Ciao! Are you searching for the most amazing gelato in Rome?
I’m a mamma of three living in Italy and we spend a lot of time eating gelato in Florence and on all of our family travels around the country!
Below you’ll find our top gelato shops (called gelaterie here in Italy) that you should try on your visit to Rome.
These are the best gelaterie that I’ve enjoyed in Rome over the years. And, to make sure, we also visited each of these gelato shops on our recent visit to Rome (except for Come il Latte, which was closed). It was tough research, but hey – someone has to do it!
You can either click here to get straight to the map and list, or begin by reading about how to find quality gelato in Italy. After the list of gelaterie, I’ll explain how to order gelato in Rome and give you some helpful vocabulary for your gelato stops.
Enjoy your gelato in Rome and let me know which gelateria you prefer!
How to Know You’re Getting Quality Gelato
There are a ton of excellent gelato shops in Rome. So, don’t feel like you’re getting less-than-stellar gelato if you can’t make it to one of my picks on the list below.
If you see a gelato shop that you’d like to try… just go through this simple checklist to increase your odds of choosing gelato delizioso:
- Look for a shop that sells gelato artigianale (artisanal, hand-crafted, homemade).
- Choose a gelateria that focuses on gelato. If you see pizza, pastries, and other items for sale, you may want to choose another shop.
- Brightly-colored gelato is a bad sign. The gelato should be the color of the blended or crushed ingredients – dull, muted colors and not neon shades. Two flavors to look at: pistachio (should be a dull brownish-green, not bright green) and banana (should be a grey-ish brown, not bright yellow).
- Pass on gelato that’s stacked high. The gelateria is likely using preservatives to keep the gelato from melting.
- Look for a shop selling fruit flavors that are in-season. It’s a sign the gelateria is likely using fresh ingredients. Fichi (figs) in August? Great! Figs in November – pass.
Map of the Best Gelaterie in Rome
Fatamorgana
Piazza degli Zingari, 5
Fatamorgana is my favorite gelateria in Rome, and it’s the one that I visit every time I’m in Rome. If I can only get one gelato on a trip to Rome – it’s here.
The flavors are quirky, but delicious. This is the place to be adventurous and try a unique flavor.
The founder, Maria Agnese Spagnuolo, is celiac, and made it her mission to create delicious, gluten-free gelato without thickeners, emulsifiers, artificial colors or artificial flavors.
There’s often a line out the door, and you’ll see plenty of families here after school gets out.
Flavors to Try: pollicina – noci di Sorrento, petali di rose, fiori di violette (Sorrento walnuts, rose petals, violet flowers), basilico, noci, miele (basil, walnuts, and honey)
Toilet: No
Nearby Attractions: The entire Monti neighborhood, with its unique boutiques and shops and fab spots for aperitivo or a meal.
Good To Know: Vegan or lactose-intolerant? Don’t worry, there are choices for you here! The branch on Via della Croce, 46/47 also serves coffee and has a few seats indoors.
Gelateria La Romana
Piazza di S. Andrea della Valle
La Romana is a chain, but don’t let that put you off. It focuses on quality, and it’s got a huge following here in Rome.
Spend a few minutes watching them making your gelato (on the right, peek in the windo), grab a cone, and get back to the sites!
Or, grab one of the few barstools and take a break. You can even charge your phone.
Flavors to Try: crema 1947 (cream with lemon), fiordilatte (milk), panettone con crema al mascarpone (mascarpone cheese with pieces of panettone cake), caramello salato con noci pecan (salted caramel with pecans – so good! This may be my all-time favorite salted caramel)
Toilet: No
Nearby Attractions: Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Campo de’ Fiori
Fun Fact: Gelateria La Romana uses biodegradable (compostable) materials.
Good To Know: It’s on a busy intersection, so if you’ve got kids, it’s best to eat inside. This was the only gelateria my kids asked to return to on our recent trip to Rome.
Gelateria dei Gracchi
Via di Ripetta, 261
Another favorite of Romans, and you’ll see why. Gracchi has a great mix of classics and creative flavor combos. They’re focused on offering super seasonal flavors. The gelato here tends to be less creamy and leans more towards a sorbet.
This location is perfect for getting a cone or cup and strolling across the street into Piazza del Popolo.
Flavors to Try: pera al caramello (pera and caramel), mela e canella (apple and cinnamon), cachi (persimmon), crema ai pinoli (cream and pine nuts), datteri e noci (dates and walnuts), mandarino (mandarin), melone (cantaloupe)
Toilet: No
Nearby Attractions: Piazza del Popolo, Villa Borghese, Via del Corso
Neve di Latte
Via dei Banchi Vecchi, 140
It’s easy to walk right by this tiny shop… but don’t. The selection is limited but excellent, and I’ve loved every cup I’ve gotten here.
You’ll likely see Romans stopping in to purchase large containers – this is the gelato you’d bring to a dinner party or home as a special treat.
Flavors to Try: avocado, pistacchio (pistachio), neve di latte (bourbon vanilla with milk from Bavaria – amazingly delicious, the crunch of the little vanilla specks), crema di latte e canella (milk cream and cinnamon)
Toilet: No
Nearby Attractions: It’s a stroll from Campo de’ Fiori and Villa Farnesina
Good To Know: It can take awhile to get your cone or cup, but be patient – it’s worth it!
Gelateria Fassi
Via Principe Eugenio, 65-67
Gelateria Fassi may be a little out of your way, but it’s worth making a detour to sample its gelato.
I learned about Fassi from a friend who finds food gems wherever he goes (thanks Jere!) and I’ve continued to return for its classic flavors. It feels a has kind of a 50’s diner feel, and the gelato is excellent. There’s a huge area inside with plenty of seating – perfect if your legs or tired of if you’re traveling with kids (lots of space for strollers too).
Make sure you get the optional panna (whipped cream) added to the top of your cup or cone.
Flavors to Try: crema di Fassi (Fassi’s cream), arachide tostate (toasted peanuts)
Toilet: Yes – in the back right corner
Nearby: Roma Termini train station
Fun Fact: This branch opened in 1928, and it’s not even the oldest – the first Gelateria Fassi opened in 1880!
Helpful Tip: If you’re traveling with kids, stop at the playground in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II – it’s just 200 meters away.
Giolitti
Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40
Historic Giolitti is loved by Romans, and our friends in the city often head to one of the Giolitti branches in Rome. It’s also in a lot of travel guidebooks, so you’ll see plenty of tourists too. Don’t worry if you see a long line – it moves quickly.
This is the first location, and it’s great for kids because you can choose a gelato or other sweet, cool treats like ice cream bars.
There are seats inside and outside, so you can take a break and rest your legs before taking off to see more of Rome! If you have a stroller, roll it through the ‘exit’ to get to the seating area.
Flavors to Try: caramello salato (salted caramel), pistacchio (pistachio)
Toilet: Yes
Nearby Attractions: Pantheon, Via del Corso
Fun Fact: You can even get an early morning ‘breakfast’ gelato here.
Come il Latte
Via Silvio Spaventa, 24/26
This Instagram-friendly gelateria is all about cream and milk (latte is ‘milk’ in Italian), and you’ll see it in the flavors available.
Come il Latte’s gelato uses Roman milk, organic eggs, and seasonal ingredients whenever possible.
Flavors to Try: pane, burro e zucchero (bread, butter, and sugar), latte di capra (goat’s milk), bergamotto (bergamot)
Toilet: No
Nearby Attractions: It’s not too far from Villa Borghese
Kid Bonus – Gelateria della Palma
Via degli Uffici del Vicario, 40
My kids adore this place because it’s got so many flavors (150!), so I’m adding it to the list for families on the search for gelaterie.
It’s true that it’s tough to be excellent at many things (or flavors), but Gelateria della Palma does a pretty great job, and hey, ‘happy kids, happy life’ – isn’t that how it goes?
You can also sit down in the large room next door or at one of the small tables outside on the pedestrian street (but you pay for service in both places).
Flavors to Try: mousse di mango (mango mousse), stracciatella (similar to chocolate chip), crema di limoncello (limoncello cream)
Toilet: Yes, enter with the QR code you get on your receipt
Nearby Attractions: Pantheon, Piazza Navona, Via del Corso
Good To Know: There are also loads of other sweet treats to buy here (like candy), so you may want to steer clear if you’ve got a child with a major sweet tooth.
You may also want to read about Things to Do in Rome With Kids
How to Order Gelato in Rome
There are two ways to order gelato in Italy, and it depends on the gelateria. To find out which method your chosen shop uses, just watch the people in line in front of you.
OPTION #1 (usually small shops): Order and receive your gelato first and then pay for it.
- Choose a cup or cone.
- Choose how many scoops (if you’ve chosen a cone – if you choose a cup, it comes with a certain number of scoops).
- Choose your flavors.
- Pay at the register.
- Enjoy!
OPTION #2 (usually large, busy gelateria): Pay for your gelato and then get your gelato at the counter.
- Pay at the register and keep your receipt.
- Take your receipt to the counter (you may have to wait in line again).
- Choose a cup or cone.
- Choose how many scoops (if you’ve chosen a cone – if you choose a cup, it comes with a certain number of scoops).
- Choose your flavors.
- Enjoy!
Helpful Tip: You can ask for an assaggio (sample/taste), but be mindful of the people in behind you.
Gelato in Rome – Helpful Vocabulary
| Italian | Pronunciation | English Translation |
| un assaggio | oon ahs-SAHJ-joe | taste/sample |
| un cono | oon COH-no | a cone |
| una coppetta | oo-nah kope-PEHT-tah | a cup |
| un gusto | oon GOOSE-toe | one flavor |
| due/tre gusti | doo-eh / treh GOOSE-tee | two/three flavors |
| per favore | pair fah-VOH-ray | please |
| vorrei… | vor-RAY | I would like… |
| grazie | GRAHT-see-eh | thank you |
| quanto costa? | KWAHN-toe KOHS-tah | how much does it cost? |
