After discovering my love for nut-flavoured gelato, I’ve been searching specifically for all the gelato Hong Kong has to offer – and have been delighted by the options available here.
From established brands like XTC to newer entries to the city like The Ice Cream & Cookie Co., there are quite a few options that are each slightly different in how they approach the ice cream.
I’ve been on a little pistachio gelato hunt and wanted to share what I’ve tried, with a focus on ice cream stores (versus pre-packaged tubs from supermarkets etc). If you found this page, I think you would be up for some of the places below too.
Be warned, though! Pistachio seems to be a flavour that runs out in multiple places so don’t go for your treat too late.
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Central and Western Island
A word about the selection of gelato shops in Central – some are open till quite late!
Hello Molly
This gelato brand is nestled in the snack section of the Central Market on the second floor to offer visitors Hong Kong-made ice cream.
Compared to other places, the range of flavours at the stall is quite small – there were eight in the freezer when I visited – but these do include some experimental flavours like Iron Goddess and Ying Yang.
I had a single scoop of the Lotus Biscoff flavour in January 2025, and to me the ice cream had a slightly sticky, creamy texture like yogurt, versus the chewy, cookie dough-like type.
Unfortunately, they only had the pistachio flavour in a pre-packed tub and I passed, but now I regret not taking one home to give it a try.
- Location: 2/F Central Market, Central
- Starting price: $48 per scoop
- Seating: Yes (free seating within the Central Market building)
- Openrice
L’antico Gelato
Standing out like a charming European cafe from outside and in, L’antico Gelato is a place that serves the classic and familiar flavours instead of opting for more adventurous kinds.
Their regular flavours are hojicha, white coffee, vanilla, oolong, dark chocolate, earl grey and matcha at $58 per scoop and they offer some premium flavours like pistachio, that are quite steep for one scoop at $78.
I tried the pistachio here and, like Hello Molly, it was a sticky-creamy texture as well.
L’antico also offers drinks, both coffee and non-coffee, and if I pass by next time wanting some caffeine, I would opt for their affogato!
- Location: 19 Aberdeen Street, Central
- Starting price: $58 per scoop
- Seating: Yes
- Openrice
Messina
Find the Australian gelato brand in Central’s historic Ladder Street, a popular spot for tourists and for customers of Messina – even after dark.
Messina offers a wide range of flavours – including a number of seasonal items – and they’re one of the few gelato stores in Hong Kong that also makes gelato-based cakes.
Pistachio fans – they had run out of the flavour when I visited in the evening so try to get there early if you really want to try it!
- Location: 37-43 Pottinger Street, Central
- Starting price: $55 per scoop
- Seating: Yes
- Openrice
Snack Baby Gelato
A bit away from the bustling side of Central, Snack Baby is another gelateria that’s open late evening – and looks like a hip bar when it’s dark out.
You won’t get the conventional cookies and cream or plain chocolate ice cream here so head over if you want to try some unique blends of ingredients.
Unlike other stores that charge per scoop, Snack Baby has two sizes to choose from and allows you to pick up to three flavours for either size – perfect for trying out their unconventional flavours.
- Location: 93-95 Hollywood Road, Central
- Starting price: $58 for small size, up to 3 flavours
- Seating: Yes
- Openrice
The Ice Cream & Cookie Co.
This Singaporean gelato brand entered Hong Kong in 2024 with a cozy two-storey store on Gough Street.
This is a great choice if you’re looking for something more chewy and sizable, although the price point is on the high side.
They also offer a variety of gelato-incorporated desserts and drinks if you’re looking beyond the simple ice cream.
- Location: 18 Gough Street, Sheung Wan
- Starting price: $78 per scoop
- Seating: Yes
- Openrice
XTC
A humble store compared to the other Central locations on this list, but XTC has been around since 2001 offering locally-made gelato.
The selection at their store is small and more conventional, but it’s great if you like standard flavours that aren’t overwhelmingly sweet.
XTC is also one of the stores in Central that opens late into the evening for satisfying your sugar cravings on your night out.
- Location: 45B Cochrane Street, Central
- Starting price: $50 per scoop
- Seating: Yes (limited to only several bar chairs)
- Openrice
Eastern Island
Weeds Gelato & Coffee
Hidden at a basement mall in North Point, the bubbly, eclectic interior of Weeds might not make it seem like your typical gelato cafe but it has some interesting flavours of gelato made from local ingredients like oyster mushroom and coriander & milk.
I managed to get my pistachio fix here and the flavour was assuredly rich and impressive but at a high price point, their scoop is a little too small.
It might be worth having a taste test and getting a tub instead of a single scoop if you like it.
- Location: WORFU, 21-53 Wharf Rd, North Point
- Starting price: $52 per scoop, varies by flavour
- Seating: Yes
- Openrice
New Territories
Chest’N Nuts & Dried Foods
It’s out of the way if you live on the island side but definitely needs a visit if you’re in Tai Po.
It’s not an ice cream or even a dessert specialist store – their main product is an assortment of dried food and nuts. But because of this, it’s the only place I’ve been to that freshly crushes the nuts and folds them into the ice cream before scooping it.
They add a generous amount of nuts in the scoop so expect every bite or lick to be extra nutty.
- Location: 51 Po Heung Street, Tai Po
- Starting price: $35 per scoop
- Seating: None
- Openrice