A Lotta Gelato: My Top Picks For Rome

Beaches are to ice cream as cobblestoned streets are to gelato, and there is certainly no shortage of this sweet treat in Rome. Whether you're craving a cone, a cup, or a brioche sandwich, you're certain to satiate any and all of your gelato cravings in Italy. Keep your loose change handy; it's far too easy to spend pocket money on Italy's most classic dessert. The difficulty here isn't deciding whether to break for gelato (the answer is always yes), but in finding the best gelateria the city has to offer. With my recommendations, you're certain to maximize each cone you order, and the hardest choice you'll make is choosing between fondente and nocciola.

Come Il Latte is probably my favorite food in all of Rome. While abroad, I would forgo lunch far too often for a cone, and while that wasn't the healthiest substitution, I have no absolutely no regrets about the gelato-as-a-meal lifestyle. I knew I was becoming a regular when the man making my cone complimented my Italian - I'd had enough practice ordering gelato by that point. In addition to serving artiginal gelato flavors hidden in metal cases (you can always tell the quality of Italian gelato based on whether the gelato is served in covered crates or on display), Come il Latte pairs each cone with a drizzle of either white or dark chocolate at the bottom and tops your flavors with an instagram-worthy cookie doused in matching chocolate. Splurge for the homemade waffle cone, and if you're craving three flavors, I recommend a pistachio, caramel, and marscapone combination. For the more daring visitors, try one of Come il Lattes unique by-the-day flavors like  its not quite traditional blue cheese gelato. The only downside to this gelateria is its location. It is slightly off the beaten path of traditional tourist itineraries, though it's the perfect pitstop en route to or from Termini Train Station. To make the most of your trek to Come il Latte, grab a bite to eat beforehand at Pinsere - a lunchtime pizzeria only a street away. 

If you look up gelato in Rome, the first place you'll probably come across is Giolitti: a gelateria near the Pantheon with a hard-to-miss sign and often huge lines of people. Somewhat chaotic, Giolitti is a free-for-all, old-school style gelateria, where you buy your gelato first and then push your way through a crowd of people to order. Once you make it through, the chaos is worth it. Giolitti offers rich flavors of nearly every kind of gelato imaginable. Don't forget to ask for your dessert con panna to complement your treat with a sugary dollop of whipped cream. I recommend saving your Giolitti fix for after sunset (or perhaps having a second gelato later in the day) and taking it to the Pantheon piazza when most tourists are gone. There's something to be said for soak in one of Rome's oldest treasures as you lick the Eternal City's oldest gelato. 

With three locations throughout Rome, Gelateria del Teatro similarly serves an array of quality gelato, offering everything from fondente (dark chocolate only for the biggest chocolaholics) to floral flavors, such as rose or lavender.  

Honorary Mentions: Fatamorgana, Frigidarium 

Avoid: Grom. They have these all over Italy but the gelato is as generic as it gets - I’ve seen Grom branches all over American strip malls.