Many people don’t know that I am CRAZY about ice cream and hence my relationship with ice creams in Porto is that of pure joy.
I am very picky about the flavors and I don’t like ice creams that are overly sweet. So I usually spend 15 minutes trying 5 to 6 flavors, asking about the source of the ingredients, reading the entire list of flavours…only to end up picking two flavors that don’t go together 😛
I guessed I qualify as a difficult person – and the best one to talk to you about the best ice creams in Porto.
These are the best ice creams in Porto:
Donko
Donko opened in December 2024 and quickly became a favourite among locals and tourists alike for its extraordinary ice creams. Created by Pedro (a Portuguese) and his Argentinian wife Florencia, the shop builds on their family’s multigenerational knowledge of the art of making ice cream. And oh boy, do they deliver – in the form of smooth ice creams that perfectly balance sweetness and the natural flavours of the local ingredients they use.
The shop itself is also incredibly inviting — it was designed by some of Pedro’s Argentinian friends and even features a very cute kids’ area, making it a hit with families too.
“We built on the knowledge our family had and added in our own experiences to create an authentic ice cream in the heart of Porto,” says Pedro — and I couldn’t agree with him more.
How to get there: take the subway to Trindade station. Donko is a 5 minutes walking distance.
Gelataria Portuense
I like people with clear, well-defined and unpretentious passions. That’s why I completely fell in love with Ana Ferreira’s work, the gelatiere who gave life to the best ice creams in Porto. Gelataria Portuense is a small paradise where you’ll find a menu with classic flavors (the chocolate hazelnut and the salted caramel will blow your mind away!) and a seasonal menu with flavors like cherry.
Here you’ll also find sorbets, crepes and waffles (a total blasphemy, that of mixing hot dough with divine ice cream…) and some in-cre-di-ble ice cream cakes.
In addition, they have a proper list indicating all the allergens in each ice cream, and they have gluten-free cones.
The only problem I find in 1927 – Gelataria Portuense is that it’s VERY small, which doesn’t allow the clients to extend their stay. Other than that, this is my definition of heaven on earth.
How to get there: take the subway to Aliados station. Gelataria Portuense is a 4 minutes walking distance.
Santini Ice cream shop in Porto
Founded in 1949 by Attilio Santini, the most famous ice cream store in Portugal came to Porto a few years ago bringing happiness to many people.
In addition to the delicious ice creams (which you should ask shamelessly to sample), Santini has a secret weapon: the delicious chocolate bonbons filled with ice cream. They are perfect to go along with a proper expresso when we’re in a diet mood.
Another positive thing about Santini, besides providing the best ice creams in Porto, is the fact that they have a very welcoming seating area, with a lot of space full of natural light.
How to get there: take the subway to São Bento station. Santini is a 5 minutes walking distance.
Gelataria Sincelo
I remember going to Sincelo with my friend’s grandparents when I was a little girl. I took so long to choose flavors (anyone would, there’s more than 30 to choose from), and at the end, I wanted to try everyone else’s flavors. (Honestly, I am still like this. Moving on…)
Sincelo has numerous options for ice creams and sorbets (I highly recommend the black vanilla and the green apple), crepes, waffles and traditional Portuguese pastries to order with your expresso.
Even though I don’t go there with the same enthusiasm I had when I was a young girl, Sincelo continues to have some of the best ice creams in Porto.
How to get there: take the subway to Aliados station. Gelataria Sincelo is a 4 minutes walking distance.
Modì Gelateria Italiana
There’s no better place to eat ice cream in Porto on a sunny day than near the beach of Matosinhos. Luckily for us, Modì is there to save the day.
They have one of the best selections of ice creams in Porto – you have to taste the pistachio ice cream for a start. They have flavors such as avocado lime, açai banana, chocolate yogurt, and a dairy-free Ecuadorian dark chocolate which became one of my favorite flavors in town.
Modì also serves tiramisu (my favourite dessert in the world!), crepes, coffee, frozen yogurts and smoothies.
And good news for people with allergies, all their cones and fruit ice creams are dairy-free. They also have multiple gluten-free options.
Their indoor area is not as appealing as sitting on the chairs outside. So in most cases, I prefer to order an ice cream and go for a walk on the beach.
How to get there: take the subway to Matosinhos Sul. Modì is a 10 minutes walking distance.
Neveiros
Neveiros is one of those Porto institutions that feels both old-school and full of surprises. Step inside and you’ll find not just gelato, but the widest variety of sweet treats you can get in a local ice cream shop: from cookies to croissants recheados, bombons in different flavours, and even crepes with gelato on top. It’s the kind of place where you walk in for a scoop and end up with a whole tray of goodies.
But the real star here is the pistachio affogato — smooth pistachio ice cream drowned in a shot of hot espresso. Rich, bold, and unforgettable, it’s the sort of thing you come back for again and again.
Neveiros may not be the most polished spot in town (the upstairs is a little rough around the edges), but that’s part of its charm. It’s cozy, authentic, and always delivers a sweet Porto hug in the form of gelato and much more.
How to get there: take the subway to Bolhão station, Neveiros is a 5 minutes walking distance.
NIVÀ
NIVÀ landed in Porto in 2022, but its roots go way back — all the way to Italy in the 80s, when it was started by an Italian couple with a passion for proper gelato. And it shows. Their ice creams are rich, smooth, and full of flavour, with classics like dark chocolate ganache, stracciatella, yoghurt and cherry, ricotta with fig, and a super refreshing passion fruit.
It’s not just gelato either — they also do Italian treats like cannolo, granita, and even zabaione. Basically, it’s a full-on Italian dessert stop.
You’ll find NIVÀ in a few spots around Porto and Matosinhos — including inside the Time Out Market and near the Bolhão market. Whichever one you go to, the quality is consistent, and the ice cream is always worth it.
La Copa
Next to São Lázaro garden and not too far from Rua de Santa Catarina, you’ll find La Copa which is guaranteed to make your day when exploring Porto.
They are famous for their creative sundaes which are beautifully served in a tall glass, but you can also get scoops of ice cream in a cup or a cone. Their flavors include chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, Ferrero Rocher and the mouth-watering salted caramel. They also have numerous dairy-free fruity flavors that taste very natural like orange, lime, pineapple and strawberry.
On the weekends, they serve the vegan chocolate flavor which is not my favorite because it tastes a bit like cocoa powder, but it’s a good dairy-free option nonetheless. They also have many gluten-free flavors.
I love to get my order and sit in their beautiful backyard enjoying the greenery and the sound of the water fountain – it’s even more stunning at night!
How to get there: take the subway to Santa Catarina station. La Copa is a 6 minutes walking distance.
Amorino
Even on rainy days or chilly nights, I can count on Amorino ice creams for some moments of absolute bliss.
What I love about Amorino is the fact that I can order a cone which they make into a flower and I get to put unlimited ice cream flavors! My personal favorite is the tiramisu, but I also love the stracciatella one. They offer salted caramel, chocolate, mango, coffee and more.
If you’re hungry for more, you can order waffles, crepes, sorbet drinks, smoothies, macaroons, croissants, tarts, cakes,… and the list goes on.
Amorino excels in serving the best selection of vegan ice creams in Porto and even the cones are vegan. You can’t go wrong with the classic chocolate which has a hint of coffee and it goes really well with the hazelnut or the almond flavor. But you can also go for more fruity flavors like strawberry or mango.
Besides their vegan selection, Amorino has gluten-free options. They also claim to have no artificial flavors in their ice creams.
Customer service is superb and it’s what makes me want to come back to Amorino again and again. I also love their beautifully-decorated interior seating area. But you have the option to sit on the chairs outside.
The only issue I have with Amorino is that it feels very “corporate” and not like the other family-owned ice cream shops in Porto.
How to get there: take the subway to Bolhão station, Amorino is a 2 minutes walking distance.
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