New York has no shortage of ice cream, but gelato is a different thing: denser, silkier and usually served a little warmer. These are shops that do it well.
The classics
Ferrara Bakery & Cafe, Little Italy. Operating since 1892, a good place to pair gelato with an Italian pastry.
L'Arte del Gelato. A Sicilian-inspired shop with several Manhattan locations, including some by the High Line and the Oculus, and gelato that can be served on a brioche.
Il Laboratorio del Gelato, Lower East Side. Famous for its huge range of flavors, including several varieties of lime and fig.
The ones for adventurous eaters
L'Albero Dei Gelati, Park Slope. Known for savory flavors like burro e sale, olive oil and saffron.
Anita La Mamma del Gelato, Upper East Side and NoMad. Playful flavors like salted bagel and popcorn with honey and caramel.
FIGO il Gelato Italiano, Little Italy. Known for a ricotta, fig and amaretti flavor and a dark chocolate called nerone.
Hidden gems
Dolce Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens. A tiny shop with serious chocolate and an espresso stracciatella.
Playa Gelato, the South Bronx. The first gelato shop in the South Bronx, worth a trip for the neighborhood alone.
How to order
Ask for two or three small flavors rather than one big one, and try a taste first. Pistachio and hazelnut, or a sorbet next to a creamy flavor, are classic combinations. In cold weather, many shops serve gelato in a cup with a warm drink.
Shops open, close and change locations, so check before you head out.
