7 Barcelona Ice Cream Shops to Bookmark for Your Next Trip

It's a fact: Summer would simply not be summer without ice cream. Extreme heat is often made (a bit) more bearable with a cone of ice cream in hand, no matter what your flavor of choice may be. The great thing about this beloved treat is that you can find great versions just about anywhere.

In particular, Barcelona has its own collection of ice cream makers serving up unforgettable—and sometimes regionally inspired—flavors. Ahead, you'll find seven of the best ice cream shops across the city. After all, a day of sightseeing can only be made better with a dish of pistachio or panettone mousse.

Delacrem

DelaCrem is open every day and is considered a temple of ice cream to locals. Massimo Pignata—originally from Piedmont, the birthplace of the “slow food” movement—is behind this ice cream shop. Since its opening in 2010, it has received numerous awards. Looking for a flavor recommendation? There are a few crowd favorites: pistachio, gianduja, and hazelnut all standout.

Anita Gelato

Just thinking about the creamy macadamia nut ice cream from Anita Gelato will make your mouth water. The best part about this spot? The list of flavors feels endless. For more than 20 years, the shop has been making ice creams based on their delicious jams. To put the vast menu into perspective, guests can choose from 150 different types of yogurt ice creams; sorbets; and organic sugar-free, fat-free, soy-based, and cream-based ice creams. Toppings include fresh fruit, syrups, chocolate, and—of course—the jams, which still come straight from Mama Anita's own kitchen.

Oggi Gelato

Master ice cream maker Carmelo Chiaramida has been working tirelessly since 2014 on Oggi's delicious artisan ice creams. And the effort can be tasted, as each is made with the best ingredients: seasonal fruit, chocolate from Modica, authentic pistachios from Bronte, hazelnuts from Piedmont, Belgian cocoa, almonds from Avola, and vanilla from Madagascar. The result is ice creams without preservatives, colorants, hydrogenated vegetable fats, or palm oil. There are also gluten-free options and treats suitable for vegans and lactose-intolerant folks.

Paral-Lelo Gelato

To give you an idea of what this inventive shop is all about, Paral-lelo Gelato once created parmesan ice cream (topped with plums from the Pyrenees). Like with this example, there's Italian flair in each of the flavors offered, which makes sense given the owners are from Sanremo. Each ice cream is handmade every day, with ingredients sourced from local and organic suppliers.

Lucciano's

Lucciano's shops are much more than ice cream parlors—they're a whole experience. You may be able to find this gelato name all over the world, but its Barcelona launch was especially out of this world: the interior of the shop doesn't look entirely unlike a spaceship. Since opening in October 2022, it has served as a gathering spot for the biggest sweet tooths in the city.

Baboia Gelateria

Located in the Born neighborhood, Baboia Gelateria serves up seasonal flavors all year round. The twist? All of the flavors hail from Catalonia. For example, you can try nougat ice cream from Agramunt, ice cream with chunks of “pets de monja” (small cookies made with nuts), Catalan cream, or hazelnut from Reus.

Gelaaati di Marco

At Gelaaati, the elaborate ice cream flavors are the creation of the master gelato maker Di Consiglio Marco, who has more than 20 years of experience. It has long been a beloved institution: In 2014, the shop made the list of 50 best ice cream parlors in the world (according to Italian magazine Dissapore). Iconic flavors include pignotta, panettone mousse, strataciella, and tiramisu.

A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveler Spain.