The best gelato in Rome: Top 12 great places to visit

No trip to Rome is complete without a gelato ball (or ten, who knows?). There are many excellent gelaterias scattered throughout the city, but some of them are worth visiting first.

Gelato, which means "frozen," is extremely popular in Italy. This version of the favorite cool dessert has several key features. For example, this ice cream has less fat and air, which makes it denser and more intense in flavor. It also melts a little faster, especially in the hot Italian summer.

Walking around the capital, you will certainly come across a large number of gelato shops in Rome. In order not to waste time and mood, we advise you to avoid anything too bright, as this most likely indicates the presence of artificial colors and flavors. Another important feature is that gelato is very dense, so it is difficult to lay out in a slide and the dessert is usually stored in metal containers in the refrigerator to keep it fresh. The average price for one ball is about 1.5 to 3 euros, so you are unlikely to resist the temptation to order several at once.

The following list of locations will help you find the best ice cream in Rome. However, we warn you that it will be difficult to make a choice, because gelato is extremely tasty, and there are many varieties of it.

1. Brivido Gelateria

Located in the former working-class neighborhood of Testaccio, this gelateria has been producing delicious traditional Rome ice cream every day since 1986. The treat does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, or sweeteners. The gelato selection ranges from classic, time-tested items to original masterpieces inspired by local desserts and the pastry chef's imagination. For maximum enjoyment, we recommend dipping the Rome ice cream in chocolate. The most popular flavours are salted peanuts, eggnog, and vegan raspberry.

In addition to taste, Brivido Gelateria's advantage is a wide range of sugar-free and vegan desserts.

2. Fassi

The best gelato in Rome can be found in such an authentic place as Fassi Gelateria. While most shops in the city center have become too "touristy" with long lines and popular loud music inside, this gelateria has retained its unique atmosphere.

It serves not only the famous gelato but also semifreddo, an Italian frozen dessert, and cakes. Fassi Gelateria has been operating since 1880, so it is truly a special attraction. Thanks to its diverse and innovative menu, both tourists and many generations of locals come back here again and again.

Here are the flavours worth trying:

• currants;
• eggnog;
• pistachio;
• Zuppa Inglese, English soup.

Order a Sicilian-style cone or brioche with a gelato ball inside. If you're looking for something more, we recommend trying the sanpietrini, a dessert that looks like a street pavement but is actually ice cream covered in chocolate.

3. Come Il Latte

Come Il Latte is one of the best ice cream shops in Rome, located in the Sallustiano neighborhood. The chef of this restaurant is the talented Nicoletta Chiacchiari, a former set designer. Thanks to the acquired skills of a production designer, visitors will find a perfectly designed elegant interior, among which Roman gelato tastes even more pleasant! The most popular flavours are the following:

• ricotta with caramelized hazelnuts and figs;
• salted caramel;
• mascarpone.

Here you can buy not only gelato but also handmade chocolate and waffles, beautifully decorated with various decorative sprinkles. The restaurant's specialty is the constant quality of ingredients and freshness.

4. Günther Gelato Italiano

Due to its popularity, Günther Gelato Italiano now has three of the best gelato places in Rome in the heart of the capital. The first store was opened in 2012. The special feature of the establishments is carefully selected high-quality ingredients. For example, the famous Rome ice cream is made using organic milk from local farms and seasonal fruits. Even the water for gelato comes from Mount Plose. Thus, you can be sure that everything is done at the highest level. We advise you to try the "mug pine", ricotta streusel, or eggnog flavours.

5. Otaleg 

The best gelato in Rome, Italy, can be tasted in the fashionable Trastevere district. Otaleg is an institution that has quickly gained favour among tourists and locals due to the consistently high quality of its products. The gelateria carefully selects all the ingredients and prefers a slow cooking process with all the sequences observed.

Otaleg often changes and adds flavours . Among the most popular and creative items are the following:

• fava beans with pecorino cheese;
• salted cacio and pepper;
• eggnog with Marsala wine;
• Greek pistachio;
• mango with dark chocolate chips.

Don't forget about a variety of fruit and berry sorbets, the variations of which depend on the season. It can be, for example, strawberries or passion fruit. All in all, the best gelateria in Rome will not disappoint no matter what flavour you choose.

6. Fiordiluna

Fiordiluna has been one of the best gelato places in Rome for more than thirty years. They follow the principles of a minimalist approach. For example, some flavours are made from only two ingredients. They also use a minimal amount of sugar for ice cream. Thanks to this, as well as the incredible creamy texture, this gelateria in Rome is the best and most popular in the Trastevere district.

The owners focus on product quality by cooperating with small local producers and farmers, especially when it comes to natural seasonal fruits and berries. Fiordiluna's store itself is small with a limited number of seats. Thus, we recommend ordering the best gelato in Rome in a cone, paper cup, or even a brioche and enjoying the cool treat while walking the picturesque streets of the capital. If you don't know what to choose, we recommend trying black cherry, chocolate with Sichuan pepper, pistachio, or Fred, a custard with cookies.

7. Gelateria del Teatro

It's hard to imagine a day when Gelateria del Teatro doesn't have a line of locals and tourists who want to try the most famous gelato in Rome as soon as possible. Of course, high-quality natural ingredients are used here, and classic and original flavours are combined with unusual ingredients such as rosemary, sage, honey, lavender, white peach, or lemon.

The best gelato shop in Rome also offers items without gluten, eggs, or dairy products. Such gelato is labelled for the convenience of customers. We recommend trying the traditional sugar-free ice cream with olive oil and fresh cream served in a waffle cone. Other popular flavors include Sacher orange, raspberry, sage, and Avola extra dark chocolate.

8. La Gourmandise

This small and, at first glance, very modest gelateria in Rome is located in Monteverde. La Gourmandise has been open since 2019. Dario Benelli, a talented chef, creates more and more creative flavours every time and is not afraid of bold combinations of ingredients, using thyme, helichrysum, juniper, etc. As a result, you can taste the best ice cream in Rome that is both high quality and unusual.

We recommend trying the following flavours:

• Roman mint with lemon zest;
• raspberry in rose water;
• salted almond.

One of the top gelato in Rome is "walnut and saffron cream," an exclusive flavour of La Gourmandise.

9. FataMorgana

The FataMorgana chain has nine ice cream shops in Rome. Maria Agnese Spagnolo, a native of Taranto, was inspired by the idea of creating bold but balanced combinations of high-quality ingredients that would quickly become favorites. The flavours of this beautiful ice cream in Rome often change depending on the season. However, FataMorgana's guests will find a professional combination of nuts, spices, fresh berries and fruits, honey, alcohol, coffee, chocolate, and other ingredients every time.

10. Neve di Latte

It is one of the best gelato places in Rome that has two branches. One store is located in the Prati district, the other is near the MAXXI Museum of Modern Art and Architecture. You will find all-natural ice cream and minimalist décor with comfortable tables.

When creating the famous gelateria in Rome, the greatest attention is paid to the selection of organic ingredients. The result is juicy and delicate fruit sorbets, as well as flavourful and rich creams. "Fragile" cherries with chocolate and hazelnuts, orange and raspberry sorbets, and crumble and maple syrup are among the flavours that are worth trying.

11. Al Settimo Gelo

Mirella Fiumano, a self-taught chef, founded the Gelateria Al Settimo Gelo open laboratory in 1997. Now, the popular ice cream shop in Rome is located in the lively tourist district of Prati, offering a large selection of lactose-free fruit sorbets and cream gelato. You should definitely try these flavours:

• Persian (rose water and saffron);
• Afghan, based on cardamom;
• ricotta with caramelized figs;
• Alova wild blackberry and almond sorbet.

Al Settimo Gelo offers not just the best ice cream in Rome but also a unique and spicy flavour.

12. Gelateria dei Gracchi

One of the best ice cream shops in Rome is located near the Vatican in the Prati district. There is always a queue outside Gelateria dei Gracchi, and the small area of the establishment is designed so that visitors will not stay long. They just order what they want and go to enjoy the divine taste while walking. However, the perfection of the product forgives all possible shortcomings. We advise you to buy a ball or several at once and walk along the picturesque shopping street of Cola di Rienzo, which leads to the Vatican.

Orange with toasted almonds, apple and cinnamon, and classic dark chocolate are flavours that impress with their intensity.