Gelato, Gelato!
the best Ice cream
Gelato, Gelato!
the best Ice cream
WHERE TO FIND
THE BEST GELATO IN ROME
You won’t ever have a problem finding good gelato in Rome.
But all you ice-cream connoisseurs out there want to know where the really good stuff is, don’t you? We’re with you! And we want to make sure that nothing less than the finest gelato passes your lips when you’re in Rome. So here’s our five favourite gelaterias in the city.
Enjoy!
HERE’S WHAT
YOU NEED TO KNOW...
- You normally need to pay for your gelato at the till and then pick your flavour at the counter. In other words, whoever serves you first is only going to care about things that impact the cost like the size or number of scoops. They couldn’t care less what flavour you’re fancying!
- This system means you get to eat your gelato as soon as it ends up in your hand :-) You get given a receipt that you’ll need to show when you make those all-important choices... Which flavour (or flavours) would you like? And would you like a cone (cono) or cup (coppetta)?
- Added extras like whipped cream on top of your ice-cream and melted chocolate in your cone tend to be free of charge.
- You usually need to choose between small (piccolo), medium (medio) and large (grande). Piccolo will normally come with two flavours (due gusti), media with three flavours (tre gusti) and grande with four flavours (quattro gusti). Of course, you can always choose to go large with four scoops of the same flavour :-)
- Important info: Make sure the prices are displayed on the menu before you order. If you can’t see how much it’s going to cost, go somewhere else because some places have been known to charge tourists extortionate prices.
- Did you know that they eat gelato with brioche in the south of Italy? Just in case you wonder why they serve ice-cream stuffed in a brioche bun at gelaterias in Rome! Maybe think about trying a brioche con gelato for a refreshingly light lunch on a hot summer’s day?
- If you decide to eat in at one of the ice-cream parlours, you’ll end up paying more. But don’t worry – this is a standard charge and not some kind of tourist premium. You can always avoid it by choosing the takeaway option and enjoying your gelato treat outside. You won’t regret it!
TOP 5 PLACES
FOR GELATO
LA ROMANA
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Torcè
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Della Palma
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Frigidarium
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Fata Morgana
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One of the best places for gelato in Rome is around a five- or ten-minute walk away from the Pyramid of Cestius. And don’t the locals know it! You can tell by the queues of people waiting to get their hands on the delicious ice-cream here late into the evening.
Like your gelato in a cone? You can add warm melted chocolate to it for free. Plus, there are always new flavours alongside the classics and they make gelato with fruit that’s in season. The crêpes here are pretty special too!
A small gelato costs EUR 2.50.
Favourite flavour: Pistachio (Pistacchio)
Opening times:
Monday–Saturday, 12.00 noon–12.00 midnight (Sunday, 11.00 a.m.–12.00 midnight)
Address:
Via Ostiense, 48, 00199 Roma RM
Tip 1
LA ROMANA IN TESTACCIO
This small but special ice-cream parlour is just by Circus Maximus. And not many tourists know it exists! What could be better than ordering a gelato here on a hot summer’s day and sitting on the Circus Maximus steps to enjoy it and admire the view of the ruins on Palatine Hill?
They have some unusual flavours here that you won’t find in many other places in Rome like poppy seed and sesame.
A small gelato costs EUR 2.70.
Favourite flavour: Hazelnut (Nocciola)
Opening times:
Every day, 12.00 noon – 9.00 p.m.
Address:
Viale Aventino, 59, 00153 Roma
Tip 2
Torce at the circo Massimo
Now, this place is one of the most famous – and most popular – ice-cream parlours in Rome. And it’s easy to work out why! It has 150 flavours to choose from – and they’re all amazing. Trust me. Not to mention that the prime location just around the corner from the Pantheon takes some beating. We can’t recommend this gelato spot highly enough – even with the massive queue of tourists.
If you fancy something a little different, they make refreshing frappés and creamy mousses too. There’s something for everyone! And you can ask for a squirt of whipped cream on top of your gelato for free. Bonus 😉
A small gelato costs EUR 3.00.
Favourite flavour: Wild Strawberry (Fragoline del Bosco)
Opening times:
Every day, 8.30 a.m.–12.30 a.m.
Address:
Via della Maddalena, 19-23, 00186 Roma
Tip 3
Della Palma near the Pantheon
To be honest, this gelateria doesn’t look all that special from the outside. But inside? Ice-cream you’d be more than happy to eat all day long!
The gelato is made fresh here every day according to a traditional Italian recipe. And you can taste it – whether you go for something fruity or creamy. You could always try having your gelato dipped in melted chocolate to give it a hard shell and slow down the melting process.
A small gelato costs EUR 2.00.
Favourite flavour: Stracciatella
If you’re intrigued to find out what a frigidarium really is, you might want to head to the Baths of Diocletian or Caracalla.
Opening times:
Every day, 10.30 a.m.–1.00 a.m.
Address:
Via del Governo Vecchio, 112, 00186 Roma
Tip 4
Frigidarium at the Piazza Navona
The gelato here is way better than the mirage the name Fata Morgana suggests you’ll be getting. Yes, this is very much the real deal! Monti is a neighbourhood known for its narrow alleys and hidden little squares that nobody really knows exist. This ice-cream parlour is on one of them. In fact, you’ll probably struggle to find it without Google Maps 😉 It’s a real hit with people with dietary requirements thanks to the incredible selection of vegan, gluten-free and nut-free flavours it has to offer.
A small gelato costs EUR 2.50.
Favourite flavour: Raspberry (Lampone)
Opening times:
Every day, 1.30 p.m.–9.30 p.m.
Address:
Piazza degli Zingari, 5, 00184 Roma
Tip 5
Fatamorgana in Monti
You may end up paying a bit more, but you’ll often find that the portion sizes are bigger and whipped cream or melted chocolate are included in the price. Eating gelato at least twice a day is a must for any Rome city break itinerary!
Copyright: © Céline Mülich, 2020 – 2024
With support from Susanne Vukan, who has no interest in counting calories (thankfully)!
