Melbourne

October 2018 update: Gelocchio in Carlton has closed – we will miss its wonderful gelato! But Gelocchio Cairns is still open. Definitely one to check out when visiting Far North Queensland!

The iconic children’s character of Pinocchio is the inspiration for this Lygon Street gelateria. Gelato + Pinocchio = Gelocchio. This theme continues throughout, from the spectacular mural – by Melbourne artist Hayden Dewar – through to dozens of small wooden Pinocchio figures arrayed along the shelves.

Opening in mid 2017, Gelocchio makes all its gelati in the kitchen at the rear of the store. The owners, Valeria and Renzo, are passionate about producing gelato the old-fashioned way, using raw ingredients – real fruit and nuts – and no additives. This is a true test for gelato chefs. Creating a consistent quality product is a greater challenge as the chef must adapt the mix in response to variation in the natural ingredients. And as natural gelato only has a short shelf life it must be made in small batches so that it is always fresh.

And the result? An explosion of intense flavour, and some of the best gelato in Melbourne. Continue Reading

After conquering the pizza world with their classic margherita in 2016, the guys from Zero95 are expanding into gelato. Meno Zero opened just over a month ago, a couple of doors away from the original Zero95 in Doncaster East. And it serves up some of the best authentic Italian style gelato we have ever tasted.

Zero95’s pizzas are fantastic – they are proper napoletana pizzas. I’ve even mixed and shaped dough in a hands-on pizza making class with Andrea Cozzolino, Zero95’s world champion pizza maker. So we had very high expectations for the gelato. Continue Reading

Melbourne is a big place.  In our travels around the city we have eaten lots of fantastic gelato and explored unfamiliar neighbourhoods, discovering far more than just new gelaterie.

On a busy Saturday morning Benny and I found ourselves in Niddrie – a long way from our regular haunts. Keilor Road was a hive of activity, with lots of enticing cafés and bakeries already pulling in customers.

Our objective was gelati, and Gelateria Millefiore was our target. With barely a nod to the “thousand flowers” of its name, the gelateria’s minimalist all-white décor is punctuated by some fantastic retro signs (Fiat 500, Lambretta…). Continue Reading

It was a special birthday treat for Benny – dinner at Il Melograno. A favourite spot for brunch, it serves up amazing food worthy of a Sicilian nonna. And Il Melograno (“the pomegranate tree”) has the added attraction of house-made gelato.

Opposite the Westgarth Cinema, Il Melograno is open from breakfast right through to late night. After 3pm the evening menu kicks in, with a range of “small bites” plus some more substantial dishes. Continue Reading

The word was out on social media: mandarin sorbet was back on the menu at Davey Mac’s!  One of the best gelatos we have ever tasted, we wasted no time in scooting down to Black Rock, picking up another mandarin fan along the way.

It was a glorious day, reminding us that summer is not far away. And Black Rock is a great spot for an artisan gelateria. Life can’t get much better than strolling down to the beach on a sunny day, enjoying a gelato along the way. It’s the simple pleasures… Continue Reading

Gelato Messina is undoubtedly a star of the Australian gelato world. From modest beginnings in Darlinghurst in 2002, there are now 11 Gelato Messina stores across Sydney and three in Melbourne, as well as outlets in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the United States.

Gelato Messina makes great gelato, with a huge variety of traditional-style gelato on its regular menu, including both dairy and non-dairy options. But many Messina fans like to seek out the weekly specials. These specials are typically wacky over-the-top indulgences, often with equally wacky names. The specials are available for only seven days (or until sold out), but may return after a few months. Continue Reading