The Best Gelato, and Best-Kept Secret, in Rome

 I Caruso, best gelato in Rome, Italy

After more than a year of silence, I’m going to let you in on Rome’s best-kept gelato secret: Rome’s best gelato isn’t at Grom, at San Crispino, or even at Ciampini (although that’s still my favorite on-the-beaten-track gelateria, for when you just don’t have time to make a voyage out to, say, Vice).

Instead, Rome’s best gelateria is a little place in the centro storico’s business district, a short walk from Repubblica.

Its name? I Caruso.

(Update, Dec. 2013: Actually, not any more. I Caruso is still excellent. But just around the corner is what I think is the new best spot for gelato in Rome…).Rome's best gelato at I Caruso

If you haven’t heard of I Caruso, you’re not the only one. So far, it’s escaped notice even by Rome’s myriad foodies and gelato lovers, never mind guidebooks. In fact, it didn’t even make it onto any of the recent lists I’ve seen of Rome’s best gelato shops (including these otherwise-great round-ups by Tavole Romane, Katie Parla, and NileGuide).

That said, if I Caruso is a local secret, it’s one of the most popular local secrets I know. Every time I go, the place is crowded with Italians. Men in suits fresh from their work at one of the nearby banks, families, well-heeled women — they’re all here. And with reason. 

Locals at I Caruso in Rome, gelateria

About a year and a half old, I Caruso is truly artigianale; not only is everything made on-site with fresh ingredients, but you can watch them make the gelato through the glass. The panna, in either normal or zabaglione flavors, is the best I’ve had in Rome. It’s whipped fresh right there.

And the gelato itself? It’s out of this world. The extra-dark chocolate is the creamiest, richest I’ve ever had. Balanced off with a fragola that tastes like a just-picked strawberry, bursting-with-flavor melon, or with I Caruso’s famous  pistacchio, it’s the perfect cup. Other options, which change seasonally, include mandarin orange, almond, and fior di panna.

Meanwhile, the servers are friendly, the place is super-clean, and the prices (€2.50 for a small, €3 medium, €3.50 large) aren’t bad. You can also get gelato by the kilo here… a pricey option, but I can’t imagine a better way to be a hit at a party. (Below, where the magic happens).

Where artisanal gelato is made at I Caruso
Another bonus? The location. A 10-minute walk from the Repubblica metro stop, it’s much more convenient than many of the other artisanal gelaterias in Rome. I Caruso is also right around the corner from Piazza Sallustio, so if you don’t want to take advantage of one of the benches on the street, you can wander over and enjoy your gelato while checking out some great ancient ruins: the remnants of the villa built by the Roman historian Sallust in the first century B.C.

In fact, I’ll be honest: I Caruso is so good that, for a long time, I didn’t want to be the one to “out” this place. After all, as we all know, once an establishment in Rome gets popular, it starts to go downhill. Plus, my original source had begged me to keep the place a secret.

But out of devotion to my readers, and commitment to helping those on their honorable search for Rome’s top-quality gelato, I decided it was time.

So there you are. Rome’s best gelato. Just in time for summer.

Just please… don’t tell anyone. Okay?

I Caruso. Via Collina, 13-15. Click here for a map of I Caruso’s location.

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Want more local secrets on Rome’s best food, sights, and more? Check out The Revealed Rome Handbook: Tips and Tricks for Exploring the Eternal City, now available for purchase on Amazon, below, or through my site here!

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6 comments

  1. After an awesome tour this past week we took your recommendation for a wine bar and a couple restaurants and loved them! Especially the cacio e pepe at Roma Sparita. So I decided to check out your blog for other tips. I saw this post about the gelato and ventured over to try it out. It was amazing!! Thanks so much for the great tips and awesome tour.

  2. Stumbled upon another Gelateria Concerto Di Caruso-Piazzale Adriatico, 20. I had no idea they had two locations. Same flavors, same atmosphere, same open space where you can watch the delicious process!

  3. Just got back from Rome. My daughter and I made a daily pilgrimage to I Caruso. It’s by far the best- the pistachio is amazing and there are no words to describe the zabaglione panna!! Thanks for the tip! 🙂

  4. This article is no joke. I was staying about a 15 minute walk away from this place when I was there for 4 days. It’s out of the way no matter which way you slice it, and I walked out of the way 5 times in 4 days to get the pistachio. Everyone always wants to tell you where the best gelato in Rome is, and whenever they do I want to shake them by the shoulders and yell “YOU’RE WRONG YOU FOOL! It’s at I Caruso!!!” But then I quietly say “you’re probably right,” because there’s just no arguing…I guarantee just tasting this place will sway anyone’s opinion.

  5. I really liked I Caruso (to which I got by your review when I was there in September), but to be honest my favorite in Rome/Florence/Venice ended up being Merulana Ice 🙂 The lady in charge is really nice, and the flavor + texture were the best.

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