is honestly the better move anyway. ​The Food: ​Gelato & Ice Cream: The quality is actually high--it doesn't taste like that mass-produced stuff. read more

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After hiking nine miles and snorkeling we walked here and had a Dole Whip Kinda pricey at almost $14 with tax It hit the spot tho read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

The gelato selection was fantastic! My favorites were the Toasted Almond and the Raspberry Pistachio Cheesecake. The only downside was the long line, since there's a Starbucks inside, and you can't sample the gelato before deciding. Other than that, it's definitely worth the wait! read more

I can only speak on the matcha flavor, and I enjoyed it. They don't let you sample the flavors so I didn't try anything else. The portion sizes are very generous. Service was quick. The girl at the counter kept ringing up our order wrong but other than that everything was fine. Looks like a standard ice cream shop. They also serve Starbucks drinks. read more

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Husband and I stopped by here for dessert before dinner! (As an adult, you can do this xD) the ice cream was delicious! I had the lemon berry flavor & omg I wish I got a whole pint of this it was so good! The hubby got their hazelnut one & he also loved it! The shop is quite small & doesn't have any seating area, but not to worry as there's benches right outside with the beautiful view of the ocean & boats! Service was good, however, we were standing there for a little while before anyone greeted us or took our order. I understand they were busy making the Starbucks drinks for the 2 people ahead of us, but a little "I'll be right with you" would've been better than standing there awkwardly while they only simply looked at us LOL. Other than that, the woman that eventually helped us was lovely! Unfortunately they don't offer samples of the flavors, so that's a bit of a bummer :( you just have to trust your gut to know what you'll like. Thankfully we loved the ones we had & definitely recommend trying this place out! read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Lemon berry and hazelnut - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Ice cream flavor itself was actually so amazing but the ice cream wasn't fully frozen so the girl immediately had to put the cone in a cup cuz it was already dripping straight from the freezer. Stood around for another 6-7 mins waiting to pay tried to get someone's attention multiple times and was met with eye contact and being ignored. Ice cream itself although a little melted was incredible read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Serving as both a gourmet coffee shop (serving Starbucks coffee) and ice cream/gelato, Scoops Catalina in Avalon, serves up delicious beverages and snacks for tourists. As most ice cream shops, it is cheaper to share a two scooper plus than get individual cups, so we ended up getting a 3 scooper ($11), all gelato. The gelato was very thick, with little air mixed in and the product being rather soft. I got my go-to, which was mint chocolate chip and my brother (as he tends to do) got the recommended which ended up being cookies and cream. Both were good. The unusual flavor was Buffalo Milk, which I was hoping was similar to goat's milk ice cream (which I like)...but writing this, I'm realizing that it doesn't make much sense. Later I learned that 'Buffalo Milk' is a Catalina island mixed drink, essentially a White Russian with added banana and chocolate flavor. I didn't care for it. Since there was no places to eat the ice cream on the premises, it was considered 'to-go' and no sales tax was charged (it's a california thing). Easy way to replace it with a tip. read more

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I think it's definitely a spot that more overrated because it looks modern and casual. I would rather you check out Lloyd's down the street. The sample was extremely upsetting. They do not load you up on the three different flavors. It's literally the smallest scoop for each. read more

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I was sad that they ran out of the peach mango sorbet in a hot afternoon! :( i got the peach mango gelato and it's still good. Very fruity and refreshing. My wife got the salted pretzel which was equal parts salty and sweet! For someone who doesnt like combining two tastes she loved it. And btw a scoop seems like two SCOOPS Everyone was nice and friendly. Just wish there were seats inside to cool off a little bit. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Salted pretzel - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

While walking around the island, we decided to stop by this ice cream shop. We've walked by this place before and there's always a long line. Luckily, at this time, there were only 3 people waiting and the line went by quickly. I ordered two scoops of gelato in a cup. I got the Nutella flavor and buffalo milk. Both were very good. Both flavors were creamy, but the buffalo milk was much creamier than the Nutella. The Nutella was better than I expected because it wasn't as sweet as the spread. The buffalo milk tasted like it had a hint of alcohol and it was the right amount. It's a small shop and it gets crowded pretty often because they also serve Starbucks coffee here. I don't think I would have waited in too long of a line so I came at a good time. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Nutella and buffalo milk in a cup - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

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A must visit stop while in Catalina. Stopped in for my first time yesterday after dinner and it was a great sweet treat. They don't have as many flavors as I'm used to, but they still have some really great ones and I especially appreciate how they have ice cream, gelato, and soft serve. It's great to have the options. There was a little bit of a wait for us as this place can get quite crowded, but the line moves fast and the wait is worth it. The people working behind the counter were polite and it's important to know that they don't offer any samples so just know what you want before you order. Inside is pretty small, so you will most likely have to wait outside while the handful of people inside are doing their orders but honestly being right across from Avalon Bay and being able to stare at the ocean while you wait in line could be a lot worse. I would definitely recommend it and plan to stop in again next time I am visiting Catalina. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Banana Pudding - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

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the acai bowl I got from scoops really hit the spot! it was loaded up with acai, fresh fruit, and granola and looked beautiful! I will say that the service is a little slow, but expected for a weekend. I would definitely come back for the acai bowl if I'm ever back in catalina! read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Cozy little ice cream and coffee shop with a nice. If there is a line, it moves pretty quickly. We went with the sampler 3 scoops for $10 - which I'd recommend so that you can try multiple flavors. We tried several options: the mango peach (8/10) and blueberry (8.3/10) was really good and easily a standout. Definitely worth getting. The tiramisu (2/10) was a bit of a letdown - we were hoping it will be amazing but didn't live up to expectations. We also tried Nutella hazelnut (3/10) and salted caramel stracciatella (3.5/10). The hazelnut was fine, but the stracciatella didn't really taste like salted caramel at all. Overall, a nice spot to stop by, enjoy flavors that aren't overly sweet. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Such a cute place in a great location. Perfect for getting a little treat right in front of the beach. The gelato was so creamy and refreshing. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Raspberry gelato - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

I think the ice cream is pretty good. I wouldn't wait a crazy amount of time for it though.. The cafe inside is Starbucks but it's well overpriced and the recipes do not seem consistent. The place is very casual, kind of the place that you walk in and walk out with your swimsuit or whatever it is you're wearing on the beach. read more

Scoops was the perfect spot to stop after walking around the island even if it was January and cold outside! My friend and I stopped in twice. The first time, I ordered the sampler which came with 3 "smaller" scoops which weren't even small, which I loved! I ordered the Mint Chip, Toasted Almond Coconut, and Triple Chocolate. The second trip, I ordered the Raspberry sorbet. My favorites across the board were the Mint Chip and Toasted Almond Coconut. I loved their variety and how it wasn't just basic flavors, as well as having the sampler option. Their prices are also very fair, considering the scoops are very generous. The only negative was you couldn't sample flavors, however, all the ones I got were great, so I guess it wasn't needed! read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

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Super rude service- for my 8yo- I ordered one scoop with hot fudge topping - and the server gave it to us filled with peanuts on top. When I told him my son's allergic to peanuts- his response was "You asked for it!" And he try to force it on me- no where does it say hot fudge sundae comes with peanuts. And why is he trying to force my 8yo son with peanut allergy peanuts- when I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT. He remade it and basically threw it at us. $11 for one scoop maybe be worth it but nothing is worth rude and dangerous service! Not coming back here read more

Excellent Starbucks coffee and incredible crepes! Went here several times and they always delivered, great default coffee option Fiancée thought the crepe was among the best she's had read more

Perhaps this is not the most representative review since this is an ice cream shop and I ordered an açaí bowl, but I think that if you offer something on your menu, it needs to be good! The açaí bowl I got from here was not very good at all. The açaí itself wasn't good quality and barely tasted like açaí. Some of the berries that were used as toppings tasted like they had just been defrosted. The bananas and granola were fine. Since there are limited dining options on Santa Catalina Island, this place was the only choice when I was looking for a refreshing afternoon treat. Stick with their ice cream! read more

Cute store. Generous ice cream portion size but the flavors were not good. We tried matcha ice cream and the rocky road flavor. Rocky road had almost no chocolate flavor, lots of almonds but I think almond skins were left on, and it was not good. No one in our group would take it. The ice cream ended up in the garbage. The matcha was not very good either. They do not let you sample favors. The server did not speak English. Hard to ask questions and place order. The cashier said they won't give a cup of ice water - said we had to purchase the over priced water bottle instead. I get it - probably a lot of people ask for water but with how expensive the ice cream was. it would be nice to give even a small paper cup of water. The rest of our group went to another ice cream place and it was much better - I think they serve Thrifty ice cream if you know that brand. read more

I asked if the menu matches Starbucks. I was told yes. I ordered one grande and one venti. I received two grandes. They remade it (iced matcha latte) and it was horrible... well, it's not horrible if that's your preference- with no sweetener. So, I took it back and asked if they added syrup. The guy who had already remade the drink told me I didn't order it with syrup. I told him the Starbucks recipe comes with syrup. He told me it doesn't and had a bit of an attitude about it. Sigh. I order the matcha latte all of the time. So, I have to give them only 1 star because of the service and the bad drink I received. read more

Scoops Homemade Ice Cream - Classic syrup is sweetener. Maybe they'll fix the recipe. - Gelato Near Me - Avalon, California

Super cute little ice cream shop. Perfect location, overseeing the harbor. But .... Ice cream was ok. Not a place I would run back to. I ordered the Buffalo Milk gelato and to my surprise it did have Vodka & Rum. It was quite strong. The banana & chocolate flavor came through, which was good. My husband ordered the triple chocolate, which he liked. He appreciated the chocolate chips and chocolate brownie mixed in. Both of our gelatos were runny, so it almost tastes more like a milk shake. Also, get your wallet ready, because 2 single scoops cost about $13! I probably wouldn't go back, however, as usual, I'm glad I tried it. read more

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Popular spot here on the main dining area in Avalon. While the gelato is good, it is a little stringy, which makes it a little messy. Service is fine, but I don't like an ice cream shop that is not willing to offer samples, so they lose a star for that. Four scoops for $30 seems a bit expensive for what it is. There are many other ice cream shop options nearby. read more

LOCATION: One of the popular places to get ice cream on Catalina and it is front-facing the water and the busy pathway where people walk. Small inside so its more of a grab-and-go option, great location overall! SERVICE: Service was great and they give generous scoops for ice cream. The only thing was when the line gets long, they tend to be slower on taking payment at the register. Other than that, it was great! FOOD: We loved the sampler option for only $9 instead of a $7 single scoop to try multiple flavors. The peach mango gelato is a MUST try, and was our favorite! We appreciated the homemade aspect of the place and would love to try the shakes another time! They also sell Starbucks coffee on the island and one of the only ones as well. read more

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Now I know why there's a line outside! Not only is the ice cream homemade but this spot has some of the most creamy ice cream I've ever had! I got two scoops in a waffle cone. One banana pudding (A MUST TRY) and a strawberry scoop. The banana pudding. I was hesitant bc some places make it too sweet but this was so perfect!! Wished I had gotten both scoops of this flavor. But honestly the strawberry was so good too! Super creamy with little chunks of strawberry! So yummy! A perfect treat to cool off! Pick up only. No tables inside or outside to sit, but the beach is right across the sidewalk where you can sit on the sand, eat your ice cream, and listen to the waves. Which is exactly what we did and the vibes were vibing! Only complaint is that some of the staff seemed like and acted like they didn't want to work there. We had just walked in and were being rushed to make a decision. We were looking around and seeing all the different flavors. It really caught us off guard and sucked that our experience started like that but then Iliana helped us and she was so kind! read more

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