The Best Artisanal Gelaterias in Romania

When summer arrives, ice cream season comes with it! But forget about those boring, plastic-wrapped supermarket products. In Romania's major cities, you can find the most extraordinary artisanal gelato.

1. Gelato di Luca (Oradea)

The story of Gelato di Luca began in 2017 in Oradea. It is a true family business that perfectly blends Italian traditions with modern elegance. The soul of the place is its Sicilian-born founder, Luca, who has been living in Romania for over 8 years. For Luca, gelato is not just a job, but a true passion. With more than 12 years of experience in the art of authentic artisanal gelato, he sprinkles a touch of "la dolce vita" magic into every single scoop. Every spoonful is a culinary journey straight to the heart of Italy!

(Source: Gelato di Luca)

The location is beautiful, situated right on the banks of the Crișul Repede river (at 2A Aleea Trandafirilor Street). From here, after a short, few-minute walk, you can reach almost all of Oradea's main attractions, including Unirii Square, the Black Eagle Palace, and the bustling pedestrian area on Calea Republicii.

(Source: Visit Oradea)

The uniqueness of this spot lies in its ability to bring together Italy’s most beloved flavors. The concept harmoniously combines three delicious worlds under one roof: a Sicilian restaurant, a traditional pastry shop, and an artisanal gelateria, offering you a complete and authentic gastronomic experience. Every day, they prepare fresh artisanal pizza, pasta, paninis, and homemade focaccia. Their specialty is cannoli, filled by hand with fine creams and decorated at the ends with pistachio, chocolate, or walnuts—just like in a pastry shop in Sicily. They also offer a personalized Candy Bar or a mobile Gelato Bar for weddings, baptisms, or corporate parties, but their biggest hit is their very own ice cream truck, which brings Italian flavors anywhere in the city.

(Source: Gelato di Luca)

2. Moritz Eis (Cluj-Napoca)

Moritz Eis is an international, premium-quality ice cream chain. In Cluj-Napoca, their shop is located right in the heart of the city, at 2 Piața Unirii. With its clean, Scandinavian design and completely white interior, this gelateria is the perfect starting point for a walk through the city center. It sits right next to St. Michael's Church, the Matthias Corvinus Statue, and the Bánffy Palace, and is just a short distance from the Central Park.

The main highlight of this gelateria is that the gelato is made daily, completely fresh, by hand, and is free of artificial additives, colorings, or preservatives. The Moritz Eis team is constantly experimenting with new, unconventional flavor combinations. Customers can choose from a range of over 120 ice cream types and more than 200 flavors. Alongside the classics, you can find unique and refined combinations like beetroot with blueberry, blood orange with basil, vanilla with lavender, or melon with mint.

(Source: Moritz Eis)

3. Gioia & Gelato (Târgu Neamț)

Gioia & Gelato is a story of taste, refinement, and authenticity. This artisanal gelateria chain aims to offer customers a genuine Italian experience based exclusively on original recipes and premium-quality ingredients. Every scoop reflects a respect for tradition, attention to detail, and a passion for the art of gelato-making. Although the chain is expanding and can already be found in major centers across Moldavia, such as Iași and Suceava, their newest shop has opened in Târgu Neamț. The location is excellent, situated right inside the Cetate Park in Târgu Neamț. This green oasis is the perfect space for a relaxing walk, and the gelateria’s big advantage is its direct proximity to the city's main historical and cultural attractions, making it the ideal pit stop for both tourists and locals.

After choosing your favorite flavor and enjoying the shade of the park's trees, the surrounding area is definitely worth a visit. Neamț Citadel rises monumentally on the hill next to the park. You can reach it via a path that starts right from the park, offering a superb panoramic view of the region.

The greatest asset of Gioia & Gelato is, without a doubt, its dedication to authentic flavors. Every variety reflects a respect for original recipes, emphasizing the purity of the aromas and ingredient quality that makes a difference from the very first spoonful. The artisanal gelato is crafted daily with premium ingredients, following traditional Italian recipes with immense care. The service is elegant, and the attention to detail shines through in every single portion brought to the table. The place is designed to fit any occasion: it is just as welcoming for a quick sweet break in town as it is for relaxing family moments on weekends or afternoons. Their goal is to deliver a memorable experience through carefully selected flavors, and they also bring this premium experience to events and special occasions.

4. Gelateria La Romana dal 1947 (Bucharest)

Gelateria La Romana dal 1947 a pornit din orașul Rimini, aflat în nordul Italiei – anul din nume reprezentând chiar anul înființării –, iar de atunci prepară dulciurile după rețetele originale ale familiei. În București, cel mai cunoscut și elegant magazin se află în centrul capitalei, pe Calea Victoriei nr. 103-105. Locația este perfectă pentru vizitarea orașului și pentru relaxare culturală, fiind pe cea mai frumoasă stradă din București, foarte aproape de Ateneul Român și de Palatul Regal (care astăzi găzduiește Muzeul Național de Artă). Dacă vrei puțină liniște în natură, chiar lângă gelaterie se află Parcul Cișmigiu, cel mai vechi și romantic parc din București, unde copacii și lacul cu bărci oferă un cadru perfect pentru o plimbare. Brandul se mai găsește în alte două locuri în București, dar a cucerit și alte orașe din țară: astăzi poți savura deserturile La Romana și în Timișoara, Cluj-Napoca, Brașov, Ploiești, Arad și Craiova. Înghețata lor este făcută exclusiv din lapte certificat organic și ouă bio, fără aditivi artificiali. Semnătura lor la servire este că în partea de jos a cornetului sau a paharului se toarnă ciocolată caldă, topită (de la robinetele speciale de la pult), înainte de a pune globurile de înghețată. Pe lângă gelato, clienții pot găsi clătite făcute pe loc din ingrediente organice, brioșe, milkshake-uri excelente și torturi de înghețată elegante.

(Source: Gelateria La Romana)

5. Moo Gelato (Iași)

Moo Gelato is a fast-growing Romanian artisanal ice cream brand that combines modern technology with respect for Italian traditions. Company has a local success story: it started as a single small gelateria in Iași and has grown into a large national network with over 25 locations across the country, from Brașov to Constanța. However, the brand's true home and cradle remains Iași, where locals' favorite and most spectacular shop is located in the city center, within the Palas Mall complex. This Iași location offers the perfect excuse for a cultural and culinary excursion. Strolling through Palas Garden with an ice cream in hand perfectly highlights the beauty of the Culture Palace, located right nearby. Additionally, the park is excellently connected to the city's historical axis, allowing visitors to quickly reach the Ștefan cel Mare pedestrian avenue, where they can admire the Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery and the Metropolitan Cathedral.

The gelato and sorbets are made daily in small batches using quality milk, cream, and fresh fruit, without any artificial additives, colorings, or preservatives. The secret behind Moo Gelato is its remarkably low air content: while standard industrial ice cream is made up of over 50% air by volume, Moo gelato contains only about 20% air, resulting in an intensely rich, dense, and creamy taste. Furthermore, unlike the vegetable fats often used in commercial products, Moo uses only a minimal amount of natural milk fat.

(Source: Moo Gelato)

6. Emma la Dolce (Brașov)

Emma la Dolce is a premium, ultra-elegant artisanal gelateria and café that blends a warm, family atmosphere with Italian ice cream culture and a strong focus on health. The shop is located in the center of Brașov, at 4 Republicii Street (in close partnership with the renowned Italian restaurant, Massimo). The setup is ideal for those exploring Brașov on foot. Situated just a few steps from the main pedestrian street, the location offers direct access to the famous Council Square (Piața Sfatului). With an ice cream in hand, visitors can reach the city's most important landmarks, such as the Black Church or the unique Rope Street (Strada Sforii), in just a matter of minutes.

Unlike classic ice cream, this artisanal gelato—made daily on-site in very small batches—has significantly fewer calories. For those with food intolerances or special diets, the menu always features gluten-free, vegan, and low-sugar options. Alongside gelato, they serve top-quality specialty coffee, premium teas, and rich, dense hot chocolate all year round. For added customer convenience, the gelateria also offers a "Click & Collect" curbside service.

(Source: Emma la Dolce)

If you plan on visiting Romania’s wonderful historical cities this summer, cool down with a delicious artisanal gelato. Because you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy for that authentic “la dolce vita” feeling—it’s right here, just a step away. Don't forget to book your accommodation on stayhere.ro.