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    Sugar 'N' Spice

    4.4 (497 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Services - Sugar 'N' Spice

    Catering

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    Mari T.

    I got the popular frozen banana.... The balboa banana. I had it dipped in milk chocolate, with crumbled Reese's peanut butter cups and peanut butter sauce drizzle. It was delicious. The frozen banana was a bit hard if you have sensitive teeth but it was a warm day so you take your time and it gets a bit softer as you keep eating. There's also the balboa bar which is a vanilla ice cream bar. When i ordered the person at the window was so nice and helpful, she answered all my questions about toppings and what's popular. They have toppings of the day, which are really good. And different dips before the toppings and you can do multiple toppings. There's nowhere inside to eat but there's a lot of benches on the sidewalk you can sit. I went around 3/4pm on a Wednesday and there wasn't a crowd and there were lots of benches and trash cans to use after.

    Delicious chocolate dipped frozen bananas with a peanut topping - a perfect, sweet tr
    Erik G.

    "There's always money in the banana stand." Pop culture fans may be interested to know that Sugar 'n Spice is the inspiration for Bluth's Original Frozen Banana Stand from the TV series, Arrested Development. Located on Marine Avenue in Balboa Island, Sugar 'n Spice has been serving the original frozen bananas and Balboa Bars since 1945. P The biggest downside is their hours; they don't open until 11 AM, which is disappointing for those with a sweet tooth who want an early treat. I tried the frozen bananas and must say, Sugar 'n Spice has a superior frozen banana. The chocolate was delicious, the toppings were fresh, and the banana wasn't too frozen - if that makes sense! The staff was friendly and provided helpful service.

    Ernest C.

    The Balboa Bar with dark chocolate and peanuts is absolutely heavenly. It's not overly sweet--just the right balance--while still delivering that rich, creamy indulgence that feels totally worth the blood sugar spike. Every bite hits that perfect mix of smooth and crunchy. Only wish this place was closer... I'd be here way too often.

    Frozen Banana
    Kali F.

    Best place to get a frozen chocolate covered banana on Balboa Island! The line can sometimes be long but don't be fooled, they move fast and do it with a smile. There is no where to sit inside but there are plenty of benches nearby to enjoy the warm sunshine while you eat your frozen treat. We got the chocolate covered frozen banana with Reese's on top and it did not disappoint. The banana might have been the biggest one I've ever seen, the two of us shared it and were stuffed! You have plenty of options when looking for a banana stand in Balboa, but Sugar 'n Spice is the best place to stop!

    Frozen Banana
    Kristen V.

    Sugar, spice, and everything nice! My boyfriend and I visited Balboa Island for a quiet evening walk and some time to sit at the waterfront. While we were here, we just had to stop for a sweet treat. The service was super quick and friendly. I had a hard time deciding between a frozen banana or Balboa bar, but once I saw that they had strawberry shortcake crunch toppings I knew that I had to have it on top of a banana. The frozen banana wasn't too hard that it would break your teeth. It's like eating a popsicle. I loved the crunchy toppings and the bittersweet flavor of the dark chocolate.

    Dark chocolate dipped banana rolled in almonds
    Sunday B.

    Iconic to balboa island- the frozen banana reigns supreme! (And I gotta believe it's healthy- I mean it IS a banana!) They have this running like a well-oiled machine. Don't let the line intimidate you. You order at the window and they make your dessert right in front of you. Even before I had my money out..they rolled my banana in dark chocolate and fresh big almonds chunks. (And they don't skimp.) $8.08 as of 1/2026. It's such a fun treat to walk around Balboa and snack on a I delicacy. ;)

    Balboa Bar and Frozen Banana
    Natalie Y.

    I've been wanting to try this for so long and im so happy i finally got to go I got a dark chocolate dipped frozen banana! It's such a simple yet delightful treat! i also added some almonds for texture. Not too sweet and not too bad for u which how could i possibly argue against that ?! Service was super quick and straightforward. Its made fresh right in front of you! Its right by the sidewalk so many ppl are walking past but its not too bad or rowdy at all~ lots of benches nearby to sit and enjoy your treat!

    Stand exterior
    Zachary C.

    There's always money in the banana stand! We came as fans of Arrested Development but were pleasantly surprised to find the dessert good and didn't feel too tourist trappy. Sugar 'n Spice is on the only road in and out of Balboa island so don't expect to find plenty of parking. The wait was quick and the prices weren't awful. We ordered the frozen banana and balboa bar with premium chocolate and peanuts. The Balboa Bar was delicious, exactly what you would want for a quick dessert option. The frozen banana was good, maybe a little too frozen but that is expected from a literal frozen banana. The line felt more touristy then local but overall I'd go again.

    Taken 3/16/2026
    Jennifer F.

    Wooohooo for the short wait. Easy to read menu. Fast service. I ordered the Balboa Bar (Vanilla ice cream) dipped in classic chocolate with peanut butter sauce for $7.50. It was sooooo delicious!

    Frozen Banana
    Trinity G.

    Delicious!! I had heard from friends that this is the best frozen banana place and that I had to come here. I have never had a frozen banana with chocolate but was pleasantly surprised. The banana wasn't too hard to bite into and the chocolate with brittle was delicious. I also ordered the chocolate ice cream bar with Oreo and that was so yummy! The staff was kind and the shop was adorable. There isn't any indoor seating but plenty of benches and seating options outside the store.

    Chocolate banana
    Jessie Z.

    Open as a downtown later night spot. Quite popular. The banana is very customizable and fast. Not too sweet. The butterscotch and pecan crunch was a solid combo, i think it would be good with dark chocolate. The butterscotch flavor isnt that strong but also not too sweet, i think the pecan toffee crunch was most of the flavor. Its a pretty decent amount and dessert for the price. The chocolate sauce drizzle did end up falling off lol. Its a bit silly but I wish they did nonfrozen bananas. I don't really like biting into a frozen banana texture, but if this was a normal banana with the toppings i would devour it.

    Menu
    Daniel A.

    I hate sayin' goodbye To those sweet summer vibes with you I don't like sayin' goodbye To those hot summer nights with you... Desert that will melt your heart or hunger away. If you're taking a stroll around Balboa Island, this place will satisfy your sweet tooth, it's true. Great customer service. The young lady who helped me offered her suggestions. Lucky enough there wasn't a lot of people the day we went. I can imagine on the weekend or for parades days it will be busy. Went with a frozen banana and frozen cheesecake on a stick. Yes you read that right. Talk about a full dessert in one. You can add all kinds of toppings. Both were excellent. Although my wife and son highjacked the cheesecake out of my hand right away. If you're in town, stop at Sugar n Spice and everything will be nice. God bless

    Gabriella C.

    Drove from San Diego to try this place. The ice cream sandwich with Reese's was really good. The frozen banana was just ok! Probably wouldn't get it again but it was part of the experience. Good service and quick. They also gave my dog a pup cup, it was HUGE (he's 8 pounds) but he enjoyed it lol Cute little area!

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    Page 1 of 13

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    Review Highlights - Sugar 'N' Spice

    This is a total mom and pop joint, specializing in chocolate dipped frozen treats, specifically the frozen banana!

    Mentioned in 219 reviews

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    Seaside Donuts Bakery

    Seaside Donuts Bakery

    4.4
    (2k reviews)
    2.3 mi
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    While walking along the sidewalk in Newport Beach, California, my daughter and I caught the…read moreirresistible smell of fresh donuts. We looked at each other and instantly knew we had to stop and get some! When we walked into the shop, we were greeted with a warm welcome and a friendly, "How may I help you?" They had a wonderful variety of donuts, but we already knew exactly which flavor we wanted. When my daughter placed our order, they asked if we wanted a dozen. Of course! We couldn't resist taking home a dozen of our favorite. The service was friendly, the shop was super cute, and the donuts were absolutely delicious. If you're in Newport Beach and catch that amazing aroma, do yourself a favor and stop in you won't regret it!

    Came here to see what the hype was all about. It was later in the evening so there was no line…read more Walked right in and placed our order. Just a typical donut store with glass shelves to see the donuts. Not the most friendly staff. No line behind us or in front of us but we felt like we were being rushed to hurry up and decide what to order. We purchased 6 donuts some of which were chocolate. We also bought one ham and cheese jalapeño croissant. He warmed it up and put it in the same plastic bag with our chocolate donuts!! Who does this?!? Apparently the shop worker did. Needless to say our chocolate donuts were ruined and I had some upset kids! Taste of everything was ruined due to the experience. I will not be returning.

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    Donuts
    Donuts
    Turkey cheese jalapeños croissant yum
    Turkey cheese jalapeños croissant yum
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    Milk & Cookies

    Milk & Cookies

    4.5
    (365 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $

    Friends and I weren't craving donuts while in Newport, so we decided on Milk & Cookies to satisfy…read moreour sweet treat cravings. You could tell the cashier was ready to go home, but I found her endearing. She was very helpful and provided descriptions of some of the cookies they had displayed. My friend got the cowboy cookie and I got the M&M cookie. We both opted out of enjoying our cookies with milk, which I guess defeats the purpose.. but the cookies were warm and tasty. They were a great size for a decent price.

    I've been coming to this spot since 2020 during the COVID days, and the cookies remain great. They…read moreoffer a wide variety of flavors, and the best part is that the cookies are always served warm. The Order: * My Go-To: I highly recommend the chocolate chip cookie with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on top. * Variety: They have every flavor of milk, ice cream, and cookies you could want. Timing & Atmosphere: * Avoid Weekends: I would not recommend coming here on a weekend. The store is tiny, and because it's right next to all the bars, the area gets crowded with a lot of drunk people. If that isn't your scene, stick to a weekday visit. * Rewards: It is quite expensive, but it's a nice treat. Plus, you can sign up with your phone number to get discounts for future visits. The Parking Situation: * Virtually Non-Existent: There is no parking lot, so you are stuck looking for small spots along the side of the road. * Accessibility: There is no designated handicap parking, so keep that in mind if you aren't prepared to walk a bit from a side street. Final Verdict: It's a perfect weekday spot for a warm dessert, just be prepared for the peninsula parking struggle!

    Photos
    Chocolate chip cookie and brown butter toffee ice cream
    Chocolate chip cookie and brown butter toffee ice cream
    Cookies
    Cookies
    Milk & Cookies

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    Newport Coffee Company

    Newport Coffee Company

    4.2
    (619 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    Stopped in today to get my coffee fix, and I think I've found my new go-to spot whenever I'm in the…read morearea. I tried one of the barista's recommendations, and it did not disappoint. It wasn't overly sweet, which I really appreciated. I also love that they offer gelato, açaí bowls, tea, and smoothies--such a great variety. Emma mentioned they carry ceremonial-grade matcha and said it's a must try, so needless to say, I'll definitely be back for that. Shoutout to Emma for being so kind and for turning me into a repeat customer.

    Let's start by stating, this is one of those spots you go to when the vibes are already high,…read moreyou're enjoying the beach and walk in wearing your bathing suit, a little cover up, and definitely covered in sand and probably a little sunburnt! It's located at the Newport/Balboa pier by the surfer statue, the interior is tight but manageable as the drinks come out pretty quickly. There's plenty of tables set outside to be shared amongst the other small food spots around. I visited on a Saturday morning after taking a walk up and down the pier with my pup. The line was a few folks out the door but I was at the counter ordering within a few minutes. The menu is straight and to the point, prices are what you'd expect from any coffee shop in the OC (I would think the baseline is $6-$8 per drink) They also offer smoothies and açaí bowls as well. I see that they had an açaí smoothie on the menu and was intrigued! Once I received my smoothie, I could tell just by visuals it was a premade frozen açaí blend of some sort that was re-blended. It tasted pretty close to the single serve frozen açaí pouches you can buy at Costco. And speaking of, the consistency was exactly like your Costco berry smoothie (and dare I say.. even the taste? lol) except of course the Costco smoothie is only $3. It wasn't great. It wasn't bad. It wasn't cheap ($8) but, it was a cold drink on a hot day that was artificially sweet and went down easy. And also, served by the nicest staff!! Next time I'll try their matcha (which is what I was going to order but then I had to get spontaneous lol)

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    I love taking photos like this... so cute in front of the mini snake plant on their counter!
    I love taking photos like this... so cute in front of the mini snake plant on their counter!
    Self serving creamer area

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    Self serving creamer area
    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream

    Stella Jean’s Ice Cream

    4.6
    (498 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    My son has been raving about Stella Jean's ice cream for awhile now and I finally got a chance to…read morego try it myself and it did not disappoint! I'm Filipino and was tickled to hear about the flavors...Ube Pandesal Toffee, Banana Turon Crunch & Mango Sticky Rice. We tried the Ube Pandesal Toffee and I'm quite amazed how they were able to capture that unique flavor. I grew up with making an "ice cream" sandwich by putting ice cream in a pandesal and tasting this just unleashed a core memory of being young and making an ice cream sandwich that way. We will definitely be back to try the other flavors! When we arrived there was a few people in line and when the line grew a bit, I think it was a manager that stopped what he was doing to jump in and help with customers which I thought was very considerate of him to do. Lastly, the location was charming and tucked away in the corner of the plaza. It had a few tables outside and in the adjacent Pop Pie shop to sit for a few minutes to enjoy the ice cream! It's nice to support a small businesses that cater to the community! Good luck to the Stella Jean family...wishing you success! I'll be back for my Turon & sticky rice!

    Came in for a quick ice cream treat and the options did not disappoint!! They have many flavors…read morethat rotate out and the flavors are very unique which is great. I compare it to a Salt and Straw and the price point was also similar/average. Service was friendly and patient, they allow you to try as many flavors as you want! Ambiance is aesthetic and nice, a little spot to stop by for a quick treat!

    Photos
    (D) Brown Butter Pecan - Pint
    (D) Brown Butter Pecan - Pint
    Ube Pandesal Toffee over Baklava Cheesecake. 5/5
    Ube Pandesal Toffee over Baklava Cheesecake. 5/5
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    Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop

    Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop

    4.1
    (396 reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    We decided to spend a day in Irvine/Newport Beach area, and I saw a blog that talked about the…read morefrozen bananas here. We decided try it out! The employee there welcomed and greeted us, and she was kind. The inside of the small shop looked clean. Parking is on residential streets, and it wasn't that hard to find; it took us 5-10 min to find parking. The frozen banana with coconut was pretty good! It was not too sweet. The medium size was adequate between me and my partner.

    Dad's Donut & Bakery Shop is well-known for its Chocolate Frozen Bananas, Balboa Bars, and hippo…read morecookies. The shop has been a Balboa Island staple since 1960, when it was opened by Joe "Dad" Anderson. According to local lore, a group known as the "Dew Dads" began a tradition in the 1960s of gathering early for coffee and donuts, and that tradition continues today. Some regulars even have their own hooks on the wall for their coffee mugs. The hippo sugar cookies change with the holidays. I visited around Easter, and they had Easter colors. We got a glazed donut for my son, and he loved it. I got a hippo cookie to share; it was a standard sugar cookie, but the little, colorful hippo was adorable. It's a great treat for kids of all ages. We also got a frozen banana covered in chocolate with sprinkles. My son didn't care for it, but I really enjoyed it. I appreciate that Dad's Donuts opens early, allowing visitors to sample their goodies. It felt like a classic mom-and-pop shop, and I could tell many are regulars, as the staff was on a first-name basis with some patrons. Dad's Donuts is definitely a gem on Balboa Island, and their delicious treats and charming, family-friendly atmosphere make it a must-visit.

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    Cute Cookies!
    Cute Cookies!
    Everything mix frozen banana
    Everything mix frozen banana
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    Honey almond granola frozen banana
    Cowafornia Ice Cream

    Cowafornia Ice Cream

    4.1
    (151 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $

    If you're walking around the Balboa Fun Zone or just getting off the ferry, Cowafornia is a great…read morespot to cool down. It has that classic, nostalgic beach-shack vibe that fits Newport perfectly. Frozen Lemonade: This was exactly what I needed! It was incredibly refreshing and had that perfect slushy consistency--not too sweet, just a great zesty kick for a warm day. Acai Bowl: The first thing you'll notice is the size--the portion was absolutely huge. It's definitely large enough to share or to serve as a full meal. While the base was a bit watery compared to some dedicated acai shops, the sheer volume and the fresh toppings made it a solid value for the price. The Vibe: The shop is right in the heart of the action on Bay Ave. It's a fun, bright place to stop by while you're exploring the peninsula. The service was quick, which is impressive considering how busy this area can get during the afternoon rush. Come here if you have a big appetite! Whether you want a refreshing drink or a giant bowl of fruit and acai, you definitely get your money's worth here.

    We loved Cowafornia so much we went twice in one day! My kids enjoyed the frozen bananas, we love…read morethat they use Giradelli Chocolate, you can taste the difference compared to other places! The bananas are so good as well! I enjoyed a balboa bar and that was also good! The bar melts super fast even on a cool evening so it did get a little messy, but still delicious! We also received great customer service.

    Photos
    05/12/25
    05/12/25
    Inside store 8/2025
    Inside store 8/2025
    Inside 8/2025

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    Inside 8/2025

    Sugar 'N' Spice - icecream - Updated July 2026

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