Summer is here！A tour of Vancouver’s top 5 ice cream specialty shops (Part 2)

Text and photos byPapa Seahorse

After checking out two popular ice cream spots in Vancouver (Ernest, Rain or Shine), let’s take a look at three uniquely distinctive Italian gelato shops in the city.

Champion of international competitions — Bella Gelatoria
Located in downtown Vancouver near the waterfront, Bella Gelatoria gained fame after winning first place in the 2012 Gelato Festival in Florence, Italy. As you step into this small ice cream shop, you’re greeted by a wall covered in award-winning news clippings, with the cheerful owner James smiling from within the framed articles. Nearby glass cases display an array of desserts in various shapes, colors, and flavors—such as sorbetto, gelato cake, frozen yogurts, and more—that are sure to make your mouth water.

When ordering, the smiling owner seems to step right out of the wall of news clippings. He is the only non-Italian in the world to have beaten out 29 other professional gelato chefs to win both the judges’ first prize and the customer vote for first place in a global gelato competition.

The award-winning flavor, Pecan & Canadian Maple Syrup gelato, boasts the aroma of nuts, with a perfect balance of salty and sweet: the saltiness comes from sea salt, the sweetness from Toronto maple syrup, plus the fragrance of pecans—it’s truly a unique taste. However, served in a small plastic cup with a tiny plastic spoon, and priced at over six Canadian dollars, it feels... a little underwhelming.

A quirky medley of flavors — La Casa Gelato
If you’re from Taiwan, especially Taipei, you’re likely familiar with “Snow King” on Wuchang Street. Boasting 73 different ice cream flavors—both savory and sweet—it challenges your taste buds. But on the other side of the Pacific, Vancouver has an even more impressive gelato shop that claims to offer 500 flavors—nearly seven times that of Snow King！

La Casa Gelato is located in an older neighborhood in Vancouver’s east side. From afar, you can spot its pink building adorned with a large Chinese sign. Stepping into this gelato shop with over 20 years of history is like entering the United Nations！The spacious interior is decorated with walls themed around the cultural characteristics of different countries—historic Italy, sunny America, mysterious Egypt… Various languages accompany images, creating a lively atmosphere.

Although it claims to offer over 500 flavors, around 200 are regularly available. The staff are very friendly, enthusiastically offering small spoonfuls for customers to sample. In recent years, with the gelato trend on the rise, the shop has noticeably reduced its traditional ice cream offerings in favor of more mainstream tastes. Besides single scoops, gelato cakes are also one of their featured products.

Although this gelato shop has been featured in international media, it is showing its age—the texture, flavors, and brand packaging lag far behind Vancouver’s newer gelato shops. But if you consider yourself adventurous and open to exploring new worlds, the bizarre and wonderful flavors at La Casa Gelato are definitely worth a try: there’s the ancient Persian-style “Saffron Gelato (Akbar Mashti),” or a spicy gelato that combines moldy blue cheese and jalapeño peppers—just one bite is guaranteed to be unforgettable.

Enjoying ice cream beside Caesar — Cafe Calabria
Vancouver’s East Side Commercial Drive is known as Little Italy, bustling with all kinds of cuisines. The bright yellow building and giant orange sign of Cafe Calabria never go unnoticed on this lively street.
In fact, Cafe Calabria is an Italian bistro that sells more than just gelato—they offer panini sandwiches, Italian coffee, and a variety of Italian desserts. In the summer, a giant gelato stand outside attracts shoppers who are tired and in need of a cool treat. The quality of the gelato is above average—though not so exceptional that you’d need to drive an hour just to visit—but the shop’s decor is surprisingly unique.

The dining area is surrounded by ancient Roman brown bricks and Roman columns. Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Creation of Adam” fresco features God and Adam reaching out to touch fingers right above you. A statue of David stands in a classic pose beside the bearded Hercules, and with a turn of your head, you’ll see the mighty Roman Emperor Caesar addressing the crowd with flair. Cupid, sans wings, stands next to the Italian espresso machine urging you to speak softly, while the goddess Venus poses enticingly at the entrance...
Who says ice cream is only for the taste buds? Order a scoop of gelato at Cafe Calabria and let your eyes and mouth both enjoy the Italian style！

Papa Seahorse
A Gemini man born under the air sign, he worked as a senior marketing and PR executive for a multinational corporation until the age of 45; after that, he moved to Canada. Now, alongside his teenage sons, he plays the role of a father amid the spring cherry blossoms, summer sun, autumn foliage, and winter snow and rain of a foreign land, while documenting his experiences in Vancouver.
Blog:my.van.life in VancouverFan page:Papa Seahorse’s Vancouver Diary