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About Scoop Microcreamery
Scoop Microcreamery is a small ice cream shop at 203 University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto. It describes itself as a mom and pop shop with a twist. The twist is the method: every batch is frozen with liquid nitrogen, right behind the counter.
The shop changed hands in recent years. A Stanford Daily profile from April 2026 reported that Jennifer and Benjamin Cochran bought the business from its previous owners, Cindy and Dave Somasunderams. The new owners kept the original liquid nitrogen recipes and have added flavors of their own, including a lemon flavor with rosemary that came out in 2025. The same article places the shop next to Araki Sushi and across the street from Lytton Plaza.
The liquid nitrogen method
Most ice cream is churned slowly in a batch freezer, which whips air into the mix. Scoop takes another route. It pours liquid nitrogen at about minus 321°F into a small batch of base, which freezes it in moments. The shop says that because it does not pump air into the mix, the result is denser, creamier and more flavorful. It also argues that small batches mean fresher ice cream than products that sit in a freezer for weeks.
Scoop says it uses organic cream and sources local ingredients when it can. For sampling it uses stainless steel spoons. Its cups, spoons, milkshake cups and napkins are compostable.
Flavors and menu
The menu splits into classic favorites and rotating specials. Classics on the posted list include bourbon vanilla with a salted caramel swirl, a Nutella flavor, peanut butter, classic chocolate, banana, a Speculoos flavor, vanilla bean, strawberry and a peach and mango sorbet. Recent specials have included black sesame, cardamom ginger, brown sugar banana, Thai tea, lychee, ube, buko (young coconut), pistachio, rocky road and a mint chocolate chip flavor called Grasshopper Pie.
Beyond cups and cones, Scoop serves milkshakes, sundaes and banana splits, affogato and pints to take home. The shop warns that its flavor board is updated throughout the day, so the online list is a guide rather than a promise.
The shop
Scoop is a small storefront rather than a sit-down parlor. The Stanford Daily described the inside as a mix of retro and futuristic, with black and white tiles and a handwritten flavor board set against the industrial mixers that make each batch. The owners told the paper they work to keep a mom and pop feel. Many of their customers are neighborhood regulars who stop in every week.
It suits a dessert stop after dinner downtown, a treat for kids or a pint to take home. Sundaes and banana splits are an easy choice if you want to share.
Dietary notes
Scoop labels many flavors on its menu as gluten free, including chocolate, vanilla bean, strawberry, pistachio and several specials. Fruit sorbets such as peach and mango or raspberry are marked vegan as well as gluten free. Toppings and mix-ins can change that, so ask staff before ordering if you have an allergy or celiac disease.
Delivery and parties
For delivery, the shop links to DoorDash and Grubhub. It also offers a do-it-yourself ice cream party service: it can deliver, or you can pick up, single serve cups or pints along with the supplies for a party. Call or email the shop to arrange it, since it is handled directly rather than online.
Tips for visiting
Scoop stays open later than most shops downtown, until 10 p.m. most nights and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. That makes it an easy stop after dinner on University Avenue or a film at the Stanford Theatre. Monday is the short day, closing at 8 p.m. Every day opens at noon.
Parking downtown is a mix of metered and time-limited spaces and city garages. On a warm evening the line can move slowly while each batch is frozen, so plan a few extra minutes. For other frozen treats nearby, see our ice cream guide. Our downtown Palo Alto guide covers what else is within a few blocks.
Location and getting there
Scoop Microcreamery is at 203 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area of Palo Alto. Our Downtown guide covers what else is around.
The Palo Alto Caltrain station is less than a quarter mile away, a walk of a few minutes.
Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).
Hours
| Monday | 12 to 8 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Tuesday to Thursday | 12 to 10 p.m. |
| Friday and Saturday | 12 to 11 p.m. |
| Sunday | 12 to 10 p.m. |
Hours from the business's own website, checked October 30, 2026.
What is nearby
- Tane Vegan Izakaya, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
- Rangoon Ruby, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
- Pho Ha Noi, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
- Pizza My Heart, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
- Palo Alto Bicycles, studio or gym, under 0.1 mi
- Lytton Plaza, under 0.1 mi
- University Avenue, under 0.1 mi
- Cogswell Plaza, under 0.1 mi
Other bakeries, ice cream and sweets nearby: Salt & Straw (under 0.1 mi); Marvel Cake (under 0.1 mi); Alegio Chocolate (under 0.1 mi); Timothy Adams Chocolates (0.1 mi). Browse the full bakeries, ice cream and sweets list.
Before you go
- Popular items can sell out by early afternoon, especially on weekends. Go early for the best choice.
- Many bakeries take orders for cakes and large quantities. Allow a few days' notice for special orders.
- Seating is often limited, so plan to take treats to a nearby park if the shop is busy.
About this listing
Checked October 30, 2026 against Scoop Microcreamery official website; Scoop Microcreamery menu; Scoop Microcreamery: About us; The Stanford Daily, April 2026. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Scoop Microcreamery in Palo Alto?
Scoop Microcreamery is at 203 University Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Downtown area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.2 miles away.
How is Scoop Microcreamery ice cream made?
Scoop makes its ice cream in small batches frozen with liquid nitrogen at about minus 321°F. The shop says this freezes the base quickly without pumping air into it, which gives a denser and creamier scoop than conventional batch freezing.
Does Scoop Microcreamery have vegan or gluten-free flavors?
Yes. The posted menu marks most classic flavors as gluten free and lists fruit sorbets, such as peach and mango or raspberry, as vegan. Flavors change through the day, so ask at the counter.
Where is Scoop Microcreamery?
Scoop is at 203 University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto, next to Araki Sushi and across from Lytton Plaza, according to a 2026 Stanford Daily profile.
What are Scoop Microcreamery's hours?
Monday: 12 to 8 p.m.; Tuesday to Thursday: 12 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 12 to 11 p.m.; Sunday: 12 to 10 p.m..