We combed the city for the best ice creams, and after trying tons of gelato and sorbet of all kinds of flavours -pistachio, vanilla, chocolate, lemon, strawberry and every other fruit in season- we present you those that stood out. Enjoy.

22

Epik Gelato

All-white walls, orange tiles and neon signs; among the small bars of Syntagma square, Epik stands out at first glance. Its waiters are dressed in white, too, and wear the characteristic retro gelatiere hats. The flavours are all inspired by Greece. The custard is rich and reminiscent of those we used to have as kids; the chocolate sorbet is robust with pleasant bitterness; the salty pistachio contains crunchy brittle bits, and the hazelnut is profoundly delicious. Do not leave without tasting the timeless Chicago with its rich chocolate gelato topped with almond fillet layers and exuberant whipped cream with sour cherries.

2, Dorileou Str. Mavili square, +30 210 646 41 05

Kokkion

The man responsible for the gelati that have lately upset the neighbourhood of Psirri is Vasilis Papamatthaiou, a “sophisticated” gelatiere/confectioner who revels in experimentation and unusual combinations. Most of the ingredients used come from abroad, but the milk comes from Volos, Greece. The salted pistachio-caramel, as well as the creamy parfait that varies according to the season, are two of my favourite flavours. The buttermilk biscuit will remind you of the ones you used to have as a kid; its nice buttery feel definitely deserves your attention. As for the sorbets, the mandarin-ginger, the apricot, peach & rosemary, and the one with blueberries, raspberries & blackcurrant are undoubtedly worth trying.

2, Protogenous Str. Monastiraki, +30.69.81.563.511

Le Greche

This tiny gelateria in Mitropoleos street, in the very heart of Athens, was one of the first to introduce the Athenians to this edible piece of Italian culture. Here you will find a great variety of more than thirty flavors. Namely, in addition to the classics, here you may also try some rather special flavors such as cookies & cream, made with the famous Greek Papadopoulou biscuits, baklava, yoghurt (made from strained Greek yogurt), as well as ouzo-flavored sorbet. One of their most popular flavors is pistachio; yet, my two personal favorites, which I totally recommend, are the rich figs & mascarpone cream and the winning ricotta & bergamot.

16, Mitropoleos Str. Syntagma, +30 216 700 64 58

2, Lykourgou Str. Neo Psychico, +30 213 041 62 99

456, Mesogeion Avenue, Agia Paraskevi, +30 210 010 16 17

Fatto a Mano

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Photo: Courtesy of Fatto a Mano
Photo: Courtesy of Fatto a Mano

Right behind the central square of Peristeri, an up-and-coming Athenian suburb, Yannis Nyktaris serves some of the best scoops in the city. After mastering the art of authentic Italian gelato, Yannis decided to combine his craft with top-notch Greek raw materials. The result is more than impressing; flavors such as the mouthwatering honey & anthotyro cheese (traditional fresh Greek cheese), the extraordinary rose flavor loukoumi (traditional mini bite delicacies), the delectable brioche and, of course, the beloved pistachio. There is also a great variety of refreshing sorbets, always made with seasonal fruits. Every year, I wait patiently for the devilishly delicious fig sorbet, available only in August. Ultimately, Fatto a Mano offers a few sugar-free choices for those who avoid sugar.

21, Kosta Varnali Str. Peristeri, +30 210 577 74 07

Oggi

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Photo: Courtesy of Oggi
PhotoL Courtesy of Oggi

Oggi stands for Officina Gelato Gusto Italiano, while at the same time the word itself means “today” in Italian. It opened last summer; Oggi is the brainchild of Athena Gikopoulou-Doura and her three children (Emilia, Nikolas and Christoforos) who collaborated with the Italian gelatiere Carmelo Chiaramida, and brought his passion project to Athens. Here, one may try deliciously refreshing fruit sorbets with ambrosial aromas (you should try the strawberry or the pineapple one) and rich in body gelati. Their pistachio is absolutely addictive, their mascarpone al Marsala is fiendishly delicious (I always order a scoop) and their fiore di latte is light, but scrumptious!

17, Voulis, Syntagma, +30 210 324 69 95

Dickie Dee

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Photo: Dickie Dee
Photo: Dickie Dee

When Dickie Dee first opened its doors, almost three years ago, it offered soft serve ice cream and reminded us of our childhood. Toothsome mango, Sicilian pistachio, full-body custard, vegan bitter chocolate, old-school biscuit, salted cream are served in a cloud of candyfloss, topped with marshmallows and candies. Customers find it hard to resist to such a temptation, yet, always take a moment before delving into to post a snap on Instagram, making this gelateria extremely popular. Since last summer, they have enriched their menu by adding an extra fridge at the entrance, filled with twelve new flavours. I would definitely suggest the traditional kaimaki, made with buffalo milk, the unique cinnamon & dipped-in-raki-raisin flavour and the fragrant brioche, as well as their fresh lemon & basil sorbet.

23, Voulis Str. Syntagma, +30 210 323 82 77

Maraboo

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Photo: Courtesy of Maraboo
Photo: Courtesy of Maraboo

In one of the busiest streets of Pagrati, namely, Archelaou Street, Vicky Peristanoglou made her dream come true. After learning the art of gelato in Rome, she opened her own gelateria. Her ice creams are purely handmade, containing no artificial powders or preservatives. You should try the salted caramel and the kaimaki, which evokes memories of the old, traditional one with its characteristic rubbery texture. Equally luscious and unique is the tahini flavoured sorbet, paired and served in each cup with a crunchy waffle cone.

17, Archelaou Str. Pagrati, +30 210 724 70 37

Django

Konstantinos Karakatsanis has been running an ice cream shop in a small alley in Syros Island for years now. Last May, he opened its Athenian sibling in the vibrant neighbourhood of Koukaki. In the display window of this white gelateria with the Cycladic character, you will find eight gelato options -made with organic milk- and eight fresh fruit sorbets, on a daily basis. Here, too, the pistachio is a hit and is only slightly salty. Madagascar vanilla has a nice aroma and awesome texture; hazelnut has particularly nutty flavour and aroma, and Caribbean chocolate -made with Valrhona chocolate- has a balanced bitterness. The fruit sorbets’ smell will send you on cloud nine. You should definitely try a melon or a lemon scoop that are both perfectly paired with their refreshing yogurt sorbet.

15, Veikou Str. Koukaki, +30 693 739 53 63

Solo Gelato

One of the most famous gelaterias in the northern suburbs. Nikos Christogeorgos, the owner, is a third generation gelatiere continuing the family tradition. Here, the variety is quite wide, including sugar or gluten free choices. My own favourites are the delicious mascarpone cream with fig, the all-time-classic Stracciatela, the silky-smooth bitter dark chocolate and the nostalgic dolce-latte (milk and butter caramel), every spoonful of which brings back childhood memories. Solo Gelato has lately opened two more franchised gelaterias within the city of Athens.

44, A.Papandreou Str. Chalandri, +30 210 681 36 22