In a city renowned for its culinary delights, ice cream in Buenos Aires stands out as a sublime indulgence that captivates both locals and visitors alike. Are you eager to explore the creamiest, most flavorful scoops the city has to offer?
ExpatPathways invites you on a delectable journey through the heart of Argentina’s capital, where each ice cream parlor tells a story of tradition, passion, and innovation.
Whether you find solace in the classic dulce de leche, revel in the exotic charm of Malbec-infused sorbets, or seek the unparalleled richness of artisan chocolate gelato, our curated list of the 10 best ice cream spots in Buenos Aires is your ticket to a sensational tasting adventure.
Join us as we unveil hidden gems and celebrated favorites that embody the spirit of Porteño summer, making every lick a memory to cherish.
The Best Ice Cream in Buenos Aires
1. Helados Italia
Location: El Salvador 4795, Palermo.
Helados Italia, boasting 44 years of impeccable history in Buenos Aires, stands out not only for its commitment to personalized, efficient, and friendly service but also for its dedication to quality and hygiene in crafting artisanal ice creams.
Renowned for its delightful flavors, including the specialty cannoli siciliano and super sambayón, this ice cream shop invites locals and visitors alike to explore its extensive variety of tastes.
Located in the bustling neighborhood of Palermo at El Salvador 4795, with additional branches across the city, Helados Italia is celebrated as one of the best ice cream parlors in Buenos Aires.
Customers rave about its exceptional offerings, particularly praising the almond and espresso crunch for their creamy richness, and the sublime sambayon con Almendras as a true work of art.
This quaint shop, with a few benches outside for an impromptu treat, provides a memorable experience for anyone looking to indulge in high-quality, traditional, and innovative ice cream flavors.
2. Saverio
Location: Av. José María Moreno 201, Caballito.
Saverio stands as a beacon of tradition in Buenos Aires’ ice cream scene, boasting over 110 years of crafting high-quality artisanal ice creams and desserts.
This centennial establishment caters not only to walk-in customers from its shop located at Avenida José María Moreno 201, Caballito, but also supplies top restaurants and catering services throughout the city, emphasizing its commitment to excellence.
Patrons of Saverio sing praises for its creamy, rich ice creams, especially highlighting the sambayón and crema saverio flavors as delicious choices.
Acknowledged for offering great value for its quality, Saverio is a must-visit for those seeking the best ice cream experience in Buenos Aires.
3. Ladobueno
Location: Cdad. de La Paz 407, Belgrano.
Ladobueno, nestled in Ciudad de la Paz 407, Belgrano, and with several branches across Buenos Aires, marks over 40 years of delivering natural ice creams rooted in family tradition.
This beloved neighborhood ice cream shop has grown into one of the city’s most acclaimed heladerías, thanks to its dedication to quality, creativity, and innovation.
Ladobueno prides itself on using premium ingredients, including natural fruits without any artificial flavors or colorings. Customers rave about the extensive variety of chocolates, dulce de leche, and classic flavors that have become rare in other shops.
Moreover, the shop also offers chocolates, cakes, and pastries, with standout flavors such as dulce de leche granizado, crema americana with Oreo, and chocolate with caramelized almonds, making Ladobueno a premier destination for ice cream lovers.
4. La Flor de Almagro
Location: Estado de Israel 4727, Almagro.
La Flor de Almagro, nestled in Estado de Israel 4727, Almagro, is a time-honored ice cream shop founded in 1933 by Salvador Digliett, embodying a rich family legacy in crafting artisanal ice creams.
Renowned for its traditional style and array of unique flavors, including 11 different types of chocolate, such as the exotic Turkish chocolate, it stands as a testament to Buenos Aires’ vanishing old-fashioned heladerías.
Boasting high-quality ingredients like artisanal dulce de leche and the same chocolate recipe used by the founder’s grandfather, La Flor de Almagro offers a blend of classic flavors and remarkable chocolate varieties, making it a cherished spot among locals for its delicious ice creams and reasonable prices.
5. Il Trovatore
Location: Av. Rivadavia 5078, Caballito.
Il Trovatore, situated in Avenida Rivadavia 5078, Caballito, is celebrated as one of the most traditional ice cream shops in the area since its inception in 1963 by Vito Diana.
A true artisan in the craft of ice cream making, Diana’s dedication is evident in Il Trovatore’s high-quality ingredients and balanced flavors, which have made it a favorite among Buenos Aires’ ice cream aficionados.
Renowned for its pistachio ice cream with whole pistachios and a variety of chocolate flavors, this quaint shop attracts a crowd eager for its creamy, well-served delights.
Il Trovatore’s consistent quality, original flavors like chocolate Almagro (chocolate with candied orange), and welcoming atmosphere, alongside its affordability and excellent customer service, mark it as a standout destination for ice cream lovers.
6. Lucciano’s
Location: Honduras 4881, Palermo.
Lucciano’s, located on Honduras 4881, Palermo, with numerous branches nationwide, is celebrated for revolutionizing the ice cream scene in Buenos Aires not only with its exceptional flavors and quality but also through its innovative ice cream bars.
This family-owned business embarked on a journey to Italy to bring back the latest ice cream manufacturing technology and skilled artisans, blending the finest local and Italian ingredients with Belgian chocolates to create an unparalleled premium ice cream experience.
Lucciano’s has become synonymous with the best premium ice cream on the market, known for its creamy texture and intense flavors.
Customers rave about the unique experience of enjoying some of Buenos Aires’ finest gelato, praising the cleanliness, luxurious ambiance, and the friendly staff, making Lucciano’s a must-visit for any ice cream enthusiast.
7. Tino
Location: Av. Díaz Vélez 4520, Caballito.
Tino, standing since 1965 in the Caballito neighborhood, offers a delightful array of artisanal ice creams, continuing a rich Italian tradition of delicate consistency and natural high-quality ingredients without any artificial colorants or preservatives.
Celebrated for its exquisite flavors such as lemon pie, sambayón, chocolate cabsha, and malbec with red fruits, Tino ensures a memorable taste experience complemented by excellent service and generous tastings.
Customers appreciate the value for money, the opportunity to try flavors before purchasing, and special treats like a free cone on their birthday.
Renowned as a Caballito classic near Parque Centenario, Heladería Tino is distinguished by its quality, variety, and particularly standout flavors like chocolate with almonds and pistachio, securing its place among Buenos Aires’ top ice cream destinations.
8. Antiche Tentazioni
Location: Honduras 4770, Palermo.
Antiche Tentazioni in Palermo, with branches in Belgrano and Pilar, offers a taste of Italy in Buenos Aires with nearly two decades of history. The second generation of this Italian gelato-making family has expanded beyond Italy to share their high-quality, growth-potential products in Argentina.
Focused on maintaining the excellence and quality inherited, Antiche Tentazioni is a blend of traditional craftsmanship and innovation, offering gelato that transports patrons straight to Italy.
The flavors, especially lemon tart and strawberry cream, stand out for their authenticity and quality. The interior seating extends into a cozy back patio, providing a picturesque setting reminiscent of a scene from an Almodóvar film.
The staff’s friendliness and the clean environment complement the rich, creamy gelato, with recommendations for their signature lemon tart, strawberry cream, and a variety of unique chocolate flavors.
9. Cadore Gelato Artigianale
Location: Av. Corrientes 1695, Centro.
Cadore Gelato Artigianale, situated near Avenida Callao and the heart of Buenos Aires, carries the Olivetti family’s Italian recipe to rank among the world’s top artisanal ice cream parlors. Since 1881, three generations have crafted gelato using family recipes in Cadore, Italy, before migrating to Argentina in the 1950s.
Their artisanal approach combines the alchemy of traditional recipes with the finest ingredients to create fresh, natural gelato. Cadore is celebrated for its pistachio and dulce de leche flavors, considered some of the best globally.
The shop’s small size belies its rich flavors, drawing long lines of eager customers. The balanced and well-crafted flavors, particularly pistachio, demonstrate Cadore’s excellence, making it a must-visit for gelato lovers in Buenos Aires.
10. Rapanui
Location: Malabia 2014, Palermo.
Rapanui, originally hailing from Bariloche with Italian roots, ventured into the Buenos Aires scene in 2012, expanding from a renowned chocolaterie started in 1996 to an artisanal ice creamery.
This melding of artisanal production with a historic expertise in chocolates has made Rapanui a standout in the ice cream world, with eight branches across neighborhoods like Caballito, Retiro, Recoleta, Palermo, Colegiales, and Villa Devoto.
Known for specializing in chocolates, Rapanui has seamlessly transitioned into the realm of ice cream, creating unforgettable flavors such as dulce de leche triple tentación, Berry champ sorbet, tiramisu, and an acclaimed pistachio.
Patrons rave about the quality of both the ice cream and chocolates, noting the vegan options and suggesting Rapanui as the perfect spot for both self-indulgence and gifting.
The brand’s commitment to excellence shines through in their products, with customers particularly praising their alfajores as the best in Argentina, highlighting the raspberry glaze as a favorite.
(Featured Image Source: ☼ Mrs ☼/flickr.com)