Great build your own ice cream spot! Used a vanilla base with pumpkin spice butter pecan and Oreos with a caramel drizzle. Soooo good.

This business model is brilliant. Hats off to whomever thought up this money printing machine. Limited options, small footprint, and absolutely fantastic flavors. I one hundred percent chose the sea turtle because I wanted the chocolate cake bits. If there was an option for just chocolate cake bits, I would choose that as well. Would be nice to see a non-chocolate type dip, for the non-chocalate fans. But, then again... who doesnt like chocolate?!

This was honestly the best ice cream Ive ever had. I got butterfinger with pretzels and salted caramel drizzle. So bomb 😘😋 Love this place. The town is so cute too.

Heavenly! Its called The Bite Me! I got it as vanilla soft serve on a cone, dipped in chocolate with crushed butterfinger and peanut butter drizzle on top!!!!! It was there best dessert Ive ever had.

I love this concept. So unique. It’s always upbeat and the staff is fun. The menu is delicious. Fun alternative to ice cream cones and fro yo. And if ice cream isn’t your thing you can get a frozen banana. The Englishman is my favorite.

The ice-cream is very delicious and the variety is limited but its unique. My dog also loves the vanilla soft serve and thinks it deserves 4 stars too 😋 (dont worry I only gave her a little bit 😉😂)

It was a new experience for me, the ice cream was not wow, but dipping and topping and drizzle made it something new for me

SO yummy! We come here once a week! The store is always clean and the employees are nice. Wish they had the graham cracker topping all the time!

Such a unique and fun way to present ice cream. Great fun for the kids!

Delicious ice cream bar (chocolate or vanilla) dipped in chocolate and covered with whatever toppings you want. Quick and easy. And if you cant decide what to pick they have options for you. I had the sweet and salty on a chocolate ice cream bar.

In a world full of ice cream shops this joint stands out. If you don’t make a stop here during you SC visit you’re missing out. Super friendly staff helps make sure you get the perfect concoction.

Its a normal ice cream shop. They serve ice cream from a soft serve machine, dip it in chocolate, and you put toppings.Its okay.Its the only ice cream place in this area besides Baskin Robbins (which is down the street.)It is a local business if you want to support them.

Great treats. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate ice cream, or banana — all on a stick. You choose one, then they dip it in melted chocolate, and two toppings of your choice.Tasty! My opinion, however, is that price is too steep for what you get. I get that there are higher rent prices there, but still.**$5.75 each as of this writing.**—>TIP: the banana dipped in chocolate, with toasted coconut, walnuts and chocolate with peanut butter drizzle is delicious!

This place is reminiscent of Bobs Old Fashion Ice Cream Bars back in the era of shopping malls only with a hip beach community vibe. Their ice cream bars are yummy and their customer service is fantastic. They even will do ice cream bar root beer or dr pepper floats, its not the one size fits all bars like Costco had. These are made to order with topping and drizzle options.

Had to try South Swell Hand Dipped Ice Cream in San Clemente because of Instagram posts and it was so good. The ice cream did not disappoint and all the photos you see on Instagram taste better than they look 🍦

Would give it more stars if I could, we had the Bomb Fire and it was absolutely amazing.

Great dessert place. Tried the swirl frozen ice cream cone hand dipped in chocolate sauce with nuts topping. WONDERFUL FROZEN ICE CREAM

The woman working there was super nice! Pretty much my whole family got chocolate ice cream with brownies on the outside. It was really good, and the store was super cute and clean. I wish we lived closer, I would definitely be going there more.

This was a mind blowing experience. I loved the parent trap... I think thats what it was called... oreos and peanut butter... INSANE!! How are these not everywhere?

Our first time here and it was very enjoyable. The staff explained how to order our custom ice cream, and served us with smiles. My daughters enjoyed the flavor of the base ice cream and the fun toppings. The store is very clean with cute decor. We will be back the next time we pass by.

Great customer service. Vanilla and Chocolate ice creams are good, not the banana one.

I had to come here. I grew up with a place called Bobs hand dipped at the mall and missed those bars. This was so good, you can customize your own hand dipped or chose one of their many flavors on the menu.

Love this place. Great service.

Such a fun place! Would highly recommend. Service was amazing and ice cream was even better!!

Great people and ice cream. If you get the soft serve do the cup because you get the toppings in the ice cream as well as on top. Great chocolate as well. Just a good experience.

We had the dipped vanilla bar and a soft serve dipped in chocolate both way better than expected. And even its downtown a pretty fair price.

It was very hot in San Clemente today so we were wanting a cold treat and we found it at South Swell. Our server was very informative about all the choices we could have. She hand dip them right in front of us and applied our two topping choices and the drizzle liberally. I’m so glad they put it in the paper dish because it would have been all over me while I ate it. The toppings were so fresh and the dark chocolate was perfect with the ice cream.Unfortunately there is no place to sit inside and there were only two tables outside the shop. We did find a shaded bench nearby to enjoy our delicious treats. The cost was a bit high -$6.00- but it was worth it!!!

Best ice cream joint ever? Get creative here.

The Ice Cream was great, Will be back when I’m in the area! Lots of toppings and flavors to choose from!

Very cool concept, you pick your icecream bar flavour, it gets dipped and rolled in toppings. My fiancé loved his (peanut butter Oreo), sadly mine didn’t wow me (strawberry shortcake)

Fun place for a quick snack. I chose frozen banana with walnuts and caramel sauce. It was very good!

Unique desserts, and they are soooooo good! Fun to watch being made, too.

At South Swell you choose between a chocolate or vanilla ice cream bar and then have it dipped in chocolate. Next its rolled in your topping of preference. They also have soft serve ice cream.

Was glad they had frozen bananas to choose instead of ice cream. So yummy!

The dipped ice cream is very tasty. However, I am a glutton for every last morsel of sugary goodness I order. With each bite the shell or dip crumbles to the ground or better, my shirt. The product itself if fine but I invariably lose some due to its make-up. The service has always been terrific and the vibe in-store is great. My messiness aside my family always wants to go back.

So delicious! 😎

Such a treat! Delish. You wont be disappointed.

If youre looking for a real ice cream decadent splurge, this is the place!

Hands down the best after dinner ice cream place. Really fun to go window shopping at Sams shoes next door while youre eating your delicious dessert.

My kids LOVE Southswell! Well, me too. So, lets talk about me. My favorite topping is The Castaway......I love coconut! I can tell that both the ice cream and chocolate toppings are premium grade. The employees are super friendly and the place is so clean. I love San Clemente! Cant wait until summer when I head back.

Such a fun concept- I got a chocolate ice cream, dipped in chocolate with heath bar and toasted coconut, topped with salted caramel. Delicious!!

Ice cream would probably be good. However they make you use a credit card. And wear a mask. I have too much on my cards as it is. And I cant eat ice cream with a mask on

Wonderful ice cream and great family atmosphere

🤩best ice cream in town friendly staff

So you turn me away paying with cash because you are cashless or contactless as you like to call it! It’s bad enough we put up with masks and closures as is. But now you won’t take our cash. Cards and Apple Pay only..... sorry and good luck failing during this time refusing business.

I mean, its fun. Its cool. But it is totally a play on people willing to way overspend on something that LOOKS good. Luckily for these guys, San Clemente is chock full of that type of people! The ice cream is fine, but Im not necessarily knocked off my feet. Price-value it is extremely lacking.

Ive heard of South Swell many times and finally got the chance to stop in - and I will be back!!! They have created the perfect blend of custom ice cream without making it too complicated, confusing, or overwhelming. Choose something from the menu (I got The Englishman on the recommendation of the ice cream wizard) or go full custom and get creative! I was with a large group but service was fast, with a smile, and the ice cream was fantastic! Everyone loved their choices and I will definitely be including a stop at South Swell in my next drive down PCH.

My daughters absolute favorite ice cream shoppe. She drags my wife, myself, or anyone else willing to enjoy great hand dipped ice cream bars. The girl who helped us was perfect for her position. Friendly, bubbly, and patient! Great location too.-GSH

Came here last week and it is an absolute gem of an ice cream shop in San Clemente! I got the Parent Trap and it was delicious! Plus, the staff is friendly, which makes the experience even more enjoyable. Just a slight word of precaution, the popsicles are NOT inexpensive (mine was $6.25), but if you’re willing to spend the money, they are well worth the buy and it goes towards supporting a small business!

The dipped bars with loaded toppings is my favorite. Pick and choose to your liking!

Awesome family owned ice cream shop! It’s definitely pricey but a fun experience for kids

We absolutely loved it! Will always come here for a sweet treat!

Such a fun, easy place with the perfect location to your beach and beautiful downtown San Clemente walk. My husband had the cold brew coffee over a vanilla and it was way more delicious than expected and my daughter and I shared a yummy chocolate one dipped in chocolate and half sprinkles! It was perfect, not too icky sweet for the ice cream or chocolate and the lady working was kind, helpful, and creative and super accommodating and patient with our 3 year old (and us) trying to decide what we wanted. We sat outside and ate and it was the perfect sized, yummy treat to finish our night on a sweet note.

When you just need an over the top sweet tooth fix, this place can handle it. The staff is friendly and efficient. If chocolate isnt your thing, they have options.

No better treat in San Clemente. I usually skip dessert and come here.

Amazing

Awesome place! Rich ice cream. Yummy toppings. The restaurant is super clean & the staff is very friendly.

One of the best places around for a quick fun dessert and yummy treats... The staff its friendly and fast, all banana combinations are guaranteed to hit the spot :) if youre in the area, make room to stop by and try one of their many frozen banana selections.

I love the idea of chocolate covered bananas, but usually have a hard time eating them since they’re so cold. This was really good and easier for me to eat. My banana was dipped in chocolate and had marshmallow and cake crumbles added on top.

I love this place! Trendy, yes, but also fun and DELICIOUS. They know what theyre doing by offering new topping selections every week.....cuz Ive got to try every one or them! The Castaway is still my favorite with The Sea Turtle as runner up! So happy that summer is coming!

Excellent

Ive always loved hand dipped ice cream. Very simple selection here, but their combination of topping makes for some creative and delicious hand dipped ice cream. This place is dangerously close to my house.

Delicious hand dipped ice cream bars. They cost about $6 each and are large enough to split between two.

Simple but delicious. Extremely clean, nice shop. Helpful friendly staff. Tried the cold brew coffee float which was very good and affordable. Would get dessert there again.

Great concept... Hand-dipped ice cream bars with tons of topping options. Very tasty results.A little limited because they only have vanilla ice cream bars (Id love to see a chocolate, a coffee and a strawberry and a couple of different dipping choices, they only have dark chocolate).Also, a little on the expensive side. $6+ for an ice cream bar means this will be an occasional indulgence rather than a daily treat.

If I like Frozen banana this is your place 🙂, Its not mi favorite desert ..

Most creative and great tasting ice cream I have had in a while. Definitely will be telling everyone about this place

Lovely staff and deliciously decadent ice cream -- what could be better? I love going there for gift cards. And, now they have added chocolate dipped soft serve ice cream cones! Highly recommend!

Love, love, love this hip new place on Del Mar that is perfect for a sweat treat. I love that they have a healthy option of a frozen banana if you are not feeling like ice cream. The owners are so welcoming and always have a smile on their face waiting to get you that perfect combination of toppings.

If you’re in the area then you have to try this place! It’s one of my favorite treats!

I dont know how they make something so simple taste so good, but they do it and they do it well. Yeah options are limited, but thats part of what makes places like In-N-Out great. Yeah it probably costs them a dollar to make, but they can take my money because its so. darn. good.

Good portions and super tasty with the frozen toppings. Did not try the bananas but my kids are big fans. Like everything else in San Clemente it is slightly overpriced...but if you want a sweet frozen dessert it is right on the money.

The toppings on the ice cream are a little overwhelming to be honest. I have a major sweet tooth but even this place was a little much for me. Its probably more for the Instagram than for taste. Every single girl/woman was in there taking multiple pictures, making their boyfriends hold up their own ice cream. Its a bummer when you get to the bottom and the whole thing falls apart though...

Righteously delicious ice cream bar! So many flavors to choose from. Friendly staff full of life. Legit place on a hot summer day. #litfam

Great place for dessert! Think a simplified non-chain version of a Coldstone creamery. Choice of vanilla or chocolate ice cream on a stick dipped in chocolate with your choice of toppings. I will definitely return, this place was awesome!

Great ice cream. You can completely customize your ice cream toppings from all of their toppings available. You can get vanila ice cream or a frozen banana. Definitely a place to stop in and try!

Itd be 5 stars if they had a bathroom. 2 doors available, both locked. Good dipped ice cream though.

It was like a personalized haagen daaz bar. There are fun names for the treats and the menu rotates weekly. The shop lady was friendly and let us take our time ordering. There isnt much seating (only outside) but it was pretty cool atmosphere. Also very healthy and generous portions!

Love the Castaway!!! Delicious!!!

Was my first time visiting this place! I definitely loaded on the toppings but they have so many options you can choose from! Highly recommending it!

Great place to grab some dessert. The menu is constantly changing so you will have some new ice cream to try out.

Customer service is wonderful. The girl working this evening was helpful, patient and sweet. The ice cream was fantastic

The ice cream bar and the toppings were delicious. It is a small spot with two tables on the main road full of shops. My only compliant would be price.

Good choices for toppings, little on the pricey side, but worth it for supporting a small business.

Really interesting! Ice cream pops to order. Kids got chocolate dipped ice cream with sprinkles and fruit loops. Super fun on a hot day!

Sooooooo yummy omg ! I wanted to try everything !!!I ended up getting the chocolate covered vanilla with brownies and peanut butter drizzle .. man I love this place, definitely enjoyed every bite

Our son loved the ice cream but for me its to sweet. Friendly stuff.

Great place. The ice cream bars are wonderful, with plenty of choices for toppings.

Delicious!

Dont get it for the price... a plain and bland vanilla ice cream bar, dipped in chocolate with other toppings. services was good

Gourmet favors with amazing options! The workers obviously love working there. The vibe is perfect!

Always the best unique icecream experience in South Orange county

Yummy dark chocolate covered ice cream bar with your choice of toppings pleases the most discerning icecream lovers 😎🤣🍦🍫

Best hand dipped bar ever. Simple and scrumptious. A must visit on a regular basis!

Super yummy desserts. It reminds me of when I was a kid. Highly suggest

Awesome. I thought it was a Balboa Bar copy but it is so much better than that!

This place its amazing! Great friendly service and amazing atmosphere! The ice cream bars and flavors are phenomenal!

Its ok.. wasnt worth the hype for me

Come at night - preferably after 8 on weekends to avoid parking problems.Delicious treats and friendly staff.

My son really enjoys this place. They have frozen bananas as well and always have the friendliest service.