Have we found Canberra’s best gelato?

Posted on 26 February, 2025

It’s been a year since Florence Gelato opened its doors in Belconnen’s Capital Food Market to bring an authentic taste of the world’s best gelati to Canberra.

And after a whirlwind opening – which included the launch of Canberra’s own gelato flavour, The CBR – the elegant oxblood and cream storefront has quickly become the place to go to experience the authentic flavours of Florence.

Twelve months later, things are only just getting started for owners and operators Matteo and Juliana Sassi. But the excitement hasn’t worn off.

“Every day is unique,” says Matteo.

“I have 25 years’ experience in the pastry industry but opening your own shop is always different. Nobody can tell you or prepare you for how it will be…but it’s still exciting.”

Starting work in the culinary industry as an apprentice at just 14 years old, Florence Gelato was a long-held dream for Matteo – one that led him all over the world.

Training as a pastry chef, chocolatier, gelato maker and baker at Italy’s Cast Alimenti Culinary Academy, Matteo honed his craft as the executive production manager of gelato stores and restaurants in London, taking third place in the Savour Pâtissier of the Year in 2016 before becoming Head Pastry Chef at Adriano Zumbo Patisserie.

Watching his dream unfold since Florence Gelato’s opening in January 2024, Matteo says it’s been challenging. But as they mark the special milestone, he wouldn’t change anything.

“At the opening, I think all of Canberra came to check it out and slowly, day by day, week by week our customers have been increasing,” he says.

“Once word of mouth spread, we have a lot of local customers and a lot of gelato lovers from outside Canberra – some from Goulburn and some from Sydney – so that’s very exciting.”

And one look at the menu is all you need to know why the word on everyone’s lips is ‘buonissimo’.

Boasting a delicious menu that combines quality Australian ingredients to bring out the best of Italian flavours, from the Crema Florence to Ricotta and Figs, Matteo says it’s too hard to choose the most popular flavour. And with Canberrans craving gelatos and sorbets all year around, he says the result is ever-changing.

With that said, one favourite remains: The CBR. A sweet, creamy and flavoursome infusion that combines the wattleseed with macadamias, local honey, and raspberry, it was originally created to be a limited-edition flavour during the launch of Florence Gelato.

But that all changed when Matteo was begged by multiple people to never take it off the menu. Lucky for us, he listened.

“People have asked us to keep it on the menu forever. It’s still one of the best sellers!” he says with a laugh.

Looking ahead to the future, Matteo wants to see what this winter will hold for Florence Gelato (apparently the cold doesn’t deter Canberrans from a cold sweet treat – we just choose the more decadent flavours, like chocolate). But from there, he’s hoping to take a taste of his hometown even further into the nation’s capital.

The first step? With plans to soon launch a mobile gelato cart that will be available for commercial and private events – from weddings to food festivals – you’ll be able to find Florence all over Canberra.

“As a small business it’s been very, very busy and at the moment we just want to focus on gelato. For the future we’re hoping to open some more stores and work on some new collaborations,” says Matteo.

“Ideally, we would like to open a second store in Canberra.”

Continuing to bring all of his years of experience and passion to Florence Gelato – as well as authentic Italian flavour – is this the best gelato in Canberra?

You’ll have to try it for yourself.

Photography: Andrew Ly.