5 Best Gelato Shops in Venice, Italy

After visiting over 50 gelato shops across Italy in search of the best, I’ve developed a keen sense for what makes truly great gelato. Venice has a good gelato scene—not as extraordinary as Bologna or Florence, but good enough to warrant a few scoops. After all, you’re in Italy!

On my most recent trip to Venice, I set out to find the top five gelato spots in the city. While some guides list 10 or 15 places, let’s be realistic: most visitors spend only 2–3 days here and don’t have time to sample from that many shops.

I’ve done the hard work for you, narrowing it down to the best five gelato shops in Venice. If you only have time to try a couple of gelaterias, focus on the top three of this list —they truly stand out from the rest and are worth every bite.

Best Gelato in Venice

1. Gelato di Natura

This is my #1 pick for the best gelato in Venice. Known for their commitment to high-quality ingredients, Gelato di Natura has been crafting their gelato using traditional methods for decades.

This gelato shop stood out to me for a couple of reasons. First, the texture was perfectly smooth – just a little melty and not icy. Second, their flavors are all-natural and inventive, making it fun to sample different options. Our personal favorite flavor was Canova, a delicious blend of pistachio, praline, and chocolate that was a true standout.

With four locations around Venice, it’s easy to find one nearby. We visited their shop at Campo Santi Apostoli, right along the canal, which was the perfect spot to eat a couple of scoops while enjoying the Venetian scenery. For anyone who appreciates both quality and authentic flavor, Gelato di Natura is a must-try.

2. Gelateria Gallonetto

Gelateria Gallonetto is a small gelato shop with just enough space for a few people to order at at time. The gelato is made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, making the flavors truly stand out.

They store their gelato in pozzetti, traditional covered containers that keep the temperature perfectly even, preventing the gelato from getting icy at the bottom or runny on top. If you see a shop using pozzetti, it’s usually a good sign and mark of quality!

Gallonetto specializes in classic flavors like stracciatella, amarena, nocciola (hazelnut), and pistachio, and they do them well. It’s a popular spot, so be prepared for a bit of a wait, but it’s absolutely worth it!

3. Suso

Since opening in 2010, Suso has taken the Venice gelato scene by storm and quickly become the city’s most popular gelato shop. With two locations—one in Cannaregio and another in San Marco—you can always expect a line at either storefront.

I’ll admit, I’m often skeptical of gelato shops with thousands of high ratings on Google, wondering if the hype is more about tourist appeal than actual quality. So, we went to Suso twice to make sure we had a fair impression.

The flavors and quality ingredients at Suso are impressive. They offer a mix of traditional and creative options, like Mimosa, a ricotta-based gelato with lemon cream and chocolate cookies on top, and Manet, a blend of gianduja (hazelnut chocolate), pistachio cream, and a touch of salt—this one was particularly memorable.

While Suso is definitely a top-quality gelato shop, it ranks #3 on my list; the flavors and texture didn’t quite surpass my top two picks. That said, it’s still a fantastic place and absolutely worth a try for anyone seeking some of Venice’s best gelato.

4. Gelateria il Doge

Gelateria Il Doge is a gelato shop tucked away on a quiet street in Venice’s Dorsoduro neighborhood. It’s often high on “best gelato in Venice” lists, so we were eager to give it a try, expecting something special. It’s a solid choice if you’re already in the area and craving something refreshing, but the top three gelaterias on this list are a notch above.

We tried the Crema del Doge, an egg-based custard gelato with chocolate and candied orange. It was tasty, though the texture left room for improvement. The chocolate flavor was fine—not bad, but also not outstanding.

Overall, Gelateria Il Doge is worth a stop if you’re nearby, but not necessarily worth going out of your way to try.

5. Gelateria Nico

Gelateria Nico is a classic Venetian spot, doubling as both a cafe and gelato shop, with an unbeatable waterfront location along the Zattere promenade. You can choose to dine indoors or al fresco on their canal-side terrace, where they serve both gelato and cocktails – perfect on a hot day in Venice.

We opted for two of their seasonal fruit flavors, blueberry and a mixed berry. They were clearly made with fresh ingredients, though the texture was a bit fluffier than we prefer.

For top-quality gelato, I’d recommend one of the top three spots on this list. But if you’re after a relaxed, sit-down experience with a view, Gelateria Nico is a wonderful choice.

How to Identify Quality Gelato

• Look for Natural Colors: Authentic gelato should have soft, natural colors. Brightly colored gelato (like neon green pistachio) often means artificial coloring. A true pistachio gelato will have a soft green, almost brown color.
• Avoid Overly Puffy Gelato: Quality gelato typically has a smooth, creamy, and melty texture, not an airy or fluffy one. Avoid shops with puffy gelato piled high in metal tins – these have been whipped with extra air are not authentic.
• Check for Pozzetti Storage: Some of the best gelaterias store gelato in pozzetti (covered metal containers). These maintain a consistent temperature, keeping the gelato fresh. You won’t actually see gelato because they are covered.
• Taste for Balanced Sweetness: Authentic gelato isn’t overly sweet. You should be able to taste the natural flavor of each ingredient without it being overpowered by sugar.
• Look and Taste for Natural Ingredients: High-quality gelato shops use natural ingredients, so you should be able to taste the true flavor of the ingredients.
• Melty Texture is a Good Sign: Authentic gelato tends to melt quite quickly in open air. This is how it’s supposed to be.