Best gelato in Florence. A tour guide’s favorites (with map!)

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Gelato is a serious matter. Especially in Florence, and especially for me as a tour guide and a gelato lover. It is here, in the cradle of the Renaissance, that the best dessert in the world was invented (in 1600, by Bernardo Buontalenti, but that’s another story). I searched for unique flavors, fresh ingredients and craftsmanship in the best ice cream shops in Florence. I tasted, evaluated and compared. My research lasted years: the result is this post about where to eat the best gelato in Florence, and it’s constantly updated.

Where to eat the best gelato in Florence

Here are my favorite gelato spots in Florence, most of them are located in the historic center or very close to it.

They are all gelaterie artigianali, that means that they make their own gelato with fresh ingredients (many touristy places just buy industrial gelato and display it).

You’ll find all of those locations pointed on the map at the end of the post!

Best Gelato in Florence: Perché No

It’s located in via dei Tavolini, a small street that comes out in front of the church of Orsanmichele, and since 1939 it has been producing homemade gelato every morning, using fresh milk and ingredients and seasonal fruit. I have a soft spot for autumn flavors like persimmon, pomegranate and fig, but the creams are also remarkable. All of their fruit flavors are milk-free.

Ciro, the ice cream master of Perché No, is one of the most devoted people to his work I know… And he has become a star in Korea. To find out why you will have to go there, eat ice cream and ask Ciro!

Vivoli

Another historic gelato parlor in Florence, in business for over a century, which has made many generations of Florentines happy. The shop in via Isola delle Stinche has one of the ancient, little wine doors (learn more about traditional wine doors of Florence here!) through which cones and cups are served today. Vivoli overlooks a characteristic square with a couple of benches where you can sit and enjoy your gelato.

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Santa Trinita

This gelato spot takes its name from the bridge of the same name over the Arno, as it’s located in the square at the south end of the Santa Trinita bridge. My favorite flavor here is black sesame, but they also make the traditional Buontalenti flavor which is one of the best in the whole town. Here too the creams like chocolate, pistachio and egg cream are divine!

Carabé

If the previous places won me over especially for creams, Carabé instead shines for fruit flavors. It is a traditional Sicilian gelato parlor, which offers few flavors, but made with care, with ingredients of the highest quality and in season. The almond flavor is crazy, as well as the Sicilian pistachio one. And they also make excellent granite (slushes).

Gelateria de’ Medici

Another hidden gem in the suburbs, in this case in the Statuto neighborhood. At least until a few years ago, when the Gelateria de ‘Medici opened another shop in Piazza Beccaria, a stone’s throw from the historic center. Another unmissable spot for sweet teeth in town.

Gelateria de’ Neri

I recommend this ice cream shop especially to chocolate lovers, which is present in many different, rich and delicious versions, from classic milk to the most extreme dark. As the name suggests, it is located at the end of via de ‘Neri, which has now become the street food alley in Florence, the perfect location for the dessert stop after a panino or stuffed schiacciata.

Gelateria della Passera

A simple, traditional and tasty gelato in one of the most charming little squares of the Oltrarno of Florence. Piazza della Passera indeed. A quite dirty name in tuscan slang… I will tell you the whole story sooner or later! For now, enjoy gelato here!

My Sugar

This is one of my most recent discoveries! My Sugar has won prizes at the Gelato Festival competition and has been mentioned on the Lonely Planet guide. They use a lot of seasonal fruits and the menu is often changing. My Sugar it’s located in via de’ Ginori.

cup of iitalian ice cream in front of the statue of saint George by Donatello

Vegan and dairy-free gelato in Florence

More and more people are requiring dairy-free gelato, because they are vegan or because they have developed food intolerances. Luckily there are a lot of places that are making delicious gelato with no milk or dairies.

Actually one of the best dairy free gelato places is Perché No, that I have mentioned at the beginning of this list (and to me is the best gelato maker in Florence). Their fruit flavors are all made with no milk, but are still as creamy as the regular ones.

Vivaldi

This place specializes in dairy free and lactose free gelato. But even those who do not suffer from intolerances will love with their super creamy gelato. Here, too, I point out above all the fruit flavors. I also recommend trying their original flavors, such as the one with dark chocolate, coconut and raspberries. It is located in Piazza Demidoff, but in summer it’s also found in one of the kiosks at “il Molo”, on the Lungarno Cristoforo Colombo.

Gelateria Edoardo – il gelato biologico

Edoardo makes a great gelato using only organic, fresh ingredients. He is not making only dairy-free gelato, but there are a lot of options with no milk or dairies.

Edoardo has the best spot ever: it’s located in piazza del Duomo 45/r, right in front of the Cathedral (read my guide for visiting the Duomo of Florence!).

And with this I’m done … actually no, I’m not done! I could go on talking about where to eat gelato in Florence for ages… But I wanted to avoid making a cold and long list of names. So I limited myself to the best gelato makers in the historic center area, or in any case easily accessible on foot from there. And I had to make a further selection, because actually there are so many excellent gelatos in Florence. However, these are the ones where I personally stop most often to eat the best dessert in the world.

Map of the best gelato places in Florence

Here is a useful map of the gelato places I mentioned before!

Gelato places to avoid in Florence

The rules for choosing a gelato shop are few and simple. You should avoid a gelato place if …

The sign does not clearly say “gelateria artigianale” or “gelato artigianale”. Gelateria artigianale means that they are making their own gelato with fresh ingredients. If it’s not artisanal, then it’s industrial gelato, just displayed nicely.
The gelato has too bright colors. This means they use artificial colors. Real gelato is made with milk, which makes all the colors a little paler.
All or most of the gelato tubs are filled with stacks as high as mountains and perfectly decorated. Gelato should look so perfect only as soon as the gelato place has opened. After a few minutes it should be full of scoop marks!

I hope I was helpful, if you need more advice on the best gelato places in Florence just ask. I am more than happy to help when it comes about food!