Consuming copious amounts of gelato is one of my favorite activities in Italy, so it was a given that I would spend some of my free time eating the best gelato in Bologna. My mission was aided by my friends Michael and Stephanie, who had moved to the city about a year earlier.
Upon arriving, I briefly considered signing up for a gelato tour and tasting at the Carpigiani Gelato Museum. However, it's 35 minutes by bus from the city center, and I didn't want to sacrifice the time required to get there and back. Carpigiani began producing gelato machines in 1946.
In 2003, they opened Gelato University, a school that attracts people worldwide who want to learn the art of making high-quality gelato. The Gelato Museum was opened in September 2012 to share the history of gelato and educate visitors.
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The Best Gelato in Bologna
Cremeria Santo Stefano
The first artisanal gelateria my friends recommended was the small, cutely decorated Cremeria Santo Stefano. It's rated one of the best gelato shops in Bologna and Italy. I stopped by to sample the classics and seasonal flavors several times during my brief stay and left the city with it as my favorite place.
I ordered a two-scoop cup of chocolate and pistachio gelato on one visit. Despite its thick, dense, and creamy nature, gelato is arguably healthier than ice cream because it contains less fat and fewer, often no, preservatives.
Cremeria Santo Stefano, for example, uses all-natural ingredients, such as fresh fruit, and you can taste the difference. I also think it's the better choice because the gelato is so rich that you're not left wanting to add extra toppings. Frankly, one scoop is usually plenty. And I prefer it in a cup, so I'm not consuming the calories of a cone, either.
Related: Italian Coffee Culture
On another visit, Michael suggested I try the brioche con gelato, the Italian version of an ice cream sandwich. I chose three flavors, including chocolate and vanilla. I can't recall the third, but the whole thing was a treat to eat.
Another bonus for eating gelato over ice cream is that gelato melts more slowly. Even though my brioche with gelato looked like a potential mess in waiting, I could take my time while sitting outside on a hot day and not have it drip all over me. And as if all this fabulous gelato in Bologna isn't enough, Cremeria Santo Stefano also makes some killer chocolate truffles. I couldn't resist buying a few.
Via Santo Stefano 70, Bologna, instagram.com/cremeriasantostefano
La Sorbetteria Castiglione
My friends also recommended La Sorbetteria Castiglione. After returning from my food and Ferrari tour of Emilia-Romagna, I dropped by their shop. The interior is more spacious than Cremeria Santo Stefano. However, it lacked some of the same charming design and decor. I always try a few flavors before ordering a whole serving, but I have to admit I have my favorites and often stick to them.
I love classic flavors, including chocolate and mint, and that's the gelato combo I got at La Sorbetteria Castiglione, which delivered on taste and quality. Look at that photo above, and tell me you don't want to eat that delicious gelato, too!
Via Castiglione 44 d/e, Bologna, lasorbetteria.it
Related: Best Gelateria in Girona
Cremeria La Vecchia Stalla
On my last night in Bologna, I tried my third high-quality gelateria, Cremeria La Vecchia Stalla. I ordered the chocolate with rum, cookies, and cream, which was drizzled with some chocolate sauce and served with a wafer. This Italian gelato shop also had a refrigerator full of pre-made desserts for those who want something different.
Via Toscana, 90/A, Bologna, vecchiastalla.it
Related: Ristorante i Portici in Bologna
Other Recommended Gelaterias in Bologna
Not surprisingly, eating gelato in Bologna was one of my favorite food experiences in Emilia-Romagna. Many more gelaterias are highly recommended, but I didn't have time to visit them.
If I return to Bologna for a second visit, these are the places I'd check out next (in no particular order):
- Cremeria Funivia, Via Porrettana 158/4d, Bologna (over 3,000 reviews on TripAdvisor)
- Cremeria Scirocco, Via Agostino Barelli, 1, Bologna
- Galliera 49, Via Galliera, 49/B, Bologna
- Gelatauro, Via San Vitale 9, Bologna
