The Best Ice Cream Parlours in Portugal

Coimbra

Coimbra, the university city, has two shops on squares in the centre. Doppo Gelataria is also a specialty coffee bar that roasts its own coffee, with a terrace on the square and seats indoors. Gelataria Così has little room inside and puts tables out on its small square, where buskers play on summer evenings. Both make their gelato in-house and pair fruit with herbs: pineapple with basil at Doppo Gelataria, and orange, lime and rosemary at Gelataria Così.

Lisbon

The two Lisbon shops each face greenery. Nivà Gelato is in Príncipe Real, opposite the Botanical Garden, and has a terrace. Giola Gelato has a park with benches across the street, and many customers carry their cups over there. Staff at both offer tastings and suggest which flavours go together. Giola Gelato stays open late in the evening.

The Algarve

São Gelados is in an alley among the pedestrian streets of Olhão, a port town in the Algarve, close to the market. The fruit for its sorbets comes from that market and the flavours change daily. Everything in the shop is gluten-free, cones included. Vegan flavours are easy to find in all five Portuguese shops, and Gelataria Così charges a euro extra for a vegan cone.