I'm like SO SAD this place is closing soon. Like look at the photos of how they scoop it - BEAUTIFUL!!! Really sad to see them go. I don't even like sorbet but the Pineapple Honey Lime is amazingggg. Everything is so silky smooth and I am already sad they soon won't be there read more

Espresso was good, not bitter, no sugar needed. Gelato was good but not great, more ice cream than creamy gelato.

I have been going to this place probably once a week, maybe twice, but never 3 times in a week (not yet anyway) -- and each and every time everyone I go with loves it. Today I have the Ceylon Cinnamon with the Nocciola -- both were outstanding. I love this place. It's a problem kind of love. Help me please. It is bad enough I can walk to the Bethesda location from work in a matter of minutes, but now they are also at the Dupont Farmer's Market, a few blocks from my home. Stalkeezza! Why must you torment me.... read more

I know Dolcezza is expensive but I think it's worth it! Yes, $10 for a pint is quite a lot, but of all the flavors I tried I thought they were great, especially the sorbettos which tasted so much like fresh fruit. I can't remember exactly which ones I ended up with, but the gelatos were all creamy, and delicious. Presentation was also really nice, especially compared to the awful display at Cafe Gelato. The flavor selection is pretty unique, though from reading other reviews it sounds like maybe they don't cycle through the flavors that much? I'd really like it if they offered a flavor of the day/week, and kept churning out (pun intended) some innovative combinations. While Dolcezza isn't quite as good as other high-end gelatos in a similar price bracket (see Pitango in Baltimore, or Capogiro in Philadelphia), I think it's easily the best around. The price might be a little hard to swallow, but the gelato certainly isn't! read more

Have you ever noticed that when you're grumpy your opinion is more negative? Well i will admit that i was very tired after a long evening and early morning so maybe it did impact my opinion. But ice cream normally makes people happy..... why didn't this? the consistency was excellent and it didn't melt fast, which i liked. But i must have tried 5 or 6 different flavors and none of them wowed me. Maybe its because i'm not a huge "fruit based" ice cream fan and a lot of their flavors were in that category. I was just unimpressed with the flavors. Even their "tahitian vanilla" was bland. I settled on the cappuncino, which was fairly good. But really unimpressive. I would much rather get my piccomolo gelato then driving all the way to maryland. The prices were nuts. $3.50 for a KIDS (not even a small) cup?? Come on. Thats nuts So really maybe i was just cranky or maybe it wasn't that good. Regardless it did not make me happy read more

Absolutely magnificent gelateria - the gelato is gorgeous and has lots of original flavors and combos. The coffee is equally superb - they do a "Gibraltar" which is a smaller cappuccino served in a Gibraltar glass and which I love. And locally owned too - marvellous. read more

As a gelato snob, this place didn't disappoint to satisfy a late-night craving. Loved the area. It's hard to find a newly developed shopping area in DC with sprawling retail, so it makes the stop that much more enjoyable. read more

Went here last night with a friend for the free gelato event. Yes I had gelato two nights in a row... Don't judge! When we got there, the line was pretty long, but moved quickly. I had the grapefruit campari, which I didn't realize till later was sorbet. It was full of flavor - tangy, yet sweet, and very light. Craving more, I guiltily convinced my friend to get back in line with me, although she was full. The line was getting longer but again, moved quickly. This time I went for gelato - Tahitian vanilla bean. It was rich and creamy, very yummy. All of the other flavors were quite intriguing - avocado honey orange, champagne mango, various types of dulce de leche. cinnamon. I suppose we could have sampled some but I didn't want to hold up the line. It definitely is not cheap for a regular sized cup. More than the last gelato place I reviewed. Despite the price, if I lived in the ridiculously expensive apartments above it, I would probably go more frequently, but 15 miles away is not so convenient. read more

Okay, okay. I'm upping my star rating to four stars because I just tried the wrong flavors last time. I decided to play the safer route and ordered a small with Vanilla Bean and Counter Cultural Tiramisu (love that name!) and I was in Argentinian Gelatan heaven. The Tiramisu was just right, and I loved the little chunks of rum-soaked lady fingers in the mix. Just delicious. I tried my friend's Espresso, which was also amazing! I don't know if it's just because it's really hot or what, but this gelato seems to melt extreeemely fast. By the time I'm about five minutes into my little palm-sized bowl, I'm drinking it. read more

Usually when I want to enjoy something sweet I prefer to get chocolate wasted...this time I opted for something different and was very satisfied. I ordered a small size salted caramel and expresso gelato. I was happy to learn that I can get two flavors in such a small serving. I only saw one person staffing the store but she was very friendly and helpful. I'm not a big caramel fan, but I have had some really salty caramel before but this gelato was very tasty and not overly sweet or salty. The expresso flavor curved my desire to have coffee when I got back to the office so it gets my vote. My friend had lime cilantro and I believe a berry flavor and she said that it was good too. read more

If I were any closer to Dolcezza, I would never fit into my skinny jeans ever again. With unique flavors like blueberry white chocolate, espresso mint pistachio and hazelnut raspberry, Dolcezza always has something new and different to offer its loyal following. The texture of the gelato is flawless - creamy, yet somehow light on the tongue. It's impossible not to finish the entire bowl, and then still want more. I recommend the blood orange or thai coconut flavors. But decide for yourself. They let you sample if you ask. * Pros: Unique flavors, Free samples * Cons: Lines, Teen hangout on weekend nights read more

Great gelato and sorbet, though a little pricey (but I guess all gelato places are a tad pricey so it's about the same). Even better that they're usually open until around 10pm or so, which usually doesn't happen around the burbs. They have creative flavors that always differ between visits. Even if you know what you want to order, I would try a few flavors since they have such interesting combos, which are all so good. Most recently I got the salted caramel and the ginger pistachio gelatos, and they were both really good. Their coffee is also good, and I believe they brew stumptown coffee. The place itself is a bit small, so on days when the weather is nice, I get a cup and just walk around Bethesda row. read more

5 stars for gelato and 5+ stars for cappuccino! Unbelieving quality of espresso drinks in a gelato place. Good been selection, good foam consistency, good barista. Bravo! They carry Verve, Intelligentsia, Four barrel, and Stumptown as far as I can recall... read more

I had a rare opportunity once to watch the owner of Dolcezza personally make me a latte at their Georgetown store. When he was finished I had a wonderfully made latte with a delicate heart shape mixed into the upper foam. This was only the coffee. That same care and love is given to every flavor I've tasted of their gelato. Perhaps more so. While visiting the Apple store in Bethesda I figured it was time to try out Dolcezza's second store. I was not disappointed. I chose the Lemon Ricotta Cardamen and only wished I could force myself to have a second helping. One of the best things about this shop is that the flavors are all interesting mixes I never would have thought about combining. You taste a bite and try to pinpoint all the flavors. Its kind of like the fine wine of deserts. Delicious, fantastic, always highly recommended! read more

Nice selections of gelatos and sorbettos. Got the Thai coconut milk and persimmon. The coconut milk was so creamy and absolutely delicious. The persimmon was...dry. The texture wasn't appealing (grainy) and the flavor could've been sweeter. I won't be going back for the sorbettos but definitely will for the gelatos. read more

Dolcezza - Thai coconut milk (yay) and persimmon (nay) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Stopped by with the family for their free gelato night. We sampled lime cilantro, raspberry & champagne mango. The lime cilantro was excellent. Super refreshing and fresh tasting. Crisp, clean flavors. The raspberry & mango were just okay. They were good, just not great. The raspberry had a nice tangy flavor to it, and the mango was fruity but very mellow. I notice this trend with Gelato places sprouting up all over the place. Wegmans and Whole Foods even offer it. Almost every one I've been to in the States has been sort of mediocre. The flavors are never rich enough. I never come away thinking "Oh MY God that was amazing!" Well except for Bellagio in Vegas. Their Gelato shop has some of the most amazing stuff I've ever had. If you're in Vegas and you love gelato, YOU MUST GO!!! Anyway, it was great that Dolcezza ran this promotion. Overall, it was good but not great. Certainly not good enough for the prices they are charging. $4.50 for a tiny cup is way too steep. I'm not sure I would even drive all the way to Bethesda for the stuff even if someone else was paying. read more

I was eating at Redwood next door and asked about their gelato...sure enough, Redwood didn't make the gelato, it was DOLCEZZA! I liked how Redwood put berries in my gelato. Dolcezza doesn't do that but you can bring your own berries. I would see they have the best gelato in all of Bethesda. read more

Today was Open house day for Bethesda lane and there was a familiar gelato place, 'Dolcezza'. Since there are not many gelato places in DC, I could have been more generous about stars.. but oh well.. I disappointed by not being able to find unique flavors that I might find at other independent creative gelato places.. such as chai, pumpkin and etc.. although these might be more fall/winter flavor.. and how the gelato displayed.. I mean.. I saw other gelato places put actual ingredients on top of each gelato container in so appetizing way.. that you don't want to ask for a scoop because you don't want to screw up how it looks.. The taste of gelato was OK though. I tried lemon-honey and coffee flavor. I might give more stars someday when I get over this disappointed-feeling from not seeing any creative flavor.. read more

Same impression as a lot of the other reviewers. Nice selection of flavors, however, not cold enough, so too soft, and melted too fast. Also, $5.50, plus tax, for a tiny, kiddie-size cup is too expensive. I sampled the pomegranate and the lime pineapple sorbets. Good, but Capogiro Gelato, in Philadelphia, is better. read more

Best gelato ever...and I've had gelato in Italy! I decided to try the champagne mango and the honey avocado orange. The texture, was was very creamy even though the fruit flavors have no milk and them. The avocado was also very tasty and ended up being my favorite. The flavors in the honey avocado orange are so mellow that they compliment each other very well. It also has a nice light sweetness to it. The champagne mango was very good as well, I could taste the mango fruit in the mango! There was not artificial mango flavor used like other places. I can't wait to come back and try the other delectables! I also heard people talking about how good the coffee/espresso was so I definitely want to try that for my second visit. If you enjoy authentic gelato, I highly recommend this place! read more

Dolcezza - Champagne mango and avocado honey orange - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

If I could eat here everyday (I don't due to lack of time and transportation, NEVER because I don't want gelato from Dolcezza), I would. Dolcezza makes there gelato fresh EVERY morning and uses local ingredients. They deserve 5 stars for these qualities alone. These are the flavors I've had: chocolate amargo, lemon opal basil, lime cilantro, mascarpone, orange honey cardamon, tiramisu, white nectarine, and white peach. They were all fantastic. Some I didn't care for (chocolate amargo) as much as others( orange honey cardamon - where have you been my whole life?), but they were all super fantastic in their own way. Lemon opal basil was extremely sour, and I probably would never order it again. That being said, my taste buds were very stimulated and intrigued. I'm really glad I tried it. Other reviews have lamented about the cost at Dolcezza, but I find that it's worth it, especially since they're supporting local farmers. I've eaten gelato in places around Bethesda and around the world, including Italia. The only place I've had better gelato is Il Gelato Vivoli in Firenze (Florence). I've always remembered gelato at Vivoli being amazing and life-changing. Over the years, I've gotten gelato every chance I could get but never was able to recreate the memorable food experience that I had in Italia. I almost even have forgotten why I liked gelato more than ice cream until I had my first bite at Dolcezza. Memories of Firenze came swarming back! I am reminded that gelato should be light, fragrant, flavorful, and stimulating. I remembered the warm atmosphere and incredible art of Firenze. Thanks to Dolcezza, I even remembered an almost forgotten afternoon where my friends and I were searching for some pre-dinner gelato at Vivoli, getting lost, and getting into a fight with a few street vendors. If I ever return to Firenze, I'm definitely returning to Vivoli, and if I ever return to the DC area, I'm most definitely going to my nearest Dolcezza. read more

The prices are high, but you get what you pay for. I love how people constantly post yelp reviews about "high" prices for what they're getting for a superior product. If the price is high and the quality is low, then yes, they are ripping you off. But until you've owned a restaurant or retail store, or unless you have a deep deep grasp of what goes on when it comes to price formulation; your opinion is weak on whether it is overpriced or not. I seriously can't stand the mentality that people even have the slightest idea of what a product should be sold for and automatically say that it is overpriced. I've had Dolcezza multiple times and I can say that the prices are spot on for what you're getting. Customer service aside, the gelato is heavenly and the prices really are not that bad. When they're posting record profits like the gas companies are, then maybe you can say they're overpriced. But I guess there is a niche for every person, some people prefer the cheap cheap prices of Walmart and don't understand the saying that you get what you pay for. Sigh, some of us appreciate Gelato and everything that goes into making it Fresh.... read more

I admittedly haven't been to many gelateria's, but this is the best gelato I've had in my life. Borrowing a phrase from Chris Rock's latest movie, this truly is the "creamy crack"! First visit late in the summer: Tried the Mojito, Meyer Lemon Vodka, and Strawberry Pernod flavors before deciding on a "chico" size of Sicilian Blood Orange and Georgia Peach Southern Comfort. Both were delicious, the first refreshingly sublime with a slight tartness and the second like biting into a luscious peach. Second visit in November: The friendly young lady working behind the counter cheerfully handed us samples of Crookneck Pumpkin, Apple Cider Clove, and Dulce de Leche Granizado, which were all unique and full of flavor. Finally decided on Concord Grape and Bartlett Pear - both were incredibly reminiscent of biting into juicy and ripe portions of the respective fruits. This is a terrific spot to visit after a meal and/or on a date (the gf swears by their Orange Blossom Cardamon) as it's set into a surprisingly charming walkway right in the ritzy heart of Bethesda Row. The prices are a tad on the high side ($4.70 for a 2-flavor "chico" size or $5.30 for a 3-flavor not-so-small "small") but a great value if you don't mind sharing (harder than you think). We overheard another couple raving about the latte and Toscano espresso on the way out - will definitely give them a try next time. read more

I am a fan of their cappuccinos -- great microfoam! Although their coffee is a bit pricier than say, a Starbucks, I think that the quality of the drink is great, and am willing to pay a little more when I come. This may be blasphemy, but I actually haven't tried their gelato.. My friend and I come here every time we're in Bethesda for the coffee and the cute atmosphere of the cafe. She used to come all the way from Arlington, and I would come from Rockville, and make it a point to come to Dolcezza. It's not usually very crowded when we go, and so my experience isn't muddled by that. It's one of my favorite places in Bethesda Row! read more

We stumbled across this place after visiting the Apple store. I tried two flavors of gelato - mojito, which was phenomenal, and vanilla, which was excellent. But the churro and the local sourcing made me fall in love. First of all, the churro... substantial, crunchy, flaky, took me back to Spain. I haven't been to Argentina, or it probably would have taken me there. I have big plans to bring an Argentine and Argentin-o-phile friends here to see how it rates for them. Not that it matters to me. I'm in love with this place. update: Just went back and had the grapefruit compari flavor and the apple cider with clove. The apple cider was extremely clove-y, but my husband loved it. The grapefruit was deliciously tart. But the coffee... oh my god do they make a good cup of coffee. Their kid size is the just the size I want my kid to have... very small, like her. read more

What a cute little gelato/ coffee shop. We stopped by one evening for a nice place to chat and I was really impressed. It's cute and the offerings seem high quality. Eat in the shop or in the cute courtyard just outside the shop. They had a nice selection of beverage and treats. Everything was good, although the service was a little slower paced than we hoped for. read more

Update from a former review: This used to be the best coffee in town (stumptown), but they keep changing it. The current coffee is passable but not good. The cold brew is now undrinkable bad. The extra negative star is because when I told the barista it was undrinkable and id like something else, she did not refund me and charged me full price for the replacement drink. Actually, same goes for their chocolate and pastries. Chocolate used to be mast brothers, and despite their own struggles, the chocolate made for a tasty mocha. And the pastries used to be Bluebird, the one group in town who could make a decent croissant. But they've changed bothbthese vendors out, presumably to save money, without decreasing their prices. I used to pay a premium to come here because it was the best. Now I still pay a premium, but get an inferior product. At least the gelato is good. read more

I've had Italian gelato in the most legitimate sense: we actually went to the gelato festival in Florence last year. This is the only gelato place I have found stateside that I really, really enjoyed. It is a perfect end to any meal, and the flavors they sell range from traditional to modern and complex. Plus, they're open late! I do love it so. read more

Oh my!!!!!!!! This gelato is as delicious as it is expensive! :) I had the chocolate (the darkest one there, forget its' name) and the hazelnut --- wow! I would go back in a heartbeat - next time I'm in Bethesda you can bet you'll find me there! read more

I just tasted the best gelato last night at the Bethesda Dolcezza. Lime Shiso is my new top fav! What an ususal, refreshing and fabulous combination! That. Is. All. read more

Dolcezza - Lime Shiso gelato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Bethesda, Maryland

Dolcezza never disappoints me! I tried this location for the first time last week and it was as good as the other locations in DC, except for the fact that the space was a little too small. But hey I don't mind that as long as I'm happy with my gelato! read more

Worst coffee experience of my life period. The kid who served me coffee was absolutely out of it, probably high. It took my girlfriend and I, the only customers for at least fifteen minutes, twenty minutes to get a coffee and a cappuccino. The cappuccino and the coffee were lukewarm and the coffee was completely watered down. I explicitly noted twice I wanted it to go and yet was served my coffee in a ceramic coffee mug. Very very bad service. Would not recommend anyone to try this place. read more

It doesn't get much better than this in the gelato world than Dolcezza! I've had gelato all over Italy and Argentina and this ranks up there as one of my absolute favorites. While in Europe you'll find most gelato is single-flavored. At Dolcezza, they do an excellent job of combining flavors, even including herbs! The staff here was very friendly and allowed my friend and I to sample many flavors before we both ended up going with Honey Lavender. What a treat this flavor is....it's incredible!!!!!! I hope they continue to make it throughout the summer! (hint hint) Bottom line: FANTASTIC flavors, fresh ingredients, friendly service, and the gelato has less fat and calories than ice cream! read more

I'm always a little hesitant in saying that something is the Best I've ever had, but Dolcezza gets that honor without any reservations. The flavors are always very original and while I may not be a fan of some, I can't deny that they always deliver. If you ask for Lime Cilantro, it's not lime with a hint of cilantro I assure you that both lime AND cilantro will feature prominently in the flavor profile. The texture is also perfect. Creamy and smooth. The Lemon Ricotta Cardamom has always been my favorite with Black Sesame as a close second. The Thai Coconut is more subtle than their other flavors but also worth trying. There's seating both indoors and outside on beautiful Bethesda Lane. They have a variety of coffee and espresso drinks available in the back. The staff has always been very accommodating as I can never seem to go there without trying at least 5 flavors. The prices may be rather high, but I like to get the pint which gives you a little more bang for your buck and you can definitely share that with 4 people. read more

Delicious and pretty espresso drinks, but they take a while. Gelato is amazing. I love this place. I sampled every flavor and the amazing staff complied with a smile. The shop is a bit cramped and a bit overpriced, but so is everything in this area. read more

I'm biased toward their Georgetown location because that's where it all started for me. I am obsessed with their gelato but I went in on a snow day craving a cappucino and churro instead. Not a whole lot of seating but I was lucky enough to snag a seat while sipping my lovely cappucino and munching on my warm churro drizzled with delectable caramel. Big fan, Dolcezza, I'm a big fan! read more

I like Dolcezza's gelato, but people who work there have no manners. This morning, for example, I walked in and said "Good morning" when I entered and I got no answer. The young guy who was serving gelato to another customer totally ignored me and went straight to the other side to make two lattes or whatever to two other customers, he saw me standing there waiting and didn't care to say anything, not even "I will be there with you shortly" or "hi", nothing. After I was there standing for 10 minutes, I just left and of course I went somewhere else to get gelato. Get better people to work there, Dolcezza's owners. read more

My boyfriend and I cannot get enough of this place. We don't order just a small cup, we leave with pints. On the weekends, the lines are out the door and onto the brick-paved street. Everything is made fresh daily using local ingredients so sometimes you won't find what you had yesterday. I like how they have herbaceous flavors such as basil, although they say that's best mixed with the lemon. My favorite is their hazelnut (nocciola) chocolate. However, I'm just wondering why they are using an Italian name versus a Spanish one since this is Argentinean-inspired. read more

Their gelato is amazing! And on top of that, the place is so ridiculously cute and gels perfectly with the ambiance of Bethesda Lane. Dolcezza offers unique flavors, some of them even wacky. I'm generally a frozen yogurt girl, so I found their flavors to be very strange, but I was more than happy to try them - and I'm glad I did because I loved it! There was hot pepper, sweet with a small kick at the end. I ended up ordering a scoop of Yellow Peach Southern Comfort and a scoop of Blackberries and Cream. Both flavors are amazingly refreshing and had just the right amount of sweetness. I wish I lived closer, I'd be there a few times a week! I'll gradually make my way back to try out their other flavors and pastries too. Dolcezza is definitely a must try. read more

Stopped by here as a treat for my toddler, he got vanilla gelato which he loved so much, somehow it got on his shoulder, and I got a coffee, both very good and the staff is friendly. I can get full on the samples, which I think makes making a decision harder since they are all so good read more