What a surprise finding a Gelato shop owned by a friendly French owner in HMB. Jean-Paul Gulino spent vacation in Italy and was such a fan of Gelatos he went to a culinary school and specialized in Gelato in Bologna, Italy and trained with a french pastry Chef to learn the craft. It's crazy to open a gelato shop somewhere so cold and gloomy and its a testament to how good their gelato is. Parking is in the DT area of HMB so it can be challenging to get a spot. There is plenty of seating outside and the interior has a bright orange wall that has the colors also carry over to the chairs that are outside. Inside is small but ifs perfect for getting your gelato and then moving outside to eat. Vanilla Bean: Much more deep in vanilla flavor than grovery store ice cream. Nice texture and color, my wife and I enjoyed this one. Stracciatella: A variety of gelato with fine strands of drizzled chocolate stirred throughout. Great eye appeal and flavor, good quality chocolate was used. read more

See all

This is a little shop with only outdoor seating available, but lots of it in a cute court. The space is minimal, but clean. Notably, they don't offer samples here, which I don't really see at other shops. Signage states to ask the staff for suggestions. That was a big bummer as there were a few flavors I was considering & I wish I could have made an informed decision. The 2 staffers I interacted with were friendly & quick. They also maintained the cleanliness. When I ordered, I was immediately asked about any allergies. I decided to order Speculoos & Creme Brulee, hoping they would be good. I chose well! They were creamy, smooth, yummy, & not too sweet. It was a delicious treat & I left satisfied. read more

See all

One of the rudest customer service experiences I've had in a long time. As a 5'3" woman, I was simply trying to see the gelato flavors through the glass when an employee abruptly told me not to lean on it. I wasn't leaning on the case at all--I was just trying to see the flavors. He was rude and condescending. I was then told by another employee there were no samples, so I had to choose a flavor without tasting it. After paying nearly $8 for a small scoop of gelato in a cup with a cone on top, I stepped to the side after paying to put the gelato into the cone myself. Even though I was completely out of the way and bothering no one, I was immediately told I had to do it outside. The worst part was the attitude. Every one of the three employees I interacted with was rude, unfriendly, and seemed annoyed by customers. From start to finish, I felt like I was being scolded rather than served. For premium-priced gelato, I expected at least basic courtesy. Instead, I got poor service, unnecessary rules, and an atmosphere that made me feel unwelcome. There are plenty of places that appreciate their customers--this is not one of them. read more

Great Post-Beach Gelato Spot in Downtown Half Moon Bay We stopped by this gelato shop in downtown Half Moon Bay to grab a cold treat for the kids after spending a fun day at the beach. Overall, the gelato was very good and arguably worth the price. Servers were also friendly. However, I knocked off one star because they do not allow customers to sample any of the gelato. I found this policy a bit strange, especially given their unique and creative flavor lineup, which makes you want to try a taste before committing to a full scoop. Additionally, there is very little seating available--just a few small tables outside. Since we were mostly looking for a quick and simple cold treat for the kids, we might not be the exact target audience for this artisanal spot, but it is still a highly recommended stop if you are in the area and craving high-quality gelato. read more

I stopped by for a quick dessert before going to beach. Seems all ice cream is made fresh on premise. White chocolate kiwi was my favorite flavor. It was a new flavor for me. Pistachio and roasted almond were both good. Belgian chocolate was excellent as always. Surprisingly they wont let you to sample. I wish they change this policy. read more

Gulino Gelato - White chocolate kiwi, pistachio and roasted almond - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Delicious!!! Creamy and light, but still indulgent feeling. No samples! They're always busy but move quickly. read more

Gulino Gelato - Top: dark chocolate + pistachio, Bottom: hazelnut + cookies & cream - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Gulino Gelato is in a perfect location right at one end of Main Street. This location makes a perfect spot for a gelato break after walking one end of town. Sadly lil Lucie was not allowed inside so I didn't really get to browse the gelato or ask for samples. On the plus side they did have patio tables right outside. Overall gelato is always a welcome treat so check out Gulino's. read more

See all

The Biscoff gelato has a hold on me! The staff are incredibly sweet and helpful and they had a bunch of a typical but delicious gelato flavors with a few options that were more unique. A huge kudos for having several dairy free options as well! They do not provide samples, but that's probably for the best or else I would sample every single flavor. read more

Gulino Gelato - Biscoff - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I came here today and fit their small half strawberry and half Belgian chocolate gelato .made in house and very tasty.No seating inside just outside.Very nice patio Employee was very nice read more

See all

This guy is the real deal. If you're in hmb, you have to visit this place. The price is totally absolutely worth the amount of goodness you get in a cup. And the quality is top notch. I think he has ruined gelato for me- except for visiting Italy, I do t think I can go any other gelato place. I had the peanut butter, Belgium chocolate and mascopone. He makes the chocolate syrup himself for the gelato. This place rocks. read more

See all

Stumbled into this amazing gelato place in Half Moon bay downtown today. The owner told us that he took gelato making class in Bologna, Italy- Known for foodies heaven! The pic is chocolate and awareness (cherry) per the owner's recommendation- was delectable! The other one I forgot to take a pic was mango and vanilla. Also great. Definitely looking forward to next visit! read more

Gulino Gelato - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Found this spot on a recent day trip to Half Moon Bay and have to say I was not expecting to have the most delicious gelato i've ever had. I've been on a bit of a gelato hunt after waiting in line and finally trying Bacio di Latte in Palo Alto. Gulino Gelato I think is the better of the two! Starting off with homemade - it's clear that the owner of Gulino takes care and pride in his gelatos. I got the belgian chocolate and stracciatella. The belgian chocolate was out of this world - definitley a must try. I had a bite of the fruity flavors from family but I would say chocolate is the best choice (and i'm not usually a chocolatey person). read more

SUCH A GOOD SPOT FOR GELATO!! it was so yum my fave flavor was the blackberry one! def want to try the non fruity flavors but did not disappoint!!! would recommend if you are in the areaaa read more

Gulino Gelato - blackberry, mango and strawberry/basil sorbet - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

If you love ice cream or gelato that is more on the firm yet velvety side, you'll love Gulino as I do. I absolutely do not like when you can taste the stretchy xantham gum-like texture of certain gelato/ice cream. They've definitely perfected their craft with this as their gelato tastes premium, rich, and smooth. They do rotate their flavors; the first time I came here, I got the most incredible dark chocolate gelato that I'm still dreaming about today. Unfortunately they didn't have that flavor when I came here recently, but they did have a sweet almond flavor which I was super thrilled about because not many places offer almond! As a chocolate lover, for my second flavor I got belgian chocolate which was luxurious. My husband also loved the biscoff one, however the apple and cinnamon flavor was lackluster; it just tasted like vanilla so I'd skip on that one. The shop is located in downtown HMB and is pretty snug, but there are a few outdoor tables. Service is fast but do note that they don't offer any samples! read more

Gulino Gelato - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Fresh and flavorful gelato shop. We've been here 3 times and had different service experiences each time. From excellent, to good, to meh. The gelato itself is great though. When we came in the past they had these waffles, which my kids loved, as they were awesome. They no longer have them, but the gelato is the real winner IMO. The mango flavor I had was amazing, actually all their fruit flavors are fantastic. There is outdoor seating in a small courtyard. It's in a busy little part of downtown. Lots of activity, but a fun little spot and good location. Street parking is easier found in the side streets. We definitely will visit again when we are in town, as it's that good. read more

Gulino Gelato - Mango gelato - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

One of my fav gelato place in peninsula. If you like coconut, I highly recommend their coconut gelato. Rich and creamy that I can taste the grated coconut. The strawberry basil sorbet is also super delicious. Distinctive basil flavor that sometime you may end up chewing on a small piece. Fast and friendly service. Would love to go back to try other flavors when I'm in the area. read more

This is the best sorbet and gelato I have had in America! It brought me right back to my travels in Italy. The cone was so fresh and the many flavors we tried all tasted so fresh. We got chocolate gelato, maple syrup gelato, speculoos gelato and pineapple sorbet. Every single flavor was amazing. We had the best customer service experience speaking with the owner who has great pride in his product; as he should, because his shop is of the highest quality. It's a definite must go stop in hmb. read more

See all

I got strawberry basil and maple syrup. I liked the herby basil flavor, which didn't overpower the juiciness of the strawberry, but that one is more icy since it was sorbet. The maple syrup was pleasantly not sickeningly sweet. The gelato was softer than what I was expecting. Service was so lukewarm for me (just looked at me waiting for what flavors I wanted), but they were super nice to other folks so I was extremely confused. I was also expecting pistachio on the menu and it was not. read more

Gulino Gelato - strawberry basil, maple syrup - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Gulino Gelato is easily one of my favorite dessert spots. The gelato is incredibly smooth, rich, and full of flavor--you can really taste the quality in every bite. Each flavor feels authentic and well-balanced, not overly sweet, which makes it even better. The texture is what stood out to me the most--super creamy and fresh, just like real Italian gelato should be. You can tell they put a lot of care into making it. The place itself has a nice, chill vibe, perfect for hanging out or just grabbing a quick treat. Definitely a must-try if you're a gelato lover! read more

See all

its definitely made from scratch. So delicious and creamy. Owner was very friendly too. Nice guy. Thank you so much. read more

The gelato flavors all looked so good but i got the Belgian chocolate and stracciatella. The belgian chocolate was so delicious, the stracciatella was good too but i didn't love it as much. The ambience was so nice and calming and the service was good. Definitely recommend coming and would come again. read more

Gulino Gelato - Belgium chocolate & Stracciatella - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

I decided to try Gulino out while I was visiting Half Moon Bay. We were served by the owner. There are no samples unfortunately, so we asked him for his recommendations. I ultimately opted for a medium, with strawberry basil sorbet and Belgian chocolate. The medium is still pretty small in size. The strawberry basil is not too tart and the basil adds complexity to the flavor, so I liked it a lot. The Belgian chocolate is nice and rich, so good for chocolate lovers. They have a dark chocolate sorbet too, which we were told barely has dairy. It's a little pricey which is typical for gelato, but it was pretty tasty- I just wish they allowed samples. There are plenty of outdoor tables you can sit at in the courtyard outside. read more

Gulino Gelato - Medium of strawberry basil and Belgian chocolate - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Wow... the gelato here is some of the best I've had in the Bay Area! There are no samples here compared to other spots but they have that written out so it isn't a surprise when you get to the front. The staff did a good job of describing what each flavor would taste like, as the flavors I chose tasted very close to what they said. I ordered the speculoos and the passionfruit swirl(can't remember the official name). The speculoos taste similar to a biscoff cookie bringing me back to all the times I would have the cookies as a kid. The passionfruit flavor was also delicious but I think it pairs better with a different flavor, maybe something fruity or something that contrasts with it. Next time if at half moon bay, I'll probably get a pint! read more

Gulino Gelato - House made gelato, no samples :( - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Love love love this place. The gelato was creamy and not too sweet. The place itself is so cute with a couple tables and chairs outside. The owner and staff were friendly and patient with us. There's so much to choose from. I'll have to be back to try out more flavors. Parking was hard but shrugging because it's Downtown HMB to begin with. read more

See all

Very delightful after dinner with some friends. Nice seating outside. We really enjoyed the warm fresh homemade waffle cones on top. For a small size you can get two flavors. read more

Gulino Gelato - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Gulino Gelato is so, so good. I genuinely love this place. The gelato tastes fresh, creamy, and actually authentic, not overly sugary like a lot of dessert spots. Every flavor feels carefully made, and it's the perfect treat when you're walking around Half Moon Bay. Such a cute little spot on Main Street, and one of my favorite dessert places on the coast. Perfect service! read more

The gelato was soo good, came here twice back to back on a friday afternoon & then sunday midday. First flavor we got was tiramisu, which was delectable. second flavor we got was a butter cookie gelato which was also tasty. i'm giving a 3 star review mostly for the service, it wasn't bad, it just wasn't great. the young lady just didn't seem like she wanted to be there. & i understand, which is why i'm not the type of person to give a 1 star review because of not so great service. then came the tablet flip to ask for tip, while staring at which option im going to pick, makes me extremely nervous for some reason haha i chose the lowest option, as we only got the smallest size one flavor cup. then proceeds to look at me like i did something wrong. have a great day i say! no response. just little things like that that get me a little down on my reviews. the gelato was fantastic though! read more

Gulino Gelato - entrance - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We've been going to Gulino Gelato for years now! Amazing gelato and amazing service. JP and his staff and super kind and professional. Everything they serve is made with the best ingredients. We will be forever fans of Gulino Gelato! read more

I just got back from the Amalfi coast, and dare I say this gelato is better than what I had there? (I was having gelato withdrawals, lol). The Stracciatella is the best I've ever had. Now I have to try them all! read more

I think all things equal Gulino Gelato was our shared favorite from our weekend ice cream crawl. The two flavors we chose placed very highly for both of us (and considering they do not allow tastes/samples that's really saying something) with my husband absolutely adoring their Pistachio flavor (more similar to European Pistachio gelatos or GIO Gelati in San Ramon) and me their Espresso. I felt the sizing of the scoop and cup it was served in was perfect and liked that they were compostable. There also was quite a bit of seating outside. The only real note I'd give them is to add in a built in heater for those chilly Half Moon Bay days. All in all, we definitely plan to come back to Gulino Gelato and we absolutely adored out visit! read more

Honestly such a great vibe! And the gelatos are just as good as the friendly faces that greet you when waking in. The flavors were delishhhhh and you can definitely taste the gelato was made from real chocolate and no artificial flavoring. Definitely will be coming back whenever we're in HMB! read more

Gulino Gelato - Speculoos and Belgium chocolate - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

We got lucky, we walked in and right to counter. by the time we were done, we turned around to see a line out the door. The staff was very friendly and the gelato was amazing. We already decided next time we were in downtown half Moon Bay. We are going there again. If I can make a recommendation, the Italian hot chocolate was perfect. read more

See all

Stopped by for a dessert since I was in the area. I got a medium with two of my favorite flavors--Rhum & Raisin and Pistachio--for $5.70. The pistachio was super creamy! They don't offer samples, which I wish they did. Service was fast, and while there's no indoor seating, they do have outdoor seating available! read more

See all

This is the best home made gelato ,the owner prepared it with love and you will see the deferent when you try .best regard Sam

Our favorite gelato place in the bay! Strawberry basil is hands down the best flavor here, which is also the signature flavor. This time we tried the seasonal kiwi as well, which was a refreshing and adventurous flavor. After eating your gelato, be sure to buy a tub of the strawberry basil to enjoy at home! read more

Super cute gelato shop in downtown HMB to satisfy your sweet tooth! I like that they have a decent selection of flavors to pick from, like espresso, cookies and cream, speculoos, and different fruity sherbets. We picked a medium size to share and ordered the cookies and cream and speculoos- both were delicious! Service was so friendly and kind. Definitely will be back to try their strawberry basil sherbet! read more

Gulino Gelato - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

Sundae Drive After a day trip to HMB to get some vitamin sea, we always stop by DTHMB to get some desserts to take home. While looking for a spot to cure our sweet tooth, we came across Gulino Gelato. They feature small-batch housemade gelato base and flavors--no extracts!!--made by their owner Jean-Paul Gulino, who trained at a culinary school that specializes in Gelato in Bologna, Italy. The Good: *Outdoor dog-friendly seating *Flavors were all spot-on, as I really enjoyed their pistachio, and the rum-raisin was maybe the most perfect rendition of this flavor combo I've had, as the rum was definitely there but not overpowering as its want to be. *I thought the prices were very fair for the quality and quantity of the product. A small ($6) was plenty to satisfy both our sweet tooths. *It's also nice that they allow you to mix flavors on a small; some gelaterias make you have to buy a medium to get two flavors. The Meh: *While they do have bubble waffles, I honestly could care less about that. I personally would love it if they had handmade waffle cones to go with their gelato. *Service was a little lackluster, but they got the job done. The Ugly: *Parking in DTHMB can be a bit of a PiTa, but if you're patient and willing to walk, then you should be fine. Conclusion: Damn fine gelato made with quality ingredients at a reasonable price in one of my favorite Bay Area cities. read more

Gulino Gelato - Rum Raisin & Pistachio($6/small) - Gelato Near Me - Half Moon Bay, California

See all

Gelato is good. Staff suck. Cheap owners - no samples, wont give an extra cup for the baby.

After it's Italian we walked over to Gulino Gelato, what a way to complete our 5 star meal to have 5 star gelato! Thank you for such a delicious treat! Steve and Marilyn @dreamcentralnow on You Tube read more

Stopped by Gulino Gelato to give it a try since it's one of the few places in downtown Half Moon Bay offer frozen treats. The flavor selection is good with a decent variety of non-dairy selections . The gelato itself has a good texture, smooth and creamy, and packed with flavor. They keep things simple with the sizes, you can choose either medium or large cups, or go for a cone. Overall, a decent spot if you're craving gelato in Half Moon Bay. read more