Gelato, Hot Chocolate, and Pure Happiness— La Gelatessa Has It All!
Walking into La Gelatessa feels less like a gelato and hot chocolate shop and more like entering a pastel-coloured daydream. Tucked away in Glasgow’s Southside, this little spot is giving huge Pinterest vibes— think soft pink walls, sleek wooden accents, and just the right amount of vintage charm. This place is all about substance. From rich, velvety gelato to indulgent hot chocolate, La Gelatessa is proof that dessert isn’t just food, it is a whole experience!
The moment you walk in, you are hit with a wave of nostalgia— like stepping into a charming European Gelateria, but with a modern, artsy twist. The soft, buttery-yellow walls glow under warm fairy lights, while vintage mirrors, quirky shelves, and cute tote bags add personality to the space. It’s not just the gelato that makes La Gelatessa feel special—it’s everything else, too. The hand-cut wooden menu board with its minimalistic charm, the perfectly imperfect speckled terrazzo tables, the retro-inspired branding— it all comes together to create a space which is effortlessly cool. They also do loyalty cards, which is a win-win!
The gelato counter itself? A masterpiece. Instead of the usual display of gelato piled high, La Gelatessa goes full Italian authenticity, keeping their gelato tucked away in traditional lidded metal canisters— because quality always comes before flashy presentation here! Every time I visit, especially on a summer’s evening, I truly feel like I am living out my Northern Italy fantasy— minus the Tuscan Vineyards, but Pollock Country Park is enough! The rich, red-tiled counter, fresh flowers, and glowing globe lights make everything feel cosy, and as La Gelatessa says, the type of place where everything is “made with amore.”
I always opt for the butter hot chocolate with toasted marshmallow fluff. I truly believe this is where Lizzy McGuire got the inspo for “this is what dreams are made of”, because WOW it truly is! It’s thick, rich, and smooth. The perfectly torched mallow fluff on top? Absolute genius. It adds the right amount of sweetness and drama. The raspberry gelato is another highlight for me. It is bright, tangy, and bursting with a fresh berry flavour. It’s creamy but still light, the kind of flavour that makes you feel like you’re on holiday somewhere warm and wonderful (even if it’s chucking down outside).
There is something about La Gelatessa that makes you want to come back time after time. Maybe it’s the rich, velvety gelato, or it’s the charming interior, or maybe it’s the fact that it’s a little slice of Italy in Glasgow where we can all live out our Tuscany fantasies. Whatever it is, it’s got that magic combo of great taste + great vibes. So, if you haven’t been yet, take this as your sign.