8 Top Spots For Ice Cream & Gelato In Melbourne
From traditional flavours to inventive Asian-inspired combinations
Besides a seemingly never-ending supply of specialty coffee and Australian brunch fare, Melbourne is also known for its plethora of gelato purveyors. Regardless of where in the city you may be, you’ll never be too far away from a cold, creamy treat.
From long-time institutions to newer arrivals on the scene, here’s where to find some of Melbourne’s finest gelato on your next visit – whether you want to indulge in classic flavours, try creative Asian-inspired combinations or have your gelato wrapped in a chewy sheet of mochi.
Pidapipo gets its name from a traditional Italian game the owner used to play with her grandfather. What began as a pop-up store in 2013 has evolved into one of Melbourne’s top gelato purveyors, churning out popular flavours including Chocolate, Raspberry Swirl and Vanilla Honeycomb. Each season sees the introduction of new concoctions, and their artisanal, small-batch gelato is made on-site from scratch using only fresh fruits (never frozen) and other high-quality ingredients.
Multiple locations in Melbourne.
2. Boca Gelato
Visit Boca Gelato for crowd-favourite Italian gelato flavours, with the odd unexpected offering thrown in for good measure. On the store’s current menu, you’ll find traditional choices such as chocolate, vanilla and pistachio, alongside kid-friendly picks like cookies and cream, peanut butter and bubble gum. They also do assorted sorbets, and you can top your confection with the likes of cherries, honeycomb and various sauces.
183 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe VIC 3079, Australia, +61 3 9497 4276
Originally from Sydney, Gelato Messina has also won over the hearts of Melbourne residents. Everything here is made from scratch – from the luscious gelato down to the toppings – and each store sports an extensive flavour cabinet with 35 permanent options and five rotating weekly specials. All the gelato is freshly churned, and you can sample as many types as you like. Find them in Brunswick East, Fitzroy, Richmond and Windsor.
Multiple locations in Melbourne.
This relatively new kid on the block launched in 2020 and has two locations in Footscray and Chinatown in the CBD. Their innovative Filipino-influenced flavours include Ube Halaya (purple yam gelato with purple yam fudge, blackberry jam and caramelised coconut curds), Turon (banana gelato with muscovado butterscotch, jackfruit, candied sesame seeds and caramelised spring roll pastry) and Leche Flan (enriched flan gelato with spiced rum caramel).
50 Leeds Street, Footscray VIC 3011, Australia
177 Russell Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Piccolina Gelateria has been operating since 2015 and boasts outposts in the CBD, Collingwood, St. Kilda and more, making it a convenient place to satiate your gelato cravings. Made with only the finest seasonal ingredients, their regular flavours run the gamut from pistachio, fior di latte and stracciatella to white chocolate, mint and salted caramel. They also put out three new special creations every Wednesday.
Multiple locations in Melbourne.
6. Beku Gelato
Situated along the vibrant and bustling Lygon Street – also known as Melbourne’s Little Italy enclave – Beku Gelato does things a little differently from traditional gelato vendors. Rather than dole out classic Italian flavours, it draws culinary inspiration from Asia, resulting in unique recipes that Singaporeans will instantly recognise – think Matcha Latte, Injeolmi, Pineapple Tart, Cendol and Pandan Rice Pudding. Available flavours rotate from time to time.
150 Lygon Street, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia
Marrying Italian artisanal traditions with locally sourced ingredients, Miinot Gelato has been in the gelato game since 2014. They switch up their flavours on a day-to-day basis. If you get lucky, you could sample the likes of An English Garden (Earl Grey tea with lavender sugar), Tartufo (chocolate, hazelnut, Amarena cherry and chocolate fudge), Pavlova, Burnt Fig and Butter Cookie. Their fruit flavours – which have an intensely natural taste courtesy of an all-fruit base – deserve special mention.
71 Melville Road, Pascoe Vale South VIC 3044, Australia, +61 3 9383 4258
Want to get your creamy gelato enveloped in a chewy mochi skin or sandwiched between two crispy wafers? If so, make your way to Hareruya Pantry in the Carlton neighbourhood, which threw open its doors in 2022 and specialises in handcrafted Japanese gelato. Pick from a myriad of choices including Strong Matcha; Houjicha Chocolate; White Sesame; Cream Cheese, Blueberry and Yuzu; and Sake Kasu and Strawberry.
15-17 Lincoln Square South, Carlton VIC 3053, Australia