Once positioned as a short-term pop-up museum, The Museum of Ice Cream in San Francisco is on Grant Street for the foreseeable future. The exhibit has been updated since launch, and the current theme is summer camp, complete with enthusiastic staffers and merit badge-earning activities.
The installation, a series of ten interactive rooms, begins when you enter the pink double doors and whisk down a pink tunnel slide. The first assignment is to come up with an ice cream-themed name (like a camp name or trail name) and put it on your name tag. I chose “Gelateria”, which I quickly learned no one can pronounce. My daughter was smart and went with “Sugar” while her friend named herself “Mint Chip”.
Design elements of the Museum include psychedelic rainbow unicorns that you can sit on; a fifties-style diner that serves only soft-serve ice cream; a tropical garden where pink bananas grow; and, the renowned Sprinkle Pool.
Ticket buyers select a timeslot for the days the pop-up is open, Wednesday-Monday: 11 AM – 10 PM (Tuesday: Closed).
The price of admission includes half a dozen tastings and edible treats! Tickets are $38 per person and are available in advance online only.
Taking photos is half the fun, and my daughter and I agreed it’s about an hour of fun. We thank the Museum of Ice Cream for inviting us. This mom would not have taken two kids for a one-hour outing that costs 3 x $38.
This is a perfect date night or girl’s night out activity.
The Museum of Ice Cream is an inclusive space that welcomes folx of all abilities, shapes, colors, and gender identities. We particularly loved that they sold adorable enamel pins in the gift shop with pronouns on them, including they/them.
If you won’t be going to the Museum, but are interested, follow along on Instagram: @museumoficecream (#museumoficecream).