Tours of the Tales

Swensen’s Ice Cream, 1999 Hyde Street (southwest corner of Hyde and Union)

Norman Williams bought Mary Ann ice cream here in Tales of the City.  

Later, in Babycakes, after decking a mouthy coworker at Perry’s (and getting fired for it), Brain walked briskly along Union Street back to Barbary Lane.  He stopped outside of Swensen’s to gather himself together before finishing his walk back home.

More than twenty-years later, when Mary Ann returned to San Francisco (Mary Ann in Autumn), she stopped at Swensen’s and ordered a “Swiss Orange Chip” sugar cone.

From this very same corner shop atop Russian Hill, a world-wide chain of ice cream parlors was launched.  Founded in 1948 by Earle Swensen, the shop quickly developed a reputation in San Francisco for providing quality ice cream at a reasonable price.    Swensen’s website.  

Swensen's Ice Cream