Dolcezza has the best ice cream in DC, in my opinion. Dolcezza has a large variety of gelato, with some unique flavors, like Thai coconut milk and strawberry tarragon sorbet. I came after the pride festival recently and got a large cup with roasted strawberry, hazelnut crackle (my favorite), and pineapple and lime sorbet. All were delicious. read more

Dolcezza - Roasted strawberry, hazelnut crackle, pineapple and lime sorbet - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I came across this gelateria during my after-dinner walk in Dupont Circle last night. It looks lovely so I suggested coming here for dessert after dinner in Columbia Heights before heading back to our hotel in Foggy Bottom. I love the vibe and decor inside. There is long communal table in the seating area but we opted for the stools by the window to people watch. We shared a large cup with black sesame, coconut dulce de leche, and peanut butter cup. I love the rich and bold flavour of the black sesame but the coconut dulce de leche was very refreshing, particularly after a big dinner. read more

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The sorbetto was at a price that matched the area and well worth it! Very good, friendly service even though we came in late. Complimentary water, quaint ambiance. Also ordered hot chocolate and dirty chai which were very good! read more

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Excellent spot for coffee and gelato. The pistachio (not pictured) was close to what I've had in Italy. The gal at the counter said they get their pistachios from Italy so that makes sense. The customer service was friendly and the ambiance was moderate. There are a few tables and chairs inside. There is a bench outside the window to enjoy your dessert or beverage as you people watch. My jazzed up latte was delicious right after my gelato. read more

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Excellent creamy, decadent, flavorful gelato in a variety of flavors can't be beat. Except when paired with espresso. So Dolcezza totally wins! read more

The ice cream is good, but there are some workers that are not very nice. There was a line of a couple people to get ice cream who had been waiting for a long time, and the woman very aggressively kicked everyone out. my friend works at an ice cream shop and this is absolutely not how she treats her customers. read more

As someone who works at an ice cream shop this places staff is extremely disappointing. First of all they are inefficient and fail to serve people kindly. Secondly, the people who work there are aggressive and rude. After waiting in line for 5 minutes we were told they close at 10:55 when listed it says 11:00. We get to the front of the line and the staff aggressively kicks us out saying they have to close. It is extremely disappointing and they will not have our service anymore. read more

Amazing and unique flavors of gelato. I had the affogato with hazelnut crunch gelato and it was very good! read more

Dolcezza - Affogato with hazelnut crunch gelato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So many unique flavors of ice cream and sorbet! A bit on the pricer side but the black sesame and coffee was really good. read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The gelato was so good! The stracciatella + black sesame flavors were very good and great texture and huge portion. Very nice service and super cute little cafe. A little bit pricey but worth it I think! read more

Dolcezza - Straciatella + black sesame gelato - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dolcezza is a boutique gelato and coffee brand and chain that opened in Washington, D.C. in July 2004. It was founded by husband and wife Robb Duncan and Violeta Edelman. An engineer by trade, Duncan quit his software job and decided to travel to Europe and then South America. He joined his father at some conferences in Brazil to learn how local natives used plants for flavor infusions in their cooking. While at one of the conferences, he met Edelman: an Argentine native. They soon fell in love and got married. On a visit to Buenos Aires, the couple stopped at a local gelato shop named Freddo's and they were very impressed. They decided to bring this concept with them back to the States. They relocated to the DC Metro area and "Dolcezza" (Italian for "sweetness") was born. The original storefront was located in Georgetown. The popularity of their handcrafted gelato and coffees soon caught on. An expansive gelato factory and coffee lab was built in the Union Market District and several more retail storefronts sprung up throughout the DC Metro Area. The original Georgetown location closed in 2018 after they outgrew it. More storefronts closed two years later due to financial hardships brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today the only retail storefronts that remain are at the Hirshorn Museum, CityCenterDC, Mosaic District, Dupont Circle, Bethesda Row, as well as 'Mom & Pop': a café spinoff in the Mosaic District. The Union Market Factory had its own public storefront but it too has since closed. Dolcezza products can also be purchased at gourmet grocery chains like Whole Foods and The Fresh Market. My family and I recently visited Dolcezza's Dupont Circle location. We had spent all morning at the National Zoo and it was a particularly hot day. After driving away (with both of our sons passed out in the back seat), my wife said, "I could really go for some ice cream or some sort of frozen treat." After looking on Yelp for something delicious nearby, my wife had me pull over outside Dolcezza. She ran inside for a few minutes and returned with two delicious cups of gelato for us to enjoy. She picked out a scoop of "Bananas Foster" and a scoop of "Coconut with Dulce de Leche" for me, while she picked out a scoop of "Mascarpone & Berries" and a scoop of "Blood Orange Sherbet" for herself. This was some solid handcrafted gelato and definitely what we needed; it really hit the spot. Even though we don't go to the DC Metro area often, it's nice to know that we can find some delicious Dolcezza gelato at our local Whole Foods or Fresh Market! read more

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My favorite Saturday morning combo involves getting my nail done at DC Nail Spa and a drink from Dolcezza! This time I got maroon nails and a dirty chai with dulce de leche syrup and good decisions were made. Thankful for this spot and the ease and light it brings to my Saturday mornings. read more

My all time favorite gelato store in DC. I recommend the mascarpone and berries flavor. Whenever I want to treat myself, I always go here. Check out their fridge for pints as well (more bang for your buck). read more

Delicious gelato with a modern vibe. Service was fast. The coffee options look good too. read more

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Went here on a Tuesday afternoon. I'm giving this place a cautious four stars because the service was fine but forgettable. The ambiance was like a small Starbucks with few seating and most seats taken with people on their laptops. Then comes the gelato. The flavors were very good. My entire family commented on how good it was. We got four small gelatos and everyone tried to guess the total price. All three of my family members guessed around $20 but the price was almost double that. I really should give this place three stars but my wife said that the gelato was four star good. read more

Washington DC, unlike my native Los Angeles, is a "walking town"-- it seems you can generally make it there without owning a car, thanks, in part to an established transit system, ample Ubers and scooters and such, and a propensity of the population to just lace up their shoes and get some steps in. On my recent visit to DC, my iPhone told me I made over 100,000 steps in three days of walking EVERYWHERE ... from our hotel in Washington Heights, to beyond the Library of Congress, to and through Arlington and a round trip to the Pentagon... we maximized our time seeing the sights in our nation's capital and did it all on foot. All of this served as prologue for the inevitability of putting those calories burned right back into our systems. And there is nothing as efficient and simultaneously enjoyable as doing so with frozen dessert. Lucky for us, this awesome little gelato spot was on the last quarter mile span to our hotel on all of our exploring trips. Nobody batted an eye when I walked in wearing shorts and a T-shirt, nor did they get weird when I asked for a triple cup that essentially amounted to Neapolitan: vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. They had some fancy names for each of those, and some interesting added herbs and spices, but no matter... It was delicious. Mrs. Picante went with some banana thing, a fruity thing, and I forget what else, but she sure seemed happy when it was all said and done, and really that's what matters. I can't imagine when I'll be back in Washington DC, but if I'm anywhere near Washington Heights, and a visit to Shake shack seems a little proletariat, I will definitely head back here with a 20 in my pocket, and leave with the hand cramp from using that tiny little plastic spoon. It's worth it. read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The shop is super cute and is hidden among the higher end designer stores. It has a really small amount of seating, but it's a small place where adding more seating would make it overwhelming. I was looking for a unique flavor of gelato, and settled on black and white cookie batter. It was good, but I noticed chunks of ice in the gelato and it tasted freezer burnt. The employees also seemed very quiet and while they got my order out fast, they were scant with their recommendations for flavors despite having a decent variety. The star of the show here is definitely the coffee - it tasted fresh and had a beautiful blend of flavors. I'd skip the gelato but definitely come here for the coffee! read more

It's a small location. I got the clementine and apple crisp and pomegranate sorbets! Very refreshing. read more

Dolcezza - Pomegranate and apple crisp sorbets. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Dolcezza is easily one of the best gelato shops in DC. The flavors are rich and velvety smooth. My favorites are the Mascarpone & Berries and Pistachio Siciliano :) Also, the staff is exceptionally friendly, always ready to recommend flavors and provide generous samples. read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

There was a sad point in pandemic history where this Dolcezza location was closed, so it being open makes me love it that much more! You really cannot go wrong with the gelato flavors. I love the mexican chocolate and bananas foster. Sample all you can. The coffee is good and extra strong too and baristas are friendly. A lovely place to drop by in Dupont. read more

Dolcezza - matcha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I stopped into this shop for an afternoon test for myself while I was traveling last October. I love that they have seasonal flavors as well as standard flavors. The staff were friendly and helpful. I ended up getting a small cup with 2 scoops of ice cream: 1 scoop of Crookneck pumpkin and 1 scoop of Ember roasted strawberry in honey. Both flavors were on point. I felt like I was eating pumpkin pie and the other flavor was fragrant and delicious. I can't wait to visit this place when I'm in town again and try other seasonal flavors. read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stopped by this cute spot after dinner with a friend and wow--the gelato was amazing! I got the hazelnut and dark chocolate, which were both delicious and very rich. My friend got the roasted strawberry, which was delicious as well. I loved how it actually tasted like real strawberries. The workers were awesome too; my friend and I had a fun convo with them as we sampled gelato flavors. I'll definitely be coming back here the next time I'm in DC! read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Enjoyed two scoops of gelato dark chocolate & Stracciatella. Delicious! $6+ is standard for the area. Great service! read more

I will be dreaming about this gelato for a long time! Yum. Great flavors and very kind staff as well. read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The most delicious gelato I have had in the United States. It's a bit pricey, but you get why you pay for! They make it fresh themselves with seasonal ingredients. They always pile your scoops high in the cup, and the staff are so sweet. They offered as many samples as we liked. The store is beautiful and clean, if a bit small. Very good experience all around. This place is a must if you like ice cream! read more

First time trying dolcezza as a night cap. Did a nice walk along the Georgetown waterfront and finished off the night with some delicious sorbetto and gelato! The pineapple basil was soo refreshing and the Mascarpone and berries has the right amount of creaminess! Can't wait to try all the other flavors. read more

Dolcezza - Mascarpone & Berries And pineapple basil - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Awesome shop with a great story. I tried the Blueberry-Lavender at the store front and the Blueberry-Lemon-Thyme at the Hirshhorn. Both were delicious. A friend tried the black and white (meh) and the peanut butter mash (YUM). Small shop but they have plenty of pints to go. I would add this to my DC list of eats. read more

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Unique flavors that work. Love this place and have (and will) keep coming back. It's a short review because ... well, just come and try it and you'll see!! It's a small space, there are only 3-4 tables, so it's nice to snag one in the heat or in the cold so you can enjoy this treat. The bathroom is a single stall/room and it's well-kept. It's a charming place. Good date place!! Especially since it's not so loud like the bars. There are several locations - I've only been to the Logan Circle one and it's a good one! read more

Dolcezza - Mascarpone and fig, baked plum, Vietnamese cinnamon. Very pleasant and refreshing! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I want to give them a higher rating because I love their coffee but we order coffee from there about three times a week on their website so that they'll be ready when we get there and I would say about 70% of the time we show up they haven't even noticed the order had come in. They should have a better system of knowing when an online order comes in. Disappointing. read more

Terrible service, unfriendly staff, negative ambiance due to employees' hostility towards first responders.

-----ATMOSPHERE------   The inside is a typical cafe. ------FOOD & DRINKS------ iced Green tea - 10/10 - normal green tea so basically great ------PRICE------ 4 dollars for a tea WOULD I COME BACK? Yes, it is a good place for classic drinks read more

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I've had this place seven years ago and it consistently good! Today i had the blood orange sherbet, Thai coconut milk, and black and white cookie batter which were all good. You can sample and the service is good. A nice dessert place to go on a hot day or after a meal. read more

Dolcezza - Blood orange sherbet, Black & White Cookie Batter, Thai coconut milk - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Super mediocre. Neither of the flavors really stood out and the pistachio is green colored which is a red flag because real pistachio gelato is tan colored. Honestly did not even really taste like pistachio. Also $17 for a small cup is overpriced in my opinion. read more

I can never pas up gelato! They had some interesting flavors, such as sweet potato pecan, ember infused strawberry with honey. And the staples like hazelnut, which is my favorite! It was delicious!! read more

Dolcezza - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The gelatos and sorbettos are great. The service is great and you can taste various flavors to help you decide. I have tried both the Bethesda and Dupont Circle locations. I will be back soon. read more

Great coffee, great service, and great ambience! Had a cortado based on the recommendation of the server - - quite good!

My little dolce de leche espresso was beautiful and creamy, but lacked the actual "dolce de leche" caramel type of flavor. The counter person was having side conversation with the barista and they talked about how he didn't ask me for milk type...while I'm still standing right at the counter. It was odd. The security guards in the shopping area were poking their heads in to have fun with the workers and I get it, you can have fun at work, but this was a VERY high end shopping area and for the price of this little coffee in this area, I had higher expectations. I'll try elsewhere next time. read more

Dolcezza - Dolce de leche - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So delicious! Stopped in when I was in the area for work. My colleagues and I had just had a wonderful Italian dinner nearby and were craving some gelato! The shop is super cute. Not a huge amount of seating, but it's a small place and more seating would make it too crowded. We were here in November, so I'm not sure what the vibe is like in the summer, but for this time of year, it was super cozy and welcoming. I really liked that they had both Gelato and Sorbetto on the menu, and there was a good variety of flavors. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Offered tastings as we were looking at the menu. The staff was also super personable, we talked about some of the more delicious but interesting pairings we've had tasted before, and the service was above and beyond. read more

I tried Dolcezza for the first time in Bethesda and loved my gelato so much I got the exact same thing again (coffee and cookies). The gelato was still incredible, but staff seemed annoyed and were kind of cold to us. The seating area was also rather awkward (one large community table and a bar along the window). I still want to give their drinks a try- they have so many unique and appealing options. Maybe next time! read more

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Mmmm such premium gelato! We stopped by for dessert one night and it was so worth it. I got the Black & White Cookie Batter and the Mascarpone & Berries flavors. I love that you can get two different flavors within a small scoop. Both were phenomenal. I also sampled my friend's hazelnut flavor (I forget the actual name) which was so good! read more

Dolcezza - Black & White Cookie Batter (top), Mascarpone & Berries (bottom) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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