Top pick1
Dave's Ice Cream At The Ilikai
Food Store
Specialty shop serving imaginative ice cream & sherbet flavors like kona coffee & lychee.
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Waikiki is one of the sweetest stretches on Oahu, and with 32 dessert spots to choose from, knowing where to go makes all the difference. I pulled together this guide combining my own verified picks with the area's best-rated shops — so whether you're after a scoop, a shave ice, or a gelato, you'll find something worth the stop.
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Topping the list is Dave's Ice Cream At The Ilikai, a specialty shop our editors personally recommend for its imaginative flavors like kona coffee and lychee — look for the NateEatsHawaii badge on his verified picks throughout the page. Beyond that, spots like Ice Monster Hawaii have built a strong reputation for Taiwanese-style shaved ice in flavors like matcha and papaya, while the IL Gelato locations scattered across Waikiki are well-known for blending traditional Italian gelato with Hawaiian-inspired flavors.
The rest of the list — including Aloha Icelabs, Banan Waikiki Beach Shack, and Gecko Girlz Shave Ice — rounds out 32 dessert destinations rated by real visitors to the site. Spots that our editors have personally visited carry the NateEatsHawaii badge, so you can always tell which recommendations come straight from his own experience.
FAQ
Dave's Ice Cream At The Ilikai earns the top spot as a NateEatsHawaii-verified recommendation, known for creative flavors like kona coffee and lychee. Beyond that, highly rated options like Ice Monster Hawaii and the IL Gelato cafes are popular picks among visitors.
Waikiki has several well-regarded shave ice options, including Aloha Icelabs in Dukes Lane, Gecko Girlz Shave Ice and Ice Cream Shop, and Haleiwa Town Shave Ice, all located within the neighborhood and rated by real visitors on NateEatsHawaii.
This is a curated guide that places our editors' personally verified picks first, followed by the highest-rated dessert spots in Waikiki based on real visitor ratings collected on NateEatsHawaii. The list is reviewed regularly to reflect the current dessert scene across the area's 32 qualifying spots.
Desserts
Waikiki
The experiences I actually send visitors on.
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