There’s a reason ice cream and Conejo Valley summers go together so well. Warm afternoons, easy weekend errands, and a whole lot of local spots that take their scoops seriously. Whether you’re craving something classic, chasing a new flavor, or looking for a reason to get the whole family out of the house, here are ten of our favorite places to cool off around town.
Little Calf Creamery
652 E Janss Rd, Thousand Oaks
Little Calf Creamery is a true family affair. Owners Scott and Jen Levin combined his decades of restaurant experience with her love of artisan ice cream to open a creamery that feels like it’s made for sharing. Everything is crafted on-site using California dairy and locally sourced ingredients, and the flavor lineup goes well beyond the basics: their lavender blueberry has become a local favorite for anyone looking to try something a little different. Pair a scoop with something off the full café menu and you’ve got yourself a proper family outing.
Tarantula Hill Brewing Co. & Tarantula Hill Ice Cream Co.
244 Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks’ original brewery has always done more than beer. Small-batch ice cream has been part of the menu at their flagship location for years, made right alongside their wood-fired pizzas and house-roasted coffee. This spring, they doubled down with the opening of Tarantula Hill Ice Cream Co., a dedicated ice cream shop also in the heart of Thousand Oaks. It’s a great excuse to grab a cone solo or make a full evening of it at the original spot, where a sprawling 3,700-square-foot deck (the only one of its kind in the Conejo Valley) makes room for the whole crew, dogs included.
Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
166 W Hillcrest Dr, Thousand Oaks (next to the AMC at The Oaks Mall)
Handel’s has been making ice cream fresh at each of its stores since 1945, and the Thousand Oaks location keeps that legacy going with more than 30 rotating flavors. Alongside the classics, you’ll find inventive scoops like Banana Cream Pie, S’mores, Buckeye, and Salty Caramel Truffle, plus dairy-free options like Chocolate Almond Milk and an oatmilk Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie. It’s a convenient stop if you’re already at The Oaks for a movie or an afternoon of shopping. With a lineup this deep, it’s easy to make it a regular habit.
Tifa Chocolate & Gelato
Thousand Oaks & Agoura Hills
Tifa has been a Conejo Valley staple for almost two decades, and it still runs the way it started: as a family business. Siblings Shawn and Candace craft gelato and chocolate alongside their parents, Mike and Denise, turning out hand-crafted classic and traditional gelato flavors alongside artisan chocolate bars, truffles, and caramels. Add in espresso, pour-over coffee, and fresh pastries, and it’s easy to see why the shop has that “instantly welcoming” feel regulars talk about. With locations in both Thousand Oaks and Agoura Hills, there’s likely one close to wherever you’re starting your day.
Bacio di Latte
The Promenade at Westlake, 4000 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks
Tucked into The Promenade at Westlake, Bacio di Latte brings a genuine taste of Italy to the middle of a shopping trip. The gelato here is handcrafted using premium ingredients and timeless Italian recipes, with classics like pistachio and stracciatella joined by rotating seasonal flavors. Open until 11pm daily, it’s a nice option for an after-dinner stroll through the Promenade or a sweet break between errands.
Carrara’s Pastries
28914 Roadside Drive, Agoura Hills
Carrara’s built its reputation on pastries, and that same care carries straight through to their gelato menu. Every flavor is made using only the finest natural ingredients, no artificial colors or flavorings. Which means what you’re tasting is exactly what it should be. It’s a great stop if you’re already planning a bakery run and want to turn it into a full dessert moment.
Leone’s Italian Ices
1696 E Thousand Oaks Blvd, Thousand Oaks
Leone’s traces its roots back to 1920s Brooklyn, where the original Italian ice recipes were first brought over from Italy. A century later, that same tradition has made its way west, made fresh daily with high-quality ingredients and offered in gluten-free and vegan-friendly options. If you’re after something lighter than traditional ice cream but just as satisfying, Leone’s brings genuine East Coast tradition to a West Coast afternoon.
Michoacán a Pedir de Boca
1044 E Avenida de los Arboles, North Oaks Plaza, Thousand Oaks
For a different kind of frozen treat, Michoacán a Pedir de Boca specializes in authentic Mexican-style ice cream and paletas, with more than 20 ice cream flavors and 30 varieties of freshly made ice pops on offer. The concept draws its name and inspiration from Michoacán, a Mexican state famous for exactly this kind of handcrafted treat, and the shop’s slow, deliberate approach to opening shows in the quality of what comes out of the case. It’s a great way to mix up the usual scoop-and-cone routine with something rooted in a different tradition.
Coaches Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor
3345 Kimber Drive, Unit D, Newbury Park
Coaches leans fully into nostalgia, with a retro atmosphere that feels like a throwback to a different era with service to match. Beyond the classic flavors, they rotate in seasonal specialties like watermelon sorbet, banana Heath bar ice cream, and passionfruit sorbet, each made with the same artisan attention to detail. It’s less about grabbing a quick scoop and more about making an afternoon of it with family or friends.
Honey Cup Coffeehouse & Creamery
360 Via Las Brisas, Newbury Park (Dos Vientos)
Honey Cup wears two hats well: it’s a genuine neighborhood coffeehouse and creamery, with everything from the pastries to the ice cream made in-house. Their coffee program, built on a LavAzza partnership, pairs nicely with a scoop after breakfast or lunch, and weekend visitors can catch rotating chef specials from Executive Chef Alex Montoya. Open mornings through early afternoon, it’s a solid stop if your ice cream craving hits before 3pm.
Ten spots, ten very different takes on what a scoop of ice cream can be. From century-old family recipes to brand-new shops that just opened their doors this year. However you like to cool down this summer, Conejo Valley has a flavor for it. Which one will you try first?
