Recently updated on October 2nd, 2025 at 03:02 am
Gelato in Rome is unlike any ice cream you’ve had before, with fresh and natural ingredients, seasonal flavours, and daily in-house creations. No trip to Rome is complete without a stop (or three!) at a traditional gelateria for this famous Italian dessert – and you don’t need to wait for the temperatures to heat up to enjoy it. The locals know that gelato is a year-round love affair. Whether you like to indulge in this sweet treat for morning tea or during an evening stroll, there are a few gelaterias in Rome that stand out from the rest. From the first gourmet gelateria to historic shops dishing it up for decades, here is our guide to the best gelato in Rome.
FataMorgana
FataMorgana’s motto is “no tricks, just nature”, and that’s exactly what you’ll get at this beloved gelato shop. Created by Maria Agnese Spagnuolo, the shop uses natural and organic ingredients. They also dream up fairytale flavours that you won’t find anywhere else.
Try out the charming Thumbelina with Sorrento walnuts, rose petals and violet flowers, or the Snow White with vanilla, apple and raspberry. There’s even the Kiss of the Prince with decadent lashings of hazelnut and chocolate. We also love the whimsical flavours like Thought with ginger, horseradish, lemon peel and pink grapefruit.
FataMorgana also has vegan, nut, dairy and gluten-free options, so everyone can tuck into their delicious gelato. With nine locations across Rome, you’ll never be far from FataMorgana’s charming delights.
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Come Il Latte
Tucked away on a side street in the Sallustiano quarter, Come Il Latte serves up one the best gelato experiences in our guide to Rome. Chef Nicoletta Chiacchiari has carefully designed a beautiful interior and you’ll first be awed by your gorgeous surroundings before checking out the incredible gelato flavours.
There’s all kinds of infusions like ricotta with caramelised figs and hazelnut, mascarpone with Gentilini cookies, and brie, blueberry and caramelised hazelnuts. You’ll also find classic flavours like rich chocolate, creamy lemon sorbet and even gelato tiramisu. Best of all, everything from the gelato to the wafers is made onsite, with milk from grass-fed cows and local farm produce.
There are also sugar-free and vegan flavours. Plus, if you want a flavour combo not already available, the chef will whip it up for you on the spot! Don’t miss the special fountain which flows with dark and white chocolate into the crisp wafer cones.
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Fiordiluna
Located in the heart of the historic Trastevere neighbourhood, Fiordiluna has been serving up delicious gelato for almost 30 years. This small, colourful shop takes a minimalist approach to their gelato. There are only a few special ingredients in each flavour and they use little sugar. The result is fresh, high-quality gelato and incredible flavours like black cherry ripples and custard and cookies.
Aldo, the owner, ensures his shop only uses ingredients from small producers and local, fair-trade farmers. While he focuses on classic flavours like chocolate, coffee and lemon, you’ll come across the occasional twist. One of the beloved favourites is duetto, a mix of pistachio and hazelnut. It was created when Aldo accidentally dropped a bag of Piemonte hazelnuts into the pistachios.
Fiordiluna is a family business with a truly authentic touch. You’ll find stone-ground pistachios, speciality machines that produce gelato onsite, and unique, local ingredients like donkey’s milk. The shop also creates bean-to-bar chocolates for the perfect souvenir to take home – you’ll never forget Fiordulina!
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Otaleg
Otaleg – gelato spelt backwards – has quickly become a crowd favourite in Rome, thanks to its incredible gelato and open-view workshop. With a slow-making process and high-quality ingredients, you’ll adore this smooth and incredibly fresh gelato. You’ll also find different flavour combinations every day, based on seasonal produce and revered artisan Marco Radicioni’s imagination.
Some of the most outstanding flavours are the eggnog with Marsala wine, the cacio e pepe with Pecorino cheese and fava beans, and the beetroot sorbet. We also love mango with dark chocolate chips, passionfruit with cocoa beans, and gorgonzola with blond chocolate and hazelnut. If you’re after something more classic, you’ll also find flavours like strawberry and pistachio.
Find the best gelato in Rome on our Rome and Tuscan Highlights tour.
Gelateria dei Gracchi
This famous gelateria was one of Rome’s first gourmet gelaterias, opened by Alberto Manassei, a renowned gelato guru. Its first location was in the Prati neighbourhood, close to the Vatican. Today Gelateria dei Gracchi has three branches across Rome, so you’re never far from this incredible gelato experience.
Lines regularly run out the door, but it’s always worth the wait. Everything is made in house, from roasting nuts to peeling fresh fruit. You won’t find any artificial colours or preservatives here, and there’s even lactose-free and gluten-free options available.
Try out the traditional, seasonal flavours like apple and cinnamon, dark chocolate and orange, or zabaglione, made with egg yolks and Marsala wine. The locals also come here for their addictive bonbons. These are tiny balls of gelato dipped in dark chocolate and covered in chopped nuts. Delicious!
Il Gelato di Claudio Torcè
A pioneer of all-natural gelato and daring flavours, Claudio Torcè is always a winner for best gelato in Rome. There are eight branches and over 100 flavours, ranging from traditional sweet flavours to savoury, bold creations.
Choose from classics like pistachio and eggnog or try something bold like wasabi and capsicum, habanero and gorgonzola cheese. Founder Claudio Torcè is a master of flavour experimentation, so you can’t go wrong, whatever you choose!
Our Italian Holiday tour isn’t complete without a scoop of fresh gelato from Claudio Torce.
Gelateria del Teatro
Everything about Gelateria del Teatro is the real deal, from the stacks of fresh fruit in the window, to the trays of chocolates on the counter and the draws spilling over with almonds, hazelnuts and pistachios. You can even watch the magic happen in the onsite laboratory where everything is handmade from the crunchy cones to the creamy gelato.
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The creative flavours are seasonal and you’ll find dreamy delights like rosemary, honey and lemon. We also love lavender and white peach, and sage and raspberry. The traditional way to enjoy gelato here is in a cone with olive oil and fresh, sugar-free cream on top. There’s also dairy, egg and gluten-free flavours available, so everyone can dig in!
Get ready for the best gelato in Rome while embarking on our Great Italian Cities tour.
Gelateria Fassi
Step off of the train at Roma Termini and head due south for the delicious scoops at Gelateria Fassi. Opened in 1880, five generations of gelato craftsmen have made Gelateria Fassi a landmark in the Eternal City. They even offer tasting tours every weekend, which includes a tour of their museum and plenty of samples.
Günther Gelato Italiano
Bringing the sweetest treats from the mountains of South Tyrol to the Eternal City, Günther Gelato Italiano’s Mr. G takes his artisanal gelato seriously. Raw ingredients take center stage, with Sicilian oranges and the chocolate-hazelnut blend among the stars. He also makes a dreamy zabaglione gelato – one of the few that use egg yolks.
Giolitti
Hardly aged after 125 years, Giolitti has served Rome’s sweet tooths since 1900. Take a tartufo al cioccolato fondente (dark chocolate truffle) or tartufo al cioccolato bianco (white chocolate truffle) by the scoop, throw them in the bowl with a banana for a split, or try the chocolate and vanilla “bikini”, an interesting ice-cream-sandwich-like handheld.
Il Gelato di San Crispino
If you’ve got a well-read copy of Eat, Pray, Love in your backpack, then you already know about Il Gelato di San Crispino. An essential stop for fans of Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir, Il Gelato di San Crispino has locations around hot-spots like the Pantheon and Trevi Fountain, making it effortless to step into and difficult to leave.
Frigidarium
Frigidarium is the place you go to for the obligatory “hand holding gelato” pic with Piazza Navona as the backdrop. It’s a take-out joint, making it an easy sell to those who need a quick cool down as they walk through Rome’s sweltering summer season. We recommend the Frigidarium classic: caramel, gianduia, and pan di stelle.
Neve di Latte
While others are spooning scoops in the center of the city, Neve di Latte is the go-to for travelers staying near sites like Villa Borghese, Castel Sant’Angelo, and Campo de’ Fiori. 28 gourmet flavors are yours for the licking including stracciatella, Sicilian ricotta, Sorrento walnut, and the eponymous scoop made with Madagascar vanilla, organic Alta Baviera milk, and grape sugar.
FAQ
What is gelato made of?
The basic gelato is made of milk, cream, and sugar, but not in the same quantities that ice cream uses. Gelato flavors may include anything from nuts and fruits to chocolate, whipped cream, and caramel.
What’s the difference between gelato and ice cream?
Gelato is not simply “Italian ice cream”. It is a frozen Italian treat very similar to ice cream, but there are important differences. Gelato uses more milk than cream, while ice cream uses more cream which yields a higher fat content. Gelato is also slow-churned, which makes it smoother and less dense — meaning it won’t melt as quickly.
Is gelato healthier than ice cream?
Ultimately, ice cream and gelato are both sugary desserts that don’t sit next to apples and carrots on the healthy-snack scale. However, gelato does tend to have fewer calories than ice cream, thanks to its lower fat content from using more milk and less cream.
Lick gelato on a stop in the Eternal City during our Best of Italy tour.
Is gelato gluten-free?
Yes, gelato is gluten-free and it’s rare to find a scoop that contains gluten ingredients. The exception would be an artisanal gelateria that features gelato with something like birthday cake bits or cookies added in.
Does gelato have eggs?
Yes and no, gelato may or may not have eggs or egg yolks, depending on who you visit. Traditionally, egg yolk has been used to make gelato to help bind the cream together, but many gelato makers nix the eggs. No eggs is one of the reasons the composition of the gelato is different from ice cream.
Does gelato have dairy?
Yes, like ice cream, gelato is traditionally made with dairy milk and cream. However, you can find non-dairy or vegan gelato that use plant-based ingredients to substitute for milk.
What is the most popular flavor of gelato?
The most popular flavor of gelato assumes that someone is only ordering a single scoop of gelato — which is a no-go in our book. You’ve got to try at least three flavors, with top picks for the best gelato in Rome being stacciatella, nocciola, and amarena.
What is stracciatella gelato?
Stracciatella gelato is a flavor of gelato made when warm, melted chocolate is drizzled onto the cold gelato. The inconsistent striping effect makes it resemble “little rags” or “little shards” which is where it gets its name. Stracciatella is also a type of fresh curd Italian cheese and a type of almost egg-drop-like soup.
Delicious dishes like gelato await on our Italy Bellissimo tour.
Have you visited any of the gelaterias in our guide to finding the best gelato in Rome? Where is your favourite place to eat gelato in Rome? Let us know in the comments below! To discover more about this beautiful city, take a look at our Italy destination guide.
Author Katie Birtles is an experienced traveler and content writer with a focus on food and drink.