A Very Subjective List of the Best Gelato Shops in Rome

Issue #85

Gelato season is here! And what better way to celebrate than with a few scoops? When in Rome, it’s an absolute must. Once the weather warms up, I will happily forgo dessert at a restaurant and opt for a post-lunch or dinner gelato and a stroll. On hot summer days I’ll sometimes skip lunch entirely and just have gelato instead. 

Gelato is usually translated as ice cream, but the recipes for Italian gelato and American ice cream are a bit different. According to Food & Wine, “Gelato has a lower milk fat content than ice cream, usually 4 to 9%, yielding a softer, denser texture and smaller ice crystals. That’s a result of the base, which typically includes less cream and more milk, as well as a slower churning process that introduces less air into the final product.” 

So how can you tell the good stuff apart from industrially produced gelato? Look at the colors in the case. Artisanal, all-natural gelato is made without adding dyes, so unnaturally bright colors are a tell-tale sign of industrial gelato. If the colors are a bit more muted and look naturally occurring, that’s an indication that the gelateria only uses natural ingredients.

A reader named Alyssa recently messaged me on Instagram saying, “I’m thinking about maybe taking another trip out to Rome and I wanted to know if you had any recommendations, like for any really great restaurants or gelato shops.” Indeed I do! In fact, it’s my personal mission to scope out the best places for gelato in Rome. So without further ado, here are some of my favorites.

Gelateria del Teatro

If I’m in the vicinity of Piazza Navona, it’s really hard for me to resist stopping by this spot on Via dei Coronari. It’s been a personal favorite for years thanks to the quality of its all-natural gelato using fresh ingredients, which you can see in the window. My favorite flavors are raspberry-and-sage and white chocolate with basil.

Torcè

Claudio Torcè has been hailed as a pioneer in Rome’s artisanal gelato scene. He opened his first gelateria in 2003 and since then some of the city’s best gelato makers have worked for him. His gelateria has been awarded three cones by Gambero Rosso (Italy’s most prestigious food publication) since 2018. Torcè is especially known for unusual flavors like black sesame, gorgonzola, balsamic vinegar, and even carbonara. I recently went to the location in EUR, but there are also locations in Parioli, on Viale Aventino, and on Viale Marconi.