The Best Gelato I’ve Ever Had

Is there such a thing as the best of anything, really? I’m as much a sucker for best-of lists and superlative-filled reviews as the next person, but I always hesitate when someone asks me what I think the best fill-in-the-blank is. I have strong opinions but the best is so subjective. I truly believe environment has so much to do with determining what you think is the best. That being said, I do have a “best gelato” and I’ll let you know what it is since that’s why you’re reading this, right? I’ll get to that in a minute.

But first I’ll tell you a story about my first gelato. I went to Italy with my girlfriend, who is now my wife, in November of 2000. The Italians were still using the lira and the Internet as we know it was in its infancy. It was a different era, for sure. Before we embarked on this adventure, we were told by friends, acquaintances, and even random people that we must have gelato while in Italy. “It will blow your mind!” they said. I do enjoy ice cream but how much better could gelato really be?

It was an unseasonably warm November in Rome that year. As we were meandering around seeing ancient ruins and spectacularly ordained churches, having something sweet and refreshing to bolster our sightseeing sounded perfect. I saw a shop that advertising gelato within moments. So we ducked in and ordered two chocolate gelati in my best tourist Italian, “due gelati, per favore!” I was ready for my first taste of the good stuff. I took a lick and savored it a moment. It was…fine.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have had my first gelato in what was basically a convenience store. But there was no Trip Advisor to look up this establishment as I stood on the threshold. There was no Twitter I could tweet out a request for recommendations. I didn’t even have a mobile phone! It was an anticlimactic experience.

So we didn’t have any more gelato until we got to Bologna. Our hotel was right next to a gelateria. Still unimpressed with Italy’s famed ice cream after my single serving of it, it was not a priority. But with three days left in our trip, we decided to give it a shot. We entered and were greeted by an expanse of glass, enclosing an impressive array of colorful ice cream in trays. This place looked good! We ordered. My expectations were still lowered from my Rome experience but I was excited because this stuff looked so much better. I tried it. It was creamy and smooth. It was not like any ice cream I’d had before. The flavors were so pronounced and clear. It was sweet but not so sweet. It was amazing. Ever since that moment I’ve tried to find gelato that good. But for years, as I tried gelato, I couldn’t find anything as good as what I experienced at Gelateria Gianni in Bologna. Why couldn’t I find something as good? Was it the excitement of trying something for the first time? The fact that I was actually in Italy? Possibly. That being said, this was actually not the best gelato I’ve ever had!

Gelateria Gianni, Bologna, Italy

Fast forward about eighteen years. Back in Italy with my wife and two kids in tow, as well as smartphones with the full power of the internet in hand, we ventured back to Bologna to see if if the gelato was that good or if it was the magic of the moment. I’ll cut to the chase. The gelato was still amazing! And the whole family thought so as well! But, it was still not the best gelato, in my opinion.

On this family holiday, we had the fortune of being able to try gelato almost daily and in various locales. I also had the fortune of being able to go to the gym after the trip was over.

One of the locales we venture to was the famed town of San Gimingnano in the heart of Tuscany. This medieval walled city was stunningly picturesque. If you had to build a Tuscan town for a movie, you could only endeavor to copy this city, not improve. My only grumble about this visit was that it was teeming with tourists. By the bus loads. It was a bit off-putting but it is what it is. Still, you should check it out. San Gimignano is also renowned for a gelateria. One that is helmed by a gelato world-champion. A place regarded for having “the best gelato in the world!” — Gelateria Dondoli. We waited in line. The master was actually there! We had a bit of a chat and then it was show time. I ordered. I took a little spoonful and tasted it. It was magnificent! It embodied all of the characteristics of what makes gelato amazing — the super smooth creamy texture and the laser-focused hit of flavor. I loved it. It was not the best gelato I’ve ever had.

Gelateria Dondoli, San Gimignano, Italy

Ok, ok, I’ll get to the point already. The bottom line is that most gelato in Italy is awesome. Except for the stuff you get in convenience stores. Don’t get gelato from a convenience store.

I did have a favorite gelato. It was in Florence. Apparently, Florence is the birthplace of gelato so I’m glad the home team was able to step up and deliver. This place is on every list as a must-go and usually it’s also at the top of these lists. There is often a line out the door. So there’s a lot of hype. But this place lives up to the hype. For me, the texture of this gelato was just smoother and creamier than the rest. Not by a huge margin but it was noticeable for me. And the sour cherry flavor I had there was by far the most bursting-with-cherry-flavor of all the versions I’ve tried. The amarena (sour cherry) gelato at Gelateria La Carraia in Florence was the best gelato I’ve ever had.

Gelateria La Carraia, Florence, Italy

There were so many amazing gelaterias everywhere we went and my opinion is subjective. Millenium in Rome and Edoarado in Florence were also exceptional as well as Grom in multiple cities.

If they were to recreate that ice cream where I live, would I consider it to be the best? I don’t know that I would.

This post was about gelato but if you want to see some pictures of the rest of the Italy trip, check out my Instagram feed. Thanks for reading!