One of the best parts of visiting Sanibel & Captiva Island is enjoying an ice cream on a hot day! These are the best Captiva & Sanibel Island Ice Cream shops to grab a sweet treat.
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Best Captiva & Sanibel Ice Cream Shops
One of our favorite things to do on Sanibel and Captiva Island, Florida is enjoy an epic ice cream cone.
After a few hours of Sanibel Shelling, it is the perfect way to cool off a bit and enjoy a sweet treat. These are our favorite ice cream shops on Sanibel & Captiva Island that we return to over and over again.
If you want to enjoy Sanibel's best homemade ice cream these are the spots you want to visit!
Pinocchio's Original Italian Ice Cream - Sanibel
Pinocchio's Ice Cream is a Sanibel Island icon that has reopened in a new location! They still serve their ice cream treats with an animal cracker on top!
They have their homemade ice cream recipes, including Sanibel Krunch, Dirty Sand Dollar, Gator Stew, and more.
Menu highlights - They offer ice cream cones, cups, shakes, malts, shimmies, smoothies, sippers, floats, hurricanes, espresso frappes, sundaes, gelato, sherbet, sorbetto, banana splits, frozen key lime pies, pastries, Italian Custard, baked Alaska, hot and cold espresso coffee drinks, and more sweet treats.
Signature flavors include:
Sanibel Krunch - Vanilla ice cream with whole mixed nuts (no peanuts), Toasted coconut, enrobed in chocolate and special ingredients.
Dirty Sand Dollar - Vanilla ice cream, malted milk balls, chocolate chips, caramel, and special ingredients.
Gator Stew - Vanilla ice cream, pistachio, chunky peanut butter, Reeses peanut butter cups.
Address - 2075 Periwinkle Way #33, Sanibel, Florida 33957
Phone - 239-472-6566
Parking - There is parking at the Periwinkle Villa Shops with easy access to Pinocchio's Sanibel.
The Shack of Sanibel
The Shack of Sanibel is a cute frozen custard shop that also serves ice cream cakes, ice cream sandwiches, and so much more!
It is a great place to take an annual photo with their sharky cutout on the side wall. It has a measuring tape up the side so you can see how much kids have grown year by year.
Menu highlights - The Shack's menu includes frozen custard cones, cups, shakes, and floats. You can also pick your favorite toppings and flavors and make a custom creation.
Sanibel Lighthouse - Chocolate Covered Waffle Pieces, Butterfinger, and Hot Caramel
Beach Party - Pineapple, Coconut, Banana, and Macadamia Nuts
Love Shack - Warm Brownie with Hot Fudge and Whipped Topping (served as a sundae)
Address - 1219 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, Florida 33957
Located on the east end of Sanibel Island right off of the bike path.
Phone - 239-312-8626
Parking - There is parking right next to The Shack of Sanibel.
The Magic Bus - Sanibel
The Magic Bus is so cute! This ice cream treat shop has a fantastic VW Bus and mural perfect for fun vacation photos.
They have a huge variety of ice cream treats along with smoothies, baked goods, candy, and more. This is a sweet treat delight for the senses.
Menu highlights - The Magic Bus serves ice cream scoops & cones, milkshakes, candies, malts, floats, smoothies, acai bowls, parfait, a full coffee bar, and sweet treats
Magic Milkshake - Your choice of ice cream blended with milk, decked out in sprinkles, whipped cream, and a treat wand in a Magic Bus mason jar.
Too Groovy Sundae- 2 scoops of ice cream, two toppings, a brownie, whipped cream, and a wafer cookie in a signature mason jar.
Beach Bucket - a sand bucket filled with 5 scoops of ice cream, 3 toppings, whipped cream and cherries. Finished with a treat wand and some cool sunglasses.
Address - 362 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, Florida 33957
Parking - There is parking in front of the Magic Bus.
Love Boat Ice Cream
Menu highlights - Love Boat Ice Cream has been serving premium homemade ice cream in Southwest Florida for over 50 years! They have 85 and counting rotating flavors.
Address - 1700 Perisinkle Way Unit #9, Sanibel Island, Florida
Located in Jerry's Plaza by the grocery store
Parking - There is a nice size parking area for the shopping center
Boop's Ice Cream - Captiva
Boop's Ice Cream is located next to the world-famous Bubble Room! This cute ice cream shop has ice cream treats along with the famous cake slices from the Bubble Room, and a full coffee menu including cappuccinos, lattes, and more
Menu highlights - They offer ice cream in a cup, cone, shake, or malt. You can get sprinkles, peanut butter sauce, strawberry sauce, hot fudge, hot caramel, Reese's cups, M&Ms, Oreos and Nuts for toppings.
Address - 15001 Captiva Dr, Captiva, Fl
Parking - There is parking across the street in the dirt parking lot.
Sanibel & Captiva Ice Cream Shops no longer open
Sanibel's Best Homemade Ice Cream Shop - They are no longer open on Sanibel but have opened Crooked Cow Creamery in Cape Coral.
Schnapper's Hot - They have not reopened since Hurricane Ian
Joey's Custard - They have not reopened since Hurricane Ian
Sanibel & Captiva Island Restaurants and Attractions
Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant - Great local restaurant open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Sanibel Deli & Coffee - Grab your favorite coffee drink and a deli sandwich for the beach.
Over Easy Cafe - A great local breakfast shop with epic orange cinnamon rolls.
Lighthouse Beach - Explore the beach around the Sanibel Lighthouse
Sanibel & Captiva Island Tours
Sunset Dolphin Cruise with Sanibel Lighthouse Views Rated 4.9 with over 370 reviews. A 1.5-hour cruise that passes the Sanibel Lighthouse at sunset with dolphin sightings along the way. One of the most consistently well-reviewed tours in the area.
Daytime Dolphin Cruise Near Sanibel Rated 4.9. Passes the Sanibel Lighthouse and Twin Sister Key, a secluded island only reachable by boat.
Private Boat Tour - Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel A private option for groups or families who want a more personal experience on the water.
Sanibel Captiva Island Moke Adventure Day Trip Rental Rated 4.9 with 16 reviews. A self-guided day trip around Sanibel and Captiva in a vintage electric Moke vehicle. A genuinely fun and different way to see the islands.
Check out all of the nearby tours here
Sanibel & Captiva Island Lodging
If you are visiting and need to book accommodations, here are our recommendations.
Residence Inn Ft Myers Sanibel - Located right off the island is a great hotel with outdoor pool. Book here
Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort - Right off the Sanibel Causeway this Marriott has great rooms, an epic pool and easy access to the island. Book here
We also have articles on the Emerald Coast of Florida, including Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola Beach, Navarre Beach, Panama City Beach, Perdido Key, Pensacola, Sanibel and Captiva Island, and more.
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