After a hot summer day at the beach, nothing hits the spot like a frozen treat. And after a night out on the town as dinner fades into a distant memory, your body is craving something sweet.
That’s when it’s time to reward yourself with a trip to one of Myrtle Beach’s many bakeries, ice cream parlors and sweet shops. While they seem to be located on just about every block, there are a few that stand out as the best places to satisfy your aching sweet tooth:
Canipes Chocolates & Candies: No trip to Coastal Grand Mall is complete without a stop at this sweet shop. Based on the Grand Strand in the nearby town of Longs, SC, this sugar shack offers a wide selection of treats fresh from the oven and freezer. Canipes is known for its sweet and creative concoctions, such like alligator-shaped chocolates and butter cream eggs. Most popular are the chocolate-dipped goodies, such Oreos, Twinkies and even jalapeno peppers for those with more adventurous tastes. The local products make great gifts to give the folks back home a flavor of Myrtle Beach. A visit to the headquarters’ outlet shop in Longs is worth the trip
Croissants Bistro & Bakery: This Myrtle Beach is establishment is best known as a fine-dining restaurant, but it also doubles as a bakery that produces some of the sweetest desserts in town. From full-sized cakes like German chocolate, red velvet, tiramisu and devils food to breads, cupcakes, cookies, and brownies, Croissants serves up a wide selection of freshly baked cakes and pastries that melt in your mouth and make friends with your taste buds. Do yourself a double favor by going for lunch or dinner and picking up a couple of treats for later.
I Love Sugar: Located in the heart of the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk in the downtown district, this candy store looks like a scene from “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.” The walls and bins are filled with a wide range of candies, including Gummy Bears (and all sorts of animals), M&Ms, Jelly Bellies, and Jaw Breakers, just to name a few. Visitors grab a zip-lock bag and scoop exactly what they want, paying by the pound at the check-out counter weigh-in station. The brightly colored displays and broad array of sweets will make you feel like a kid in a candy shop. There's a similarly themed shop called It's Sugar at Broadway at the Beach.
Kirk's 1890 Ice Cream Parlor: If you miss the good ol' days of the malt shop, Kirk's provides a pretty good time machine. Decorated to replicate an old-school soda parlor, this local chain serves up scoops of frozen treats and machine-spun shakes. Featuring up to 40 different flavors of ice cream with all the sauces and toppings, Kirk's still makes traditional favorites like sundaes, floats and banana splits. Freshly made, jumbo-sized waffle cones hold generous scoops of ice cream and toppings, and the family friendly environment features old-timey parlor games.
Maggie Moo's Ice Cream & Treatery: Located within a short drive (or long walk, if you want to work off some calories) of Compass Cove, this local outfit stands out in the crowd of ice cream shops you will pass along the way. It's worth the extra trip to experience the unique local flavor – both the ice cream and the atmosphere. Historic photos of Myrtle Beach before its boom are on display. Try all the classics like shakes, smoothies and sundaes, or get adventurous with one of the house specialty ice cream pizzas.
(Posted: 5/11/15)
