Germany claims three of Europe’s top five ice‑cream parlours

Architectural Digest has unveiled its annual ranking of Europe’s most beautiful ice‑cream parlours, and Germany secured three of the five top spots. The list, compiled by the design‑focused magazine, judges venues on architecture, interior design and ambience as much as on the quality of the frozen treat.

German venues lead the pack

The top‑ranked German shop, Early Bird Gelato in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg, earned second place overall. Its striking strawberry‑coloured counter, created by local studio About Space, and ash‑finished seating islands give the space a distinctive look. The gelateria, founded in 2015, churns its own ice cream on site without artificial thickeners or colourings.

“holistic experience”

Flavours range from classic vanilla to inventive pairings such as Peruvian chocolate with Indonesian long pepper and olive oil with orange and almond.

In third place, Antipodean Gelato in the Nordend district of Frankfurt impressed judges with a transparent kitchen wall that lets customers watch each batch being made. Founder Rachel, originally from Australia, has built a cult following with flavours that feature Mallorcan lemons, Italian pistachios and Valrhona chocolate.

Rounding out the German entries, Bonbon in Nuremberg earned fifth place. Housed in the Augustinerhof development next to the Deutsches Museum, the shop’s playful interior, designed by Berlin studio Mekado, features modular counters reminiscent of vintage ice‑cream vans and plaster walls that echo the texture of cream.

Europe’s other sweet spots

Outside Germany, Spain’s Regma in Santander topped the list with a nature‑inspired design. London appeared twice with The Dreamery, a gelato‑and‑wine concept, and the railway‑themed Milk Train. Barcelona secured two spots with Amiko and Gelato Collection, while Il Gelato Museo in Paris, Ještě Jednu in Brno and ТАЮ in Odesa rounded out the top eleven.

What’s next for design‑centric gelaterias?

The ranking underscores a growing appetite for hospitality spaces that blend culinary craft with striking design. As travellers increasingly seek Instagram‑worthy experiences, more operators are likely to invest in bespoke interiors and open‑kitchen concepts, turning a simple scoop into a destination experience.