Where to Get the Best Gelato in Greater Boston

Typically you simply need some candy, spectacular ice cream, ready any which approach—by which case, we’ve received you lined. (See additionally: Better Boston’s greatest soft-serve.) However “conventional” American ice cream’s Italian cousin—made with much less butterfat and a better proportion of milk, and served barely hotter—is its personal particular delight, densely textured and intensely flavored. And so, when that hankering hits, right here’s the news on one of the best gelati within the space.

Caffè Paradiso’s pistachio martini encompasses a scoop of pistachio gelato. / Picture by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Caffè Paradiso

Unsurprisingly, Boston’s depraved Italian North Finish abounds with choices for gelato—not all of them, although, are depraved good. That stated, there’s a cause that family-owned Caffè Paradiso has been kicking round for 60-plus years: luscious house-made gelati (assume hazelnut, pistachio, and strawberry flavors) that make for spirited affogato when doused with, say, espresso or chocolate liqueur.

255 Hanover St., North Finish, Boston, 617-742-1768, caffeparadisoboston.com.

Delini Gelato. / Courtesy photograph

Delini Gelato

Viki Petkova has earned a formidable rep since launching her West Roxbury gelato store in June 2020—a second when most companies had been struggling simply to remain alive amid early-pandemic shutdowns and different challenges. There’s no approach that phrase wouldn’t get out, although, concerning the uniquely whistle-wetting flavors crafted right here: honey lavender, mango lassi, tropical banana, and (most famously) off-menu choices of rose oil pistachio baklava impressed by the Bulgarian native’s household recipe. (Word: Delini will likely be closed for a winter break; watch social media for updates on closing and reopening dates.)

5 Bellevue St., West Roxbury, Boston, delinigelato.com.

Dragon Pizza

This funky little Davis Sq. pizzeria—residence of among the greatest New York-style pizza round, with a rotating array of artistic toppings—additionally makes gelato in-house, as a result of who doesn’t need pizza with a facet of gelato? There’s usually vanilla, mint chip, and darkish chocolate obtainable, plus “numerous each day specials.” The informal store additionally has a full bar, so be at liberty to accompany your kung pao hen pizza and hazelnut chocolate swirl gelato with a home spritz or basic Negroni.

233 Elm St., Davis Sq., Somerville, dragonpizzasomerville.com.

Eataly

When the climate is truthful and positive, swing by the gelato cart Eataly parks on its Boylston Avenue patio, scoop up one thing candy—cioccolato, possibly?—and get to individuals watching. Neither wet days nor winter chill ought to hold you from a chilly deal with, although: Il Gelato, one among a number of counter-service ideas housed contained in the sprawling meals market, nonetheless has your again with distinctive Italian ice cream made with milk from Excessive Garden Farm in Western Massachusetts (and reside leisure offered by a menagerie of shopper-tourists).

800 Boylston St., Again Bay, Boston, 617-807-7300, eataly.com.

Gelato & Chill

Three phrases: gelato-filled cannoli. (Okay, another phrase: YES.) In case your curiosity is now sufficiently piqued, get thee to Gelato & Chill’s Chestnut Hill location—that’s the place you’ll discover nut- or chocolate chip-garnished pastries wrapped round ricotta, chocolate, or stracciatella gelato. These in search of a easy scoop will discover them too, in fact, at each the suburban store and the food-hall outlet inside Time Out Market Boston. Strive the tiramisu; it’s, in a phrase, wonderful.

401 Park Dr. (Time Out Market Boston), Fenway, Boston, 617-717-4989; 199 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, 617-717-4989, gelatochill.com.

Giovanna Gelato e Sorbet

Wish to hear a candy success story? Architect-turned-food-entrepreneur Eduardo Kreindel based this gelato biz in his basement again in 2008, impressed by the ice cream he grew up consuming in his native Buenos Aires (which is residence to a large group of Italian immigrants). Now the Malden-based maker of recent, seasonal flavors (mint, dulce de leche, pumpkin pie, sweet cane…) has turn out to be fairly an operation, promoting pint-sized containers of Kreindel’s excellent stuff by indie markets in addition to choose Entire Meals shops in Boston and the encompassing ‘burbs.

193 Maplewood St. (manufacturing facility—not a storefront), Malden, 617-320-4647, giovannagelato.com.

Beautiful Gelato’s gelato cannoli. / Picture by Rachel Leah Blumenthal

Advertisement

Beautiful Gelato

Hey, good lookin’—look no additional than Excessive Avenue Place, downtown Boston’s still-new and hit-packed meals corridor, for the primary Hub location of Beautiful. The Portland, Maine-founded gelato store made fairly a reputation for itself with our neighbors to the north, due to a pair of homeowners who traded Milano for New England, intent on producing “one of the best gelato west of Italy.” That self-described mission might very properly be achieved, as anybody who has tried cups of limoncello, sea salt caramel, or Boston cream pie can attest. And sure, that is one other spot the place you may get gelato-filled cannoli.

100 Excessive St. (Excessive Avenue Place), Downtown Boston, gorgeousgelato.com.

Candy Avenue Gelato

First issues first: Candy Avenue has its very personal catering meals truck, when you’re ever seeking to park some cones or cups of, say, birthday cake gelato outdoors your subsequent occasion. Alternatively, simply deal with your self anytime with a visit to its store inside Eatery58 Market in Peabody, a North Shore meals corridor that can also be residence to Neapolitan-style pizza (Frankie Slice) and specialty java (Capito Espresso). There you’ll additionally discover Candy Avenue’s signature gelato sundaes, which add a celebratory be aware to any day of the week.

58 Pulaski St. (Eatery58 Market), Peabody, sweetstreetgelato.com.

Desk Caffé

Proper now, she is likely to be greatest recognized for the multi-course, communal-style meals served at her restaurant Desk—however earlier than lengthy, sportscaster-turned-chef Jen Royle might quickly be anointed the gelato queen of the North Finish. She’s been crushing it with the candy stuff at Desk Caffé throughout the road, promoting out of always-fresh, never-freezer-stored flavors (from basic stracciatella to tangy tangerine) on the each day. Bonus: You may watch her making it on the Italian-made machines by the large sidewalk home windows, including a bit leisure to the expertise.

396-400 Hanover St., North Finish, Boston, 857-250-4286, tableboston.com/table-caffe.