Our best addresses for artisanal ice cream in Saint-Jean-de-Monts

When you think of holidays in Saint-Jean-de-Monts, images of warm sand, cycling on wooded trails and crispy waffles spontaneously spring to mind.

But for many, the real sensory landmark is that first artisanal ice cream tasted in the sun, feet in flip-flops, glasses still fogged up from the sea.

In the city center, on the esplanade or a stone’s throw from the beach, artisanal ice cream parlors compete in freshness and creativity to attract vacationers.

Local flavors, vitamin-packed sorbets, generous ice cream: there’s no shortage of places to go, but you just need to know where to go if you don’t want to waste your quota of cones.

Les Places Dorées, your 4-star campsite in Saint-Jean-de-Monts , guides you through the best places for homemade ice cream, to enjoy between two dives or after a walk in the forest.

>>> I discover the family activities offered by the Les Places Dorées campsite

The pleasure of short circuits in your cone

In Saint-Jean-de-Monts, enjoying homemade ice cream isn’t just a sweet treat. It’s often a conscious choice to promote local producers and to prefer authentic flavors to standard recipes.

On the edge of the esplanade, Louise Glaces embodies this taste for short supply chains. Each flavor comes directly from their workshop, prepared with milk from Vendée farms and full-fruit sorbets . A strawberry tastes like jam, a lemon awakens like a zest of sunshine.

Their choice of local ice creams also reflects a deliberate seasonality: no melon in April, but a salted butter caramel to die for, as soon as the weather is right.

An artisan ice cream maker in Saint-Jean-de-Monts is also an ambassador for the region, spoonful after spoonful.

More discreet addresses, for the truly curious

When the queues grow longer in front of the big seaside stores, the regulars escape to more discreet spots – the ones whispered about between two deckchairs.

Tony Gelati , located on Avenue de la Mer, is one of those names that circulates much faster than its storefront suggests. Here, the flavors rotate often, but the classics remain steadfast: Sicilian pistachio, grand cru chocolate, yogurt with fruit flakes.

Just behind the tourist office , Reynier Glacier has managed to attract a demanding clientele thanks to its short and well-executed menu. It offers original ice creams like the salted caramel cookie , as well as crispy waffles prepared fresh to order.

What do they have in common? Artisanal ice cream that doesn’t cheat on textures or honest flavors.

A moment to share with the family, between two swims

Enjoying ice cream is not a luxury. It’s often the small, accessible pleasure of the day , the one that brings everyone together, without conflict or screens.

Googli , located just steps from the covered market, understands this well. Its success is based as much on the quality of its artisanal ice cream as on the relaxed, family atmosphere that reigns there. Here, children spend long minutes weighing their options while parents take a breather.

Another summer institution: King Glace , along the seafront. The flavors are generous, sometimes even a little daring — mango-ginger, non-alcoholic mojito — and the waffle cones delight sweet tooths of all ages.

True luxury? Finding an ice cream parlor in Vendée that caters to both adults and children, offering light, fruity flavors and ultra-regressive homemade ice cream .

Also read. 5 seafood restaurants to try in Vendée

Inventive creations to tickle the taste buds

For those who like to get off the beaten track — or simply change from the traditional chocolate-vanilla , Saint-Jean-de-Monts is full of daring ice cream parlors.

Marie Cocotte , initially specializing in churros and crepes, has branched out into homemade ice cream with a gourmet spirit all her own. Her signature flavors? Flambé speculoos, coconut-rum, or caramelized pear-pecan.

At Playa del Sol , we play the visual originality card: spectacular ice cream sundaes, personalized frozen yogurt , and generously served homemade whipped cream.

Here are some creations worth a look:

• Lemon-basil sorbet
• Salted caramel ice cream and crumble
• Locally roasted coffee ice cream
• Frozen yogurt with red fruits and homemade coulis
• Almond milk ice cream, plant-based but delicious

Each bite offers a fresh and joyful alternative to end-of-meal desserts. Enough to make the Saint-Jean-de-Monts ice cream parlor a must-visit, not just a whim during your stay.

>>> I enjoy a homemade ice cream after a dip in the campsite’s aquatic area