Gelato recommendations in Rome and Florence

In Rome, the "blue chocolate" at the gelateria in Mercato Centrale was very good.

In Trastevere we liked Gelateria Alla Scala.

We thought that Fatamorgana in Monti didn't live up to the hype, and the portions were a bit stingy.

We took a city bike tour in Florence, and the guide recommended a gelato shop, and it was popular. But, my favorite was Gelato Mancuso on Via Guicciardini, the main street up from the bridge. No test is complete without a confirmation second try the next day - LOL! Yes, wonderful! and also kind workers there.

Rome, others can share their favorites. I went to the Old Bridge in the vicinity of the Vatican that gets recommended. It’s fine; I wouldn’t walk out of my way to go again. But, if you love special treats, I am definitely heading back to Mr. 100 Tiramisu as soon as I am back in Rome soon! Order the 3-sampler plate to share, and good luck trying to narrow down to three from all of their options - yum!

I am picky about gelato. In Florence, you will see a lot of whipped up stuff piled high with a fruit salad of stuff on top of it. Avoid it!. Anything with fake coloring - bright green, bright pink, etc. - avoid. Sitting in plastic containers - keep walking. The pistachio is usually one of the most expensive to make, so initially judge the shop by the color of the pistachio. You want to see a dull, muted green. Some of the best will be in metal containers with metal lids on them, but I’ve also had fantastic gelato that is viewable in the metal trays. Especially in Florence & Rome, a long line is not an indication that it’s the best - may just be an Instagram type tourist spot.

For Florence I’m limiting my top 5 list to the historical center (in any order, they are all good)
Gelateria della Passera
Vivoli
Perché No?
Gelateria La Carraia
La Cantina del Gelato

If you happen to go outside the historical center, then my favorite is probably Badiani, near the Stadium.

One worth going out of your way for in Rome is Come Il Latte http://www.comeillatte.it/. It is not far from Via Veneto and the American Embassy. You could combine dessert there with dinner at a classic Roman Trattoria https://www.lapentolacciaroma.com/.

Get gelato when you are ready. Pick a nearby gelateria that has flavors you like. Most all are good, many are very good and some are excellent. In Rome, visit the Pantheon and then go to nearby Gelateria della Palma (19 via della Maddelena) for 150 flavors of gelato. The flavors there we rate very good to excellent.

Badiani - one of the top names in Florence - has just opened a second outlet in via dei Tosinghi, few steps from Duomo.

My vote goes to Perche’ No in Florence. It’ll be busy but it’s a daily stop for my family when we’re in Florence.

Gelateria La Carraia, hands down.
Look for Gelateria shops where the product is fairly mildly coloured, and not bright colours whipped up into huge mounds with decorations on top.
This way you will, hopefully, be getting artisanal organically made gelato, not the stuff full of chemicals and colourants.

https://www.tourissimo.travel/blog/gelato#:~:text=High%20quality%20gelato%20is%20made,you%20might%20imagine%2C%20but%20brownish.

Try a different flavour each time!

If Badiani has another shop on Via De Tosinghi, then after a gelato at Badiani you should get some pastries and cookies at Robiglio, at the corner between Via De Tosinghi and Via De Medici.

Roberto, do you own stock in Ozempic? My A1C went up just reading your post!

In Rome, I love Fatamorgana.

For Florence: La Strega Nocciola Gelateria Artigianale

You could try as many as possible and report your findings. And think of the money you'll save on your diet when you get back home.

hey hey mistimetotravel
go on a "mission" around the towns. what may be someone's favorite may not be yours.
stop at as many shops and taste as much as your tummy will let you. keep track of flavor and where
another item was tiramisu, my favorite was on the grande canal across train station in venice
did this in paris with french onion soup, ordered a cup at restaurants for lunch. favorite i found was up montmarte
same with eclairs in pastry shops. my favorite was at angelina's on rue rivoli
go have fun & enjoy, wear those stretchy pants
aloha