GelatoLove Carlsbad Village

**Could be the best gelato establishment of all time! I used to visit this spot on a weekly basis in 2017-19 when I lived in the area( those Gaia Gelato days). I remembered always feeling shocked by the flavor in each little bite. Honestly, I've been thinking about it ever since... Just a few days ago, I flew in to SD and immediately took a drive up to Carlsbad to confirm my suspicion. Turns out it still rules. This could possibly be the best kept secret in San Diego. I can't wait to go back!

Loved the gelato at GelatoLove! Really enjoyed the cioccalato, vanilla caramel, dragon berry, and cookies & cream flavors. Super sweet staff and dog friendly inside and out. Recommend!

If you’re ever in Carlsbad Village, Gelatolove is an absolute must-visit. The gelato here is hands down the best I’ve had—rich, creamy, and bursting with authentic flavor in every bite. You can tell they take pride in using quality ingredients and crafting each batch with care. But what really elevates the experience is the exceptional service. A special shoutout to Ali, a young gentleman working there who embodies everything you hope for in customer service—kind, welcoming, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping guests find the perfect flavor. His positive attitude and warm demeanor made the visit even more memorable. Thank you so much, Ali, and the Gelatolove team—you’ve earned a loyal customer. I’ll definitely be back!

What a delicious stop. Our restaurant didn’t have any desserts but recommended this place. A wonderful variety too. They have sorbet as well. The staff are fantastic too! I was able to taste a few to make sure I made the right choice. It does feel a little odd an cramped inside though. The original pictures gave such a simplistic and beautiful feel. Currently there’s so much stuff. There are two cases to view with choices. Which you almost miss if you do not walk around to the other side.

yum!! The employee who helped me was incredibly kind and helpful! It's possibly a little expensive but I think gelato is more expensive than ice cream generally which is what prices im used to! It was $7.19 for a affogato (gelato and hot expresso float!) which is pictured. I included pictures of the current (!!) flavors since I didn't see them here. :)

My fiancé and I make it a point to try gelato everywhere we go. We have had some very tasty and incredible gelato but this place just took the #1 spot! We stopped by over Memorial Day weekend and I had two scoops - double chocolate and strawberry. WOW! I also got a sample of the lavender honey. Absolutely incredible flavor! My fiancé tried the mint chocolate chip and the infusion of *real* mint is a game changer! We will definitely come back to GelatoLove every time we visit SD County!

Disclosure: I used to make French pastries for this place years back when it was still Gaia Gelato, before the original owner Cristina left and went back to Rome. She used to make REAL authentic gelato with authentic recipes, using fresh REAL ingredients and fruits. Well this was my first visit in years and I was absolutely astonished, absolutely TERRIBLE QUALITY. Came on a Friday night to have Indian food and after the group decided to try the 'new' gelato. We saw the new owner walk by about 30 minutes prior with a cart, presumably bringing in fresh gelato from their satellite location. So we expected a nice selection of gelato, but instead we were shocked to see the whole front display was completely empty. The remaining small display had 3 flavors that were sitting empty and the rest looked, well, sad with a strange looking texture. I warned the group it did not look good, but they tried a 'small' anyway (which is more like an extra mini). OMG, absolutely the worst tasting gelato or frozen dessert I've had in my life. My message to the new owners: if you new product with fake sugar does not have a great shelf life, PLEASE toss it and replace with new product. Do not sell something that is not edible. The mango on its best day would've been inedible. It had tiny cubes of something in it that WASN'T mango, I don't know what it was. Tasted absolutely terrible. The cookies and cream tasted so odd, whipped like it had lots of air in it, barely sweet and the texture was even worse than the mango. This place has gone DOWNHILL in a major way. Even the once simplistic European-like decor and furnishings is now gone and has turned into a cluttered mess. The place is a hard NO for me.

Oh wow! The gelato here is really yummy. I've been to Italy and had some real tasty Italian gelatos and this place brought back the good memories of my Italy trip. Try the double chocolate and the Carlsbad strawberry (from local strawberry farms btw). I always get these because they make them the best here!

Came here after dinner nearby. I got a regular cup with spicy chocolate and Menta cioccolato (Mint gelato with chocolate) When I sampled the spicy chocolate, I didn't really taste any spice, and he said it would come later. I still didn't get the heat with just the taster but I got it anyhow. It was delicious and had a nice chocolatey flavor. The heat kicked in a few spoonfuls in and there were some cherries too which added a nice texture and sweet contrast to the spiciness. The heat keeps building as you eat more, it got to a nice level of spiciness. The mint was very refreshing and minty and I liked that the pieces of chocolate were small crushed pieces so they melted easier than chunks or chips of chocolate. I'd get either or both again they were very creamy, light and refreshing. The owner who served us was very friendly and informative. I'd be sure to find my way here again. Theres a large parking lot in the plaza but theres also a bunch of restaurants so it can be tough at times.

the people here were soooo friendly and patient while waiting for us to choose flavors since it was our first time coming here.. we chose this place because it offered 80% less sugar compared to a regular gelato and it was WORTH IT! GUILT FREE INDEED the gelato didn't disappoint.. it was a 10/10 they also sell different cakes which we didn't get to try but will look forward to when we come back very cute place and it looked like it was a family owned shop (not so sure) me and my partner would come here every week if we could DEFINITELY A MUST TRY

FUN STOP ! On Tuesday my wife and I had one of our regular dates with our 2 young grand daughters. After our little tour of The Agua Hedionda Lagoon Discovery Center not far way we headed over here to treat the girls to some gelato. We walked inside around 2pm. Each of them picked out 2 flavors in a small sugar cone...delicious enough to put a big happy smile on their faces ! NOTE - Of course with 20 million views of my Yelp reviews and pics world wide in 2023 I can tell you what is great !

Second time here! Definitely 5 stars for everything. Love how cute the place is with indoor and outdoor seating. Customer service is always great! And I like the portion, not too much but just enough to satisfy that craving! I just noticed that they use allulose so it's friendly for ppl have need to control sugar!!! A++++ for that! And allulose is a more expensive type of natural sweetener/different form or sugar that does not spike blood sugar! (I had my own research years ago during my weight loss journey so I knew). I have had it on a cone as well! The cone was very crunchy. I didn't get the cone this time bc I just wanted the gelato. Will come back when I visit Carlsbad! Love this place

Solid gelato spot with good quality ingredients. Had the pistachio and hazelnut which were both nutty and delicious. This place did not disappoint! Service was friendly and fast. Popular area so peak season can get crowded. Overall, I would stop by again if I am craving gelato.

Saw this store while exploring the village mall. They have a cute shop where they also sell cute items and some snacks. They offer 3 flavors of gelato for all cup sizes. I ordered the regular size and had the Tiramisu, Pistachio and hazelnut and all were good. Just enough sweetness. It says they use allulose so no sugar rush. They also sell gelatos in pint if you want it to go. There is also additional discount if you pay in cash. This is definitely a must try dessert if you are in the area.

What a delightful treat on a warm evening! The place was bustling when we arrived, so we had to wait in line, but the wait wasn't too long. With so many enticing gelato flavors to choose from, it was hard to make a decision. I ended up trying three flavors, and each one was absolutely delicious. The staff at the register were friendly and accommodating, which added to the positive experience. We took our gelato outside, savoring our late-night indulgence while enjoying the music drifting over from the bar across the plaza. I only wish we had discovered this place sooner--it's just a minute's walk from our home. I'll definitely recommend it to anyone visiting the area!

Strawberry, mint chocolate, n cookie n cream It was our first time trying it Saturday afternoon. I really liked the mint chocolate

This chunky banana chip gelato is delicious! Highly recommend this place. Espresso is good too!

Happy the weather is finally warming up. Which means I can more frequently partake in some amazing gelato from GelatoLove. Everything here feels very healthy, but still so tasty. They got some great flavors that include whiskey, tiramisu, and other neat stuff. This time I just got the basic mixed berry and the local strawberry flavor. It's a berry great combo! Service is super friendly, and they allow samples! Inside the there's a few tables, and there's plentiful seating available outside.

Stopped by after dinner on July 4. Nice that it's open late, even on holidays. Massive variety of flavors. I got a cone with two flavors: Italian Dream and stracciatella. Both were delicious, not too sweet, and had some great texture (i.e., crunch). Good amount of seating, both inside and outside. Overall, highly recommend.

Tasty, cute spot inside the plaza. The ?owner sounds ?Italian. I liked that you can choose multiple flavors, even in the smaller sizes at no extra charge (though I cannot remember the pricing). Would definitely come back if craving gelato in the area. Strawberry (full milk and all) was decadent, hazelnut was perfect, and coffee was strongly flavored!

This cute shop in Carlsbad had delicious gelato. I ended up getting hazelnut chocolate, pistachio, and Italian Dream. Even the smallest size gave a good amount of gelato. The workers were patient and helpful. I would go back!

Do not speak a foreign language behind the counter. It's so rude! Also don't charge customers for other peoples orders! Not worth having an argument about but noted for future

We had our first gelato of the season and it promises to be a great year! First, every one is patient and willing to provide samples, encouragement and expertise. Everything here is definitely delicious and it can be challenging to make choices. The good news is that we can settle back and enjoy our selection because we can get creative and do it all over again the next time. This is a very kid friendly location and I mean for kids of every age. Enjoy!

Wonderful friendly staff & the ice cream tastes like real gelato. Outdoor seating in a cute environment, my dogs love going there.

The gelato here is delicious and the people here are so kind! We will definitely be back

Alleged to be lower in fat and sugar, and if this is so, we really couldn't tell and enjoyed it. Thank you Yelp for check in offer of 10% off with purchase! We got 2 scoops I can't even recall but they let us try several things. Was tasty.

Spicy chocolate gelato was delicious. Warming spicy something mixed with a nice rich chocolate. Added a little vanilla in the cup to help even out the spice. Will stop by again to try their other flavors.

Delicious gelato! Not way too sweet like most American places do it. Variety of real-tasting options. And the price for the portion you get is fair! Would definitely return if in the area. Storefront is very cute and the workers are genuine Italians!

Real deal Italian gelato. Lots of authentic flavors. The employees are also Italian. You feel like you walk into Italy with this authentic hand made Gelato.

We accidentally found this place after eating at Gonzo. I only try couple, probably, well most likely all of the flavors are so good, it's almost hard to pick. Fortunately, you can choose 3 flavors for any size, even the smallest size. Espresso tasted like actual espresso, loved the tangy taste of Carlsbad strawberry, double chocolate was super rich. I can tell their gelato got less sugar like it says, so fresh and flavorful! You don't feel tired of eating due to sugar being overpowering like most of ice cream or gelato. It was perfect refreshment!

Vegan gelato options - yah!!! Non-dairy, made with Oatmilk. Several flavors including dark chocolate, berry, mango, lemon & banana nut chic chip. Sampled, tasty. They'll actually give you three flavors in 1 one scoop cup. I enjoyed the chocolate & berry. Creamy refreshing and delicious @$5.50 for smallest size. Fast friendly service. Indoor & outdoor seating near fountain.

Lovely owners, delicious ice cream fresh flavors and nice atmosphere. Hope they increase more options for vegan, gluten and dairy free!

Delicious gelato!! I had been craving gelato and finally had some and it was delectable. I think the best one was the lemon cream and it paired so well with the mixed berry sorbet.

Some of the best gelato flavors I've had in a while! This place lives up to their name since the staff member who helped us was very sweet and genuine with making sure we picked out the right flavors. She let us sample different ones and recommended their seasonal fruit flavors. Each size can come with up to 3 flavors. I got the passion fruit and strawberry, it was refreshing and had a nice crunch from the fruit seeds. I also had the honey lavender and it was unbelievably creamy with the floral accents of sweet lavender. The little gelato shop is adorable with a lovely and airy ambiance. I wish they had more shops like this closer to me!

This place is amazing! Straight out of Italy. The manager Vanessa is so sweet. The amount of flavors is impressive. We got a pint which is 3 flavors for $12. Great deal!

Just like I had went back to Italy... i had small hazelnut. Creamy and rich!!! Delectable!!!!! The location is absolutely perfect as well. The beach is seconds away but there is an area outside that has chairs and tables! If the weather permits eat outside!!!

Boring flavors, slow service, the checkout line is unnecessarily complicated, and it's more than you would usually pay for gelato. Great atmosphere though, other than the complicated line.

Great experience buying Gelato at this shop. I had the pleasure of being served by Sol, she made our experience worth every second. I highly recommend this fine establishment.

Wanted to try an ice cream place after a tiring day at Legoland and decided to drive a bit to Carlsbad for some gelato. All flavors looked tempting, so we tasted a bunch of them before settling on pistachio, spicy chocolate with cherry and vanilla for a regular cup. Also ordered a latte as a companion. I'm glad we made the drive because the gelato flavors were absolutely amazing! Perfect consistency with perfect amount of sugar. Coffee was great too! Will definitely try out more flavors if I'm in the area next.

After having some ramen, my friends and I wanted something sweet. We decided on Gelatolove. I sampled the following flavors: espresso gelato, pineapple sorbet, dark chocolate gelato, and lemon sorbet. All of the flavors I tried were really good, but I ended up getting the lemon sorbet. It was light and refreshing, and had the right balance of sweetness and tartness. $4.95 for a very small cup. It was expensive, but tasted so good! If you don't mind paying a bit more for quantity gelato/sorbet, then I definitely recommend this place!

I've had authentic gelato and this place was very mid at best. The flavors weren't as great as we hoped and when I asked to taste more than 2 things it was like I was bothering the staff, so I just settled on something I didn't even like. The girl that was working the register (heavily tattooed with accent) was so into her phone we had to wait for her to finish texting to be rung out, and then she literally had her phone in her hand while doing any task and then proceeded to play with her septum nose ring & fix someone else's cone that's disgusting. Also the bathroom was blocked off, as being heavily pregnant that was a bit frustrating. You won't be missing anything if you don't stop here.

I'm so grateful we chose this spot because the gelato was so light and flavorful. The espresso is on the bitter side (which I like) because it tastes like actual coffee. The salted caramel was both flavorful and light. I don't know how they achieve that. Their "regular sized" macarons are a bit small and the price for 6 is a little steep but they were a nice treat. They each have their cream filling with a flavored center that enhances the overall flavor which I enjoyed. The passion fruit was my favorite but I'm biased I just love passion fruit anything. The chocolate was very rich and can be overwhelming if you're not a chocolate person. The espresso was good. The raspberry was recommended and didn't disappoint. It didn't taste artificial. My least favorite was the green tea flavor. For some reason it tasted like it had been sitting in a fridge for a while but it had a light green tea flavor. Overall I really enjoyed how everything was full of flavor but not overwhelming. I'll def be going back to try more gelato flavors.

Amazing authentic gelato ! A bit pricey but so worth it. I have the tiramisu and it was delicious

They charged me $16.85 for two single scoop ice cream. If you go there check the price before ordering your ice cream.

High pricing. Gelato is ok not great but ok. Lots of choice's. Fun but expensive giftware to purchase. Outside area to sit and inside as well. .

Delicious mixed berry cheesecake gelato! Paired with top notch service with a smile from Jada means I will be back! This place is perfect.

Fresh, creamy, probably some of the best gelato I've had! They were super polite and didn't mind that we kept trying flavors before we picked one lol. I would say the prices are lower than I've seen at most places serving far less better quality. I will be back, thank you!

This business rightfully claims its pride for the authentic, house-made Italian gelato with love. All natural ingredients, served from local farms. Creamy with just the right amount of your sweetness and rich flavors. The owner is sweet & her service was also amazing, making the overall experience pleasant. I was allowed to sample a variety of flavors until I was sure of my pick. Side note, there are tons of flavors and GF/vegan options! I'd totally come by again when I'm in Carlsbad or if I'm passing through. % recommend!

My family loves Gelato Love. But of course we do. We invest ( only at the start usually ( in startup food incubation prior to full launch or post launch for small batch production. We are a family of tinkerers /inventors with with patents and inventions on our minds . The family loves Gelato Love and we invest not only in the food innovations but we invest in people, potential and the American Dream.. We were quick to decide to support and to invest in the owner who has an Olympic background in synchronized swimming. Italian ? ( gelato !) Yes. Discipline? Yes. Artistic ? Yes! Love of the ocean and all water ? Yes ! Healthy lifestyle reflective of Carlsbad ? Yes! Please support Gelato Love post pandemic ! Support those who give their heart and soul to the foodie community that builds togetherness.

Really good gelato and fun flavors! Didn't know how much of Greta fun flavors until went to another one then came back here. The flavors are super unique and fun to try. I got their blueberry pie, whiskey cream, and their mint chocolate chip one. For a small they can stuff 3 flavors into the cup, very impressive. Gelato is always pricey, but at least this one will be worth it.

Speechless, so good, everything!! Loveeeeed the Pistachio and Spicy Chocolate gelato! We got three flavors in the regular cup size. The latte was also good and strong..needed to add sugar but I like it that way when pairing with gelato! Yelp checkin got us 10% off. Price is very reasonable! Wish this was a chain gelato place! Pistachio gelato done right !! So yummy , creamy and not too sweet.. Definitely on my list when I get back !

Delicious espresso and gelato! Cute little shop with genuine, fast service! Great quality for what you pay for.

Buonissima gelato, gratie Luca! Wonder flavors and great taste. Really good espresso too!

Amazing staff and amazing Gelato! The inside is super clean and really pretty. I will definitely be returning again.

So so so bad. We are not gelato connoisseurs, but we're not picky either and this "gelato" was absolutely terrible!! Upon searching their website, they use a fake sugar called allulose, which probably explains the terrible texture. Allulose is banned in Canada because of possible carcinogen, also not approved in the UK or EU. NOT GOOD. Do not eat this stuff!!!!

Italian owners means you know it's good! Loved talking to the manager and the gelato is delicious

Super creamy not so sweet Italian gelateria. So glad I ran into this place. I will be back soon!