Walking outside with the sun shining and wonderful weather always makes you want to enjoy the best things in life. Being in Porto already helps, right? Something else that helps, especially on those really hot days (and the not-so-hot ones), is to enjoy a refreshing ice cream made from the best ingredients.
Given this, we set out on a very serious foodie mission: to taste our way through the city’s most beloved gelato spots. It was tough, but someone had to do it. You’re welcome. Below are 7 ice cream shops in Porto that truly stood out… and that we think you’ll fall head over heels for.
And hey… if you’re into desserts, join a Taste Porto Food Tour and we’ll introduce you to the sweeter side of the city. Ice cream may even make a guest appearance!
Ice cream in Porto
Yes, I’m a confessed sugar addict. I have no shame!
1. Gelataria Portuense
An excellent ice cream parlor, which we love: Gelataria Portuense. All their ice cream is gluten-free, which is something most ice cream parlors can’t say. Or at least don’t! They work only with real ingredients, so no preservatives or colorings, and other than the classic flavors that you can mostly find in every ice cream shop, they have 6 collection flavors to die for, like green tea with white chocolate and raspberry puree, or cherry with chocolate nibs and caramelized sesame seeds.
2. Gelataria do Porto
The Gelataria do Porto has 18 flavors of ice cream to try. Located in the art district, their goal is to serve artisanal ice cream without preservatives or coloring, with fruit bought in the traditional grocery markets you can find on the street. The highlight, though, is spaghetti ice cream – also known in German-speaking countries as Spaghettieis. Oh! And they have a very dark chocolate fudge flavor that I didn’t try – because my stomach was pleading me to stop – but we shall return!
3. Santini
Open originally in 1949 on Tamariz Beach (near Estoril, Lisbon), Santini has always been an important meeting point for people during the beach season. Recently, it has revitalized its branding and expanded not only to Lisbon but also Porto. A great location for fresh traditional flavors, it is not uncommon to see a line outside some of the stores. The flavors change, according to the season, and recently they’ve started to experiment with other ice cream-based desserts. Once, I had persimmon ice cream there, and ginger flavor, oh, and white grape! You may need to visit multiple times.
4. Cremosi
With now 3 locations in the city (two in the center and one near the beach in Matosinhos), Cremosi has not only great ice cream but is also the place to experience Cold Stone ice cream. What are we talking about, you ask? Imagine a stone cooled to the temperature of minus 14 degrees Celsius, where the flavors you choose are mixed together with your choice of awesome toppings, all in an effort to ensure proper mixing. They also have some exciting flavors that you may not have thought possible: Super Bock beer, Lemon Vodka, Gin & Tonic, Licor Beirão, Fresh Cheese, and Tea Infusion. But not to worry, traditionalists! You will also be pleasantly satisfied with their decent offerings of classic flavors, such as Chocolate Mint, Cookies and Cream, Dark Chocolate, Lemon, Raspberry and Mango, and so many others.
There are others, though…
The truth is, narrowing this list down was as difficult as picking a favorite child. Porto has so many places to indulge in ice cream bliss. A few honorable mentions:
- Gelataria Neveiros: The oldest ice cream parlor in Porto. It has been transforming the best ingredients into fine ice cream for over 65 years now.
- Amorino: Famous for their picture-perfect floral cones on Rua de Santa Catarina. Instagrammable AND tasty.
- Gelataria Sincelo: A sweet Porto staple (and a personal guilty pleasure).
What about others? Have you tried one we did not talk about? Let us know your opinion in the comments section of this Instagram post.
Yours truly,
Taste Porto Foodie Team
