THE BEST PLACES TO BUY ICE CREAM IN GENEVA
by Kelly Marcisz and Paula Koscielny
While the sweltering heat wave continues to stifle Geneva, we have the perfect excuse to consume gallons of ice cream! We share our very best addresses for enjoying this delicious summer treat in the city…
MANU GELATO
By far the best ice cream in Geneva! Staking their claim for artisanal gelato, this trendy ice-cream store can be found in three areas of the city: Pâquis, Carouge and Eaux-Vives. Their bright green-striped awning is hard to miss, so is the long queue of people waiting for their yummy ice cream. And if you are too lazy to wait in line, you can order them on Smood!
A generous selection of flavours await you, but not too many to overwhelm you. They have most of the standard flavours like chocolate, Oreo, coffee, salted caramel and pistachio. Their pistachio is particularly delicious, and my favorite!
Mascarpone and fig is another deliciously unusual flavour.
They also release a flavour of the month.
June was fior di latte, with apricot coulis and speculoos cookies! July is strawberries and meringue – yum!
Follow them on Instagram to keep an eye out for new flavours! @manugelato.ch or on their website www.manugelato.ch Their stores are open Mon-Sun and till late, so they are the perfect after dinner treat!
WHERE:
- Rue des Pâquis, 15
- Rue de Carouge, 65
- Rue des Eaux-Vives, 21
WHEN:
Monday-Sunday: 12:30-23:00/24:00
BELLAMIA GELATERIA ITALIANA
This Italian gelateria can be found on a quaint corner of the Carouge market square. They sell many delicious flavours, with both fruity and sweet flavours – we highly recommend the pink grapefruit for a refreshing taste! Bellamia also offers frozen yoghurt, a healthier alternative to ice cream, but delicious none-the-less!
WHERE:
2 Place du Marché, Carouge.
WHEN:
7 days a week, 12.30-22.30 every day apart from Sunday, when the shop is only open till 20h00.
Monday-Saturday: 12:30-22:30/23:30
Sunday: 12:30-20:30
GELATO MANIA
This quirky ice cream store can be found in Paquis, Plainpalais, Eaux-Vives and Carouge. It hosts a colorful interior, and a few fun flavours, such as Nutella and bubblegum – popular with kids of all ages! They are open 7 days a week – our kind of ice cream shop! They stick to the basic flavours with a mixture of creamy flavours and fruity sorbets. They have the best pistachio flavour in Geneva: super creamy and rich! The tiramisu is also lovely with a coffee flavour and pieces of liquor soaked sponge! Each month they have a wild new flavour such as ‘Spaghetti Tomate’…who is brave enough to try?
WHERE:
- Rue des Pâquis, 25
- Rue des Eaux-Vives, 61
- Rue de l’ Ecole-de-Médecine, 6
- Rue Saint Joseph 43, 1227 Carouge
WHEN:
Monday- Sunday: 11:30- 23:00/23:30/24:00
L’ARLECCHINO
Our favourite authentic Italian ice cream parlour is a 2-minute walk from the lake, a perfect stop before a nice walk or lazy lounging on the waterfront. They offer a quirky harlequin themed interior, with a wide collection of innovative ice cream flavors, including the totally delicious watermelon and lime-basil ice creams!
WHERE:
- Rue de Berne, 13
- Rue du 31 Décembre, 1
WHEN:
Monday-Sunday: 13:00-22:00
MÖVENPICK
If you’re after an authentic Swiss experience, then you may be interested in the lakeside parlour of this delicious Swiss ice cream brand. With a beautiful view, this is the perfect place to relax while indulging in their rich ice cream – our favourite by far being white chocolate and rose!
WHERE:
Rue du Rhône, 19
WHEN:
LLAO LLAO:
We know that this does not technically qualify as ice cream, but for those healthy eaters out there, Llao Llao offers a gorgeous frozen yoghurt alternative to ice cream. With a variety of fun toppings, LLao Llao allows you to customize your yoghurt treat. We enjoy adding fruit to ours, and finishing it with an indulgent dark chocolate sauce – for a taste of sweetness to this healthy treat!
WHERE:
- Rue du Marché, 3
- Route des Jeunes, 10 (La Praille food court)
WHEN:
Monday-Sunday: 10:00-20:00/22:00
