Gelato in Rome: The 10 Best Gelaterias

Gelateria La Romana, located on Via XX Settembre, serves gelato with a notably creamy texture made from natural ingredients and traditional churning methods. It is open daily from noon until midnight, with prices from €2.50 for a single scoop to €5 for a cup of three flavors.

Situated at Via XX Settembre 60, Gelateria La Romana has a longstanding presence in the city. The interior features vintage wooden counters and large glass cases filled with gelato scoops that invite you to pause and decide. Their famous Crema di Romana flavor combines egg yolks, fresh cream, and vanilla, delivering a custard-like richness that melts slowly on the tongue. The pistachio gelato uses nuts sourced from Bronte in Sicily, ensuring a nutty flavor without excessive sweetness.

The shop’s location on Via XX Settembre places it roughly a 10-minute walk from the Piazza della Repubblica, making it convenient after sightseeing. The atmosphere becomes particularly lively in the evening when families and couples stop by after dinner. Adding hot chocolate sauce over your gelato is a recommended indulgence here.

Fatamorgana, with locations including one on Via Lago di Lesina, is known for its seasonal, organic ingredients and dense, low-air gelato. It opens daily from 1 PM to 11 PM, with single scoops priced around €3.

Fatamorgana’s approach centers on organic, seasonal produce, which means their menu changes frequently to reflect what is fresh. The shop on Via Lago di Lesina 9 has a rustic interior with exposed brick walls and wooden shelves, creating a relaxed environment. Their ricotta with fig and clove gelato combines subtle spice and creamy texture, while the black sesame flavor presents an earthy depth balanced by sweetness.

The dense gelato texture comes from minimal air incorporation during production, which intensifies the flavors. This makes each spoonful feel rich and concentrated rather than light and fluffy. The shop is about a 15-minute walk from the lively Trastevere neighborhood, making it an excellent stop for an afternoon gelato.

Giolitti, on Via degli Uffici del Vicario near the Pantheon, is one of Rome’s oldest gelaterias, open daily from 8 AM to midnight with prices starting at €2 per scoop.

Giolitti’s history dates back to the early 20th century, and while its original founding year is often cited as 1900, recent sources confirm continuous operation with a commitment to traditional recipes. Located just a 5-minute walk from the Pantheon, the shop’s classic façade and busy interior recall an earlier era in Rome.

Their chocolate gelato is made using a blend of Peruvian and Venezuelan chocolates, giving it a rich deep cocoa taste. Fruit flavors such as strawberry and lemon are fresh and bright, with a texture that is smooth but less creamy than the dairy-based options. Portions are generous, and the prices remain reasonable.

Come il Latte on Via Silvio Spaventa 7 specializes in creamy gelato made with fresh milk from local farms and seasonal fruits, open daily from 11 AM to 11 PM, with prices between €2.50 and €5.50.

This gelateria limits distractions by focusing on gelato quality rather than elaborate décor. The milk used is sourced from farms near Rome, contributing to the velvety texture of their Fior di Latte, a milk-based gelato with delicate sweetness. Their hazelnut gelato is another highlight, crafted using Piedmont hazelnuts roasted on-site to maintain aroma and flavor.

The shop is about a 20-minute walk from Piazza Navona and welcomes visitors who appreciate balanced, creamy flavors. Staff members often recommend pairing flavors such as Fior di Latte with hazelnut or seasonal fruit for a harmonious tasting visit.

Located at Via dei Gracchi 272 in the Prati district, Gelateria dei Gracchi crafts artisan gelato without artificial additives, open daily from noon to 10 PM; prices start at €2.50 per scoop.

This gelateria emphasizes natural ingredients and clarity of flavor. The interior is bright and airy thanks to large windows that bathe the gelato tubs in natural light, making the colors and textures even more appealing. Signature flavors such as white chocolate with saffron and stracciatella with dark chocolate shards are both rich and refined.

The shop is about a 15-minute walk from the Vatican Museums, making it a convenient stop after a morning of sightseeing. The gelato’s texture is rich but avoids heaviness, allowing each flavor to come through clearly.

Gelateria del Teatro, on Via dei Coronari 65-66 near Piazza Navona, features artisanal gelato with inventive flavors using fresh fruit and herbs, open daily from noon to midnight, with single scoops at €3.

This gelateria’s interior features hand-painted tiles and an open kitchen where you can watch gelato being made. The air fills with the scent of fresh fruit and herbs, setting expectations for the flavors ahead. Try rosemary and honey for its piney fragrance balanced by sweetness, or ricotta with almond and caramelized figs, which combines creamy and nutty notes.

The portions here tend to be slightly larger than average, making it a filling treat after walking around nearby Piazza Navona, just a 7-minute walk away. The gelateria’s artisanal approach means the flavors often include unexpected ingredients that work well together.

Otaleg, located at Via di San Cosimato 7 in Trastevere, serves gelato with an emphasis on natural ingredients and texture innovation, open daily from 1 PM to midnight, with prices from €2.50 to €5.

The name Otaleg is ‘gelato’ spelled backwards, reflecting its modern take on tradition. The shop rotates flavors often, offering combinations such as salted caramel with toasted hazelnuts and fresh fig with ricotta. The gelato texture is smooth with a denser body, enhancing flavor intensity.

This gelateria is a 10-minute walk from the heart of Trastevere and sits amid lively street sounds and occasional street musicians. The atmosphere is informal, making it a good choice for a casual gelato break at any time in the afternoon or evening.

Gelateria Valentino, close to Campo de’ Fiori at Via dei Banchi Vecchi 19, focuses on traditional gelato flavors with simple, high-quality ingredients, open daily from 10 AM to midnight, with single scoops at €2.

This gelateria retains an old-fashioned feel with pastel walls and classic display cases. Its vanilla bean and coffee gelato attract many regular customers, made with straightforward recipes that highlight quality over complexity. Seasonal sorbets provide refreshing alternatives when fruit is ripe.

The shop is only a 5-minute walk from Campo de’ Fiori, an area known for its open-air market and lively atmosphere. Valentino’s prices remain modest, making it a convenient and affordable stop for a gelato treat during a day of sightseeing.

Fata Morgana’s location on Via Lago di Lesina emphasizes seasonal and organic ingredients with a frequently changing menu, open daily from 1 PM to 11 PM, with single scoops usually €3.

This branch is part of the same family as Fatamorgana and maintains a similar philosophy. Ingredients include herbs and spices that complement main flavors, such as lavender and honey or blood orange sorbetto, which is bright and citrusy. The gelato here is dense and creamy, reflecting careful production methods.

Located in the Nomentano area, it is a bit further from central tourist spots but worth a visit for those interested in innovative gelato that follows seasonal cycles.