Terrible service, unfriendly staff, negative ambiance due to employees' hostility towards first responders.

My little dolce de leche espresso was beautiful and creamy, but lacked the actual "dolce de leche" caramel type of flavor. The counter person was having side conversation with the barista and they talked about how he didn't ask me for milk type...while I'm still standing right at the counter. It was odd. The security guards in the shopping area were poking their heads in to have fun with the workers and I get it, you can have fun at work, but this was a VERY high end shopping area and for the price of this little coffee in this area, I had higher expectations. I'll try elsewhere next time. read more

Dolcezza - Dolce de leche - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So delicious! Stopped in when I was in the area for work. My colleagues and I had just had a wonderful Italian dinner nearby and were craving some gelato! The shop is super cute. Not a huge amount of seating, but it's a small place and more seating would make it too crowded. We were here in November, so I'm not sure what the vibe is like in the summer, but for this time of year, it was super cozy and welcoming. I really liked that they had both Gelato and Sorbetto on the menu, and there was a good variety of flavors. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Offered tastings as we were looking at the menu. The staff was also super personable, we talked about some of the more delicious but interesting pairings we've had tasted before, and the service was above and beyond. read more

I tried Dolcezza for the first time in Bethesda and loved my gelato so much I got the exact same thing again (coffee and cookies). The gelato was still incredible, but staff seemed annoyed and were kind of cold to us. The seating area was also rather awkward (one large community table and a bar along the window). I still want to give their drinks a try- they have so many unique and appealing options. Maybe next time! read more

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Mmmm such premium gelato! We stopped by for dessert one night and it was so worth it. I got the Black & White Cookie Batter and the Mascarpone & Berries flavors. I love that you can get two different flavors within a small scoop. Both were phenomenal. I also sampled my friend's hazelnut flavor (I forget the actual name) which was so good! read more

Dolcezza - Black & White Cookie Batter (top), Mascarpone & Berries (bottom) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The gelatos and sorbettos are great. The service is great and you can taste various flavors to help you decide. I have tried both the Bethesda and Dupont Circle locations. I will be back soon. read more

Great coffee, great service, and great ambience! Had a cortado based on the recommendation of the server - - quite good!

DELICIOUS! You have to sample all the flavors and then make a decision which was very hard! Ended up with the banana fosters and hazelnut crackle! read more

Dolcezza - Bananas foster and hazelnut crackle - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I make it a point to stop by as many dessert spots as possible when I'm on vacation - and Dolcezza was a little spot that I had to check out! I ordered the mascarpone & berries + the black & white cookie batter. Both were so great and flavorful! I would say they're a little bit on the sweeter side of the spectrum for gelato but still very enjoyable with some very interesting flavor combos! I tried a few other flavors and remember liking them all and having a hard time deciding on a final choice. I like that you can pick two flavors in a small without an extra fee too - and the service was excellent! Highly recommend this spot for gelato, I want to try their cafe next time! :) read more

The best black sesame latte I've had, the black sesame taste was so strong! Would love to try their other coffees read more

Dolcezza - Black sesame latte with oat milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

A place that still lets you sample the flavors--in a post-COVID world. I tried 3 flavors and had to order all 3 because they were all delicious. Fast and friendly staff. read more

I try to stop by every time I'm in DC because they're one of my favorite gelato places in the area. This time I got their black sesame & bananas foster. Their black sesame was rich and not super sweet. It balanced the sweetness of the bananas foster. The bananas foster was on the sweeter side for me but I still enjoyed it. read more

Dolcezza - Bananas Foster & Black Sesame - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Came across Dolcezza after walking by the busy shop one brisk morning while everyone inside & outfront was sipping on some coffee. My husband and I decided to try it out the next morning. The shop was small yet cozy. Their were a few people sitting at a table enjoying some coffee & working on their laptops when we were their. I ordered a vanilla latte with almond milk, it tasted so good we ended up coming back a couple of days later for another coffee! The drinks were a tad bit pricey but its expected for a city coffee shop. Unfortunately, we weren't in Washington for very long & weren't able to try out the gelato that everyone was raving about however, if we decide to take a trip back to Washington we will definitely be back to give it a try! read more

Dolcezza - Vanilla Latte w/almond milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I am a huge cortado person so naturally I have to try a cortado every time I go to a new coffee shop. On the menu, it is called a "Gibraltar" so that's what I ordered. Maybe I misheard the barista, but I thought I would get my drink in a Gibraltar glass. Sadly, I just got my drink in a regular paper cup which is fine. The espresso was burnt and it didn't complement well with the milk at all. Overall, it was hard to drink and I was not impressed with the espresso taste whatsoever. Definitely below average for cortados. This drink was a 2/5. I did try a bite of my friend's affogato (she got hazelnut gelato as her choice) and the sweetness of the gelato was able to mask the horrible taste of the espresso. I actually enjoyed it and wish I got that instead. That added a point to my overall rating since I enjoyed my friend's gelato at least. read more

Excellent coffee (espresso) and a massive selection of gelato. Delicious gelato flavors - pistacio + hazelnut! Plenty of seating (10 spots) and outdoors (4). read more

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So, for nostalgia, I went to The Palm in DC tonight with my son. What a disaster. Lifeless, horrible steak that had to be cooked twice to get the temperature right, annoying staff, rushed, etc. I was depressed. Now that it's been sold to some big conglomerate, it's horrible. Shame on the founders that sold it. Anyway, in my state of depression, I wandered the streets of DC looking for a way to put something else in my body that might give me a hint of joy and tone down the meat sweats that were sure to follow in the hours to come. It was either that or ride a scooter the wrong way down a busy street. The Palm - dead to me. I walked by Dolcezza and it didn't look like much - kinda minimalist gelato shop with some dweebs doing work at tables. Looked better than the alternative. In I went. I asked about the flavors and then a taster of the coffee and cookies flavor. Doh! Covid you bastard. No tasters permitted. I hate you Covid. Screw it. The night couldn't get worse so I asked for a double of the coffee and cookie flavor. WOW. The...best...gelato I've had. Period. Don't believe me? I shamelessly had seconds! Did my son make fun of me? Yes. Did the barista think it was a bit odd? Yes. Whatever. This place is worth a drive, walk, scooter, horse drawn carriage, whatever. Do it. I'll be back. In an hour. read more

Dolcezza - Coffee and cookies, and whatever my son got. I think choco and mint (even though it's not green). - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Lattes here are phenomenal. Not too sweet but not too strong. Tried both the mocha and the vanilla iced lattes- would recommend either.

The Marscapone and Berries is divine! Do not miss out. This was the best gelato I have eaten anywhere.

Service was very good. Large servings of ice cream. Good selection of flavors. Seating was nice.

The ice cream and drinks are good but it's just very expensive. If you can afford dropping almost $8 on a super small drink go for it bc it's good. read more

The to-go gelato options are great. At first you may think, whoa, how much am I paying for a container of gelato when I could get a huge tub of ice cream at the supermarket?! Well, you get what you pay for. In this case, extremely delicious gelato that is better than almost anything from the big chain brands. I really like the coffee and cookies and the white chocolate raspberry. I can't wait to try other flavors. I was in and out within five minutes on a weekday afternoon with no line. The employee was wearing a mask--and so was I, per the many signs at Mosaic reminding you that masks are required when not eating or drinking as of February 2021. This is a nice place to pick up a treat. read more

Had a great stop at Dolcezza's new Dupont location! A perfect and convenient stop for some sweetness on a hot DC day! The gelato is creamy and delicious! Having lived in Italy as a child, I consider myself a harsh critic, and Dolcezza definitely meets the mark for me! Pros: Quality of gelato: The gelato is delicious here! Creamy and distinct flavor profiles. The stracciatella is my absolute favorite flavor, and tiramisu is a close second. Such refreshing and delicious licks! You can also buy larger cartons of ice cream to take home with you (they are stored in a freezer onsite). The ingredients are locally sourced, which makes this gelato even more special and unique! Cute interior: This is an extremely cute, minimalistic, and classy looking location. Very instragammable! There is seating inside, and this makes a great spot to catch up with friends Convenient location: Located in Dupont, but close to Kalorama, Georgetown, and Adams Morgan, this is an extremely convenient spot, and easy to reach by metro or on foot! Quick service: I was attended to as soon as I walked in! There have rarely been lines when I have come here, though it is a popular spot! The service here is friendly and efficient. Drip-coffee: Dolcezza makes delicious freshly brewed coffee and espresso as well! Cons: Not a ton of variety: Dolcezza doesn't offer a huge variety of flavors, but on the Pro side, the options that they do offer are all solid! Pricey: The gelato here is expensive. It is high quality, but for the amount you get, it is costly. read more

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The gelato at Dolcezza is REALLY good! We've been back every day of our stay here in DC. We tried many flavors with our favorites being Pistachio, Mint Chip, Roasted Strawberry, Hazelnut, and Black Sesame. They let you taste test as many flavors as you would like so you can ensure you buy what you like. read more

Well situated in Chinatown, a solid gelato with variety, with some coffee and tea drinks as well. Like other gelato places, you can try three flavors for free. I liked the almond and cinnamon as combinations and cardamom was good too. A small will give you two flavors for $6 and they don't pile it on like some places...so not cheap. The gelato consistency is also not as creamy as some other places, which I don't necessarily mind. They have some seating on long tables along the wall. A great location for a treat after dinner or after doing some sightseeing at nearby museums. read more

Dolcezza - Lemon ricotta and mascarpone and berry - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Staff here is friendly. There are multiple seating options. There is a large communal table where people can work or sit and people watch. I enjoyed my hazelnut oat milk latte and they had an assortment of pastries available. I like that the music wasn't too loud and you could have a casual conversation. The prices seem slightly pricey, but I think comparable for the area. read more

Dolcezza - Oat milk hazelnut latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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An excellent spot for a quick hot drink and cookies. I came back (this time in cold weather so no ice cream). Good service this time. Love their lemon coconut cookies and the fresh madaleine cakes. After my less-than-satisfied experience last time the manager reached out. I appreciate how much they care about their customers' experience. =========================== PREVIOUS REVIEW Overpriced and snobbish attitude. A small scoop of pear gelato in a small paper cup (not even a waffle cone) = $ 6.27. That is outrageous. This is not a tourist hotspot. There is no other factor to justify the price hike. The lady behind the ice cream counter completely ignored me. Didn't acknowledge me. Outride rude. After she was happy walking up and down, she finally came over. Not even a hello or what would you like. And she handed my ice cream to me with a poker face. Then walked over to a different corner. I then slowly realized oh we have to pay OVER THERE. Oh I see. Talk about leaving a bad taste in your mouth. read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I go here pretty much every single day for coffee and the customer service is the one reason I come back. Also the coffee is the best from a shop that I have ever had. The shop is so cute with half being for coffee drinks and the other being gelato. I love everything about this place and will recommend it to anyone who asks! read more

I'm visiting for a conference in DC and I stumbled upon this place just walking down the street. The environment is so welcoming, staff is nice and everything is clean. The gelato is to die for!! Best I've ever had and they allow you to taste test. I've been twice and will be back again before my conference ends. Small is starting at $6 and you can pick two flavors. read more

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Nice little ice cream, gelato and coffee spot in DuPont circle. They let you try as many ice cream flavors as you want. Small cup gets 2 scoops. I got black and white cookie batter and coffee and cookies, both flavors were good. read more

Dolcezza - a hand holding a bowl of ice cream - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very nice gelato and coffee bar! The service was fantastic! We got gelato, a corttado, and a latte. There's little gelato pushups for the kids! Everything was excellent. There was a good amount of seating and the atmosphere inside was relaxing. I highly recommend stopping by! read more

It was a hot and humid day in DC; therefore, it was time to stop by Dolcezza and feast on some gelato. We took the subway to DuPont Circle station and then made a short walk over here. The shop is small, but the cool air conditioned room was a welcomed delight. Dolcezza offers gelato and sorbetto. Free samples are available, so you can give each flavor a try before ordering. I got a small cup of gelato, which includes two flavors of your choosing. I decided to get the Roasted Strawberry and Vanilla Bean. The gelato flavors were tasty and complimented each other well. If the strawberry flavor is great, they're a plus in my book. If you're looking for some dessert in DC, Dolcezza is a great spot to try! read more

Dolcezza - Strawberry and Vanilla Bean Gelato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Very friendly staff and the soft serve was the only option when we were there. The cream was fantastic

Excellent gelato and great service. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a coffee or sweet treat!

I got the hazelnut and dark chocolate. So good. The barista was super nice and let me sample several flavors.

I think this is the cutest little gelato spot ever! Nice decor, great location, and I love the unique flavors. Nice little place for a first date read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dolcezza totally stepped up their gelato game recently. I was pleasantly surprised that they have a gelato happy hour menu where you don't pay $10 per pint like you do at Pitango, for example. I ended up getting a pint of roasted strawberry instead of a cup and it was something like $7! Gelato I've tried so many of their flavors pre-pandemic, but I keep coming back for the roasted strawberry and the mascarpone & berries. Roasted Strawberry It feels like you're eating fresh strawberries that just so happened to be frozen and creamy! Heaven! Mascarpone & Berries I love how pretty this one looks - it's kind of marbled! It's everything you want from a creamy gelato - smooth and sweet, but not overly sweet. Pandemic Safety Measures You order online and your order is available for pick up at the window. Everything appears very well sanitized and the staff wear masks and gloves. Customers also have to wear masks. You can't go inside - only pickup allowed. Customer Service The staff asked all my questions about the difference between the flavors and recommended getting a pint off the cheaper pint menu. Final Verdict So far, only good things to say about Dolcezza. Unique flavors, fresh ingredients in the sorbets and gelati and decent prices. Very dangerous to learn about the cheaper pint prices (cheaper pints than Pitango) since this may become a more regular treat for getting through yet another week or month of the pandemic. read more

All gelato and sorbetto flavors are excellent. Can't go wrong with any of the flavors. Combinations are trickier, so take a lot of samples before you decide. I love dark chocolate and always get that flavor (with another flavor that depends on my mood on that particular day). Past combinations I've tried include dark chocolate with pistachio, salted caramel, stracciatella, and honey tangerine (sorbetto). All were great, though I'll say that gelato and sorbetto are best eaten separately, not together (dark chocolate gelato + honey tangerine sorbetto was good, but the texture was definitely different, balancing between the rich, creamy gelato and the light, refreshing sorbetto. Better to have a gelato-only bowl or a sorbetto-only bowl, not both in one. BTW, despite being a hardcore DARK chocolate lover, I have to admit that milk chocolate was really good too, very creamy and smooth. Hot chocolate was great. I tried their Askinosie Hot Chocolate (which was unique with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon (and maybe others?)) and King Leo's Peppermint Mocha, and both were delicious. Most of the time, serving size is pretty small for a rather hefty price, but one time, we got a serving man who gave out huge scoops. So, I guess it depends on the serving person... read more

Best ice gelato I have ever had. I am still thinking about it a week later. I cannot wait to return.

I came with my two cousins who were visiting from out of town because we were in the mood for dessert and it was close to their hotel. I had the pineapple and lemon lime sorbetto which was delicious. My cousin had a gelato that had what looked like ice cream cone pieces in it. I forgot the name of his gelato. My other cousin had one of their croissants which he said was delicious. He also had some coffee I think an espresso which he enjoyed. It's definitely a nice and delicious dessert place to check out if you're in the area! read more

Great service. Nice ambiance. Tasty ice cream and alright coffee. I like that it is a very family friendly location