8 Best Gelato Shops in Florence (2024)

There are many legitimate reasons to go to Italy: the history, the architecture, the scenic views, and those picturesque cobblestone streets. And food, of course. Hand-made pastas, Neapolitan-style pizza, and gelato. Lots and lots of gelato. Grabbing a scoop of good, high-quality gelato to cool off after a long day of touring or to enjoy during an evening stroll is part of the Italian experience. And, unlike other Italian specialties, gelato is ubiquitous and can be found in its most delicious and authentic form in every region and city, including Florence. After several trips and many, many scoops later, we confidently bring you our guide to the best gelato in Florence.

8. Venchi Gelato and Chocolate

While we really do prioritize trying local, family-owned restaurants in our guides, there’s no denying that Venchi makes absolutely delicious gelato. Yes, you can find Venchi gelato in multiple other locations worldwide, but there’s something special about enjoying this creamy Italian treat in a large Italian city. Their chocolate-dipped cones complement nearly every gelato flavor and make for the perfect “cone shot”. We recommend selecting at least one chocolate flavor–Venchi is a chocolate shop, after all, and their chocolate scoops are especially decadent.

7. La Strega Nocciola

La Strega Nocciola (which translates to The Hazelnut Witch) has the huge advantage of being a near stone’s throw from essential Florence destinations like the Duomo and Accademia Gallery but doesn’t settle on mass-produced, artificially colored gelatos like other shops in the area. La Strega’s recipes for their artisanally crafted gelatos and sorbets have been fine-tuned since 2004, and the pureness of each flavor is no joke. Bignolosa (vanilla base with Nutella and whole cream puffs) is a fun fan favorite and pairs perfectly with a scoop of pistachio.

6. Gelateria dei Neri

Located just north of the Arno River and a short walk from one of our favorite panino shops, All’Antico Vinaio, is Gelateria dei Neri, known for their exceptional customer service and large variety of flavors (over 40+!). It really is the perfect spot to grab a cup or cone after a quick lunch before heading off for more sightseeing. Talk about a quintessential Italian afternoon. Gelateria dei Neri is a bit bigger than most gelato shops, making it a great option for larger groups.

5. Sbrino

Sbrino is a top-rated, locally-beloved gelateria tucked away on the south side of the Arno River. Its homey, comfortable vibe is quite cozy and the little indoor seating area is perfect for cold, rainy days (of course we are still eating gelato in the rain). Locals have deemed it as serving the best pistachio gelato in the city. While we can’t quite confirm that claim, who wouldn’t mind sampling them all to find out, right?

4. La Sorbettiera

La Sorbettiera is a gelateria founded on both creativity and a reverence for the traditional art of gelato. Founded in 2007 by Antonio, whose love of gelato began at 14 when he first worked at a gelateria, and his wife, Elisa, La Sorbettiera is a spot beloved by both locals and tourists alike. And with three locations across the city, you’re bound to be close to at least one shop. While they are committed to quality and tradition, La Sorbettiera is also a great gelateria to break away from the classics (though the crema antica is phenomenal) and try something more adventurous (the lemon and sage or lemongrass with coconut are divine).

3. Edoardo

Located conveniently across the street from the Duomo, Edoardo may not require a cab ride to a far-flung area of the city where only locals go but is far from a mediocre tourist trap. Edoardo was the first organic gelateria in Florence and continues to offer organic gelato as well as an impressive variety of non-dairy options. We love Edoardo for their delicious, made-in-house cones, which is quite rare even among high-quality artisan shops in the city. While they do have a smaller selection of flavors, seasonality reigns supreme as flavors vary by day depending on what is available from local markets. The stracciatella is a must – it’s our favorite in all of Florence.

2. My Sugar

As we’ve visited Florence time and time again, My Sugar continues to shine among the staggering number of gelaterias around the city. A mere four-minute walk from the Accademia, which houses the David, My Sugar serves high-quality, extremely flavorful gelato. You can’t go wrong with over a dozen freshly made flavors no matter what you order. Favorites include stracciatella, mango, salted caramel, and chocolate.

1. Gelateria Della Passera

Tucked away in one of our favorite piazzas in Florence is Gelateria Della Passera. With 4 Leoni, one of our top restaurants in all of the city, a mere five steps away, a visit to Gelateria Della Passera is absolutely worth your time. Winning the coveted “three cones” from Italian food and wine aficionado, Gambero Rosso, Della Passera churns out exceptionally high-quality gelato in their quaint 100-square-foot production and retail space. Della Passera is the perfect place to try out something new, as their flavors are anything but pedestrian. Take the Scheherazade for example: a creamy saffron and rose water base studded with pistachios and pieces of blast-chilled mascarpone. While there is sometimes a line, it always moves quickly and is 100% worth it.