gianduia and local ingredients: artisanal gelato in Piedmont

Artisanal gelaterie

Artisanal Gelaterie in Piedmont: The Complete Guide to Gianduia and Hazelnut

Symbol flavor: gianduia — 453 gelaterie, town by town, with maps and verified listings.

453Gelateriein the guide
77Townscovered
IGPPiedmont Hazelnutthe tonda gentile of the Langhe
1865Gianduiottothe chocolate born in Turin

The guide

Piedmont is the region where gelato meets its most celebrated raw ingredient: the hazelnut. With 453 gelaterie catalogued in this guide, from Turin's historic cafés to the workshops of the Langhe, the territory offers a density of artisanal counters that few other parts of Italy can match. The flavor chosen as the emblem of Piedmont's gelaterie is gianduia, born from the union of cocoa and roasted hazelnuts and still the yardstick by which the seriousness of a workshop is measured. In these pages you will find the cities with the most shops, the criteria for recognizing genuinely artisanal gelato, and some useful pointers for planning tastings throughout the year.

Gianduia, child of a naval blockade

According to Turin tradition, gianduia was born when the Napoleonic blockade made cocoa scarce and chocolatiers stretched it with hazelnuts from the Langhe. From stopgap to source of pride: today it is the region's signature flavour.

The tonda gentile

The Nocciola Piemonte IGP, the "tonda gentile trilobata", is considered among the world's finest hazelnuts for pastry work: at the gelateria you recognise it by its warm colour and a long finish with no bitterness.

Historic cafés, serious gelato

Turin is a city of nineteenth-century cafés and regal afternoon treats: the bicerin — coffee, chocolate and cream — long ago found its translation into the carapina.

The Piedmont IGP Hazelnut, Where Everything Begins

Before the gelato comes the ingredient. The Piedmont IGP hazelnut, grown mainly across the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato, is considered among the best in the world for its aromatic yield after roasting: intense fragrance, clean sweetness, no lingering bitter note. For a gelato maker this translates into a hazelnut paste that needs no added flavorings to fill the cone with taste.

When you walk into one of Piedmont's gelaterie, the hazelnut flavor is the first test. The color should be muted, somewhere between beige and dove grey: a very pale or overly bright cream often points to a low percentage of real nuts. The price of the raw material is an honest clue too: IGP hazelnuts are expensive, and a workshop that genuinely uses them tends to say so on the label or on the flavor card. Asking where the hazelnut paste comes from is not pedantry; it is the quickest way to understand who you are dealing with.

For a gelato maker this translates into a hazelnut paste that needs no added flavorings to fill the cone with taste

Gianduia, from Turin to the Cone

Gianduia was born in Turin as a blend of cocoa and hazelnuts, an ingenious solution by Piedmontese chocolatiers that went on to become the identity of an entire city. From the gianduiotto chocolate to gelato is a short step, and today almost every serious workshop in the region offers its own version: some keep it darker and more cocoa-forward, others push the hazelnut until it verges on praline.

Turin's gelato culture is interwoven with that of the historic cafés of the city center, where the tradition of hot chocolate and the bicerin has schooled generations of local palates in the pairing of cocoa and hazelnut. It is a context that explains why, in Turin, gianduia eaten on the go is judged with almost sporting severity. If you visit the city, it is worth tasting the same flavor at two or three different shops on the same day: the differences in roasting and in the balance between gianduia's two souls come through immediately, and it is the most enjoyable way to form an opinion of your own.

It is a context that explains why, in Turin, gianduia eaten on the go is judged with almost sporting severity

Where the Gelaterie Are in Piedmont: The Cities with the Most Shops

Turin leads the regional ranking for number of gelaterie, as is natural for a city of its size and confectionery history. Alessandria and Cuneo follow, two very different provinces: the first a lowland crossroads between Piedmont, Liguria and Lombardy, the second the gateway to the Alpine valleys and the Langhe. Novara and Asti complete the group of cities with the highest concentration of shops, while Alba deserves a mention of its own: it is small, but its position in the heart of the hazelnut country makes it an almost obligatory stop for anyone wanting to taste the region's signature flavor just a few kilometers from the hazelnut groves.

For anyone planning an itinerary, the most sensible combination remains Turin plus a town in the Langhe: you go from urban gelato, heir to the café tradition, to provincial gelato, often tied more directly to the farming supply chain. Two faces of Piedmontese gelaterie that complement each other.

Two faces of Piedmontese gelaterie that complement each other

How the Artisanal Gelaterie of Piedmont Are Selected

The 453 addresses in this section come from public sources: chamber of commerce registers, the businesses' official websites and information that can be verified online. The editorial team checks the essential details, such as address and operating status, and updates them periodically, because the world of artisanal gelaterie in Piedmont is a lively one, with shops opening, closing and changing hands fairly often.

One point should be stated clearly: this guide carries no paid rankings. No gelateria can buy visibility or position, and the order in which the addresses appear reflects no commercial arrangement of any kind. If you come across outdated information, it is more likely the result of a recent change than of an editorial choice. The practical advice remains the usual one: before setting out for a specific workshop, check its up-to-date opening hours on the business's own channels, especially in the winter months, when many provincial gelaterie cut back their hours or close to focus on production.

One point should be stated clearly: this guide carries no paid rankings

From Piedmont to the Neighboring Regions

Anyone exploring Piedmont's gelaterie is well placed to widen the circle. To the south, beyond the Apennines, Liguria's coastal gelaterie offer an opposite and complementary tradition built on aromatic herbs and citrus, with basil as its banner. To the east, Lombardy has the densest urban scene in northern Italy, while to the north the small Aosta Valley concentrates just a handful of workshops, but in Alpine settings where a cone after a hike tastes altogether different.

Comparing regions is one of the most instructive exercises for gelato lovers: the same base cream changes character as you move from lowland milk to mountain milk, and fruit flavors follow the local farming calendars. Starting from Turin's gianduia and ending at Genoa's basil in a single weekend is a small education for the palate.

Starting from Turin's gianduia and ending at Genoa's basil in a single weekend is a small education for the palate

The listings

The gelaterie of Piedmont, town by town

Torino(45)

Agrigelateria San PèVia Nizza 230→Alberto MarchettiVia Cernaia 18→Alberto MarchettiCorso Galileo Ferraris 290a→BairesVia Gorizia→Bonet Gelateria YogurteriaVia Venti Settembre 14→Caffe Gelateria Fiorio dal 1780since1780→CioccolatItalianiVia Sant'Ottavio→ConogelatoVia Giuseppe Mazzini 22→
Show 37 more in Torino
Dolce VitaCorso Monte Grappa 31→Gelateria AlinaVia Pio VII 138→Gelateria Caffetteria L'isola di GiavaCorso Regina Margherita 264b→Gelateria Cento 21Piazza Derna 207→Gelateria Cono d'OroVia Luigi Cherubini 53→Gelateria d'EliteCorso Monte Grappa 7b→Gelateria La Voglia MattaVia Vigone 31asince2002→Gelateria ModoCorso Francesco Ferrucci 81→Gelateria MonginevroVia Monginevro 23a→Gelateria Pasticceria BucaneveVia Nicola Fabrizi 53→Gelateria Peter PanVia Antonio Giuseppe Bertola 5→Gelateria PopolareMameli 6→Gelateria VanillaVia Palazzo di Città 7b→Gelateria Yogurteria da AndreaVia Domodossola 1e→Gelateria Yogurteria Era Glaciale→Gelato Festival→Gelato SmartCorso Francesco Ferrucci 38→GlasséCorso Corsica 24→GromVia Accademia delle Scienze 4→Happy YòVia Barletta 33→L'essenza del gelatoVia Principe Amedeo 21f→L'isola del gelatoVia Nizza 220→La romanaCorso Traiano 76/d→La ToscaVia Luigi Cibrario 50→MaggioliniVia Cristoforo Colombo 59a→Mara dei boschiCorso Alcide De Gasperi 57→Mara dei BoschiPiazza Carlo Emanuele II 21→Mastro GelataioCorso Orbassano 203→Mister mukkaVia Piobesi 3c→Moou Gelateria ArtigianaleVia Nicola Porpora 55→OttimoVia Michele Lessona 41c→Più di un gelatoVia San Tommaso 6→SanToVia San Tommaso 12e→SiculoVia San Quintino 31→TorreCorso Regio Parco 28since1972→YogelLargo Brescia 48b→Yummy Its Delicious→

Borgofranco d'Ivrea(1)

L'era glacialeVia Torino 38→

Buttigliera Alta(1)

Dolcideas→

Caraglio(1)

Gelapajo82→

Castagneto Po(1)

L'EssenzaVia Po→

San Secondo di Pinerolo(1)

Piazza EuropaPiazza Europa 2→

Settimo Vittone(1)

Agrimont41→

Tortona(1)

Mare di Vho→

Varallo(1)

happy yo3→

Other towns(281)

+ di un gelatoVia Cesare Battisti 7e→Abela→Agri gelateriaPiazza Salera 7→Agrigelateria→AgrigelateriaPiazza Vittorio Veneto 1→Agrigelateria→Agrigelateria→Agrigelateria AsiLait→
Show 273 more in Other towns
Agrigelateria Azienda Agricola Pochettino→Agrigelateria El Marghè→Agrigelateria La Porporata→Al Gelatè→Al Settimo Gelo→Alberto MarchettiVia Principi d'Acaja 65d→Alberto Marchetti→Alberto Marchetti→AlbertoAndrea→Alfieri→AnsaldiVia Mondovì 3→Antartide→Antica Gelateria del Corso→Antica Torre→AriaVia Principi d'Acaja 47→AriaVia Santa Giulia 32→AutenticaVia Sempione 85→Bar Gelateria Artico→Bar Gelateria Pesce→Bar gelateria Strada→Bar Pasticceria Borgo AnticoVia Aldo Viglione 4→bargelato→Bianca→Biondi gelato naturale→Biraghi→Blue Moon→Bun da Mat→Buono e Sano→Caffé Astense→Cakeshare→Calù→Capriccio d'Estate→Capriccio D'estate→Carducci→Casa ClaraVia Stradella 187→Casa del Gelato→Cecchi→Chalet del Lago→Ciao Bella→CiocolàCorso Goffredo Mameli 83→CloVia Quarantadue Martiri 153→CreaPiazza Tancredi Galimberti 2→CreaVia Felice Cavallotti 6a→CreamCorso Italia 6a→Crem Glasse→Crema→Crema & Caffè→Crema & Cioccolato→Crème glasse→Cremeria CussanioViale Monsignor Giuseppe Rostagno 2→Cremeria del Corso→Cremeria Monbijou→Cremeria NivàCorso Alcide De Gasperi 8→Cremeria NivàPiazza Vittorio Veneto 7→Cremeria Nivà→Cremeria SempioneCorso Vercelli 156→Cremoso→Cuor di gelato→Dali→Dogliotti→Dolce Mania→Dolce Sosta→Dolcevita→Dolci MelodieVia Breglio 152→El Gelaté→Elvezia street→Emilia Cremeria→EurocremVia Pietro Giuria 25→Fattore Più→Filippo il GelatiereCorso Valentino 141→Fiocco di neve→fior di gelato→fior di gelato s.a.s.→Fiorio→Fiorio Caffè Giardino→Fiorio dal 1780Corso Tortona 22→Fiorio dal 1780Piazza Gran Madre di Dio 2→Fiorio dal 1780→Florian→Fragolandia→Gasprin→GasprinPiazza Gran Madre 3/G→GelAntivo→GelatèVia Umberto I 32→GelAtelierCorso Vinzaglio 28a→Gelateria→Gelateria 111Via 42 Martiri 111→Gelateria 2 Pini→Gelateria Alberto Marchetti→Gelateria AngeloVia Milano→Gelateria artigianale→Gelateria Bellocco→Gelateria Bonetti→Gelateria Calosso→Gelateria Cavour→Gelateria CiacciCorso Belgio 176b→Gelateria ConGelato→Gelateria Contadina→Gelateria Crema e Cioccolato→Gelateria dei Principi→Gelateria del pastore→Gelateria della postaStrada Mongreno 16c→Gelateria delle rose→Gelateria Di Cannobio→Gelateria Fiorenza→Gelateria Fiorenza→Gelateria Gina→Gelateria La Gosola→Gelateria La RomanaVia Madama Cristina 73a→Gelateria La Romana→Gelateria La RomanaCorso Italia 2→Gelateria La Sala→Gelateria La Via Lattea Arona→Gelateria LigureCorso Dante Alighieri 31b→Gelateria Lungorba→Gelateria MAG - Maestri Artigiani del Gelato→Gelateria Martinotti→Gelateria PapaleleCorso Guglielmo Marconi 23a→Gelateria ParlapàVia Vittorio Emanuele secondo 36→Gelateria Pasticceria LeoneVia Asti 12→Gelateria Pasticceria StellaPiazza Umberto I 9→Gelateria Pasticceria TuVia Massimo d'Azeglio 66→Gelateria Peccati di GolaVia Roma 133→Gelateria Pepino→Gelateria Romeo→Gelateria Seminara→Gelateria Slurp→Gelateria Sotto Zero→Gelateria Telesio→Gelateria Universal→Gelateria Viberti→Gelateria Virginia→Gelati Dolcevia→Gelati San Gottardo→Gelati Torino→Gelatissimo→Gelato d'Altri Tempi→Gelato Gusto→Gelato SmartVia Dante Di Nanni 54→Gelatomania→GelatoMania→Gelatteria 1937Via Enrico Cavalli→Gelizia→Gelodoc→Gelomania→GiobùLargo Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour 11→Giro di vite→Golò→Golosella→Gran SicilyVia Giovanni Giolitti 3b→Grom→Grom→Grom→Grom→Grom→Gustevole→Gustevole→HaitiVia Roma 98→Happy Yò BardonecchiaVia Montenero 13A→Happy Yò!→I Gelatai a CuneoCorso Nizza 29→i.coni→IanoCorso Nizza 38→Iano Gelateria→Ice Scream→Ice Wollas→Il Bacio→Il Brivido→Il Cornetto→il Gelato di Davo→Il gelato di Giulia→Il gelato di Stefania→Il gelato naturale→Il Golosone→Il ManuelVia Macra 28→Il Peccatosince1982→Il Pistacchio→Il Più di Atlantic→Imàkara→Inferno FreddoPiazza Castello 42→Inferno Freddo→KiwiVia Bergia 4→L'Angolo del Gustosince2014→l'Ape Drola - Piccola Gelateria di Montagna→L'isola del gelato→La "baraca del gelato"→La Baita→La CaraPina→La Casa del Gelato→La Chicca→La coppa d'oro→La CremeriaVia Wild 2/c→La Dolce FattoriaVia Umberto I 11→La Gelateria→La Gelateria→La Gelateria→La gina→La golosa→La Patouina→La Piccolina→La RomanaCorso Francia→La Romana→La Romana→La RomanaCorso Sebastopoli 190→La romana dal 1947→La Romana dal 1947→La Rotonda→La Venexiana→La VogliaLargo Argentera 4→la yogurteria→Le Acque→Le petite d'orVia Andrea Mensa 37 D→LuccoVia Bernardino Luini 100 A→Lucco→Madreterra Il Gelato NaturaleVia Lago Sirio 12→Maestro→Mara dei BoschiVia Claudio Luigi Berthollet 30h→Marcella→Marchetti→Marchetti→Marconi→Marilù fa il gelato→Mastro GelataioVia Nizza 61→MenodiciottoPiazza Castello 54→Messina→Mister MukkaPiazza Caduti per la libertà 14→Mucho Gusto→Nivà GelatoPiazza Vittorio Veneto 8→Noisette→NumberOne→O.K. Cono→Oasi del Gelato→OlivaVia Roma 47→Orsetto Polare→Ottimo!→Ottimo! Buono Non Basta→Pama Gelateria→Papalele - QuadrilateroPiazza Emanuele Filiberto 8e→Paradiso del gelatoVia dal Ponte 216→Pasticceria Daniele→Pasticceria Gelateria Pirra→Picadò→Piccola Caffetteria Cremeria Latteria→Pinguino Goloso→Puro Gusto→Quippe→Re di ConiVia Roma 34→Reve BleuCorso Monte Cucco 14e→RivaEstPiazza Vittorio Emanuele Terzo 7→RivoglioStrada Chieri 35→Sammontana→SensolatoPiazza Mercato 29→Silvano - gelati d'altri tempiVia Nizza 142→slimer→SottoZero→Tommi Loves It Gelateria pasticceriaVia Arnaldo da Brescia 23/b→Tuttogelato da Aurelio→Valsania→Vanille→Verbania IntraCorso Goffredo Mameli→Via Trento - Gelato & Caffè→Voglia di Gelato→yo yogurt→Yo yogurt→Yo yogurt→Yogurt→YoyogurtVia Giuseppe Garibaldi 28→Yoyogurt→Yoyogurt→YoYogurt→YoYogurt→Zanzi→Zanzi→
One dot = one gelateria: hover for the name, click to open its listing. Or filter by town.

FAQ

Gelato in Piedmont: quick answers

What is the typical flavor of Piedmontese gelaterie?

at the counter

Gianduia, followed closely by pure hazelnut. Both revolve around the Piedmont IGP hazelnut of the Langhe, Roero and Monferrato. A good Piedmontese workshop is judged first and foremost on these two flavors: if they convince, the rest of the counter usually does too.

How many artisanal gelaterie are there in Piedmont?

promise

This guide catalogues 453 gelaterie across the region. The greatest concentration is in Turin, followed by Alessandria, Cuneo, Novara and Asti; Alba stands out relative to its size thanks to its proximity to the hazelnut-growing area.

Where is the best place to try gianduia gelato?

in short

Turin remains the natural reference point, for its history and its number of shops. The interesting alternative is Alba, where the closeness of the hazelnut groves shows in the quality of the pastes used. Tasting the same flavor in several workshops in the same city helps you pick up the differences in roasting.

What sets the Piedmont IGP hazelnut apart from other hazelnuts?

really

Its aromatic yield after roasting: intense fragrance, clean sweetness and no lingering bitterness, plus a round shape that makes for even roasting. For gelato this means pastes that need no added flavorings, an advantage you can clearly taste on the spoon.

Are gelaterie in Piedmont open in winter too?

all told

Many are, especially in Turin, where gelato coexists with the hot-chocolate season. In the provinces, several shops shorten their hours or close for a few weeks. It is best to check official channels before traveling; spring, when the workshops of the Langhe reopen, is the ideal moment to start again from Alba.