Best Candy Shops On The Peninsula
Young's Ice Cream and Candy Bar
2020 Broadway St
Redwood City, CA 94063
(650) 364-7500
youngsicecream.com
Your kid – or the kid in you – won't be able to resist a visit to Young's. You'll recognize it by the old-fashioned "drugstore" sign out front. One convenient location in downtown Redwood City provides a charming place to browse for candy, ice cream and gift items while receiving friendly service. Try some of the decadent chocolates or visit the Jelly Belly mini wall. Definitely bring your children here: if they can resist the candy store in front, they'll love the play area and hands-on puzzle table in back.
Powell's Sweet Shoppe
1166 Howard Ave
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 344-4478
powellssweetshoppe.com
Do you know which Peninsula city is home to the Pez Museum and Guittard Chocolates? It would be difficult to find a better location for a "sweet" dreams fantasy than downtown Burlingame, where you can stroll down memory lane by playing Candy Land on an outdoor table before visiting Powell's Sweet Shoppe, filled with an unimaginable variety of chocolates and sweets. A courteous staff serves up fudge at reasonable prices for a great taste of good chocolate, as well as 50 different Pez dispensers, 10 flavors of Pop Rocks, Toblerone, Chocolate Oranges, Moon Pies, British chocolates, Wonka Bars, Jelly Bellies, taffy and Mike & Ike's. This place even has those candy cigarettes that older generations used to pretend to smoke. If you're nostalgic for a good old-fashioned sugar fix, Powell's is the shop that will have you thinking you won the golden ticket. There are a few movie theater seats so you can sit while watching "Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory" playing on the screen. Bonus: join Powell's Sweet E-Club for a free gelato on your birthday, along with an e-coupon for 10% off your next candy purchase.
Preston's Candy and Ice Cream
1170 Broadway
Burlingame, CA 94010
(650) 344-3254
prestonscandy.com
At the age of 15, Arthur Preston apprenticed to a candymaker, later using his World War II G.I. Bill loan to open a store in 1946, explaining why Preston's has an authentic mid-20th-century ambiance. Every day, Preston's artisans carry on Arthur's tradition of small-batch candy and ice cream manufactured in its Burlingame kitchen, winning awards including Grand Champion in the International Truffle Competition. Approximately 60 years of candy-making experience ensures Preston's knows how to satisfy your craving for delicious, wholesome confections. If you want to see the candy and chocolate-dipping processes, visit the store any weekday morning to see the Oompa Loompas hard at work and sample their wares. Try the Coffee Blacks or the English Toffee.
Half Moon Bay Salt Water Taffy Company
270 Capistrano Road
Half Moon Bay, CA 94019
(650) 726-2284
halfmoonbaytaffy.com
You might recollect that your childhood trips to the beach weren't complete until you had a piece of salt-water taffy, a delectable seashore sweet which legend says was named in the late 1800s by David Bradley, a candy man in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After a storm flooded his shop, he sold "salt water taffy" as a joke, but customers were pleased and the name was adopted. Half Moon Bay Salt Water Taffy, on the waterfront in this historic town, is filled with barrels of the largest selection of taffy on the Peninsula. Grab a bag to fill with your favorite flavors. With options like peach, rocky road, huckleberry or tutti fruitti, you'll want to try them all. The friendly staff is glad to provide a few samples so you can make an informed decision for your mix-and-match combo.
Related: Bay Area's Best Cookies
The Candy Oasis
1905 Palmetto Ave, Suite A
Pacifica, CA 94044
(650) 735-1871
thecandyoasis.com
Kids and adults both frequent this immaculate shop to feast on their favorite candy. You'll find nostalgic varieties, many flavors of incredibly delicious fudge (rum, pumpkin and more), sweet and sour gummy shapes, wax coke bottles, sugar-free chocolate and even sugar-free Jelly Bellies. The candies have a wide range of prices from expensive (but not overly so) to children's allowance-affordable treats, and the owners provide samples with a smile.
