The 8 best gelato and ice cream in Bologna

Bologna is one of the best cities in Italy for gelato; we even have a gelato Museum, and we conclude all our food tours in Bologna with it.

Below you’ll find my up-to-date list of the 8 best gelaterie in Bologna, with what to order, vegan options, prices and a handy map to plan your sweet break.

Are you in the best city in Italy for gelato?

The number of quality gelato shops in a limited area makes Bologna the best city in Italy for gelato. Whether you prefer soft, eggy crème or delicate fruit sorbet, in Bologna you will find your favorite spot.

At what time do Italians eat gelato?

From afternoon to late night, it's always time for a good gelato in Italy. Just avoid mornings, because gelato places usually open around 11 am.

In Sicily, you can have granita served for breakfast with a typical brioche, not to miss.

The best gelato and ice cream in Bologna (map + picks)

Most of the gelato shops you find in this list are in the Bologna city center. A few of them might require extra effort by bus or car.

I keep the list updated, as much as my cholesterol allows me.

There are many reasons to visit the Via Galliera.
Galliera 49 is one of the best.

Seasonal and organic fruit flavors (you won't find melon in December) and great classics such as rum chocolate or Mediterranean cream.

​But if you're looking for their best, ask for granita.

Neighborhood: Close to the train station
Hours: 11:00 – 23:30 (later on weekends, closed on mondays in winter)
Price: €2.50–€3.50 per scoop
Vegan/gluten-free: seasonal fruit sorbets, some dairy-free options
What to order: melon and fig granita, rum chocolate

Via Galliera, 49/b Bologna
Phone: + 39 051 246736
www.galliera49.it

Far from Bologna city center, you need to catch the bus to get there, but it is well worth the effort.

Born in 2004 by the mind of a software architect who discovered the perfect alchemy of gelato, it's now one of the best references in Bologna.

Which to choose?

Stay on the classics (cream, chocolate sorbet), or try unexpected flavors. Gorgonzola cheese and almonds may sound weird, but believe me, it's just delicious.

Or go with Sciroccata: granita, ice cream, and panna: pure pleasure.

Neighborhood: North-east of Bologna
Hours: 12:00 – 22:30, in summer open until midnight
Price: €3.50–€5.00
Vegan/gluten-free: fruit sorbets, dairy-free options
What to order: sciroccata (granita + gelato + whipped cream), chocolate sorbet, gorgonzola & almonds

Via Agostino Barelli, 1 Bologna
Phone: + 39 051 6010051
www.cremeriascirocco.it

Imagine a small French patisserie where you can have the best gelato in Bologna and maybe in Italy.

This place is really tiny and charming: if you're lucky, you could sit and taste the Crema 7 Chiese custard or Cioccolato del Baraccano chocolate or try the homemade ghiaccioli (ice sticks).

They also have a lab next door where they produce brioche, focaccia and panettone.

Get focaccia with gelato but don't tell your doctor about it.

Neighborhood: Santo Stefano, east side of the city center
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00, later in the summer. Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays
Price: €3.00–€4.50
Vegan/gluten-free: homemade fruit popsicles, some dairy-free flavors
What to order: crema 7 chiese custard, cioccolato del baraccano, crema libanese

Via Santo Stefano, 70 Bologna
Phone: + 39 051 227045

At Sablé, expect the unexpected.

Owned by Alessandro Cesari, Sablé offers a daily tasting experience crafted from seasonal ingredients.

Cesari's background is as rich as his flavors. He was raised in a family of bakers, and he turned to gelato after developing an allergy to flour.

Sablé's gelato is not for everyone.
If you're looking for that creamy, milky, fatty ice cream, this is not your place.

If you're looking for new, delicate flavors and unusual pairings like Bolognese cream with Japanese azuki beans, go straight here.

Cesari personally sources ingredients from local farms and even his garden, ensuring each scoop tells a story.

Cesari's commitment to quality means no preservatives, thickeners, or artificial emulsifiers. With a daily limit of just 5 kg per flavor, once it's gone, it's gone.

The shop is open from March through November, offering a dozen ever-changing flavors.

Neighborhood: via Indipendenza, not far from the train station
Hours: 11:30 – 21:30, open from March to November
Price: about €3.50 (small daily batches)
Vegan/gluten-free: many fruit-based flavors, no preservatives or additives
What to order: Haitian chocolate, sake kasu milk, seasonal pairings

Via dei Mille, 3a, 40121 Bologna BO

sablegelato.com

Strolling around Via San Vitale, you can meet a gelato shop directly from the south of Italy.

At Gelatauro, you taste pistachio or almond gelato like only in Sicily or Calabria.
The jasmine granita and the sweet manna (a resin that only grows from ash trees in Castelbuono) are unique.

​The place is cute and you can also have one of the best breakfast in Bologna there, trying some of their handmade cookies or (in winter) their hot chocolate.

Neighborhood: via San Vitale, University area
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00, closed on Mondays in winter
Price: €3.00–€4.50
Vegan/gluten-free: Sicilian-style sorbets and granitas, some dairy-free flavors
What to order: pistachio, almond, jasmine granita, ginger gelato

Via San Vitale, 98, Bologna
Phone: +39 051 230049
www.gelatauro.com

Cross the bridge of Bologna train station to arrive in the best new neighborhood for foodies in the city.

In a few steps, you can find Trattoria di Serra, Bianco Farina, one of the best pizza in Bologna, and a stunning Japanese restaurant called Yuzuya.

And here you find Stefino.

Stefano Roccamo's small shop opened in 1998, and since then, the idea has been simple: Make the best gelato in Bologna with local and organic ingredients, not too sugary, and low in fat.

The list of flavors is short, and that's good news.
It means he makes gelato daily.

You have to try the sorbets.
Figs, mandarin, and Yucatan, a chocolate sorbet with pepper.

And in summer, ask for granite: peach, almond, and lemon.

You can also find Stefino at Mercato Ritrovato, one of the best food markets in Bologna.

The cone is vegan and gluten-free.

Neighborhood: Bolognina, just behind the train station
Hours: 12:00 – 22:00, later in summer
Price: €2.50–€3.20
Vegan/gluten-free: vegan and gluten-free cones, 100% organic fruit sorbets
What to order: peach granita, yucatán chocolate sorbet with pepper, fig sorbet

Via Domenico Zampieri, 4/2c, 40129 Bologna BO, Italy
Phone: +39 051 041 8945
stefino.it

How did Sorbetteria Castiglione become a global gelato icon?

Founded 30 years ago by Marina Marchiori during a moment of crisis, it started with bold choices: revamping a pastry shop, introducing gelato, and insisting on pozzetti for perfect serving.

Over the years, Marina reduced sugar levels, launched a vegan line, and created custom flavors for international markets like Indonesia, where less-sweet gelato is preferred.

Even the famous cremini, named after her children, are a symbol of family tradition and creativity.

At Sorbetteria Castiglione you can also find Sanissimo: a vegan gelato without sugar, milk, and eggs also ideal for diabetics.

Neighborhood: via Castiglione, close to Giardini Margherita
Hours: 11:00 – 23:30, until midnight in summer
Price: €2.80–€4.50
Vegan/gluten-free: sanissimo line (vegan, sugar-free, dairy-free, egg-free)
What to order: Ludovico cremino with hazelnut praline, classic cremini

Via Castiglione, 44d, 40125 Bologna
Phone: +39 051 039 1207
lasorbetteria.it

This map shows the 8 best gelato and ice cream shops in Bologna, with addresses and walking distance from Piazza Maggiore.

Looking for vegan-friendly gelato, gluten-free cones or a late-night scoop in Bologna? Here’s a quick guide:

• Vegan options: Stefino (vegan cones & sorbets), Maritozzi e Gelato (plant-based milks), Sorbetteria Castiglione (Sanissimo vegan line)

• Gluten-free: Stefino offers gluten-free cones; Maritozzi e Gelato makes gluten-free cones and ice cream sandwiches

• Open late: Galliera 49 and Sorbetteria Castiglione stay open until midnight in summer

• Granita lovers: Galliera 49, Scirocco and Stefino prepare some of the best seasonal granite in town

Sure you know everything about gelato?

Great, now you know where to eat the best gelato in Bologna.

But why Bologna is SO famous for gelato?
How do you choose a good gelateria just by walking past it?
What do you need to know to get a well-made gelato?

Learn this and more stories and details about Bologna food tradition in our Bologna food tour.