Discovering the Best Ice Cream Shop in America: An’s Gelato in San Diego

I absolutely love ice cream, and I’ve just stumbled upon some fantastic news that I had to share. San Diego’s An’s Gelato, which has a really unique vibe and name, has been crowned the No. 1 Best Ice Cream Shop in America by USA Today. How awesome is that? An’s is the only West Coast spot to crack the Top 10, with Coneflower Creamery in Nebraska and Owowcow Creamery in New Jersey and Pennsylvania following behind. Last year, An’s was in second place, so this is a big leap!

The way USA Today picks its 10Best lists is pretty cool—they have experts choose 10 finalists, then the public votes for their favorites. An’s Gelato, with its three locations around San Diego County, has become famous for its small-batch, made-from-scratch gelato in unique, all-natural flavors.

The backstory of An’s Gelato is really interesting. It was founded by San Diego entrepreneur Kris Warren, who kicked off the business with some childhood friends from Redding. The idea came from a friend visiting from Spain who suggested they try their hand at making gelato. They named it “An’s” after the old North Park dry cleaning and tailor shop they took over. The place is quirky and fun, with ironing board tables, vintage 1960s decor, and gelato flavors named after fabrics like Leather, Velour, Cotton, and Canvas.

Their second shop in Del Mar, opened in 2022, is called An’s Hatmakers, and features hat-themed flavors like Fedora and Fascinator. The third shop at Petco Park is named An’s Athletic Field Services, with flavors like Chalk, Sand, and Clay. A new location is set to open in Ocean Beach later this summer, though they’re keeping the theme a surprise for now.

Warren thanked USA Today, An’s staff, and their loyal customers, saying, “We are incredibly honored to be named the best ice cream shop in America. This recognition truly reflects our staff’s dedication and the care we put into creating the best gelato. We are thrilled to bring this title to San Diego and share this win with our community as the only West Coast shop in the top ten.”

To celebrate, An’s Dry Cleaning is offering $1 scoops on July 1st at its North Park and Del Mar locations from noon to 7 p.m., or until they sell out. For more details, check out adcgelato.com.

If you’re ever in San Diego, An’s Gelato is a must-visit. I haven’t been there yet, but it’s definitely on my list! Here are the USA Today 10Best ice cream rankings:

1. An’s Dry Cleaning, San Diego, California
2. Coneflower Creamery, Nebraska
3. Owowcow Creamery, New Jersey and Pennsylvania
4. Leopold’s Ice Cream, Georgia
5. Peewee’s Ice Cream, New Jersey
6. The Boardwalk Italian Ice & Creamery, Florida
7. Island Creamery, Maryland and Virginia
8. Andia’s Ice Cream, North Carolina
9. Ellen’s Homemade Ice Cream, West Virginia
10. Penn State Berkey Creamery, Pennsylvania

Isn't it thrilling to see our very own San Diego taking the top spot in such a sweet competition? I can’t wait to try their celebrated gelato and experience the unique charm of An’s Gelato for myself.