Nico’s Ice Cream

Lovely little ice cream shop right on Cannery Row. Very quiet at 4pm on a Tuesday perfect for post-run sweet treat. Authentic New Zealand Style ice cream, only a few options, but you can’t go wrong no matter what you choose. Zayne took our order and he was very kind and informative. Thanks for the ice cream and good vibes!

The ice cream is amazing, it tastes really good and the portion size is pretty big. The staff is very welcoming. Shoutout to Lizzie, she took and made our order, and she was incredibly nice and helpful. Would definitely recommend you go check this place out :)

My little family and I went by to Nico’s yesterday afternoon and it was absolutely delicious. I had the pineapple and my husband and kids had the banana flavor. On Thursday’s they have tropical flavor ice cream. We will definitely be back. It was so yummy affordable and the place had a bunch of cute signs. Perfect for IG pictures.

TOP NOTCH! Love the blackberry ice cream. Just the right amount of sweetness. The location is great... I got to share my ice cream with a chicken on Cannery Row! Will definitely be back : )

Started coming here a few weeks ago and have recommended to everyone we know! Seriously delicious ice cream, every flavor we’ve tried has been fantastic. Tropical Thursdays were a great surprise too - be sure to check out their awesome other flavors! The pineapple and banana are to-die-for. This little ice cream shop is a great addition to our Monterey community. Cool for locals and tourists alike. Everyone there has been super nice and kind too :)

Excellent taste! I recently returned from a trip to New Zealand to visit friends, and was curious if anyone did ice cream in their style back home. Lo and behold, one of the few places is nearby! Only four flavors around today. But I got the idea that there are some others on different days. The best one I found in NZ was a mango + passion fruit one, so with any luck one of those might be around at some point. Ah, one funny downside, though many would say it isn't one: I wound up with too much ice cream ^^;. Sort of an American stereotype to have huge portion sizes. I do wish a half size come were available, but there are simple enough solutions to that ^^

Amazing strawberry real fruit ice cream. Generous portions. So nice and fresh for a summer day. I’m from New Zealand and this reminded me so much of home. True kiwi classic.

Pretty good. Limited flavors. Nice enough staff. Good sized portion.

We stopped here after the aquarium. It was really good and the customer service was amazing. The ice cream was fresh and the fruits were very good also. It's tucked away and in a secluded spot, but it's worth searching for it.

We've had their ice cream from the Santa Cruz location so when we found ourselves in Monterey looking for a sweet snack after an aquarium visit, we decided to pop in. It's in Cannery Row but a little tucked away in a not as trafficked area and inside is nothing fancy- just walk up to the counter, order, and take it to go since there aren't any seats inside (but a few outside on the path). They blend fruit into a custard base and they way they blend it integrates the fruit pretty nicely. Not overly sweet but you can also add toppings for an additional cost. The mixer doesn't appear to be cleaned or changed up after each order so you may get a hint of whatever fruit the previous order was. Overall, a good tasting ice cream after a day of exploring!

The customer service is fantastic, when I walked in the cashier already ready to help. I told the cashier I was not ready and cashier replied nicely. Take your time! After ordering, I saw a signed said birthdays get free ice cream or 7 days after. Pretty nice of the store owner to offer the length to claim the birthday gift. Over very satisfied with service and the ice cream with real fruits is also great.

This simple ice cream spot offers just a handful of flavors where their specialty is to mix in dried fruits into vanilla soft serve. It's quite simple but the flavor is pretty tasty and fresh on a hot day. The servers were nice in explaining the mechanism of their ice cream machine, and there's some bar seating where you can watch the server mix in fruit. It's coastal spot with lots of pictures on the walls that children have colored.

The ice cream is super light and creamy. There are limited fruit flavors, but they can also serve plain vanilla or chocolate ice cream as well if you're not a fan of fruit. Overall love the simplicity and creaminess of ingredients.

We were looking for a dessert after a very nice dinner this evening - but he restaurant's desserts were lacking. I continue being disappointed recently with restaurants' dessert menus. We left the Cannery Row establishment looking for ice cream - we found only 2 choices. 1) Dippin Dots - which shouldn't count as legitimate ice cream, and 2) Nico's - which was amazing! It's 'simply' made, taking a great vanilla custard base and adding only blueberries. However, the mixing machine whips it in such a way, the texture and flavor is incredible. It's a little gem in Cannery Row, and a must try!

8.4/10 Both flavors were great, but I particularly liked the strawberry more since it was sweeter! I enjoyed the texture from the fruit, which definitely made it unique. The only downside was that it wasn't the sweetest more like a sorbet but I still enjoyed it because it was soft serve. Service was quick and efficient, and the place was nice and clean. I also enjoyed the ambiance, especially the kids' artwork on the walls, which gave it a unique and charming touch.

We walked in 5 mins to closing on Saturday night. The young lady working was so nice and patient since our 1st time there. She explained everything from vegan options, flavors and that it was based out of Portland. We all picked raspberry flavor and it was delicious. Not to sweet just perfect. If we ever visit Monterey again we will definitely go back to Nico's .

Tried it again today and it was way better. Got the raspberry and blueberry with coconut flakes. Service was fast even though the place was about to close the worker still helped us out.

Interesting spot! The real fruit ice cream is definitely legit, very creamy and smooth, with berry seeds mixed in. The consistency is soft and velvety. A bit pricier than I think it should be, and there is no seating inside, so it is more of a grab-and-go place. One thing to note is that they re-use the mixer after each serving, so my ice cream had hints of other fruit flavors, which felt like cross-contamination. Worth trying at least once, but something to keep in mind!

This place is inside a shopping area. I love how simple it was to order and pick your flavors. Its not the best ice cream I've ever had but its good. Great service from the lady too.

I found this place on Yelp while browsing ice cream places, and it did not disappoint. I was actually expecting a typical soft serve but this tasted more like yogurt, which I didn't mind at all. I liked that it's not as sweet as soft serve and it does feel a bit "healthier." Would definitely come back!

Honestly was skeptical but proven wrong! All I saw were 5 stars and less than 100 reviews on both Google and Yelp, so I wasn't a big believer in the hype, but I was wrong. I love ice cream and Nico had some solid soft serve ice cream. We went with the blackberry flavor with Graham powder and chamoy, and it perfect harmony..... Don't be deceived by the hard to find location, and the interior design. The taste is what makes a place great and Nico has it!! PS Wed 11/27 only staff working was super friendly and welcoming. Keep it up!!

Today we finally got an opportunity to try Nico's Ice Cream in Cannery Row. They offer four fruit flavors; blackberry, blueberry, raspberry and strawberry. You can mix a couple fruits too if you like. I had the blackberry with a sprinkle of graham cracker dust while my husband had blueberry with coconut flake sprinkles. This stuff is delicious. So creamy and the fruit flavors are wonderful. On Thursdays, they offer tropical flavors. I plan to try a mix of pineapple and mango with Chamoy and Tajin while my husband has already said he wants the banana. Zane took great care of us and is super personable. He's very interested in pleasing the locals as we will be his repeat business. There is some comfortable seating at a counter inside and they offer coloring stations and pages for the kiddos while you are waiting for your ice cream to be blended. Stop in and give them a try. You won't regret it. After all, "it's almost healthy"!

Good service and atmosphere, enjoyable experience, good location and ice cream has a good flavor and natural with actual pieces of berries, is refreshing and creamy but not heavy. It made for a nice stop on my afternoon walk on Cannery Row. The blackberry is delicious, I wasn't sure what chamoy was so I gave it a try and was pleasantly surprised.

This was my first time at Nico's ice cream. My family drove in from San Jose for an aquarium visit and got a card for a free kids cone so I thought why not. They have a relatively simple menu but what they do serve, they do well. My mom and I both ordered blackberry ice cream with tajin. The ice cream had a lot of flavor without being overly sweet and the sugar cone was fresh. Their shop is small but homey and smells delicious. Looked more like a small corridor than an ice cream shop. So, you have to stand out in the hallway when you're in line. We were greeted with a small and a friendly face when we walked in. All in all, we will definitely be coming back to try the other flavors.

We saw the sign that said real fruit ice cream and being health-conscious but yet wanting a sweet cold treat it peaked our interest. Day at the counter was super friendly and knowledgeable and told us this was a unique type of ice cream from New Zealand where they blend vanilla ice cream with real fruit of your choice. My husband got the Blackberry flavor and absolutely loved it! Too bad they only had two stores in California both of which are Northern California and then some in Colorado as we live in southern california. Maybe they'll consider opening a shop in OC?!

the best! so fresh and flavorful. it was so cute inside as well, service was quick! will be going back

If you love soft serve ice cream and fruit flavored ice cream, you'll LOVE Nico's! It is in my top 3 best ice creams I've ever had! I literally came back in less than 30 minutes to get another flavor option a try! It was so delicious and refreshing! The ice cream is made with fresh frozen fruit, and made right in front of you! The service was amazing! The ambiance was super cute and had many picture opportunities!

I've been wanting to try this place this past summer but when I came by it was still under construction. So, of course I had to go the second I heard this place had already opened! Interior was a great vibe! They had drawings on their back wall which I believe kids (and maybe adults too) had colored which was a great touch. A very small shop located in the back corner of the building. It takes the term "hidden gem" literally. Staff were very friendly and took the time to explain their ice cream and how it works. Basically, it's infused with real fruit hence the limited flavors. But don't let that stray you away!! Their ice cream is so refreshing and has the perfect amount of hinted tart to it. I got a kids cone and it was the perfect size. My friend was telling me they also had a mango and pineapple flavor last time they went. I saw a review that posted a picture of a sign for "Tropical Thursdays", which I assume they have it available then. I chose strawberry with coconut flakes and this might be my go to order already. The coconut flakes add a great texture to the ice cream- if you're sensitive to its taste don't fret! It didn't over power the flavor of the ice cream at all and I honestly barely tasted it. The ice cream tasted great in 50 degree weather at 7pm right next to the ocean. And I'm sure it'll taste even better during the hotter days. Rain or shine- their ice cream is a hit! I'd like to think this as a new staple place to go to especially to those who are just visiting Cannery Row.

Best ice cream spot on the peninsula! If you get overwhelmed with choices this is the spot for you. There's only one flavor option and all you have to do is decide what frozen fruit(s) you want mixed in. They fill this contraption with the desired fruit, add some ice cream, and voila you've got yourself an (almost) healthy treat. The ice cream is flavorful and the little frozen pieces of fruit are so tasty. I hope this place survives because it is in such an odd spot just off the rec trail and buried in the Cannery Row building. They're always so friendly inside and get the orders out quick!

Really flavorful and tasty ice cream using real cut up fruit. I have to say that the process looks really interesting and easy with the machine that they have on-site. We had a chance to speak with one of the people who opened up the establishment in Monterey. He was very friendly, explained where the ice cream came from, and how they recently had just opened up. Ambiance is pretty simple. You could tell that they're still in the process of cleaning up the place, decorating it, organizing products, and so forth. I'm excited to see how their ice cream shop's interior will look like a year from now. At the moment it really is a grab and go sort of place, although they do have limited bar stool seating. It's definitely a place to try if ever you're in Cannery Row. Their ice cream doesn't taste too sweet and is loaded with fresh fruit.

Delicious and flavorful! Really enjoyed this spot. Customer service was great, staff was friendly and attentive. Great spot for a sweet treat.

Best ice cream place ever!! I got the strawberry and blackberry flavor, no topping. It's not overly sweet but super balanced with hint of sweetness and tart flavor

This is a cute little hidden gem of a unique ice cream experience. Tucked in one of the buildings along Cannery Row lies Nico's Ice Cream. They just opened about a month ago and I've always been wanting to try New Zealand style ice cream, so we decided to try it since we were in the area anyway. Not too busy on a Saturday night, we got our ice cream pretty quickly. You can mix flavors as well. We got the blueberry and strawberry with graham cracker dust. The ice cream itself felt very light and healthy - like they use real fresh fruit to make the flavors. One cup is also pretty shareable among 2 people. There are also some seats available inside as well to enjoy your ice cream. They also have a sign that advertises they give out free ice cream for those who have a birthday! Definitely gotta come back during mine ;)

You can mix your ice cream or get one flavor and have multiple options for an added price on toppings. I opted for a children's cup of blackberry ice cream (regular vanilla ice cream mixed with frozen chunks of blackberries to make a soft cone/cup) Very yummy. Today was the grand opening and although there was a line out the door and only one ice cream machine, associates kept the line moving. Bar to sit at and the kids can color, indoor music keeping it light. Worth the wait. Nice job Nico

Super cute little ice cream shop! The staff was so friendly and helpful! We got a raspberry kids cone, a blackberry with coconut sprinkles and strawberry with tajhin and chamoy! They do New Zealand style soft serve so vanilla ice cream with fresh fruit, it firmer than traditional soft serve but softer than getting scooped ice cream kinda like a blended ice cream consistency if that make sense. The portion sizes were great we all got kids cones and felt it was just enough for a sweet treat! Will definitely come back next time we are in Monteray!

Fresh... 1) service wish a smile 2) cones that aren't stale, nice and crispy 3) fruits that have a great flavor and taste 4) -ly made in front of you 5) personal experience in touristy area. Thanks for a wonderful experience

Perfect location about a block from the aquarium. Be careful not to miss it. Inside a walkup courtyard of shops. Small modest sign on the street simply says "fresh fruit ice cream". Fresh fruit and great vanilla cream are pressed together through an ice cream machine ( in the style of Yonanas)

One of the best ice creams I've had in a while. The ice cream was thick and rich, and the mango added to it made it have a nice fresh tartness to it. The guy serving the ice cream was also very nice and explained how the menu worked. Definitely worth stopping by.

Amazing ice cream and even better service! Katie was friendly, sweet, and gave great recommendations for us. She even took the time to show us how the ice cream was made! Using real fruit really enhanced the flavors and took away the artificial sweetener taste you get from other ice cream. Will definitely come back to try all of the flavors whenever we are in town, thanks Katie!

Found this place while exploring. Just ice cream and fruit. A definite must try. Thanks for a refreshing snack

SO delicious!!! Must try, and such a convenient location! I had blackberry, blueberry with coconut, and raspberry. Blackberry was my brother's favorite, blueberry was my sister's favorite, and raspberry was mine, but we all loved them all! 1000/10. Super cute merch inside too. The women working were very nice too. Love that they have lactaid!

Must try this place! We've been waiting for Nico's to arrive in Monterey! What's different about Nico's? It's vanilla ice cream and then choose your fruit choice! The ice cream barista will then mix it in and voila - a beautiful creamy, delicious, tasty creation ! One can also choose toppings but I wanted to taste my blackberry ice cream!

The New Zealand style ice cream here is excellent. We purchased three different flavors, and they were all great. The only negative was the server. She was female, approximately 17, with brown hair, the only employee working on Wednesday night. She was miserable, and obviously hates her job. Nico's would have earned 5 stars if she had been a little more pleasant.

As someone who absolutely loves trying new ice cream spots, I can honestly say this is one of the best I've ever had. It was incredibly fresh, creamy, and full of flavor. It was so good that my husband and I went back twice during our trip to Monterey! Both times, the staff were super sweet and made sure to give us a generous scoop. In terms of ambiance, it's not really a place to sit and eat inside--the lighting is a bit dim and the seating is limited to bar stools. But outside, there are a few benches where we enjoyed our ice cream in the fresh air. I'd definitely recommend this spot to anyone in the area or just passing through!

I'd give this place zero stars if I could. My sister and I were in here last Saturday around 1 pm (2/22/25), enjoyed the ice cream, and by 7 or 8 pm that evening both of us were barfing our guts out. It's now Monday, and we've been sick for almost 2 days, with all the symptoms of food poisoning. In the 2 days prior to Saturday, we'd been eating the same foods at her home without problems. An earlier reviewer said she was concerned about cross-contamination, and for me and my sister it turned out to be true! If you're even thinking about going, think twice!

We had a great experience coming here for a treat. We asked a lot of questions and love the topping options. Loved watching the entire process. We all got a different flavor to try. It's a high tower of ice cream. Small cute place inside shopping center,

Came across this gem on cannery row and it's hidden in the back of one of the buildings. We got the strawberry ice cream with graham cracker dust and it was the BEST ice cream I've ever had in my life! It was a super cute spot that had barstools that you could eat on and also see how the ice cream is made! Definitely coming back here when we're in town!

The ice cream was fresh with frozen fruits made right in front of you. We got it with strawberries and blackberries! It's a cute hidden ice cream place off cannery row!

Nico's is awesome. They take vanilla ice cream and fruit add them together in their cool auger machine and out comes fruit ice cream the consistency of soft serve. It was really good and watching it get made was super cool. Went with a group of 4. The strawberry was delicious as well as the blackberry. I guess I will have to go back and try the other flavors. I will definitely return.

Love love love this place. The service is amazing. Shout out to the manager Zane, super awesome dude and friendly. Love the texture of the ice cream and the flavor is legit. Nico's is our favorite date night outing place.

Simple flavors. They mix the fruit and flavor on the spot. Not pre mixed. Makes the flavors stand out and has creamy texture.

It was soooo delicious! I got the strawberry with some coconut flakes, the combo was chef's kiss and there was a pretty big line but it went by quickly! It was so cold at that time but the corridor up front and little shopping area is warm if you're like me and run cold. Lol you can sit around there too. Also, it's a little tucked away so it might appear closed when it's not! Just walk around the corner! I would definitely suggest my flavor combo!

I'm a local who avoids Canery Row tourist traps most of the time. That being said I recently discovered this hidden gem and it's good enough to get me to pay for parking. My favorite is "tropical Thursday"! They have a choice between mango, pineapple, and banana flavors. Good service and reasonable prices considering its location. Another cool thing is they have an entrance right off the bike path and a bike rack right outside! Great for families renting bikes or people walking the rec trail.

Me and my coworker always love take our breaks together to get some ice cream at Nico's. We especially like the sprinkles they use when we order the strawberry waffle cone with sprinkles. I would highly recommend coming here for a sweet treat!!

BEST ICE CREAM EVER! Such a simple looking shop but will make you not regret coming! The girl at the counter was super sweet and was going back and forth like a champ! I immediately wanted more the second I finished and am sad that I don't live closer to visit more often! A definite must try!

When we went it was nothing other than some umpqua vanilla ice cream smashed together with some frozen strawberries. We watched them combine it. Nothing special.

Ice cream was freaking AMAZING. My family loved it soo much. Service was amazing, Samantha served us and made our ice cream, she was very sweet about our questions. Ambiance is good, bar-like seating. Very cute!