Unearth The Voyage
There is a small ice cream shop on the Oregon Coast that people drive out of their way to visit, and once you see the menu, you will understand exactly why. With 58 rotating handmade flavors, freshly baked waffle cones, bubble waffles, and a nine-scoop cone that sounds almost too fun to be real, this place is the kind of spot that turns a regular evening into a memory.
The shop sits in North Bend, a coastal town that does not get nearly enough credit for its food. By the time you finish reading this, you will want to plan a trip to the Oregon Coast just for the ice cream.
Where to Find This Coastal Ice Cream Treasure
Right on Broadway Avenue in the heart of North Bend, Oregon, Scoops Handmade Ice Cream sits at 3395 Broadway Ave, North Bend, OR 97459, and it is the kind of place that feels like a neighborhood secret even though it has over 700 reviews online.
North Bend is a small coastal city on Coos Bay, tucked along the southern Oregon Coast. The surrounding area is known for its sand dunes, ocean views, and laid-back Pacific Northwest energy, which makes a handmade ice cream stop feel perfectly at home here.
The shop is easy to reach and parking is simple, which is a relief when you are already excited about ice cream. You can reach them by phone at 541-808-2990 or check out their website at scoops.life for updates on current flavors and hours.
One thing to keep in mind before heading over: Scoops opens at 3 PM most days and closes at 10 PM Tuesday through Saturday, with Sunday hours running 3 to 8 PM. They are closed on Mondays, so plan your sweet tooth adventures accordingly.
The Story Behind the Shop
Scoops has been open for over ten years, and the same dedicated owners have been making every single batch of ice cream in-house the entire time. That kind of consistency is rare, and it shows in the quality of every scoop.
The shop was not always known as Scoops. The location previously housed a different business called Oregon’s Best, but the current owners built something entirely their own from the ground up.
Locals who visited the old spot and returned years later were genuinely surprised by the transformation.
What makes the backstory even more interesting is that the shop is a true family operation. The owner is often on-site, her husband creates handcrafted wooden boxes and personalized etched items sold right at the counter, and family members regularly help run the shop floor.
That family energy comes through the moment you walk in. The walls are covered in original artwork, a disco ball catches the light overhead, and the whole space has a personality that feels carefully put together rather than thrown up overnight.
This place was built with real intention, and ten-plus years later, that foundation is still holding strong.
58 Flavors and Counting
Fifty-eight flavors sounds like a lot until you hear that the shop has reportedly carried as many as 86 at one time. The rotating selection keeps things exciting and gives regulars a reason to come back every single week.
The flavor range at Scoops goes well beyond the usual chocolate and vanilla lineup. On any given visit, you might find basil, ginger, spiced apple cider, lemon curd, maple walnut, bergamot, moon milk, orange Julius, black walnut, eggnog, lychee, or coconut sitting right alongside the classics.
One fan-favorite that gets its own loyal following is Coos Blue, the shop’s local take on the midwestern Blue Moon flavor. People who grew up with Blue Moon ice cream and moved away have specifically tracked this place down just to taste that nostalgic flavor again.
Because the ice cream is made fresh and in rotating batches, popular flavors like bubble gum or chocolate peanut butter can sell out quickly, especially on busy weekend evenings. The staff will often work to accommodate requests when possible, which says a lot about how much they care about the customer experience.
The Nine-Scoop Cone Challenge
A nine-scoop cone is not something you see on a menu every day, and that alone is enough to make Scoops worth a detour on any Oregon Coast road trip. The sheer height of that cone is practically a local landmark on its own.
The nine-scoop option is the kind of thing that makes people pull out their phones before they even take a bite. Whether you are ordering it as a challenge, a celebration, or just because you genuinely cannot pick fewer than nine flavors, it delivers on the spectacle every single time.
Choosing nine flavors from a list of 58 is its own kind of adventure. You might start with something safe like salted caramel and then get adventurous with lychee, bergamot, or spiced apple cider before circling back to something comforting like maple walnut or eggnog.
The homemade cones are baked fresh at the shop, and the smell of warm waffle cones hits you as soon as you step inside. A nine-scoop tower perched on one of those cones is genuinely something to behold, and yes, you will absolutely need napkins.
Fresh-Made Waffle Cones and Bubble Waffles
The smell of fresh waffle cones baking is one of the first things that greets you when you come through the door at Scoops, and it sets the mood immediately. That warm, buttery scent is basically the shop’s unofficial welcome sign.
Waffle cones here are made in-house, and the texture is noticeably different from the mass-produced versions you get at chain shops. They have a satisfying crunch and a slightly toasty flavor that pairs really well with the creamier, richer handmade ice cream.
Beyond the classic waffle cone, Scoops also serves bubble waffles, which are a Hong Kong-style treat that looks like a grid of little round pockets. The shop makes them hot and fresh, then tucks your ice cream inside, creating a warm-and-cold combination that is genuinely hard to beat.
The bubble waffle has its own fan base among regulars, and first-timers often order one just out of curiosity before realizing it might be their new favorite way to eat ice cream. Between the bubble waffle, the waffle cone, the waffle bowl, and the Belgian waffle option, the shop has turned the humble waffle into an art form.
The Atmosphere Inside the Shop
The vibe inside Scoops is hard to categorize, and that is honestly part of its charm. The combination of original wall art, a spinning disco ball, and handcrafted wooden items for sale gives the space a personality that feels both personal and unexpected.
The art on the walls is a genuine highlight. Multiple visitors have called it out specifically, noting that the pieces feel intentional and thoughtful rather than decorative filler.
The shop has the energy of a place where the owners actually care about every detail, right down to what hangs on the walls.
On the counter, you will find wooden boxes with hidden drawers and personalized etched pieces made by the owner’s husband. These are available for purchase and make for a genuinely unique souvenir, especially if you are traveling through and want to bring something home that is not a fridge magnet.
There are also figurines, dolls, gaming items like dice towers, and local knickknacks scattered throughout the shop. The overall effect is a space that feels layered and lived-in, like a place that has been slowly and lovingly filled with things that matter to the people who built it.
Dairy-Free and Allergy-Friendly Options
One of the quieter strengths of Scoops is how seriously the shop takes dietary needs. For customers who are lactose intolerant or avoiding dairy, the shop offers a dedicated selection of non-dairy options that are clearly labeled so there is no guesswork involved.
The top-selling non-dairy option is a coconut milk-based chocolate sorbet, and its popularity says everything about how well it is made. A non-dairy item becoming a bestseller at an ice cream shop is a real achievement, and it shows that the flavor holds up without any compromise.
The staff is also happy to check ingredients when asked, which makes the shop genuinely accessible for people with food sensitivities. That willingness to be helpful rather than dismissive goes a long way for customers who often feel like an afterthought at other dessert spots.
The owners have been making these products themselves for over a decade, which means they know exactly what goes into every batch. That level of knowledge and transparency is especially valuable when you need to trust what is in your food, and it is one of the things that keeps allergy-conscious customers coming back regularly.
Service, Staff, and the Family Behind the Counter
At a shop this small and this personal, the people behind the counter matter just as much as what is in the freezer. At Scoops, the service has been a consistent talking point, with visitors regularly mentioning how kind, patient, and knowledgeable the staff is.
The owner is often on-site during operating hours, and that presence makes a real difference. When the person who made the ice cream is also the one answering your questions about it, the experience feels more connected and less transactional.
The owner’s son has become a familiar face for Saturday night regulars, and the rotating cast of family members working the shop gives it a warmth that chain stores simply cannot replicate. You get the sense that everyone here actually wants to be there.
Staff members are generous with taste tests, which is a smart policy given that the flavor list can be overwhelming for first-timers. Being able to try a small spoonful of Coos Blue before committing to a full scoop makes the whole experience feel low-pressure and fun.
That kind of hospitality turns first-time visitors into loyal regulars faster than almost anything else could.
Tips for Planning Your Visit
A few practical details can make the difference between a smooth visit and a missed opportunity at Scoops. The shop opens at 3 PM Tuesday through Saturday and closes at 10 PM, with Sunday hours wrapping up at 8 PM.
Monday is a rest day, so the shop is closed.
The afternoon opening time works well for an after-dinner treat or a late-day coastal outing, but travelers passing through earlier in the day may need to plan around it. The owners have mentioned considering earlier summer hours, so it is worth checking their website at scoops.life before your trip for any updates.
Popular flavors can sell out on busy evenings, so arriving earlier in the evening gives you the best shot at the full selection. If a flavor you want is not on display, it is always worth asking the staff, since they sometimes can accommodate requests.
Parking is easy and free, which is a small but genuine relief on a busy coastal evening. The shop is located at 3395 Broadway Ave in North Bend, and with a 4.6-star rating from over 700 reviews, it has clearly earned its reputation as the best scoop on the southern Oregon Coast.
