Toy Boat Dessert Cafe

Toy Boat is the closest ice cream shop (walking distance) and has the coolest atmosphere inside. They have 1980s toys all over the place, and it will make you feel like a kid again. They also have a small toy pony that kids can ride on. The ice cream gets the job done; it may not be the fancy small batch artisanal flavors of other spots, but it’s still high quality, and for kids you can’t beat the atmosphere (and distance from home). They also make fabulous other deserts such as all types of cheesecakes and pies. Oh, and if you’ve never had an egg cream, this is one of the few places in SF that serves them (don’t worry, there’s neither egg nor cream, but it’s a classic 50’s diner drink, originally from New York City). Oh, and they serve coffee, sandwiches, salads, and more.

Jesse Fink is the longtime owner, and a super cool guy. He donates gift cards to our kids’ elementary school and is a big fan of home sharing and how it brings tourists to neighborhoods like the Inner Richmond, helping the local economy. If you see him, tell him you’re staying in a short-term rental / Airbnb and that he was mentioned in our guidebook. He’ll be happy to see you.