Creams & Dreams

Came in cause we were craving ice cream while walking through the promenade. Line wasn’t too long and the service was satisfactory. Cookies N cream is delicious. Highly recommended! Their flavors are so unique and authentic. The green tea taste like actual matcha green tea. Very impressed by this location.

Two times that I have been here my order has been somehow forgotten, and I have been waiting forever. Both times I had to remind about myself and still got the wrong ice-​cream. No apologies, asked for the manager, they said he was not in. Very poor service!

This place is awesome!!! If you’ve never had liquid nitrogen ice cream then you gotta go and check this place out! In a perfect location for the summer, just 3 blocks from Santa Monica beach, it’s a great way to cool off with a creamy treat
We went in today, it was my first time trying nitro ice cream but hey, how can you ruin ice cream?
They don’t have a huge list of flavors but what they do have will satisfy almost everyone’s taste.
Today we tried the Choc Mint, the Cookietella and the very interesting and unusual Creamed Corn & Cheddar scoop. (Interesting to try but sort of like Popcorn jelly beans)
They make each scoop fresh right before your eyes and it’s a treat just watching them do it.
If you like creamy ice cream that isn’t too sweet then you will LOVE this place! I would compare their ice cream more to Gelato than most ice cream you find in the states, with fresh ingredients and a smooth creamy texture.
I will definitely be back for another treat to beat the heat!!!

Definitely like the way the ice cream tastes, you find see them literally making your ice cream in front of you. Only draw back to that is that you wait a while for your ice cream if it’s a hot sunny day. The seating room is small, there are no tables outside, which would probably help or even if they had benches or chairs. But other than that the taste of the ice cream is what will keep me going back.

Feels and tastes like a gimmick. Doesn’t taste like there are quality ingredients, just billowing clouds of hype. Tried it on two separate days and was completely unimpressed. Tried cookies and cream, the chocolate and the orange and honey, which tasted no better than the cheap orangesickles I ate as a kid. Sadly, there is no good ice cream on or near the promenade.

New hip liquid nitro ice cream shop. Nice service, no wait, but ice cream was just okay. Creamy, flavorful, but not sure it’s worth $ 6. I think I’ll pick up some Haagen Dazs on the way home.

‘I_​Scream from the Cloud’
As the Smoke cleared and the
Creamy Concoction is served
You are still Stunned by the
Visuals. In this Laboratory,
Scientists (servers) create a
Nitrogen infused and Supercharged
Cream with Fresh Fruits and Various
candies. This Cream will make You
Do just That! And possibly whilst
you Sleep. A Cream Dream Indeed!

I’ve been to several places that use liquid nitrogen in the ice cream making process. This place is pretty good because there are a variety of selections of ice cream flavors to choose from. We got the cookies and cream and the vanilla. After placing my order I found out that you can actually get a split scoop. Try that so you can get more flavors. The ice cream is very rich and Creamy! Yum! Try if you’re in the area.

Smell sweetness as I walk through the entrance surrounded with purple cloudy walls. Decent line to order and wait for the order to be made; parking is also hard to find on the streets.
I had a sample of Fresh Avocado ice cream just to see if I like it, didn’t think I like it as much; I stick to one of my favorite ice cream flavor that I see up on their menu, Mint Chip ice cream and taste pretty normal.
As I wait for my order after placing our order, I noticed they make the ice cream in front of you. They are using the liquid-​nitrogen air with their machine to mix the jar of your ice cream; that was quite interesting to see since most ice cream places are just pour or scoop.

A very clean place and friendly, helpful staff. I ordered a small latte and orange chocolate macaroni. The latte was frothy, and rich in texture and flavor. The macaroni was cold and went well with my latte! Overall while expensive my experience was positive!

Browsing the streets of Santa Monica, this little ice cream parlor caught my interest quickly. Liquid Nitrogen ice cream? Though I have heard of liquid nitrogen’s use in ice cream making, I have never been so close to acquiring such a novelty. So I had to try it! I was impressed with the wide arrange of flavors, ranging from fresh avocado to fresh orange with honey, and settled on matcha green tea, a classic go-​to flavor for myself that was recommended by the cashier. Seeing my ice cream being made was a big WOW factor for me (you can see my video!), I felt like I paid more for the dramatic cooking more than everything. It was super neat to see the smokey liquid spilled into the mixers on the counter and seeing the smoke creep all over the preparation surface.
When I finally got my matcha ice cream, I took a bite and found the ice cream extremeeeeeely thick. Perhaps it was because it was just made and just frozen with the liquid nitrogen? After waiting a while and walking about the sunny Santa Monica shopping area, it stayed the same, thick consistency, making me that out. The matcha ice cream was alright, and it didn’t blow me away like the liquid nitrogen performance did.
If you never had or seen liquid nitrogen being used to make ice cream before, I highly suggest you check Creams & Dreams out. I think its a novelty shop that will not fail in exciting you, or your friends and family!

Four stars just for the name.
Surprisingly Santa Monica has almost no ice cream spots. Plenty of frozen yogurt and even gelato, but if you’re looking for ice cream: good luck. But Creams & Dreams can give you your ice cream fix.
I came here with some friends on a Tuesday afternoon after hunting for ice cream for a solid 30 minutes. The nitrogen cooled ice cream seems to be done more for show than for flavor as the ice cream tasted no different than other ice cream elsewhere, but it was more expensive (because Santa Monica and nitrogen). That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed my coffee float, and will definitely be back when I’m in Santa Monica and need an ice cream fix.

The texture isn’t the creamiest, but the taste is good and watching them make the ice cream with the liquid nitrogen is entertaining for the kids. We ordered the strawberry ice cream and the orange honey ice cream — both were pretty tasty. The kiddo’s favorite was the strawberry (of course), but I actually preferred the orange honey with its real orange pulp and drizzles of honey.
Would definitely be willing to come back anytime I’m at the Promenade (so conveniently located), though my favorite ice cream stores are still Sweet Rose Creamery and Salt & Straw.

I ordered the green tea ice cream with the waffle and Oreo & almond toppings. The ice cream was delicious. It tastes just like unsweetened green tea and the Oreos paired perfectly with it.
Upon receiving my order I noticed there wasn’t much toppings on it, but as I reached the bottom, I saw that all the toppings were on the bottom (they actually put a lot). I also thought my waffle would be crunchy but it was soft, but still tasted well with the ice cream. The ice cream itself is very creamy and I had to put in some effort to scoop a piece onto my spoon.
Overall a tasty dessert :)

With a name like Creams & Dreams, how can the little kid in me not want to at least try this place. Having checked out a few nitrogen placed ice cream shops such as Creamistry, I was interested in seeing what a similar shop that caters to those along the Promenade could offer. Luckily, Creams & Dreams does not disappointed. If you’re getting nitrogen based ice cream almost anywhere, you can except a fun sight of the staff making the ice cream, a ice cold, silky smooth texture, and a relatively hefty price tag for ice cream.
I got the green tea flavor, which tasted very much like what you expect a cup of unsweetened green tea to taste. The cookies and cream flavor was far tastier and I would go back for that. Overall, a nice addition to the promenade if you’re looking for a cool spin on ice cream.

Who says science isn’t fun?
Be prepared to treat yourself to nitrogen ice cream. It’s a cool idea, although a bit pricy. ($ 6 for a small, $ 7 for a medium) Most ice cream places let you have two flavors for a small, but they won’t let you do that here. Luckily, the medium size was generous and enough for two people.
Definitely get the orange honey flavored ice cream. It’s like a toned down version of a creamsicle and not as fake tasting. The ice cream itself is refreshing and the bits of honey adds a nice touch. The nutella and cookie butter flavor of course is amazing… especially if you’re a cookie (butter) monster like me.

«So you’re gonna write a review for them while eating at another ice cream place?»
Lol yes!!! I won’t say where I’m having ice cream but I sure wish I was at creams &dreams instead. My hubby loves ice cream so we’re checking out ice cream joints often and I’m still hooked on creams &dreams. Every time I feel hopeful &give a new place a try, I think to myself making the drive would’ve been worth it.
Their ice cream has this consistency and texture that’s so deliciously creamy. Meter parking is good. It’s really right there on the 3^rd street promenade so the trip for ice cream would be worth it :)

I be creaming till I’m dreaming; dreaming till I’m creaming. Ice cream so good I’m busting a rap over here. Ice cream so orgasmic a small cup is not enough and a bigger size is a must.
This cute little spot right off the Promenade has been on my «must come and pig out on ice cream» lists for awhile. The name itself is enticing. From the name alone I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.
Creams & Dreams for some odd reason makes me think of wet dreams and who doesn’t like that? And even better if in that wet dream there is delicious ice cream being made in a high tech concoction liquid nitrogen style by a sexy buxom brunette… licking her lips like come taste this.
Perhaps I’m too high off the delicious avocado ice cream I just had or perhaps it’s late and I need to get to sleep and when I wake up tomorrow I will re-​read my review and wonder what the heck I even wrote; but one thing is for certain that tonight I will be dreaming and creaming about ice cream… in the most innocent way possible of course. No buxom brunettes involved, promise ;)

$ 5.75 for a single scoop. Yes, there is theater in watching them make it. Yes, their flavors are a bit different, orange with honey. But the actual ice cream wasn’t that orangey in flavor despite the peels in it. The honey didn’t add much. So it was pretty disappointing all the way. I don’t mind paying an arm and a leg for quality but it falls short, very short, of expectations, especially when that scoop comes and it’s smaller than your average place with a taste that’s more like vanilla, it’s definitely not worth recommending. I really wanted to love this place. Really really.

Suzie Q’s Fun Facts:
This small chain of liquid nitrogen ice cream shops currently includes only this new «flagship» Santa Monica location, another outlet in Chino Hills, CA, and one other in Davie, Florida.
=≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅≅~
I noticed recently that upscale jeweler Frey Wille had disappeared from this plum, marble-​festooned, Promenade-​adjacent spot. I was bemused to see the sign advertising its imminent replacement: An ice cream shop. I wondered how an ice cream shop (as compared with, say, an upscale jeweler) could possibly bring in enough revenue to make rent.
Fast forward to Halloween 2015. On the day after Halloween (their opening day), I happened to walk past Creams and Dreams with my mom, and noticed that it had finally opened. Despite being not that hungry (we’d just eaten lunch at the Blue Plate Oysterette a few blocks away), the plumes of liquid nitrogen exhaust and menu with tantalizing descriptions drew us in.
At about 3 pm on a Sunday, I observed that C&D didn’t have many other customers. But there were around 6 – 7 clerks and ice cream makers standing idle behind the counter. [Note to owners: You might consider reducing your staff-​to-​customer ratio to ensure a sufficient profit margin!]
As for the menu: It included such interesting and unusual offerings as «Orange and honey,» «Creamed corn with cheddar cheese,» and «Avocado.» The staff was kind enough to let my mom and I try a few flavors first, including orange and honey (which, while it sounded delicious, was not nearly sweet enough; it tasted kind of like frozen English clotted cream with orange rind and just a little honey. Perhaps add a little sugar and orange oil or «essence» to your «milk base,» C&D?).
To our mutual surprise, my mom and I chose avocado as the winner. She also picked the wild berry, and the staff was kind enough to give us a small scoop of both flavors in our single «small» cup.
I watched in fascination as the creamistas (my version of «ice cream barista») whipped up fresh ice cream using liquid nitrogen, frothing the cream in huge silver bowls. The spectacle is part of the appeal, that’s for sure!
As for the ice cream itself: It was unusually dense and rich, like Italian gelato, not fluffy like traditional ice cream. Almost custard-​like in consistency. The avocado ice cream, in particular, was a delightful surprise: We couldn’t believe that an ingredient that is normally salted and tops salads could taste so good when made over into dessert!
I really enjoyed my ice cream. Although I miss the dearly departed Angelato Café, which (before it shuttered) offered a ton more flavors than C&D offers. And unlike C&D, who only sells full-​fat dairy ice cream, Angelato offered a great variety of lower calorie, low sugar and non-​dairy options. Hopefully, C&D will expand to offer more options in the future.