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    Gelato Messina Darlinghurst

    4.8 (130 reviews)
    InexpensiveGelato
    Open 12:00 pm - 11:30 PM

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    Jonny M.

    We were in the area so after dinner and drinks, we walked over to Gelato Messina Darlinghurst. The place sounds/looks more like a club than a gelato spot. They seem to be doing quite well as there's over a half dozen over locations in Sydney. We dropped in around 9:15pm on a Tuesday evening and it was busy. Crazy busy but I guess that's why they're open till 11:00pm. There's almost three dozen flavours with the left display mostly sorbets while the right has more chocolate/nutty options. You can get either scoops or pints. The staff is super friendly and let us try all the flavours we wanted. - 0.5L ($12.80 AUD) - you get to choose three flavours! I thought this was a better deal than getting individual single scoops. It's a lot but we downed it pretty easily. We ended up going with white chocolate hazelnut, pistachio praline and salted coconut & mango. My favourite was the pistachio praline (huge chunks of pistachio in it) but we had a nice balance of flavours. The salted coconut &a mango was pretty unique and delicious combination. Good first gelato spot of many to come! Cash only.

    Entry
    Mimi D.

    Good.. Not the best but def good. They have some really unique and tempting flavors but we had to choose one so I had the coconut lychee and it was too sweet (but that's expected from all gelatos) but pretty tasty. The small was a bit more than necessary to fill a sweet tooth's craving and at 4$ a pop you prob won't want more than one anyway so it all works out :) We stopped by on a Monday night and the queue was surprisingly long but also moved quite quickly. Limited seating inside and a few seats around two small tables outside so many ppl just stand around the proximity of the shop. You Wong have any problem finding the shop..., just look for the huge crowd on the, otherwise, quiet street. Cash only so bring out your bills... Or dig up some coins laying around your car :P

    my review on yelp gets a mention in the news letter nek minnit people are spilling out onto the street. Coincidence? I think so
    Den B.

    16 reviews here already so I don't have much to add but I will say this... Salted caramel and peanut gelato I can't put my emotions into words... I'm weeping slightly

    Connie Y.

    Very crowded even on a winter day. Beware of confusion, BUT the gelato is quite amazing. First, in terms of prices, it is very reasonable where one scoop is $4, two scoops is $6, and three scoops is $7. Obviously I had to get the three scoops:) Gelato Messina also offers tub purchases from a 500ml to 1500ml tub. After a taste of a few different flavors, I ordered the tiramisu, mint chocolate chip, and giandula bianca (30% hazelnut and 70% chocolate) gelato and probably because I'm a coffee aficionado, tiramisu was still my favorite. The texture of the gelato was creamy and smooth leaving a taste that felt nonfattening like ice cream but maintained its density. My only disappointment was the chocolate chips in the mint gelato because it was more chocolate shreds than chips, but the mint tasted authentic. Real mint. Gelato Messina also offers a special menu every week with different combinations of flavors and ingredients. Take note on the bulletin outside and inside the shop. This week they offer flavors like P. Nutty, Steve Jobs, etc. Based on the quality of the gelato and the reasonable prices, I would definitely come back for more if I'm craving sweets.

    Gina N.

    the BEST gelato i've had since italy! Amazingly rich and creamy and the perfect texture. I enjoy the simple flavors....we had the pistachio. it was heavenly. An absolute must!!!!

    Lani P.

    My colleague, trying to show us the often overlooked eateries of Sydney, eagerly spoke to us about Gelato Messina days before we finally ventured to the newest dessert venue in town (I'm hearing Sydney-siders say, "Zumbo who?"). I'll admit for all her hyping I had my doubts, afterall, it is just gelato isn't it? Could it really be that good? Based on the line out the door and double line once inside you'd be fair to say, yes, yes it could really be that good. Still, would it taste as amazing as they all say? I'll happily sing from the rooftops that the taste expectation lived up to its promise and so much more. Once you've patiently made your way to the front of the line you're greeted with a hefty decision. There's a multitude of flavours all tantilizing your tastebuds, longing to melt in your mouth. Choose fast because you won't regret it. On this occassion I chose Mocha Cheesecake and Apple Pie. I'd have happily had Apple Pie on its own and it was the star of my gelato cup that night. The good and bad news is the flavours change regularly so its best to take a buddhism approach to your gelato and accept that all is impermanent. Enjoy and savour your flavour while it lasts.

    Esther A.

    Let's be real. More important to me than finding an apartment in Sydney - was finding an ice cream place that I loved. And obviously it was in McKay's best interest as well since, as he puts it, he's "always just $5 away from the center of my heart". Sad, but true. I just prefer ice cream to a real meal any day of the week. Anyways...surprisingly enough, there aren't very many ice cream or frozen yogurt places in Sydney?! Not nearly as many as in SF at least. Which is why I'm SO GLAD that we happened upon Gelato Messina early on. The gelato here is amazing. AMAZING. I haven't tried as many flavors as I'd like, but so far my favorites are the coconut, caramel yogurt, and the dulce de leche. It all looks so good though... Pro Tip - I don't know why, but the gelato here melts FAST. So EAT up quick unless you want it all over the place - enjoy! Also - Cash Only

    Pushing back! Yuuuuuummmmyyy.
    Sharn G.

    Waiiiiiiiiiit! Why did no one tell me this little gem was hidden away in Darlingithurts?! At least it was easy to find. Follow the huge que peeps! Or the huge crowd standing around outside, inside, everywhere... It's a bit of a shit fight to get in and get served, there seems to be no logical line forming in the least. HOWEVER! This is all made up with the fact that they make the best gelato in Sydney. Hands down no contest. And they have gelato named "have a gay one tonight" - how could you not want to visit? I'm already planning my next outting around making sure I somehow end up here. Oh yes. Yummo.

    ECLAIRE DE LUNE
    Luke C.

    Finally made it to the Messina mothership. There were two entrances: one side with normal gelato front shop and the other was the Creative Department. The latter section was not what I was expecting somehow I always thought that the seating area would have been a little firstly bigger and secondly more grandiose. Seating was limited 4 tall bar seats and 2 small coffee tables outside which is not ideal to eat plated desserts. In terms of the dishes themselves, they are made to order/assembled and none of them would not be misplaced in any high profile restaurant. ECLAIRE DE LUNE (Fresh baked éclair filled with lemon curd & lemon jelly. Filled with fresh vanilla custard gelato, topped with caramelised meringue & confit lemon.) This is my first iced eclair. They really do the eclair justice with this interpretation and even improved it. The pastry was amazing since it was fresh, adding the crunchy element to the dish. The vanilla custard gelato was smooth and light. It was a great substitute to the usual cream along side the curd and jelly which just provided more textures and bursts of flavour. The addition of the delicious meringue just makes all that richness lighter in the mouth. The confit lemon did its job of giving that acidity kick while still remaining balanced. BIGGIE S'MORES (Choc-coated peanut gelato, peanut nougatine shards and marshmallows atop our home made chocolate graham cracker.) This one was a little harder to eat on a coffee table. The execution was perfect, all the flavours delivered and the cracker just wow gave that additional level of crunchy texture. The only flaw for me is that the base was too hard to eat with a spoon only. Conclusion Messina never fails to deliver in creativity and taste. This creative department is mainly a kitchen/factory but I think they should have a proper sit-down place for customers to enjoy on premise and not just a pick-up point. The dishes themselves are 5/5 but 4/5 for the location and overall experience. @thesydneynoob

    Joel Amigo H.

    There's no other Gelato shop in Darlinghurst, or Sydney that I can think would have a hopelessly devoted line of patrons wrapping around the block to grab a taste of their velvety creme & fruit gelato creations. Once you're there, especially on the weekend, you'll witness the calm and patient Messina lovers that flock to the Gelato bar in search of their favourite home-made near orgasmic night time treat. Last time I went I enjoyed the Tiramisu and Hazelnut, and also enjoyed the fresh coconut & white chocolate mixture of a friend. For the quality, and near innovation of flavours, the mere $4.90 for two scoops is not even a thought worth considering, and the $10 small tub, will last you a few nights divulgence at least in the freezer. Next door, they offer up Messina gelato cakes, which are some of the best sweet art creations in the world, they look amazing, and taste equally as good.

    Mick A.

    It is around 10pm and it looks like a queue for a night club, and a seriously popular one at that.......no, no it's a queue for ice cream. Excellent ice cream. This joint continues it's amazing journey of success and turns out the ultimate in ice cream.....it is worth the wait, definitely so. The options are considerable, and add in the specials and there is a lot to choose from. I am sure the queues are longer as indecision occurs when it becomes selection time; decisions like trying to decide which varieties to select, how many scoops....and to be fair, it is so hard to decide as everything looks good and is good. I know! Remember, it is cash only and that this is an excellent indulgence. We will be back again soon.

    Maria N.

    The Mighty GM Pie - peanut butter gelato w choc custard, choc pie crust, banana and cream cheese pie - ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? I die !!! Ohhh Gelato Messina .. you are all sorts of yummy goodness !! From your blood orange sorbet to your baklava gelato - what flavour can't you tempt me with? Good thing you aren't my neighbour, I'd be in some serious trouble. It could be blowing a cat 5 hurricane out, but this place will still pull that crowd like no ones business. TIP: have a mate stalk the tables outside while you line up with their order - thats the least you can do for having them score a spot to sit with what truly will be the best gelato to pass your lips. In the words of Nike - just do it.

    The queue to get into Club Mes... I mean, Gelato Messina :)
    James A.

    Night club. I bet those are two words that come up quite often when scrolling through the reviews of Messina. Shut (squint?) your eyes and that's exactly what it will feel like. A line, out the door. Young and beautiful things queuing to get to the front. A few people in said line angling to get to the front faster than everyone else (queue jumpers). Hip wait staff, waiting with a smile to take your order. Dance music pumping to the point where you have to speak up. A big enough crowd inside that you can't really see all the options on offer, and everyone is bumping into one another. Then there are those same guys from the clubs who are in a rush to get out to find their friends, that are willing to push (barge) past everyone with their recent purchases. But for one small fact, you should really consider this to be Club Messina. The one big difference, of course, is that rather than pushing alcohol, Messina is pushing sugar and cream. It's probably got a not too dissimilar markup, but damn the way these folks put together the sugar, cream and variety of other assortments they have on offer just makes your mouth sing. This is the real deal when it comes to ice cream -- excuse me, gelato (none of their patrons would be seen dead in an ice cream shop). The originals are all on offer; done to a pretty exacting standard. There's a specials board that revolves through some pretty cool seasonal stuff, too. You won't find your boring corner shop neapolitan ice cream here -- the night I was most recently there, there was Prince of Persia (turkish delight) and what I ended up ordering, Mangosteen and Hibiscus. Where they came up wit the idea of that I'm not sure, but it was both unique and delicious. Which, alongside its nightclub vibe, sums up Messina really quite neatly. Highly recommended.

    strawberry fields

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    3 years ago

    One of my favorite places for gelato in Sydney. Always a line, but also well worth it.

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    3 years ago

    An amazing selection of ice cream creations. Always a line to get ice cream but it's worth it.

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    9 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Very Yummy Ice cream love the place nice kind friendly staff and also fast service. And also Yummy ice cream. Highly Recommend this place.

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    6 years ago

    So friggin good. Get a double scoop because you're going to want to savor every lucky.

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    6 years ago

    This is a must, absolutely goes without saying that if you haven't tried Messina your life is incomplete. Go there. Now.

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