Last September, we spent four wonderful nights in Florence. It was a trip that focused on art history, architecture, culture, and obviously, unforgettable food. While we indulged in schiacciatta sandwiches for lunch and truffle pasta for dinner, we didn’t forget about gelato. Quite the opposite considering I have a sweet tooth. Since we spent so much time in gelaterias, I figured I should introduce you to the best gelato places in Florence!
Gelateria Santa Trinita
Piazza de’ Frescobaldi, 11/red, 50125 Firenze
Possibly an odd thing to mention but one gelato place has the best view in all of Florence. And Gelateria Santa Trinita is the undisputed winner here! As you leave, you find yourself right in front of Ponte Santa Trinita with a lovely view of the famous Ponte Vecchio! Not only is the view unbeatable but the gelato flavors are unforgettable. We visited this place twice during our four days in Florence. I still remember trying black sesame gelato and being surprised at how good it was! Based on our two visits, you can conclude that there were lots of other amazing flavors available too!
GROM – Il Gelato come una volta
Via del Campanile, 2, 50122 Firenze
The most popular of these recommendations, GROM opened back in 2003. The owners wanted to create high-quality gelato with no emulsifiers, no food coloring, or aromas. Today, there are over 60 locations of GROM gelaterias all over the world. So while I normally wouldn’t have gone for a gelateria that is basically a commercial chain, I was curious. Also, I got recommendations to go there despite the fact that it’s a chain store. But I have to admit that the ice cream lived up to the hype, most notably the gianduja flavor!
Gelateria La Carraia
Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25/r, 50124 Firenze
La Carraia opened its doors in 1990 and has kept creating delicious homemade gelato. And if you’re counting, we also had gelato here twice during our four-day stay in Florence. This means we visited way more gelaterias than cafés or anything else during our visit. One thing about gelato that surprised me is how affordable it actually is. It tastes way better than any ice cream I’ve had in other European countries yet it costs less. This is because you pay the price of a cup or a cone and not the number of scoops. Basically, if I take a mid-sized cup with four different flavors and Grégory chooses only two flavors in the same cup, the two cups won’t differ in price. Pretty crazy, if you ask me. No wonder I couldn’t stop revisiting gelaterias in Florence!
Perché no!…
Via dei Tavolini, 19r, 50122 Firenze
Open since 1939, Perché no!… is your go-to place for unique gelato flavors. I was curious about too many of them so I went with three different scoops. I paired cinnamon with mulberry and a flavor mix of grapes & strawberries. Not the most sensical combination but I can never resist new to me ice cream flavors! Depending on the season, you can also taste lavender, ginger, or green tea ice cream. However, even your classical gelato flavors of pistachio and Fior di latte will sweep you off your feet. You’ll also find a great selection of vegan gelatos here! Not only does the gelato taste amazing but they also look so beautiful. I don’t think I’ve ever taken a prettier ice cream photo than this one! When I return to Florence, I am definitely heading back here for more gelato!
Honorable mentions
While I had some favorites, I can’t say any of these places disappointed me. The gelato was delicious and incomparable to the ice cream I usually enjoy. When it comes to the best place for gelato in Florence, picking any of these will leave you satisfied. While the flavor selection differs here and there, they’re all divine! I will only add that you should check out the reviews on Google maps before entering any gelateria. Because I was shocked upon seeing how many “gelaterias” in the center of the city have horrible reviews.
If you guide yourself by this blog post, all of these gelaterias will delight you. There is honestly no wrong pick when choosing between these places. There might be a line of people in most of these gelaterias but it’s for a good reason. And here are a few extra recommendations, the ones I am planning on visiting next time I’m in Florence. Until then, have fun discovering the best gelato places in Florence yourself!
Gelateria Artigianale La Sorbettiera
Sbrino Gelatificio Contadino
Gelateria Neri
