The best ice cream shops in the Cinque Terre according to Gambero Rosso

From Monterosso al Mare to Vernazza, passing through Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The charm of the Cinque Terre, in Liguria, where the villages overlook the Ligurian Riviera di Levante, captivates both residents and tourists from all over the world. Gastronomic culture in this magnificent area of Italy does not have a single territorial identity; it can be considered more of a “border” cuisine between the Ligurian Levante and the northern Tuscan coast, where recognisable flavours such as pasta with pesto or cappon magro dominate. And ice cream? In this area too, there is an excellent selection of ice cream shops worth keeping an eye on, all reachable even with just a few minutes’ train ride. Here are the best ice cream shops in the Cinque Terre.

Where to eat the best ice cream in the Cinque Terre

Basilico e Limone

After a year’s closure, the shop reopens under new management by Teresa and Jessica. In the refrigerated pozzetti (covered tubs), ice creams are kept that combine classic flavours with local ingredients. Everything starts with the milk from a small producer in the Val di Vara, skilfully combined with quality raw materials selected from small farmers and artisans. Fresh fruit is processed on the spot, yielding ice creams and sorbets with an intense, clean taste: basil and pesto, chinotto from Savona, but also Noto almonds and the imaginative pineapple and rosemary. Seasonal offerings appear among the creams too, with less classic interpretations and combinations, such as colomba cake flavour, sablé biscuit with apricot jam, fior di panna with strawberry coulis scented with vanilla, or chocolate with Taggiasca olives. Dairy-free flavours are available.

Via G. Mazzini, 9, Levanto

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Gelateria Biagi

Gelateria Biagi is an institution in the city: the business began in 1941, initially with an ice cream cart transporting and producing ice creams made by Pasquale Biagi, and later with the opening of the shop. Today, Pasquale’s son Paolo, together with his wife, continues the production of artisanal ice creams. Using the freshest raw materials and fruit purchased daily, they produce over twenty different flavours. On the counter, you’ll find traditional ice creams alongside sorbets – the fig and liquorice ones being particularly interesting – and, at certain times of the year, delicious mandarins filled with citrus and royal jelly ice cream. Alongside the classic ice creams are offerings of frozen patisserie such as tartufi, tronchetti, ice cream cakes, cassate, and zuccotti.

Via U. Muccini, 11b, Sarzana
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Golosone

Amid the caruggi (narrow streets) of the historic centre of the pearl of the Cinque Terre, the shop of Deborah Cortese and Lorenzo La Porta stands as a bastion of traditional, high-quality ice cream in a territory overrun by tourists. Inside the two shops – the second is located at Piazza Colombo 7 – ice creams are produced daily without colourings or preservatives, made with fresh fruit and first-choice ingredients. Among the summer offerings are watermelon, melon, and raspberry, but also the local September figs from Monterosso. The creams are good too, with classic flavours such as hazelnut, pistachio, stracciatella, and chocolate, joined by more imaginative proposals such as rose flavour and mandarin cheesecake. Worth trying are the coffee affogato and the lemon filled with sorbet.

Via Roma, 17, Monterosso al Mare

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Stella Marina Alta Gelateria

Andrea and Ilaria Cabano have been running the shop since 2014, offering their customers genuine, high-quality ice creams that satisfy both palate and spirit. Production is strictly artisanal, with raw materials carefully selected from local producers. Thus appear on the counter creations made from seasonal fruit and vegetables, such as strawberry grape sorbet and lemon sorbet, Delica pumpkin ice cream with amaretti, and indulgent creams. The range includes various dairy-free flavours for vegans and the lactose-intolerant, under the label “Las Vegan”; also available is a line with no added sugars, in single-portion jars.

Via Sforza, 15, La Spezia

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