I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream, but where are the best ice cream shops in Lisbon? We don’t know about you, but we would happily eat ice cream every day of the year. While you may not think of Lisbon as an ice cream city, we are here to change your mind. We’ve got the scoop on the shops with the crunchiest cones, craziest flavors, and sweetest sorbets. When it’s hot outside, we’ve got just the way to keep you cool.
1. Davvero
I first discovered Davvero in Lisbon’s Time Out Market and fell in love with their wide variety of flavors. They must be doing something right because they have now expanded to six locations in the greater Lisbon area including Mouraria, Oeiras, and Alfama. Like Nannarella, this is another Italian chain. It is available in four sizes: piccolo, medio, grande, and grandissimo. Try their strawberry cheesecake, passionfruit, or watermelon (seasonal) flavors for a sensational summer treat. If your sweet tooth is steering you more towards the tiramisu or hazelnut brownies, you will not be disappointed.
Open: Every Day, 10:00 am-12:00 am, Hours may vary by location
2. Giola Gelato
Just up the street from Nannarella is one of its newest competitors that’s already attracting ice cream lovers in droves. Some people say it’s even better (gasp!). Giola offers a rich variety of flavors crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients in Praça das Flores, one of the best plazas in the city. The staff at Giola are incredibly friendly and will let you try little tastes of the interesting flavors such as strawberry-mint, lemon with no sugar, and dulce de leche.
Open: Monday-Tuesday, 2:30 pm-10:30 pm, Wednesday-Sunday, 12:00 pm-12:00 am
3. Nannarella
Let’s begin with one of the most popular ice cream shops in Lisbon that now has two locations. The original – and the one we recommend – is in São Bento, just down the street from the Assembly of the Republic, the seat of Portugal’s parliament. Choose from flavors of the month such as “Ricotta Cheese with Pear and Walnuts,” “Madeira Banana,” and “Children’s Day Biscuits” or go for the time-tested favorites such as “Pistacchio” and the “Basil Cream.” This may come as a surprise, but the absolute stand-out here is Oreo, which we cannot recommend enough. Gluten-free cones and chocolate-covered cones are also available. The best place to enjoy Nannarella ice cream is in the Jardim da Praça da Constituição de 1976, but make sure to eat it quickly and bring napkins, as the Oreo, in particular, melts really fast!
If you’re looking for a quick lunch before the ice cream, Nannarella has also opened pizza by the slice next door at La Pizza di Nanna.
Open: Monday-Saturday, 12:00 pm-12:00 am, Sunday, 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm, Hours may vary by location so double check before you go
4. Bizzarro Gelato
If you’re looking for something truly unique to Lisbon (created by two Portuguese brothers), Bizzarro Gelato is the perfect place for you. This is like no ice cream shop that you’ve ever seen. In fact, you may not even recognize it as an ice cream shop from the outside. Bizzarro Gelato stands out for its one-of-a-kind flavor combinations including – drum roll please – Cacao and Chili, Caramel and Soy Sauce, and Onion and Mango, to name only a few. Many vegan flavors are available in addition to tasting menus of 6 or 12 flavors. Cones also come in four different flavors: traditional, green apple, raspberry, and vanilla. Hang out in the space-ship-like art gallery and make new friends as you try flavors you’ve never tried before. It’s brilliantly bizzarro!
Open: Tuesday-Wednesday, 12:00 pm-7:30 pm, Thursday-Sunday, 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm, Closed Mondays
5. Santini
We can’t continue this ice cream article without mentioning Santini, the oldest ice cream parlor in Portugal! As the name might suggest, Santini was founded by an Italian man, Attilio Santini, whose great-grandfather opened the first ice cream shop in Vienna, Austria. Attilio opened his first shop on Tamariz Beach in Estoril in 1949 and fans would come from all over the country to try his original family recipe. After opening his first shop in Lisbon in 1960, Santini perfected the cookie cone recipe that is still used today. Santini sold part of their company in 2009 to local businessmen who have helped expand the number of shops in Portugal. Stepping into Santini is like stepping into history, where they continue to use fresh fruit and natural ingredients with no aromas, dyes, preservatives, or thickeners. They now have over 200 top-secret ice cream recipes, revealed only to their ice cream makers. Be sure to try strawberry, one of their top sellers year after year.
Open: Every Day, Hours may vary by location
6. Matoli Gelato
Of all the places on our list, Matoli Gelato in Entrecampos has retained one of today’s most coveted status symbols – a five star rating on Google reviews (although there are still less than 250 reviews). The passionate owner Matheus will guide you through your ice cream journey, letting you taste several of their flavors to help you decide. This is essential because the flavors change each week and do not always include the classics that you might expect. Expect high quality at fair prices with unique flavors such as tea-lemon, chocolate berry, and cherry yogurt.
Open: Every Day, 1:00 pm-8:00 pm
7. Alice
With three locations around the city, we can safely say that Alice is here to stay. I first discovered it on the beautiful Luís de Camões street in Santo Amaro next to Alcântara, but they also have a nice location just around the corner from Bizzarro Gelato near Praça do Comércio. Alice serves unforgettable creamy flavors with interesting options that you wouldn’t expect. I always return for the Arroz Doce (Sweet Rice) flavor, which is a classic Portuguese dessert, but you may also like Strawberry Kiwi, Apple Pie, or Moscatel Wine and Raisins, to name a few. Alice always offers a relaxing, friendly environment and has nice seating upstairs in its Rua da Madalena location or on the street in Santo Amaro. You can always count on Alice for good ice cream!
Open: Monday-Wednesday, 1:00 pm-10:30 pm, Thursday-Sunday, 1:00 pm-11:30 pm, Hours may vary by location
8. Insano Gelato e Pizza
Things have finally turned “insano” as we reach No. 8 on our list. While you might think it’s insane to serve both ice cream and pizza at the same location, it’s been going very well for Insano Gelato, whose customers cite it as better than some of the top gelato shops in Italy. Now you really want to try it, right? Despite its small size, it is cozy and serves fresh pizzas and homemade ice cream that will have you coming back for more – even if, like me, you have to travel across town just for another scoop. Trust me, it’s worth it. You’ll find mostly traditional flavors here served in generous portions. Try the pistachio and the mint chocolate chip!
Open: Thursday-Tuesday, 12:00 pm-10:00 pm, Closed Wednesdays
9. Nivá Cremeria Gelateria Italiana
Nivá is another high-quality Italian-style gelateria in Lisbon with locations in Príncipe Real and Alcântara. They serve interesting flavors including salted hazelnut and an açai/banana mix. Like most Italian gelaterias, you also get a free cookie wafer added to the top of your cone to finish off the gelato presentation. The shop in Príncipe Real is a 2-minute walk from Jardim do Príncipe Real, a beautiful place to enjoy your ice cream. There is also a tiny park across from the location in Alcântara and a few tables inside.
Open: Sunday-Friday, 12:00 pm-12:30 am, Saturday, 11:00 am-12:30 am, Hours may vary by location
10. Amorino Gelato
With five locations in Greater Lisbon and three of these being right in the heart of Baixa-Chiado, Amorino Gelato is one of the most popular gelato chains in the capital. The reason we have put it so far down the list is because it a French multinational with 250 stores around the world. It’s not exactly unique to Lisbon, but it is a huge success for a reason. Not only does it serve ice cream in the shape of a flower, but even if you order the smallest size, you can get unlimited flavors and even top of your cone with a macaron. When I order a small, I usually stop at three flavors. Amorino Gelato also offers waffles, milkshakes, crêpes, and macarons. Try interesting flavor combinations such as mango + lime, chai latte, and honey-lavender. While the presentation is amazing, you can find richer and creamier gelato at Nannarella or Giola.
Open: Wednesday-Monday, 10:30 am-12:00 am, Tuesday, 11:00 am – 12:00 am, Hours may vary by location
Final Thoughts
This list of the 11 best ice cream shops in Lisbon just scratches the surface of what Lisbon has to offer. Find your favorite and sneak in a few return trips during your visit. If we had to choose one can’t miss place on this list, it would currently be Bizzarro Gelato for its sheer originality. Happy ice cream hunting!
⬇️Please share your favorite ice cream shops in Lisbon in the comments below ⬇️
