Piccolina Gelateria: Authentic Italian Craftsmanship in the Heart of Melbourne
When the sun warms up the bluestone laneways of the CBD, there is one sweet destination that our guides always have on their radar. Founded in 2015 by Sandra Foti, Piccolina Gelateria has completely revolutionised Melbourne's dessert landscape by bringing old-school, uncompromising Italian tradition to our modern food capital.
As a celebratory final stop on both our signature Foodie Discovery Walking Tour and our luxurious Private Progressive Lunch or Dinner Walking Tours, Piccolina offers our guests the ultimate palate cleanser—a smooth, rich, and entirely natural taste of Southern Italy.
The Art of 100% Natural Gelato
In a world of shortcuts, Piccolina chooses the long road. Sandra founded the gelateria to honor the traditional methods used by her parents and grandparents, throwing out the modern industrial pastes, artificial colourings, and preservatives that plague commercial ice cream.
Made Entirely From Scratch: Every single element at Piccolina is made from raw ingredients in their central kitchen. They roast their own nuts, temper their own chocolate, and cook down fresh fruit into vibrant purees.
The Pozo System: To step inside Piccolina is to step back in time. Instead of seeing mountains of brightly coloured gelato piled high in open plastic tubs, the gelato here is stored beneath the counter in traditional, stainless-steel pozzetti (sunken wells) with metal lids. This traditional method keeps the gelato at the perfect temperature and consistency, away from light and air.
The Pozzallo Heritage: The textures are incredibly dense, silky, and smooth—exactly how you would find it in a hidden piazza in Sicily.
What to Scoop: From Classics to House Specialities
Whether you are wrapping up a progressive four-course private dinner or enjoying a sunny afternoon stroll, choosing a flavour at Piccolina is half the fun.
The Icons: You cannot go wrong with their Pistacchio (made with freshly ground, deep-green Sicilian pistachios) or the Bacio, which blends rich dark chocolate with roasted hazelnuts.
The Better-Than-Dairy Sorbetti: For our vegan and dairy-free guests, Piccolina’s water-based sorbets are an absolute revelation. The dark chocolate sorbet is so rich and velvety that it routinely fools even the most dedicated dairy lovers.
The Fountain: At their flagship city stores, look out for the continuous chocolate tap pouring liquid house-made chocolate, ready to be drizzled into the bottom of your waffle cone or over the top of your scoop.
Travel Tips for Your Visit
Trust the Texture: Because Piccolina uses zero artificial stabilisers, their gelato melts a little faster than standard commercial ice cream. Embrace the true Italian style—eat it quickly and enjoy the incredible silkiness!
Ask About the Specials: Aside from their permanent matrix of classic flavours, they rotate seasonal specials that highlight specific Victorian produce or recreate nostalgic Italian desserts.
The Perfect Event Finale: If you are booking a Private Progressive Tour for a corporate event or milestone birthday, finishing here provides a sophisticated, high-energy finale that sends your group off on a sweet note.
Join Us in the Laneways
Ready to experience the difference that 100% natural, hand-crafted artisan gelato makes? Join us on our Foodie Discovery Walking Tour or contact us today to let us organise your own premium evening out with a Private Progressive Lunch or Dinner Tour. Our local expert guides will bypass the tourist traps to show you the independent makers who make Melbourne the undisputed food capital of the country.