Who doesn’t like a sweet pastry or a cup of ice cream? Indeed, dessert is the ultimate of all the Sanibel Island kid-friendly activities.
While true, a sweet dessert is great for kids, the big secret in life is that dessert is amazing for all ages. There’s nothing a tasty sweet can’t make better for some added romance or a playful activity for the tots.
We look at the finest dessert on Sanibel Island, from big cups of ice cream to delicately hand-crafted pastries.
Sanibel’s Best Homemade Ice Cream
We start with the big one- and for some, the only necessary sweet on the list. Sanibel’s Best Homemade Ice Cream is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday. It specializes in assorted cups and cones of delightfully-made quality ice cream. You’ll also find sandwiches, whoopie pies, and some big hand-crafted desserts. We recommend the Shell Seekers, ice cream topped with mixed nuts, strawberry, coconut, and chocolate chips. We also love the Ally the Alligator, with its peanut butter ice cream, hot fudge, and blended Reese’s pieces.
The shop with the best ice cream on the island is located at 362 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, Fl.
Love Boat Ice
Love Boat may not be a candlelight and roses romantic dinner. However, there is still something charming, lovely, and beautiful about a cup of ice cream at Love Boat Ice.
Love Boat strives for authentic ingredients- and delivers big. The focus on seasonal and classic allows them to offer fresh ice cream selections appropriate for the time of year, including selections like peppermint, egg nog, apple cider, and pumpkin, all usually available from early fall through late winter.
Classics include favorites like coconut almond fudge, coffee, butter pecan, health bar, cherry vanilla, blueberry cheesecake, black cherry, cookie dough, pistachio, and around 90 others.
This beloved local favorite has three locations in southeast Florida. The Sanibel Island spot is located at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Unit #9, Sanibel Island, FL 33957 in Jerry’s Plaza. It is open from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. every day.
Sanibel Bean
Sanibel Bean is one of the best spots on the island for an authentic espresso. Grab a Shot in the Dark double espresso, a Café Mocha, Espresso Con Panna with whipped cream, or the Island’s Best, an Espresso Macchiato Double espresso with a dollop of frothed milk.
Coffee aside, what about the sweets? It wouldn’t make the cut without some awesome desserts, like homemade pastries. Sanibel bean is an exquisite coffee spot and a fantastic place for an early-afternoon snack. It’s found at 2240 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957 and is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
Jerry’s Foods
Jerry’s Foods is eclectic enough to count as one of the coolest Sanibel Island things to do. Stop by Jerry’s Foods for all food needs. It is a butcher shop, a bakery, and a kitchen all in one. It is ideal for stocking up on assorted groceries and perhaps even saving a bit of money from dining out every evening.
It also has generous hours. You will find it open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Like any good grocery store, it includes all the tasty sweets you could hope for, like pints of ice cream, frozen fruit, cookies, and more. You can always take your grocery items down to the Sanibel Island public beaches. Just be sure to leave with any packaging or utensils.
Schnapper’s Hots
If you thought you had enough ice cream, think again! Schnapper’s Hots boldly delivers burgers, hot dogs, and other American food staples with extra splashes of assorted milkshakes. It’s one of the iconic Sanibel restaurants. This old-fashioned, genuine local treat is all about offering that vintage Old Florida burger shack vibe. The bright pink exterior matched with the sunny yellow roof really pops. It’s all in service of desserts like a hot fudge sundae, root beer float, and Big Olaf ice cream.
It is open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and is located at 1528 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957.
Plan Your Visit
Do not miss any of the above Sanibel Island family-friendly activities. Make sure everyone in the family feels part of the adventure away. View our Sanibel Island listings covering cozy Florida cottages to large properties right on the water.