10 California Hidden Dessert Shops You’ll Wish You Found Sooner
California’s dessert scene goes way beyond the famous spots you’ve seen on Instagram.
Tucked away in neighborhoods from NorCal to SoCal are magical little bakeries and ice cream parlors that locals guard like precious secrets.
I’ve spent years hunting down these sweet hideaways, and let me tell you – finding them changed my dessert game forever. Ready to discover your new favorite treat spot?
1. Creekside Bakery: Novato’s Flaky Pastry Paradise
My first bite of Creekside’s almond croissant nearly made me weep with joy. This unassuming bakery, nestled in a Novato strip mall, crafts pastries that would make a French baker tip their hat in respect. The owners rise at 3 AM daily to create everything from scratch – no pre-made dough here!
Their signature morning bun combines cinnamon, orange zest, and butter in a spiral that shatters delicately with each bite. Beyond pastries, don’t miss their seasonal fruit tarts with perfectly crisp shells that somehow never get soggy. Pro tip: arrive before 10 AM on weekends or prepare to face an out-the-door line of loyal regulars who’ve been keeping this gem to themselves for years.
2. Marianne’s Ice Cream: Santa Cruz’s Scoopable Time Machine
Stepping into Marianne’s feels like teleporting to 1947 – which happens to be when this Santa Cruz institution first opened its doors. The retro pink and teal interior hasn’t changed much, but why mess with perfection? Their handmade ice cream comes in over 75 flavors, including the legendary 1020 (caramel ice cream with fudge swirl and Oreos) that locals order by number, not name.
I once drove two hours just to satisfy a craving for their Macadamia Nut. Summer nights here mean joining a cheerful queue that spills onto Ocean Street, but winter visits reward you with shorter lines and the same incredible quality. The Aptos location offers the same nostalgic flavors with slightly less wait time if you’re in a hurry.
3. Fentons Creamery: Oakland’s Century-Old Sundae Sanctuary
Fentons isn’t just an ice cream shop – it’s a 125-year-old Oakland institution where generations of families have celebrated special occasions. Walking in, I was immediately hypnotized by the gleaming marble counters and the symphony of clanking metal spoons against glass dishes. Their Black & Tan sundae (toasted almond and vanilla ice cream drowned in caramel and chocolate fudge) requires two people and zero shame to finish.
The scoops are comically massive – what they call a “single” would be a triple anywhere else. While tourists flock to Ghirardelli Square, smart locals know Fentons serves superior sundaes with far more character. Come hungry and be prepared to join the ranks of devoted fans who’ve been returning for decades.
4. The Donut Hole: La Puente’s Drive-Through Doughnut Delight
Imagine driving THROUGH a giant doughnut – twice! That’s exactly what happens at The Donut Hole in La Puente, where your car enters and exits through massive doughnut-shaped portals. I nearly crashed the first time from sheer excitement. Architecture aside, their raised glazed doughnuts achieve that perfect balance of airy interior and slightly crisp exterior that most shops can only dream about.
The tiger tails (twisted chocolate and vanilla) disappear fastest, so arrive early. Open 24 hours, this place has saved many late-night cravings since 1968. The novelty of the building gets you there the first time, but it’s the consistently exceptional doughnuts that will have you making detours just to drive through again and again.
5. Seaside Donuts Bakery: Newport Beach’s 24-Hour Beachside Bliss
Nothing beats watching sunrise over Newport Beach with a warm, just-fried cinnamon crumb donut in hand. Seaside Donuts became my 2AM sanctuary during college all-nighters, when only sugar and caffeine could save my term papers. Their blueberry cake donuts pack more actual berries than most muffins, creating purple-streaked interiors that taste like summer.
The shop itself is tiny – barely enough room for the display case and a few waiting customers in flip-flops fresh off the beach. Being open round-the-clock means the donuts are always fresh, regardless of when cravings strike. The maple bacon bars disappear fastest, topped with strips of perfectly crisp bacon that somehow stay crunchy for hours. Ask for your selection slightly warmed for maximum happiness.
6. Cafe Knotted: Century City’s Korean-Inspired Pastry Wonderland
Hidden in Century City Mall’s food court lurks a pastry shop that completely redefines mall food. Cafe Knotted brings Korean-inspired baking techniques to classics like croissants and cream puffs, creating hybrid treats you won’t find elsewhere in LA. Their signature garlic cream cheese bread makes a compelling case for savory pastries as dessert.
Soft, pillowy dough cradles a center of garlic-infused cream cheese that’s somehow both delicate and intensely flavorful. I once watched a woman buy literally every remaining piece of their cloud cake – a jiggly, souffle-like creation that’s impossibly light. The minimalist aesthetic of the shop (all clean lines and muted colors) belies the explosion of flavors in each creation. Go early, as they frequently sell out of favorites by mid-afternoon.
7. Kanomwaan: LA’s Thai Ice Cream Rolls That Stole My Heart
“Have you ever watched someone create art with ice cream?” That’s what I texted friends after discovering Kanomwaan, where Thai-style ice cream rolls are made right before your eyes on freezing metal plates. The process is mesmerizing – liquid cream poured onto the -30°F surface, mixed with fresh ingredients, then scraped into delicate rolls arranged like flowers in your cup.
Their mango sticky rice flavor combines actual sticky rice with fresh mango chunks and coconut cream, recreating Thailand’s famous dessert in frozen form. Unlike machine-churned ice cream, these rolls have virtually no air whipped in, creating an intensely creamy texture that melts slowly. The tiny shop in East Hollywood often has a line, but watching the theatrical preparation is half the fun.
8. Moom Maam: The Thai Dessert Haven That Defies Gravity
Boba shops are everywhere in LA, but Moom Maam elevates the concept with Thai dessert drinks that look like science experiments and taste like dreams. Their signature Galaxy Drink literally changes colors as you stir it, thanks to butterfly pea flower extract that reacts with citrus. Located in a tiny storefront in Thai Town, the space barely fits five people, but the theatrical presentation of each creation makes waiting worthwhile.
Their coconut milk-based drinks come topped with gravity-defying cotton candy clouds that slowly melt into your drink. My personal addiction is their Thai tea float – a creamy, orange-hued base topped with sea salt cream and a scoop of vanilla ice cream that gradually creates new flavor combinations as it melts. The owners remember regulars and often slip extra toppings to returning customers.
9. Coco’s: The Thai Shaved Ice Kingdom Of Los Angeles
Forget everything you know about shaved ice. Coco’s transforms this humble treat into towering mountains of feathery-thin frozen ribbons that melt instantly on your tongue. My jaw literally dropped the first time I saw their mango sticky rice bingsoo – a Thai-Korean fusion masterpiece. Unlike grainy American snow cones, Thai shaved ice has a creamy texture thanks to being made with milk.
Each spoonful collapses like fresh powder snow, revealing hidden treasures of fresh fruit, sweetened condensed milk, and chewy mochi balls. The family-run shop in Koreatown has a perpetual line on hot days, but watching the meticulous assembly of each bowl makes the wait enjoyable. Their signature taro version comes topped with purple yam cream that’s made in-house daily – a vibrant lavender swirl that’s as delicious as it is Instagram-worthy.
10. Sarmentine Artisan Boulanger: Sebastopol’s French Countryside Escape
“Holy cannelé!” I gasped after biting into Sarmentine’s version of this notoriously difficult-to-master French pastry. Hidden within The Barlow Market complex in Sebastopol, this authentic French bakery transported me straight to Bordeaux without the airfare. Husband-and-wife owners Stéphane and Farida create everything using traditional methods and imported French butter (yes, it makes a difference).
Their kouign-amann – a caramelized, layered pastry from Brittany – shatters into buttery shards that will haunt your dreams for weeks afterward. The rustic space feels like a countryside bakery, with wooden counters displaying their daily offerings. Visit on Saturdays when they make Paris-Brest – wheel-shaped choux pastry filled with praline cream that sells out within hours. Wine country tourists speed past to fancier destinations, leaving this treasure for locals who know better.