Frozen Made Finer: Where Is the World’s Best Gelato?
Iconically Italian but with strong global representation, great gelato is a key ingredient of la dolce vita. Four Seasons insiders share their top sources.
I’ve been fortunate enough to find myself spooning up memorable gelato all around the globe, in places such as New York, Sydney and Singapore. Friends have tried to convince me that other unexpected destinations are home to the best, that I haven’t lived till I’ve tasted the wares at, say, Helados Scannapieco in Buenos Aires.
Gelato, which is simply Italian for “frozen,” has made its way all over.
Now, mind you, I have no quarrel with ice cream or indeed with frozen confections of almost any ilk, but gelato for me is “frozen” made finer. What’s the difference? Less air is added when making gelato than when making ice cream. Gelato uses more milk, less cream and often adds egg yolks. So the ambrosial outcome is denser, with more intense flavour and—miraculously—less fat. The fact that it’s best served slightly soft, and not quite as cold as everyday ice cream, just makes it that much easier to enjoy.
And while today it is possible to find great gelato in many parts of the world, the modern version was born, as so many wonders were, in Renaissance Italy. Most experts trace its origins to late 16th-century Florence, where the multi-talented Bernardo Buontalenti (also an architect, artist and stage designer) introduced his cool creation at a Medici feast.
Gelato in Florence
When it comes to where to find the world’s best gelato these days, it never hurts to start at the source, home each May to the Firenze Gelato Festival. So I asked Chef Concierge Paul Lydka and Sales Assistant Veronica Neu of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze which local spot gets their vote. “We’re always arguing about this,” says Paul. He prefers the Gelateria La Carraia, just across the Ponte alla Carraia. “What’s nice to do is to go there, especially in the evenings, around sunset, and get your gelato and sit on the bridge, and you have the skyline of Florence in front of you.” His favourite flavour? “I’m old-fashioned,” he says. “I like stracciatella [similar to chocolate chip ice cream]. I could just have that for breakfast, lunch and dinner.”
Veronica prefers the interesting flavours at Grom, a Torino native with outposts around Italy and elsewhere, and Gelateria della Passera in Piazza della Passera, where the focus is on the freshest ingredients—I can personally vouch for the quality of the fragola (strawberry). Veronica prefers passion fruit flavour when she can find it.
On to Milan
Not content to stop with Florence (who says investigative journalism is dead?), I also took the question “Where is the world’s best gelato?” to Sales and Marketing Trainee Marta Bocca and Head Concierge Leonardo Bruscagin at Four Seasons Hotel Milano. Marta is very clear on her choice: Shockolat, on via Boccaccio. After careful consideration of the orange chocolate and hazelnut flavours, I believe she has made a very sound selection.
Leonardo, however, cannot settle the matter by recommending merely one shop. Like Veronica, he is a fan of Grom, which has several locations around town—he usually sticks with his favourite flavours of cioccolato and pistacchio. But he also likes Cremeria San Marco on via San Marco, and Bianco Latte on via Turati. And then there’s Le Tre Gazzelle on Corso Vittorio Emanuele. “When I am passing through there, I stop—always,” he says. “I remember one time with my wife, we passed in front and she asked me, ‘Why don’t you stop this time?’ She knows!”
Do Tell
Now it’s your turn. Whether it’s a shop you pass by regularly and just can’t resist, or one you visited only once on a fondly remembered vacation in Italy or elsewhere, where have you found the world’s best gelato?
i look up the highest rated in every city i visit and the one in bologna is the best i ever tasted:
http://www.lasorbetteria.it/index_eng.php
The best gelato I’ve ever had was at Un’Altra Volta in Buenos Aires, especially the pear gelato. After tasting their gelatos i could not have desert anywhere else.
Yum! You all are giving me such great ideas on spots to visit. Thank you! And Sherman, that’s quite a story about the dogs. I sometimes share gelato with my cat, but he only gets to lick the cup after I’m done.
the best gelati is at Anticha Delizia in Castellina in Chianti, small family run & all made on the premises. their pompelmo rosa (pink grapfruit) is to die for. their gelati makes Grom taste very ordinary
Yes Gelateria di Piazza in san Gimignano is one of the best. In San DIego the best is Gelato Vero corner of Washigton and India Street.
Best gelato I’ve ever had is in Scottsdale of all places, at That’s Amore. Run by an Italian family, they produce some 40 different flavors, all delicious!
Il Gelato di San Crispino in Rome is by far and away my favourite ice cream in the world. I dream of that ice cream far too often. Grom is a really great chain, but San Crispino rules!
For me, Piestany, Slovakia. I am not a great fan of cold desserts but I cannot resist the gelato cafes there!!
Grom is OK for some time, then you realize it’s some kind of halfway between industrial and artisanal ice-cream. If you happen to be travelling in Italy, look for some truly artisanal gelato shops (“gelateria”). Among the best ones are those you can find in Liguria (my favourite one overall is “Giuse”, at “Bar Centrale” in the historical Finalborgo main square in Finale Ligure), Tuscany and Piedmont (the latter mainly for creamy ice-cream, less so for fruit sorbetto).
Bella Gelateria on West Cordova in Vancouver.
And he has the gold medal from Florence to prove it.
Excuse me but the best gelato is the one you are eating at the time! You’re all over thinking this!
Usually we are at Laguna Beach California across from the Hotel Laguna.
I do not remember The name of the gelateria but, It was in Milan, and this is a true story. My wife and I ducked into this small shop and placed our orders. While we enjoying our gelato, a couple walked in with two dogs. Of course, it is not uncommon to see pets in food shops or restaurants in Europe, so we thought nothing of it. The couple ordered their gelatos and stood there eating, as one of the two dogs looked up at them. Momentarily, the woman looked down and extended her cup to her pet. The dog took a lick..the woman Raised the cup, and then she took a lick,as this back and forth went on a few times…even the two people behind the gelato counter could not help but notice and make wry smiles at what we all saw. So, file this under. The “You cannot love your dog, too much”‘ file. Again, I repeat..a true story.
Gelati Susy Caffe in Corso Vittorio Emanuelle II in Vigevano has the best gelati and they also have gelatini (small gelati on sticks).
while tartufo may be delightful at tre scalini in rome, which it is, it is NOT gelato! florence has vivoli, which is my wife’s first choice. my personal friend david, a firenze native, is convinced grom is the best, i’m not certain. my first choice is a popular shop in sorrento, i cannot remember the name. it is just off the main street in town towards the shopping area. it is superb. i had straciatelle(choc. chip) and my friend had cantaloupe and we were both blown away.
For all of you mid-western gelato lovers…..try Lino’s coffee cafe in Speedway Indiana. Just steps from the famous race track you will find an authentic Italian coffee shop (first Lino’s in North America) located inside the famous race car designer’s factory….Dallara.
Berthillon (31 Rue St.-Louis-en-l’Ile, Paris, France). …….. is the best.
I like Grom very much and I thought I had found gelato heaven
but when I last summer tasted gelato by Bolgheri Ti Amo, in the
village Bolgheri near Pisa, I knew I found it!!!! It is the best I have
ever tasted by far.
There is an amazing gellato hole in the wall in the Cinque Terre ….sorry cant remeber which village BUT the nephew of the that hole in the wall lives near SALT village NSW who also have a little hole in the wall OMG
PS please excuse terrible spelling
The best gelato you could possibly ever taste is to be found in a small, beautiful, University town, thirty kilometers south of Milan, Italy.
The town is called Pavia (and well worth a detour if you are based in Milan – it takes only 20 minutes by train) and the gelateria is called “Da Cesare”, located in Corso Garibaldi.
Just look at the queue of people that stations outside this old fashioned gelateria, unchanged since it opened many decades ago; even the fixtures (tables, chairs etc.) have survived the passing of time.
Try the gelato there and you’ll be wanting to go back to Pavia every time you find yourself in Italy!
Vivoli in Florence is the best!!
Agree!! There rice flavor knocks my socks off!!!
Too much vino [yes, that is possible]. “There” should “Their”.
My favorits are San Crispini in Rome, Cremeria Funivia in Bologna and of course, Grom
Spinnattos in Palermo, Sicily.
Grom is the best!
La mela Verde in Venice is the best place for gelato in the world. Flavors change constantly, but all are outstanding, especially the lemon cheesecake–just fantastic. This is a small place, about 10 minutes from Piazza San Marco. Scoops are large, price is reasonable and the owner always has a smile on his face. Why not–he makes the best gelato in the world.
Vivoli in Florence. Hands down!
Violi in Florence. Hands down!
Ok, how about Gio’s Gelato in Kealakekua, Hawaii. Gio is straight from Italy – the Gelato with a Hawaiian twist; Mango, Coconut and of course all the Italian favorites. Visit Gio’s when your visiting the Hualalai Four Seasons Resort on Hawaii Island. The mixed berry and chocolate are my first choices!
How about Giolitti in Roma, Vivoli in Florence and Amorino, originally in Paris, but now all over Europe and NYC?
Tre Scalini on the Piazza Navonne in Rome. I usually order the Tartuffo, but all the gelatti are phenomenal as well. Next question?
This person know about what they speak. My wife and I have have spent many afternoons and some evenings at the Piazza Navonne enjoying tartuffo at Tre Scalini. Tartuffo in Itialia is always good, but this is the best. I can remember once sitting at the table next to ours was Perri Commo and his wife, with Tony Bennet and his wife. Everyone was enjoying the tartuffo.
The best gelato is from ConArte Gelateria in Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, and the cherry gelato is to die for, although my daughter would say the same about the pistachio!
I have had gelato in Italy, Spain, France, the USA & of course Italy reigns supreme. However, I have to mention that there is a tiny place in Altadena, California that makes superb, artisanal gelato – Bulgarini Gelato. They have the freshest fruit gelatos and sorbettos ever (ever!) and the Chocolate is rich, dark and fabulous. I know we’re talking Italy here – but honestly, this gelato wins hands down in the USA.
Gelateria di Piazza is San Gimignano is hands down the best gelato in Italy if not the world. There was a couple year stint where back to back they won the World Gelato Championships. We were staying at a vineyard about 10 minutes away but came back every night to walk the town and get gelato. The town was rustic and beautiful but the gelato was the real reason.