tl;dr the ambitious flavors occasionally err on over-the-top, but the wide selection ensures a delicious option for everyone When it comes to top Roman gelato spots, few lists will exclude Fatamorgana. Its Apulian-born founder, Maria Agnese Spagnuolo, has been experimenting with ice cream since childhood. Nowadays, she whips up ambitious, sometimes outlandish, gelato flavor combinations, and Fatamorgana has multiple outposts between Rome and Los Angeles. The Via dei Chiavari shop makes its home on a side street near Campo de' Fiori. The duplex space is split between a large, L-shaped gelato display and a dedicated dining room. Houseplants hang down from the tan, circle-patterned walls. The floors are decorated with mismatched black and white tiles. The wide-open doors invite in the hum of cars crawling over the cobblestoned streets. Even late on a weeknight, expect the shop to be buzzing with customers. Across multiple visits, I tried a wide assortment of intriguing flavors. All of them had a smooth, creamy gelato base. I most enjoyed the seasonal Pear Sauce with Soft Cheese. The pear was a uniquely refreshing flavor against the extra creamy base, and walnuts added a pleasant crunch. The Pistachio was another stand-out scoop, with a dynamic flavor and plentiful chopped pistachios mixed in. I was surprised to learn that this flavor was without any milk. I also loved the unmistakably Pecorino-y Seadas; its sweet honey and orange peel cut through the surprisingly rich cream. The Wasabi Chocolate was memorably true to both flavors; the wasabi component was stronger in taste than in spice, even standing out against the deep dark chocolate. While not my favorite, I would recommend this flavor for the sheer novelty. Lastly, the more custard-forward than coffee-y Tiramisu and inconsistently topped Strachiatella were forgettable. My sister, meanwhile, thoroughly enjoyed her fruity Strawberry and the deeply dark chocolate-y lineup of single-origin chocolate flavors. The service was helpful and efficient, able to speak enough English for a seamless order. The golf ball-sized scoops ran 1.50 euros each, and there are enough options for even the pickiest of patrons. Of all the gelaterias I tried across Rome, Fatamorgana was the most diverse and memorable -- if you prioritize visiting one shop, this should be the one to try. read more

Fatamorgana - Quadruple - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

Many good flavors at this gelato place. 8 different types of chocolate... I had the pistachio and it was wonderful read more

Fatamorgana - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

SO good!!!!! Man do I wish we had one of these nearby. Randomly came across Fatamorgana while walking near r rental in the central historic area. LOVE that they use fresh, real ingredients. They have the typical chocolate chip and fruit flavors, which were so delicious. However, they also have some really unusual flavors that r intriguing like chocolate tobacco, black rice w/rose buds, soft cheese w/pear sauce & walnuts, and other herb based flavors. We tried chocolate tobacco & really enjoyed it (didn't try the other unusual flavors). The flavors of all r selections were really intense, which we especially loved in the fruit options. Pricing here is higher than other gelato spots, but it was well worth the cost. The shop has an upscale feel. The man working the counter was quite knowledgeable about all the flavors and it seemed he was being conscientious about cleanliness, which was appreciated. Definitely stop by here if in the area! read more

Fatamorgana - Inside - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

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Friendly service and a wide variety. Had the melon gelato and it tasted exactly like a frozen cantaloupe. Delicious.

Great natural gelato next-door to Antico Roscioli. The mint gelato was our favorite, with lots of pieces of fresh mint. Second favorite was the pistachio. The hazelnut and cherry amarone were also good. Scoops were on the smaller size but the gelato seemed quality. Would come again. read more

Fatamorgana - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

My partner and I often came to Fatamorgana Gelato on our Rome trips since it was just a block away from where we were staying. The place serves a wide selection of gelato, over 50 flavors, and 1/3rds of the gelato selection was vegan! The minimum amount of scoops was 2, with the prices coming out to 3 euros flat; the amount of gelato you get per scoop is a little compared to other gelato shops, but overall the gelato was tasty and cheap. Flavors tried: - Banana with Sesame Seeds - Tiramisu - Lemon (Vegan) - Chocolate (Vegan) - Hazelnut (Vegan) read more

Fatamorgana - One scoop of Banana with Sesame Seed One scoop of Tiramisu - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

Really tasty natural gelato. Tried the passionfruit and strawberry creme pat. Lots of flavors to choose from! Wasn't that busy around 8pm after dinner. read more

Fatamorgana - Passionfruit and strawberry almond creme pat - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

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Authentic Italian Gelato. No artificial coloring or tricked up flavoring. Lots of choices and a great atmosphere. Was so good I went twice in one afternoon. Would absolutely go back as evidenced by the fact I already did in the same day!! read more

The gelato was so good and there were so many flavor options!! The employees are kind and very willing to let customers sample flavors. The shop itself is very cute and colorful. The papaya and all chocolate combinations are amazing! read more

Fatamorgana - Papaya & caramel chocolate - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

Gelato is a big part of the Italian experience. I crave it on every visit. It's rare to find anything close to real Italian gelato in the States. There are a few (hello Sarasota) but when you taste the difference you'll be hooked too. I always thought the best in Rome was Frigidarium. It's got a cult like following and huge lines most of the time. So this visit I stopped there first. Still good, still lines, still memorable. But an "Ah ha!" moment occurred when I went to Fatamorgana. The flavors are unique. For instance, my first scoop was a pear, ricotta, and cocoa blend. Who thinks of that? Spectacular!! Every single thing I tasted was rich in flavor, silky smooth and absolute perfection. I went back multiple times. A gold standard for me. read more

Nice little gelato area in a very busy section of Rome where we were staying. Interesting flavors and pricing is barely typical for the product and quality. Interior was very clean with benches to sit on if you want to eat it there but no tables. Folks behind the counter were patient and helpful with us as people who spoke no Italian. read more

This was the gelateria located literally across the street from my hotel in Rome. While there certainly a lot of other pluses about Hotel Smeraldo, a gelateria is certainly a big plus, especially during siesta breaks on a hot July afternoon! After unpacking at my hotel I started my Roman holiday stroll with a visit to this gelateria. Not knowing the prestige of the Fatamorgana gelateria chain prior to this visit this store passed the "gelato test": gelato not stacked up high nor excessively stacked up and taking into consideration the seasonal flavors. The store had unusual gelato and sorbet flavors and takes pride in offering lactose-free, egg-free and gluten-free flavors. These are noted as icons next to the signs that describe the flavors. With gelato I opt for either hazelnut or pistachio flavors due to my love of nuts in gelato form. I got a single scoop of the "Bacio del Principe" (Prince's Kiss), which had hazelnut and hazelnut cream (gianduja) with cream. As a gelato it was delicious but the hazelnut flavor was muted compared to my favorite gelato flavor back at home. I'm a sucker for anything hazelnut with chocolate and the bacio candies would've had a stronger hazelnut flavor than this. Luckily this wouldn't be my first experience with this chain. Turns out I went back to another location in the chain with a food tour focusing on Trastevere and had much better luck with a flavor pairing: pistachio and basil/walnut/honey. Your choice of flavor can really make the difference between good, great and exceptional gelato, which I've experienced firsthand when eating gelato across the Italy Big 3 cities. read more

Fatamorgana - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

Amazing!! So many flavors to choose from with a few unique flavors like the Basil one, which was surprisingly delicious and refreshing! The Baklava and Chocolate were both rich and tasty without being overly sweet. Saw this place from Bobby and Giada on Food Network, and I'd definitely second the recommendation. read more

Fatamorgana - Basil honey walnut, baklava, and chocolate caramel hazelnut - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

In the land of gelato, it can be hard to stand out amongst the sea of other gelato shops. But lo and behold, Fatamorgana did just that. during our two weeks in Italy, we had gelato just about every day from a new gelateria, and some of those were incredible. The reason Fatamorgana stood out was the unique flavors offered that I didn't see anywhere else! This place has SOO MANY FLAVORS! It's insane! But the kind employees let you try some and even suggest others to try. Hubby got a boozy whiskey gelato and I had a delicious exotic fruit one (passion fruit, guava, etc). Amazing. This was the only gelateria we returned to during our stay! read more

Fatamorgana - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

excellent gelao shop. so many unique flavors to try, but the true test of the best for me is pistachio. you can see & taste real pistachio pieces, it's the best! read more

Fatamorgana - small pistachio cone - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

Absolutely the best gelato I've ever had in the world! Going back day after day as long as I am in Rome. I'm stuck on the Stratichiatella and the pistachio. read more

Worst service ever. What a rude woman behind the counter (I don't think she knows how to smile). The only reason why they have more than one star is because they have dairy free options and cute little cards that tell you if the gelato is dairy free, but free, etc....I had the mint gelato and it was delicious. read more

Hands down the best gelato I found in Rome. Unique flavors made from natural sources, with lots of new flavors every day. This is good, since you'll want to come back. read more

Such amazing flavors! I went there a month ago, and I wish I could remember what we tried, but rest assured that even if it doesn't blow your mind, every flavor is straight up GOOD. The lady helping some of our acquaintances was super sweet and helpful, but ours, unfortunately, seemed she'd rather be anywhere else. Oh well. read more

One of the best we found. ESP. In the Jewish Grotto area. Very inventive flavors like peaches & wine, wasabi chocolate, and avocado/lime/wine. read more

Fatamorgana - Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Near Me - Rome, RM

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Gelateria with an extensive selection of ice creams. Usual suspects such as mango, strawberry, pistachio and vanilla but also some quirky modern offerings such as matcha tea flavour, pineapple and ginger. Bright, airy shop with casual seating, easy to understand pricing and menu and a ticket queuing system for busy periods. Definitely worth a visit if you're not sure what flavour to try or if you have something specific in mind. The only disappointment was that you couldn't sample any before committing & staff were not open to making suggestions but I suppose we'll just have to go back and try more. We went after dinner at 10pm on a Friday in February.... we've seen queues during the day lined up round the corner so i would say, pick your timing and maybe it's a different story in the height of summer. read more

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Had chocolate gelato there and it wasn't smooth as it should be. The Orange chocolate was horrible. We've been to Roma many times and have eaten gelato all over. A couple years their gelato was good but today it was NOT good at all. read more

I had the rosemary chocolate and lemon curd. First gelato in Rome- maybe I'll change my mind, but I'm not sure the ante can be raised on this one. Lots of crazy flavors- there was a 'sake' gelato- really unique flavors, not too sweet, better than any gelato I've had in the States. read more

Hands down the best gelato I have ever had. Creative flavors. It's a "must go to" for gelato in Rome.

Wowowowow. Now listen. I have been in Italy two weeks now and have eaten at least one gelato every day. Usually two. But boy this really takes the cake. You will be stressed to choose a flavor, so you will have to choose five. The prices are not bad for the area, however portions are smaller than usual. I don't think the gelato is made in the house but it is creamy and light despite no use of milk (in some flavors). I believe there are over forty flavors here compared with the usual ten or so, I was impressed and overwhelmed. You will have to activate your creative side when pairing the flavors. I got the coconut rum and pear and I've never made a better decision. Service is fine. Good location and chill vibe. I will be coming back! read more