After long, dusty hours working up on our hill, driving down to the sea for an artisanal evening treat has quickly become our favorite ritual. Testing local gelaterie has turned into a serious passion project for us – and especially for Sam. He approaches every counter like a serious critic, sticking religiously to his benchmark order: una coppetta con tre gusti (a cup with three flavors) featuring fiordilatte, stracciatella, and pistacchio.
Our Family Order (and the Great Cup vs. Cone Debate)
Ordering gelato with our crew is always an event because everyone has a distinct strategy:
- Sam’s slow-melting coppetta: Sam is strictly a coppetta (cup) guy. He savors every single bite so thoroughly – or gets so caught up telling one of his stories.. – that a wafer cone inevitably turns into a melted waterfall over his fingers within two minutes flat. His winning combination is always tre gusti (three scoops): delicate fiordilatte, rich stracciatella, and real roasted pistacchio.
- Gaby’s afternoon twist: Gaby loves a crisp cono (cone), but also frequently orders an affogato al caffè – a generous scoop of cream gelato drowned in freshly pulled, piping-hot espresso. It is the perfect balance of hot, bitter Italian espresso and cold, velvety cream.
- Stefan’s seasonal shift: Stefan is also a cone loyalist, though when the summer heat peaks, he often orders an authentic Italian frappé – a rich milkshake blended fresh on the spot using whole milk and scoops of artisanal gelato chosen straight from the counter.
Rather than running a rigid competition, we look at gelato as a map of our favorite routines and journeys. Here are three gelaterie we adore, starting with our local regular.
1. La Dolce Vita Gelateria Bar (Cupra Marittima)
Whenever we head down from our hill to the sea, this is our undisputed go-to spot. Located right along the busy main street of Cupra Marittima, it easy to go to and just a few minutes away from the beach. Their fiordilatte has that pure, clean milk flavor that only comes from high-quality dairy, and the pistacchio is rich, nutty, and never artificially sweet.
2. Gelateria Voglia di… (San Benedetto del Tronto)
Just a short trip further south along the palm-lined coast brings you to San Benedetto del Tronto and Gelateria Voglia di…. Having explored Italy from north to south over the years, we can say without hesitation that this gem ranks squarely in our personal top ten ice cream shops across the entire country. The texture is exceptionally creamy, dense, and churned to absolute perfection.
3. Scaligeri (Sirmione)
Not all our favorites are in Le Marche. When driving north back toward Belgium, we often route past Lake Garda. Stopping in Sirmione has become a cherished road-trip tradition, and pulling up to Scaligeri is genuinely one of the biggest reasons we take that detour. It proves that great artisanal gelato is the ultimate fuel for a long trans-European drive.
Tips for Ordering Gelato Like an Italian
- Pick your container first: The server will almost always ask “Coppa o cono?” before asking for your flavors. Tell them your cup or cone preference and size (piccola, media, grande), then pick your scoops.
- Look for natural colors: Real artisan gelato is colored only by its ingredients. Authentic pistacchio should look pale brownish-olive (never bright green), and banana should look creamy greyish-white (never banana-peel yellow).
- Try the extras: If you need a caffeine kick, ask for an affogato. If you prefer to sip your treat on the move, order a frappé made with your choice of gelato scoops.