Gillian Knows Best guide to Gelato in Rome

🍦There are probably hundreds of The Best Gelato in Rome Guides. Here is mine.

My big not-so-secret is that I don’t really love gelato. I like it fine. I have it a few times a year when the temperature is not too hot or not too cold. Because I eat gelato so infrequently it really needs to be excellent.

The words gelato and ice cream are often used interchangeably but they are not quite the same thing. Italian gelato is denser with less air incorporated into it. It has a lower fat and a higher sugar content. Gelato is also served at a higher temperature than ice cream. Take a deep dive into the differences and history with this BBC Forum podcast episode.

You know the drill about avoiding brightly colored piles of the stuff. I usually get a cup and not a cone. It is a lot less messy on a hot afternoon. A scoop of panna, whipped cream, on top is always a good idea.

Italians are not big fans of in-between meal snacks. Or of walking around eating or drinking. Gelato is one of the exceptions.

🗺️Gillian Knows Best Google map

The best gelato in Rome. Paid subscribers have access to dozens of carefully curated and annotated maps like this one of my favorite things in Rome and Venice and Florence.

Near Fontana di Trevi Gelateria Artigianale Antonietta Cecere. I know it is hard to believe but there really is an excellent friendly family run gelateria next to the Fontana di Trevi. Have the best of both worlds here with a hot espresso poured over a cold scoop of zabaglione gelato. They also make maritozzi, the Roman cream filled bun.

Near the Pantheon: Have you ever had pine flavored gelato? Or gelato made with buffalo milk? Gunther Gelato is the place to find it. Oh, and there is an entire case just of chocolate flavors. (There are shops near Ponte Sisto and in Mercato Centrale inside Termini too.)

Near Largo Argentina: Get a cup of refreshing lemon and basil from Gelateria Corona and go sit in the park at Piazza Benedetto Cairoli.

Near Piazza Navona: Grom. I know it’s a chain. I like it anyway. They have gluten free options and many outlets are recognized by the Italian Associazione Italiano celiachia. Ruma Bottega & Cucina Agricola makes all the cheese, yogurt and gelato in the display case and on the menu with buffalo milk from their farm in the Maremma in Tuscany. The gelato is very good.

Monti: Grezzo’s gelato is vegan, gluten, and lactose free. It is also delicious. The chocolate covered bars filled with pistachio gelato are a summer dinner party dessert favorite.

Trastevere: If you are lucky there will be a bowl of tiny freshly made maritozzi buns on the counter at I Dolci di Checco. Get one filled with pistachio for a summer breakfast. The strawberry here is my favorite in Rome.

Prati/Vatican: I love a chocolate milkshake (frappè in Italian) from Old Bridge Gelateria. Gelateria dei Gracchi was one of Rome’s first artisan gelaterias and uses seasonal ingredients and only ever has a few flavors at a time. If you see Zibibbo, that made with dessert wine from tiny grapes grown on the Sicilian island of Pantelleria, get that.

Aventino/Circo Massimo: On the rare occasion that I would visit Mark at his office I always made a stop at Gelateria Torcè. I will always get peanut and chocolate or mint and chocolate. This is the place for the adventurous palate. You can try things like habanero chili or gorgonzola flavors.

Sallustiano: I usually get my gelato in a cup because it’s easier to eat on a hot afternoon. Come il Latte is a place to get a cone. Why? Before they scoop your gelato they coat the inside with milk or dark chocolate. This is extra lush and creamy gelato.

The two best places for old school Rome vibes are Giolitti and Fassi dal 1880. I recommend sitting at table at both of these places to make the most of the atmosphere.

When I lived in Balduina I used to buy this very fancy and expensive gelato from the very tiny and out of the way Neve di Latte for dinner parties. We absolutely did not share with the children. Now there is lots of fancy gelato in Rome and Neve di Latte has 5 stores. There is one in Flaminio near the Museo Maxxi, one in Prati near Piazza Cavour and one on the via Veneto!

💡Gelato in Rome insiders tip

One last piece of gelato advice. Always say yes to the question, Panna? In Rome there is no extra charge!