Caliendo’s Gelato: Artisanal ice-cream parlour in London named among the best in the UK

If you're looking for the coolest way to treat yourself in London this summer, make a beeline for Caliendo’s Gelato in Kentish Town.

Recently crowned one of the best ice cream parlours in the UK by BBC Good Food and ranked number one in London by Time Out, this family-run gelateria is a delicious blend of Italian tradition and modern creativity.

The Caliendo family has been making gelato in London since the 1880s, and you can taste the heritage in every scoop. It serves up to 20 flavours daily, pulled from a rotating selection of over 200.

You’ll find everything from classic Bronte Pistachio and Hazelnut IGP to wild cards like Marmite & Toasted Sourdough and Peach Bellini. Vegan or dairy-free? You’re in luck - there are always at least six options just for you.

This tiny spot on Kentish Town Road doesn’t have much seating, but what it lacks in square footage it makes up for in flavour and charm. You can grab gelato tubs to go, try one of their croissant-stuffed sundaes, or even order online via Uber Eats.

Everything’s made with organic milk and cream, and the shop prides itself on being low in fat and sugar - so yes, you can totally justify going back for seconds.

BBC Good Food says: “Named Ice Cream Parlour of the Year by the Ice Cream Alliance in 2023, this artisanal Italian gelato shop in Kentish Town has inventive scoops with flavours like fig & walnut, marmite & toasted sourdough and pistachio macaron.

“Caliendo’s opened in 2019, but the Caliendo family has been making gelato for 150 years – owner Michelina’s great-great-grandfather Donato Caliendo was a gelato vendor and confectioner in Naples in the 1800s.”

Get the day’s biggest headlines, straight to your inbox, with London World’s free email newsletters.