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Amazingly good gelato here. I had one scoop each of mint and coconut strachiatella. It was quite rich and creamy and I loved the crunchy chocolate throughout. Note that you have to pay first before you make your scoop selection(s). I still crave coming back there for gelato. I recommend highly.
Excellent, freshly made and delicious gelato. Love that you can get a cup or cone. Staff were clear in explaining that you have to pay first before they scoop. The ambiance was cozy and comfortable with both indoor and outdoor tables. Highly recommended!
super delicious gelato! there was a line out the door but it moved fast! i found street parking not too far and got lucky but parking in this area seems kind of hard to find. will be back for sure
I don't know what's more disgusting. The customer service, or the pathetic $10 on fully filled cannoli. Came in today with my son after staying at the corner hotel, and looking for cannolis. Customer service is terrible by this young girl who tried to be cute or funny. Talking about the New York Knicks and people from New York. Which I am both a Knicks fan and an Italian American from New York. I will never go back nor will I recommend them the next time. I'm in conversation with someone in that area.
My wife and I ordered affogatos, and you get to choose two different gelato flavors, which was a nice touch. The gelato itself was delicious. We also had the cheesecake, which was very tasty as well. I would definitely recommend stopping by. The only downside was that the outdoor patio had a noticeable urine smell, so we chose to sit inside instead.
BEST GELATO IVE TRIED !!! I had the mixed berries and wifey had pistachio gelato . Service was great ! Place was clean as well. I definitely recommend this place !!
My friend and I stopped by on a beautiful Saturday morning, and while the shop was quite busy, we luckily found a table inside without any trouble. There were plenty of different pastries and light bite options on display, but we had came specifically for the gelato. As someone who is not a chocolate fan, they had a good balance of flavor options which I appreciated because I didn't feel like I had to settle. The only downside was the ordering process. It felt a bit backwards and rushed, since you have to pay for your cup or cone before you even get a chance to see the available flavors. The cashier was persistent on us following the checkout process which was a bit annoying considering there was already a group standing in front of the gelato display which did not allow us to see the available flavors. Once we got through the line, however, we were able to mix and match two different flavors. We both ordered a mango, I got strawberry and my friend got the lemon. We both felt like the strawberry and lemon was better than the mango. Overall, the quality of the gelato is really good and the flavors were very well-balanced. It's a great spot for a high-quality treat, even if the checkout flow is a little unconventional!
Stopped by for an affogato. They have a great assortment of gelato and baked goods. The service was very friendly and fast! Please note that while we were there we saw a sign for paninis being 50 percent off on Wednesdays. Absolutely hate to come back for that as they are all made to order and look divine! Please note we walked so I can't comment on parking. All in all solid!
My boyfriend and I stopped in while staying in Little Italy for a long weekend. We had a lovely little experience, first with espresso shots and then also with gelato. My boyfriend's name was misspelled on his order to "Chess" instead of "Chase" so I had fun calling him Chess for the rest of the weekend. The corner cafe was welcoming and reasonably priced. I'd definitely recommend a visit.
Pappalecco was a cake that looked perfect but tasted like cardboard. Vibe: Located on State St, it is a small Italian restaurant that offers coffees, gelatos, paninis, croissants, and wine. Their menu has a lot to offer, but I came here for breakfast, so my review ONLY covers my breakfast experience. Bite: I got the Nutella fresh fruit croissant, while my husband got a ham and cheese croissant. My fresh fruit croissant was generously slathered with Nutella (the only thing I've no complaints about) and topped with sliced banana, strawberries, and a few blueberries, some of which were wilted. The croissant itself was extremely underwhelming; it was soggy, limp, and did not taste very fresh. Interestingly, these croissants were quite pricey for something so poorly laminated. It was a disappointing experience, because I've had much better crossiant at far more unassuming cafes
super cute spot to stop by and get some gelato! got the pistachio and tiramisu and both were super yummy!! pistachio was sweet and very nutty, while the tiramisu was sweeter. only thing was that i wished there was a one scoop option, but gelato was great! yummy rating: 8.5/10
I frequently go to this Italian coffee shop, it's only now I get the chance to write a review. I love this coffee shop because the Barista really knows how to make coffee. Even their sandwiches are delicious. They also have different kinds of gelato flavors. The ambiance is good, they also have a patio seating. The staff are very friendly, polite, and welcoming. I recommend this place for anyone who wants great tasting coffee, pastries, croissants, sandwiches, and gelatos. It's a cozy place to hang out.
Couldn't resist the temptation for a sweet treat as I was walking back to my car this afternoon. The Almond Tortino was delightful! They warmed it up for me and it was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up after a skincare appointment next door. Great service, lots of seating, and a great location for people-watching in Little Italy. Perhaps this will be a new tradition every time I'm next door for skincare. :)
2 years ago
4 years ago
Served my gelato cravings right! And with extra points, the vibe. Loved everything about this gem on the corner in little Italy, from the plants hanging inside to the cute outdoor seating with the little lights on each table. It all really just set the mood in a right way. People were just hanging out relaxing to working on their laptops at night. We got there just in time before all the gelato was gone. Most of the ins were empty, but we were able to snag my strawberry flavor and lemon (flavor of the week) along with a tiramisu. Strawberry tasted like it was fresh strawberry, just the right amount of sweetness with my lemon being just the right tart! The tiramisu was light and fluffy and not too sweet. Staff was very nice and was working fast and hard to get the line going. Not a disappointment, and won't be one. read more
Game of Cones Local Italian café with three locations here in SD, this one in Little Italy, Hillcrest and another in the Mission Hills neighborhood, that features housemade Gelato, fresh-brewed coffee and some light bites (e.g., sandwiches [panini], salads and such). We stopped by on a hot afternoon looking for some creamy refreshment to help cool us down. The Good: *Housemade Gelato! Not a huge selection of flavors but enough to satisfy most. *Very inexpensive at $5 for a double scoop cone. *Service was friendly and helpful *Shaded outdoor dining area The Meh: *Was really hoping to get out of the heat and enjoy the Gelato inside in some AC, but the inside was hotter than the outside thanks to the refrigeration units working hard inside. The Ugly: *Parking was a bit tough, and we weren't even there at a busy time (weekday around 3ish). TLDR: Good place to stop for some delicious Gelato. read more
Quick gelato run after date night and I would say it's #4 on the "best gelato in San Diego" list. A really good variety of flavor options and actually quite some unique ones as well! Smooth and creamy gelato for sure. They have a Pappaleco special, but neither husband nor I were too big a fan. Bourbon Pecan was super good! The flavor really came through, good crunch of pecans, overall recommend if you like this combo. Hazelnut was surprisingly good! Considering I'm not too much of a hazelnut person, I actually picked this one! read more
8 months ago
My favorite gelato spot, hands down. The price may be a bit high for the portion, but the area it's in is very competitive & their price is low compared to others in the area. I love their pistachio gelato & can eat that forever. It's a bonus that it's not just a gelato shop, but also a coffee & quick snack/lunch spot. I love coming here after a meal with friends to grab a cup of gelato or to just sit a little to enjoy people watching. It's very small & not much room to sit, but it's still very similar to the ones you get in Italy & made me miss that feeling. 10/10 recommend coming for a quick sweet bite! read more
In San Diego for a few days and wanted to try some gelato at Little Italy! Looked on Yelp and Pappalecco popped up. So, why not? Didn't realize they have baked goods such as bread and quiche. They looked quite good but we already had lunch at the time. We tried a few flavors and decided to get the strawberry, vanilla choco chips, and hazelnut chocolate. The flavors are all very good...except I have had better. I was expecting more since I was in little Italy. Still I want to be fair and still give it a 4 star since the baked goods also looked very delicious. Next time I would like to try the quiche though. read more
4 years ago
YUM! YUM! YUM!!! When I find something I like, I tend to gravitate toward it. During my recent weekend visit to San Diego, I popped into Pappalecco twice... both times for gelato. The first time, I was actually on my way to another gelato shoppe when Pappalecco appeared right in front of me. It's like it was meant to be! The first time I popped in I had a small in a cone w/ a peanut butter/chocolate and stracciatella. The second flavor was a recommendation from the staff, as it would balance out the first. Totally agree! What a delicious combination! The second time I had strawberry and mixed berry. Mixed berry is definitely sweet! Perhaps a little too sweet, so just bear that in mind. The second time. went was Sunday afternoon; they happened to be out of a lot of flavors at that time (which was unfortunate). Highly recommend a visit! So good! 2022: 81/100 read more
3 years ago
Haha, stopped by Pappalecco one morning on the way to Balboa and decided to get a croissant. Best decision of the day! The Nutella Croissant is filled to the brim with nutella, the croissant itself is crispy and flaky, and it wasn't too busy at all! I wouldn't come every single day because the price is a bit high, but I loved my croissant and would get that one thing again. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
Gelato is amazing but the 3 scoop size is a scam. The first scoop is the size of the whole cup which is great but the next 2 scoops are half scoops at best. Get a 3 scoop and ask for all 3 in separate cups read more
2 years ago
It wasn't the best coffee, but it wasn't bad either. Nor was it offensively tasting. Could it be better? Sure thing! All I know is that the warmth in a cup gave me comfort at that moment. Service was great read more
2 years ago
Great coffee and pastries. Efficient service as well. I love walking from my apartment to this shop. Their gelato is also delicious. read more
parking: street parking or parking structures Service: 10/10 immaculate; they let us try as many flavors as we wanted! main takeaway: my favorite part is that they have creative & cool flavors, such as tiramisu, espresso, and mango. My favorite was the espresso because it had a strong coffee taste & the texture was smooth. overall, it's a good option for dessert if you're in little Italy :) read more
Maybe I'm a little biased because I just came back from Italy, where I had some of the best gelato in my life. Pappalecco certainly has good gelato, but it simply does not compare. Upon entering the gelato shop, you're greeted with the display of gelato flavors. We went in the late afternoon, but the selection of flavors was rather limited, and the vats of gelato were shallow or almost empty. It was a little disappointing, to be honest. Nonetheless, we ultimately decided on a berry flavor of some sort (I forgot the name, but I've attached a picture below!). I will admit, the color of the gelato was beautifully vibrant and looked incredibly appetizing! As for the gelato, it was pretty good but a little icy. The flavor is nice, though! Plus, it's a light treat, so it won't make you feel too guilty or induce a food coma. For the price and hype, I guess I was just expecting more. Nevertheless, it's a solid gelato place that will satisfy your craving! read more
Awesome spot. First time coming here and it will not be our last. The food was great. The drinks were pretty good. The coffee was probably the best iced-coffee I've had in a while. The girl at the register was beyond friendly and asked for my milk preference when I almost forgot that I can't have cow milk she saved my day- what can I say? The minus 1 star is because the restroom was dirty. Literally had black dirt stuck to the light switch area and the sink was dirty too. I saw an employee or two go in the restroom, so they could have quickly cleaned that up. Other than that, the staff was friendly, the food was great and the ambiance was enjoyable. We'll be back. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I've spent a lot of time eating ice cream in Italy over the years and this place has legit gelato. I'd been here a few years ago, and it shows that it has staying power that I had excellent gelato this time, too! Don't get there late...it appears that the gelato is made fresh daily, and they run out of flavors. I arrived about 15 minutes prior to closing and was lucky to have just five flavors available. I enjoyed a "piccolo" size each of vanilla and mixed berry. I would have chosen pistachio and nocciola if they were available, but I was happy to have what was available. Their gelato is flavorful and has the perfect texture of slightly gooey and creamy mouthfeel. The servers were a little bit cranky, but I don't blame them given that they'd probably been slinging gelato for hours. If anything, it provided an authentic experience of Italian attitude you'd get at a Gelateria in Florence!! read more
3 years ago
Expresso with gelato yea please! I got it with a scoop of pistachio and vanilla and good lord! I'm salivating typing this. I came here years ago and it was just as good a I remembered. In the heart of little Italy. A wonderful treat. Lady behind the register let me taste as many gelato samples as I wanted and she was honestly a gem . Hopefully another five years doesn't pass before I can have this delicious authentic tasting gelato again. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Most people think only of gelato when they see this cafe- and when they started over 15 years ago they were primarily a coffee and gelato bar. But they also offer tasty paninis. Their bread is fresh and they offer a variety of toasted (but not flat) paninis. My personal favorite is the salmon - thinly sliced with tomato, mozzarella, balsamic and pesto. Vegetarians could make it a Caprese-style. A recent remodel has made the counter area brighter on the interior with new display cases for the gelato and pastries. WiFi is available. Seating is limited indoors but they have outdoor seating along Cedar St. Final Tip: Wednesday is a special day for their panini customers. I won't give it away and spoil the surprise- just bring a friend and enjoy lunch together. Buon apetito! read more
We had just finished eating at King & Queen Cantina and needed something sweet! Since it was their first time to Little Italy, I thought we'd go to Frost Me, but they were closed, and then we went to Extraordinary but no indoor seating, and then I remember this sweet spot for gelato! The young women who were working were all so nice! Explained how we needed to order and offered samples if we wanted, but I had my heart set on the limon and raspberry gelatos. Soooooo refreshing and good! Oh, I also got a regular coffee and, I don't know where they get their coffee but very good brew! They have seats outside and some tables and chairs inside, and the AC was working hard since it was during those sweltering days! Definitely worth stopping into if you need a caffeine or sugar fix! read more
While I had only bought myself a few shots of espresso, this cafe in Little Italy has a lot to offer (check my pictures out). Everything looked tasty and the prices are reasonable being that the establishment sits in SD's popular tourists attraction area. The cup of espresso that I had bought was nothing short of amazing. If I had more time I would have lunch here next time! read more
3 years ago
1 year ago
Dropped by for a coffee while I was running some errands in the area. Staff was really nice. The line wasn't too bad although seating inside is very limited. All the tables were taken by people working from their laptops so if you're looking for a spot to sit in I wouldn't recommend coming here. There was some tables outside for outdoor seating if you're lucky to grab one. Their coffee was good, nothing extraordinary. I tried their blueberry muffin, it was ok. Overall I would come back if I'm in the area and need a cup of coffee but not so much to drive out of my way. The decor is really cute though. read more
2 years ago
Great place to grab Italian desert. Even have vegan options. Fun, helpful staff. It is what Little Italy is about. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
Pappalecco signature ice cream flavor is the best ice cream in the world! It combines two of my favorite flavors ever - chocolate and almond We stumbled upon this place when we were in San Diego and every time I go back I have to go here at least once. read more
1 year ago
When I'm in town, I always come here for my daily coffee / chai latte, but also for some gelato! Their gelato is one of the best!! This is the pistachio and coffee. Their lattes and croissants / muffins / pastries are also delicious. I haven't had a chance to try their regular food, but heard great things. Definitely stop by! read more
Absolutely an amazing cute place to enjoy a lovely cappuccino and or gelato. Stop by for the first time at this place and instantly I felt a lovely ambiance. If you know me or my reviews you know that ambiance of a place is a big deal for me. This place has it! I was going to have just a capuchino but I got tempted and got one of their amazing looking pastries, with apples yum! Service was equally lovely and we sat outside to enjoy the coffee and pastry. This location is very nice too. Quiet, spacious and enjoyable. If you are close by this place, give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Happy coffee time! read more
9 months ago
A very overpriced affogato. What is this, Italy? (Although if you've been you'd know this would be half the price there) The shop is cute and placed in a popular area. There's seating inside and out. $8 for a shot of espresso and a scoop of gelato is robbery! Although it was delicious, I don't think I could shell out that amount of money again. I'm guessing the prices reflect the gentrification of the area. read more
I wanted to love this spot. We visited San Diego from Seattle in June of 2022. When in little Italy, we thought it fitting to go for gelato and Pappalecco stood out as the best rated location in the area. My husband and I shared a 2 scoop cone, and we're not only disappointed by the serving size, but the lackluster flavor intensity. We had one scoop pistachio, and one scoop milk chocolate. While the pistachio flavor was noticeable, it was mild - not as pronounced as we expected or wanted. The serving of that scoop was decent. Unfortunately, the chocolate scoop below it was a mere half the size, and didn't extend down into the cone whatsoever - totally disappointing. The flavor was as expected, but again a nothing special for a place specializing in gelato and being so well rated. We wished the server took more care in preparing our cone, and gave us a serving in alignment with the expense - if not even just equally sized scoops. Overall, even my husband - an frozen treat lover - said it was not worth the money or calories. read more
Eh. This was really close by to our restaurant so I was kinda excited to try but it fell short in my opinion. It was evening and I wanted dessert so I stop by to grab some gelato. I got the stractiella in a small cup. They asked if I wanted whipped cream and I said sure, why not. Bad decision. Whipped cream melted pretty fast and didn't add anything to the ice cream, almost diluted it. The ice cream itself was ok, nothing really special. The next morning, we went and grab a focaccia bread as it looked pretty good. I got the veggie focaccia. The inside was good and filled with veggies soft. Howeverbthe outside part of the bread was hard. Like I had to use strength to tear it. It was weird because our friends got the same thing but their issues was that it was bland but their bread was soft everywhere. So inconsistent cooking there. read more
4 years ago
This gelato shop was a bit underwhelming. They didn't have much variety, and they didn't allow you to sample flavors before ordering. I didn't like that I stood in front of the counter for several minutes before being addressed. I was told to pay for what I wanted and then I could order. That was a little backwards if you ask me. I ordered a grande cup of stracciatella & the mint and chip flavors. The mint was good but the stracciatella was a bit too plain and lacked flavor. I enjoyed that they had outdoor patio seating to enjoy my gelato with my dog. read more
3 years ago
This is the saddest gelato portion I've ever seen... I used to come here every time I visit SD. However, their portion has gotten SO SMALL. Definitely not worth the price anymore, all my friends & family were disappointed due to the high review. Below are portion comparing pics 2022 vs 2023. Also, the staff dropped my aunt's cup on other flavors while scooping and did not even care to change a new cup for her, so she got her gelato mixed with other flavors.... Will not return. read more
More info about Pappalecco
1602 State St
San Diego, CA 92101
Little Italy
Directions
(619) 238-4590
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https://pappalecco.com
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Ask the Community - Pappalecco
Is there an email where we can get in touch?
Is the Little Italy location reopened?
Yes, the location is open (not sure if it is different with the stay at home orders).
Anyone know why this location closed?
They were remodeling at one point, but they have been back to open for a while now.
Are there vegan options for gelato?
They have a few vegan options but not all flavors will be available as vegan.
Will they be open christmas Eve as normal business hours?
They open pretty late (10pm) but I would call and ask about their holiday hours before you head over there! Happy holiday!
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219 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Pappalecco - sandwiches - Updated August 2026
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