Rome – the home of fabulous pizza, pasta, culture but most importantly, gelato. I set myself a goal of trying at least one gelato place a day during my trip, and I succeeded. One gelato a day keeps the doctor away – you understand, right?

I had a list of 8 gelaterias to visit that came recommended, but that was a teeny tiny segment of the gelateria’s that line to corners of Rome’s city streets. Gelato here is better than anywhere else I’ve tried, always creamy and decadent – I could only manage one a day for fear of overloading.

First on my list, and luckily incredibly close to our hotel was the famous Giolitti. As well as ice cream, there’s a whole host of chocolates and sweet things on your way in. Everything is made in house, and boy is it good. The staff are dressed in emerald green waistcoats and white shirts, like you’d seen in a film, which all lends itself to the unique way of Giolitti.

I was warned about the queues here, and while we stumbled in at around 3pm to a very small queue (you have to queue at the front to collect your ticket before choosing your flavours at the back), we passed the shop a few times on our travels and saw queues winding round and out the door!

Choosing flavours here is hard – there’s an incredible range to choose from and you could start to pick based on the vibrant colour coordination (it’s the Instagrammer in me). Instead I opted for (my fave) chocolate, white chocolate & raspberry. A medium sized cone or tub will get you 3 huge scoops here – the most generous of any gelateria we visited. When the man behind the counter had scooped out my three, and turned to ask if I wanted fresh cream on top, I almost collapsed with happiness on the spot. I urge you to forget the calories and get the cream, it’s an incredible addition. Perhaps not on to make a regular occurrence at home though…

This one wasn’t on my list, but I passed the queue and assumed I was missing out on something important. I was. This place doesn’t look like that much without the queue outside, but the queue is there for a reason!

I got my signature flavour trio once again (for direct comparison purposes only, of course). Chocolate, white chocolate & raspberry. When I ordered chocolate, the man told me to wait and try the hazelnut flavour they offered as he said it would be better, and it was good – but I’m more of a no-nuts kinda gal so stuck with what I knew.

So here’s the good part – when you’re all scooped up the question that made the hairs on my neck stand up comes.

“Do you want it dipped?”

Let me answer this one for you, yes. Yes, you do. They turn your cone (or tub) upside down and dip it into molten milk or white chocolate which solidifies on top. It makes it a little tricker to eat – if you’re trying to be a little graceful about it – but imagine it like a Magnum coating on your ice cream. Who doesn’t want that?!

San Crispino prides itself on it’s seasonal ingredients, meaning the menu is more likely to change on each visit. The selection of flavours is much smaller than the likes of Giolitti, but a little more experimental in places. I opted for meringue with chocolate chips – I still think of this little tub on a daily basis, let me tell you. The portions are a little (read: a lot) less generous, but if you fancy something a little different – head here.

Side note – apologies for the photography of this one, it was a post-dinner treat and street lighting does not lend itself well to blogging. But can’t you see how perfectly it looks like a mixture of meringue and gelato?!

Grom is a chain of gelaterias in Rome, and I was recommended it as one of my friends favourites, so was excited to head inside. There’s a good variety of flavours, but confusingly in the branch we went to you have to pick without seeing so to speak. In I went for chocolate & white chocolate, with cream. But this point in the holiday, it was almost tradition.

By the time I’d reached my fourth gelato, my holding-out-ice-cream-photo-before-it-melts technique had really improved.

Spoiler alert – I couldn’t pick a favourite (I’ve really, really tried). Giolitti provided the most generous portions, and giant scoop of cream on top. San Crispino had such a unique flavour I just want to go again. Frigidarium gave you the option of dipping your ice cream in molten chocolate – that had my name written all over it. Grom – simple, perfect flavours.

I’m hoping there’s a next time (and soon!) for the rest of my gelato hunt, including…

Neve Di Latte | SAID dal 1923 | Raw Raw Chocolate | Necci | Gelateria La Romana | Il Gelatio di Claudio Torce

As always, let me know if there’s any I’m missing!
C x

PS if you haven’t seen it yet, my major guide to Rome is over here!