Best Gelato In Tampa Bay

The Daily Meal Staff|July 23, 2014 6:00 am EST

What's creamier and tastier than ice cream but has dramatically fewer calories and fat? Gelato, of course. If you haven't tried gelato, here's how the numbers stack up: a half cup of gelato has 131 calories and 4.3 grams of fat compared to 278 calories and 19 grams of fat in the same size serving of ice cream. Of course, the numbers vary along with the flavors of gelato and ice cream, but what you can count on is that across the board, gelato is a healthier choice. That it tastes even better is just a bonus. Here's where you can sample some of the best gelato in the Tampa Bay area.

Papalani Gelato
13312 Telecom Drive
Tampa, FL 33637
(813) 975-0480
www.papalanigelato.com

Papalani is highly rated in local publications in the Tampa area by both food critics and casual consumers. Self-described as "Hawaiian gelato," Papalani "mixes old-world Italian craftsmanship with the unique flavors of Hawaii" to create some truly unique flavors such as coconut, papaya and lychee. You will also find more traditional flavors like Belgian chocolate, hazelnut, pistachio and tiramisu. If you want to try an extra special treat, you can sanple a frozen gelato sandwich made with cookies or sweet bread, gelato bars or frozen chocolate bananas.

Gelateria del Duomo
2223 N.W. Shore Blvd.
Tampa, FL 33607
(813) 877-7771
www.gelateriadelduomo.com

Artisans make this 100-percent authentic gelato with only all-natural ingredients imported from Italy. Each batch is made by hand on a daily basis so it is always fresh. The gelato comes in a huge variety of flavors including vanilla bourbon, spicy chocolate, Italian custard and Nutella. A variety of sorbets are also offered, such as kiwi, pomegranate, dark beer and cabernet red wine. Visit Gelateria del Duomo and find out why the Tampa Bay Times calls it "the cream of the crop."

Gionata's Gelateria & Caffe
24032 State Road 54
Lutz, FL 33559
(813) 447-1866
www.gionatasgelateriacaffe.com

Tucked away in a quiet little strip in Lutz, it would be easy to drive past Gionata's and not even notice it's there. But, don't let its small size fool you — big taste is packed into this small cafe. This smooth, thick, rich and creamy treat comes in flavors that include strawberry, chocolate chip, banana and hazelnut. All of Gionata's Italian treats — artisan breads, pastries and gelato — are made fresh in-house.

Mazzaro's Italian Market
2909 22nd Ave. N.
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
(727) 321-2400
www.mazzarosmarket.com

Mazzaro's is practically a playground for lovers of Italian food. This mammoth market features a cheese room, a deli, a bakery, a pasta bar with fresh, hand-made pastas, a coffee bar, shelves upon shelves of imported Italian goods and a gelato bar. Gelato is made fresh every day with only top-of-the-line ingredients and comes in flavors like raspberry, pistachio, hazelnut and cookies and cream. You can enjoy a cup while you shop or sit out on the open-air patio.

Larry's Old Fashioned Ice Cream Parlor
6595 Gulf Blvd.
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
(727) 360-4259
www.larrysicecream.com

Larry's has been serving the St. Petersburg area for over 30 years. Besides gelato, the menu offers "light bites" like pizza and onion rings, malts and milkshakes, and plenty of different sundaes. The authentic gelato comes in flavors such as pineapple, orange, strawberry and vanilla. You can enjoy it plain or dress it up with a house-made waffle cone or some traditional toppings. Or you can even make it part of a banana split, brownie-bottom sundae or root beer float.

Related: Best Milkshakes In Tampa Bay

Amanda Mole has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil and cooking since she was tall enough to reach the stove. She believes that food provides more than just vital nutrients: it is an irreplaceable part of countless cultural and social activities. As a Tampa Bay resident for the past 21 years, she is well acquainted with the incredibly diverse range of restaurants, bars, and food festivals that the area has to offer. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.