Mesa's Sweetest Stops: 12 Desserts Worth the Detour

In Mesa, dessert is not an afterthought. It is a reason to cross town. The city’s sweetest stops include small-batch gelato, warm doughnut ice cream sandwiches, scratch-made pie and fluffy Hawaiian shave ice. You can cool down with frozen yogurt, brighten the day with an açaí bowl or finish dinner with an empanada filled with guava, banana or dulce de leche. Whether you are planning a family outing, a date-night finale or a full dessert crawl, these are some of the best places to satisfy a sweet tooth in Mesa.

Novel Ice Cream

Novel Ice Cream earned the No. 1 spot on Yelp’s 2025 list of the Top 100 Ice Cream Shops in the United States, giving Mesa dessert lovers a nationally recognized scoop close to home. The artisan shop turns the classic ice cream sandwich into something warmer, softer and much more memorable. Its signature Dough Melt pairs artisan ice cream with a warm glazed doughnut, creating the glorious hot-and-cold contrast every dessert deserves. Scoops, waffle sandwiches and playful toppings round out the menu.

Find it: 40 N. Macdonald, Suite 2, Downtown Mesa
Best for: Artisan ice cream and warm doughnut sandwiches

Twisterz Frozen Dessert

Choice is the main event at Twisterz. Build a custom cup with frozen yogurt, gelato, Italian ice or custard, then explore more than 70 toppings. Fresh-baked cookies, brownies and waffle cones can turn a simple swirl into a full production. Twisterz also serves shakes, floats, concretes and boba sodas.

With two Mesa locations, there is a convenient option near Downtown or north-central Mesa.

Find it: 58 W. Main St. and 1229 E. McKellips Road, Suite 108
Best for: Build-your-own frozen desserts and family outings

Pied Piper Bakery

Pied Piper Bakery gives pie the spotlight it deserves. The bakery makes its offerings from scratch daily, with whole pies, slices, mini pies and cheesecakes available alongside savory pot pies and quiches. Stop in for a slice or take a whole pie back to the hotel, vacation rental or family gathering.

Find it: 1356 S. Gilbert Road, Suite B1
Best for: Scratch-made pie, cheesecake and take-home desserts

Republica Empanada

The savory empanadas may bring you through the door, but the sweet ones make a persuasive case for staying. República Empanada wraps dessert inside a crisp, golden pastry with fillings such as guava and cheese, Nutella and banana, plantain and cheese or banana cream pie. The Dizzy Fig adds a distinctly Mesa touch with locally grown figs, mozzarella and South American-style dulce de leche. Add ice cream when restraint has left the building.

Find it: 204 E. First Ave., Downtown Mesa
Best for: Sweet empanadas and a dessert stop after a Latin American meal

Berry Divine Acai Bowls

Berry Divine proves a refreshing dessert can still feel indulgent. Its signature soft-serve açaí is topped with combinations of fresh fruit, granola and superfoods. The açaí itself is vegan, non-dairy and gluten-free, making this a useful stop when a group has different dietary preferences.

Find it: 1920 S. Stapley Drive
Best for: Fruit-forward frozen bowls and plant-based treats

Marina's Fresh Fruit Shave Ice

Marina’s brings a taste of Hawaii to Mesa with finely shaved ice that is almost cloudlike. House-made syrups soak into the ice instead of pooling at the bottom, while gourmet flavors made with real fruit deliver a bright, refreshing finish. Fruit bowls offer another colorful way to cool down.

Find it: 855 W. University Drive, Suite 8
Best for: Handcrafted Hawaiian shave ice and real-fruit flavors

Dolce Vita Gelato & Grocery

Dolce Vita approaches gelato with Italian roots and Arizona ingredients. The shop uses regional milk and cream, sources nuts from celebrated growing regions in Italy and makes fruit sorbets with local produce when it is in season. The result is smooth, deeply flavored gelato that rewards a slow first bite.

Find it: 5251 E. Brown Road, Suite 104
Best for: Traditional Italian gelato and seasonal sorbet

Fruitlandia

Fruitlandia is built for big cravings and bigger flavor combinations. Expect Thrifty ice cream, specialty shakes, fruit drinks and shaved ice with plenty of fresh fruit in the mix. Creations inspired by banana splits, strawberry cheesecake and dulce de leche make this an easy crowd-pleaser.

Find it: Multiple Mesa locations
Best for: Ice cream, fruit drinks and colorful specialty shakes

Visit Mesa Roll Avenue Asian District

Roll Avenue Ice Cream Rolls

At Roll Avenue inside Mekong Plaza, ice cream arrives as frosty curls instead of scoops. Each order is spread on a chilled surface, rolled and finished with toppings such as fruit, cookies, popping boba or condensed milk. Watching the dessert take shape is half the fun, though eating it wins by a narrow margin.

Find it: 66 S. Dobson Road, Suite 145
Best for: Thai rolled ice cream and made-to-order treats

Mad Candy

Mad Candy turns dessert shopping into a treasure hunt. Shelves stocked with hard-to-find sweets, imported candy and unusual sodas make it a fun stop for curious snackers. Pick a few discoveries for the road or build a Mesa-themed candy haul to take home.

Find it: 46 W Main St, Mesa
Best for: International candy, novelty sweets and take-home treats

Booch Haus Plant & Gift Lounge

For a lighter sweet stop, Booch Haus pairs a calm, plant-filled setting with kombucha on tap, matcha, tea and French press coffee. Seasonal lemonades and crafted drinks bring plenty of flavor without requiring a towering sundae. Browse gifts from Arizona makers while you sip and make this the palate-reset stop on your dessert crawl.

Find it: 708 E. Main St.
Best for: Matcha, kombucha and sweet sips in a plant-filled lounge

Coming to Cannon Beach: The Yard Milkshake Bar

The Yard Milkshake Bar is bringing its camera-ready creations to Cannon Beach in Mesa. Known for elaborate milkshakes and sundaes, The Yard stacks glass jars with ice cream, whipped toppings, cookies, brownies, candy and other joyful excess. Signature creations include Cookie Monster, Milk & Cookies, Mint Brownie Mudslide and Peanut Butter Brownie Bliss.

The official Mesa page currently lists the location as coming Summer 2026, so check opening details before planning your visit.

Find it: Cannon Beach, Mesa
Best for: Over-the-top milkshakes, sundaes and celebration desserts

FAQs

What desserts is Mesa known for?
Mesa has a varied dessert scene with artisan ice cream, Italian gelato, frozen yogurt, açaí bowls, Hawaiian shave ice, scratch-made pies, Thai rolled ice cream and Latin American sweet empanadas. Local fruit and globally inspired flavors appear across many menus.
Where can I find ice cream in Downtown Mesa?
Novel Ice Cream serves artisan scoops and warm doughnut ice cream sandwiches near Macdonald and Main. Twisterz Frozen Dessert on Main Street offers frozen yogurt, gelato, Italian ice, custard and a large topping selection.
Are there vegan or dairy-free desserts in Mesa?
Yes. Berry Divine’s açaí is vegan and non-dairy. Twisterz offers Italian ice and Dolce Vita commonly serves fruit sorbets, though flavors and preparation can change. Ask the business about ingredients and cross-contact if you have an allergy.
Where can I get frozen yogurt in Mesa?
Twisterz Frozen Dessert has two Mesa locations: 58 W. Main St. in Downtown Mesa and 1229 E. McKellips Road, Suite 108. It serves frozen yogurt with active cultures plus gelato, Italian ice, custard and more than 70 toppings.
What is a good Mesa dessert for sharing?
A whole pie from Pied Piper Bakery, a selection of sweet empanadas from República Empanada or an elaborate milkshake from The Yard can work well for sharing. The Yard’s Mesa location is listed as coming Summer 2026, so confirm it has opened before visiting.
Which Mesa dessert spots are good for families?
Twisterz is a strong family option because everyone can choose a frozen base and toppings. Marina’s Fresh Fruit Shave Ice, Roll Avenue and Fruitlandia also offer colorful, customizable treats with broad appeal.
Where can I find a lighter dessert in Mesa?
Try an açaí bowl topped with fresh fruit at Berry Divine, real-fruit shave ice at Marina’s or a crafted tea, matcha or kombucha at Booch Haus. Ingredient choices and sweetness levels vary, so ask about customization when ordering.

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