In Rome's centro storico, you are bound to be constantly stumbling across one of the many gelaterie and new ones seem to appear virtually overnight. An ice cream lover's dream it would appear but why settle for something ordinary and inferior when you can actually do a bit of swooning with a PERFECT gelato? One that simply outdoes the others in ingredients, flavours & consistency.
Obviously, the trick is to locate the gelaterie which pride themselves for quality rather than quick mass production. Bear in mind too, that for many Italians, gelato becomes an integral part of the daily food ritual in warm weather. Generally, eating while walking is not the done thing here, but gelato is another matter entirely. People here can eat several a day so naturally, a quality product is mandatory. Of course, they're not always served as huge totems tottering dangerously on brittle sugary cones but rather in little cups, with petite spoons. You can comfortably devour quite a few of these. You could actually do a gelato 'crawl' for an entire afternoon without going into overload and isn't this quite simply an ideal way to entertain kids who fade fast on sightseeing expeditions?
So here's a little list, MY little list, just to start you off.
Il Gelato Di San Crispino
San Crispino is often hailed as Rome's best ice cream and although I know quite a few people who claim it doesn't really deserve all the accolades, I have to admit it's up at the top of my personal luscious scale. Only fresh and seasonal fresh ingredients (no frozen products) are used in the production of this icecream so flavours are delicately authentic. No chemicals or additives either which explains the absence of cones. Ice cream is carefully stored in metal canisters with metal lids which are diligently replaced every time ice cream is scooped out (hard to actually see the ice cream). The house specialty is a honey blend which goes very well with the meringue flavours.... chocolate, hazelnut or caramel. But the flavours which really stand out are the fruit series, in particular raspberry, plum (susina) and fig (fico).
The only negative here at time of writing is attitude.... San Crispino IS a tad pretentious with people serving seldom friendly and generally quite haughty. Success seems to have gone to their heads. Try asking for a tiny taste and expect to be scoffed at.
- Via Della Panetteria 42 (near Fontana Dei Trevi)
- Piazza Della Maddalena (near Pantheon)
- Terminal A - Fiumicino Airport
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Ciuri Ciuri
Pasticceria Gelateria Siciliana
If you're at all familiar with Sicilian ice cream you will know that pistacchio is undoubtedly the flavour of choice on that magical island. At Ciuri Ciuri you will find an exquisite mouthwatering pistacchio (not the nasty electric green variety), and once you try this particularly delicious pistacchio, I guarantee you will crave it forever. I never know whether to have the pistacchio or one of the refreshing granitas or two of their very crisp cannoli mignon, filled while you wait with a fresh ricotta cream (including a pistacchio flavoured one naturally). Principal ingredients hail from Sicily, the pistacchio's from the area of Bronte, renowned for these nuts.
Via Leonina 18-20
www.ciuriciuri.it
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Il Gelato di Claudio Torcè
100 flavours - 60 milk cream based, 20 fruit based, 20 semifreddi/cremolati ingredients carefully chosen from top end suppliers. This gelateria is so popular, despite its rather inconvenient location, that clients spill out onto the street holding onto their serving number and are quite willing to wait, even up to 45 minutes at late night. Never mind, the vibe is great so go ahead and put this place on your icecream crawl list.
Via Dell' Aeronautica 105
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Bar Gelateria VICE
Now this is something REALLY new.... Frozen Finger Foods (FFF's)! Prosciutto e Melone sorbet or Pear & Gorgonzola or Curry & Pineapple with poppy seed couc cous. Well yes, these flavours are not for the feint hearted. The traditional and not too adventurous icecream lover will enjoy the more mainstream flavours, the ingredients of which are not mainstream at all and include Amalfi lemons, the Bronte pistacchio, almonds from Noto, walnuts from Sorrento, Tuscan pinenuts, Filette mineral water and organic mountain milk. These people are not kidding when they claim their icecream is healthy and genuine! AND it has just won an award for Innovation by Il Gambero Rosso.
Via Gregorio VII 385
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Gelateria dell'Isola Tiberina
A quiet little gelateria on the Tiber Island, not at all trend setting, but surely in one of the loveliest spots in Rome, where you can savor your gelato on one of the two ancient bridges or down on the island's riverbank, where in summer people sunbake, read, kiss and.... eat icecream. They pride themselves on chocolate and pistacchio but I think their yoghurt/berries is heavenly!
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Caffè Portofino
Very trendy gelateria/bar/eatery with outdoor seating under a gazebo in one of the city's favourite shopping streets. Here you can order an elaborate gelato creation in a glass cup and have a house cocktail as well. Portofino Spritz and Champagne Coobler seem to be all the rage.
Piazza Cola Di Rienzo 116
www.caffeportofino.it
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Cremeria Monteforte
Chocolate lovers will be particularly indulged at this quality cremeria, located opposite the Pantheon. The cioccolato fondente is the specialty, a rich dark unusually smooth chocolate. The creamy pistacchio is notable as well. The gelato in this little store is extra creamy and tastes homemade.
Via Della Rotonda 22
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Gelateria Corona
Rome Food and Beverage 
Situated in noisy Largo Argentina opposite the tram stop, this small unassuming gelateria has earned a number of awards and has made it into the Gambero Rosso's much coveted list. Flavours change daily and house specialties include basil/lemon and an unusual granita di ricotta.
Largo Arenula 27
Piazza Argentina
