The staffs are very friendly. The outdoor by the side walk seating are convenient. We order many gelato for our family. And my favorite from all flavors is Pistachio. I also get the tiramisu. Both Gelato and Tiramisu are not way too sweet like other ice cream shops, we love it. read more

Pappalecco - TIRAMISÙ - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Stopped by to get gelato from here on our way to Little Italy Food Hall. Ordered 2 scoops ($4.60) in a cup, hazelnut and coffee & chocolate. No doubt, the flavors we chose were yummy. On that note, don't think we will be coming back; the portion size was disappointing. Wish we had taken a pic to show as proof. Take our word for it, the scoops were tiny. Kristina was the server who helped us. Hope other customers will have a better experience than that of ours. read more

Love this place! Their cappuccino is delicious and their gelato and pastures are incredible as well. Service is super friendly, the place is small and cozy and has some table outside where you can hangout and people watch lol. Parking can be tricky so if you are walking distance that might be your best bet. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

This place has delicious gelato!! I got the pistachio and hazelnut which was amazingly creamy and nutty. They also had other interesting flavors like muffin blue berry that was pretty unique and tasty. There was a long line out but they move pretty fast to serve you. Definitely returning here next time I'm in SD. read more

Pappalecco - Pistachio and hazelnut - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

i have gotten so many people hooked on this place. We stay nearby when in SD, and walk here for breakfast every morning. Usually end up here after dinner in Little Italy for Gelato or a late night coffee drink. Cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Hate to do this bc I used to like this place, but came in on a casual sunday early evening. Very quiet time no line and not too busy outside. Ordered gelato and chai latte. I saw the woman behind the counter pump syrup and then pour milk from the steaming jar without steaming it. I immediately said "wow what is she doing? I ordered whole milk" to the woman at the register, and the other one making the chai said 'oh we aready have the milk steamed sitting on the counter". I was really taken aback by this response so i shrugged my shoulders and said ok all the while regretting not asking her to make it fresh in front of me. When i tasted the chai it did not taste like whole milk. Typically i would request a remake but i was so dissapointed with this experience i just left to go sit outside. After a few minutes of sitting at the chair a smell of urine hit me. Really unpleasant experience. I realize downtown is swarmed with transients but it's really unpleasant to smell piss whilst trying to enjoy ice cream. I will not be returning for a while. read more

I remember coming here years ago and had a good experience. The gelato itself hasn't changed so it was still good but dayum...the service was horrible. read more

Sorry for not getting a photo of the actual prosciutto Croissant, but rest assured, it was amazing! I'd venture to say best croissant I've ever had. Go.Get.One read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Got a chocolate mousse and it was sweet heaven. I shared it with my family bc I could not eat it myself. Share the love. Indeed. Taste even better with a great cup of coffee. The mousse was chocolaty and smooth. It has a layer of cake at the bottom , middle layer of mousse, and a top layer of ganache. What else can you ask for in a mousse? Pappalecco has a couple of tables outside and one can sit to enjoy a chocolate mousse with love ones, a cup of joe, with the warm California breeze hugging you on a Saturday night. Heaven indeed. read more

Pappalecco - Front counter - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Okay, let's start on a positive note... the gelato is good. We docked it to two stars though because it's hard to find parking, they were out of cones, and their portion sizes are atrocious. The cups are baby sizes, but what really pissed me off was that there was a big curvature in the cup so that they didn't have to give you as much ice cream for a little over $4. (See picture) Ridiculous, will not be coming again. read more

Pappalecco - 2 "Scoops" - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

The last time I was at Pappalecco was in 2012. I knew I wanted to return. However, when I was looking for this place I couldn't remember the name. I have got to say, the service is impeccable. The cashier introduced herself and said , "my name is Patricia, what is your name?" And she went off to explain the desserts that were featured that evening. Her great service made me forget about the experience from the night before. After dinner, my boyfriend and I trekked to Pappalecco from some gelato. We got there around 945 pm and the girl told us the place is closed. We told them that the hours on yelp said 10 pm and can we give her cash. She said no, she has already counted the register. I can't fault them as some of the businesses on yelp are not responsible for the post. As for my order, I had the moccachino - espresso,almond milk, whipped cream and Nutella - when I saw the drink I said to the barista ," is this For me?" There were stars in my eyes. Then I brought back desserts to share with my other half. I selected the lemon tart and lemon and vanilla cake - which is to die for. We dusted that baby. Will return. The next time around we will try the gelato. Make sure to check the hours. read more

OMG pappalecco is so good and worth the wait to get gelato. I haven't tried the rest of the amazing pastries or coffees. But the gelato I've gotten twice. The pappalecco signature flavor is amazing I don't know how to describe it exactly but it's smooth and yummy with a chocolatey amaretto/cherry kind of flavor with hazel nut. I think it's my favorite flavor ever. read more

The service here is great. It does get busy here sometimes but the staff manages it well. The ambience is very cozy and it feels comfortable. Parking can be a little tough because of the area but it's worth looking for. Pappaleco has a few locations throughout San Diego, but this one is my favorite. Whether you want a quick snack, coffee, or gelato this is the place to go. They have been around for a while so they know what they're doing. They even sell pizza at the other location. What I really come here for is the gelato though. There are so many flavors to choose from. My favorites would be the mix berries, cheesecake, and the Nutella. The gelato here is not too sweet which is how I like it. The mixed berries gelato has so much fruit flavor in it I just love it, it feels so refreshing sometimes. The Nutella is also great, since Nutella is my favorite thing ever. Everything I tried here has been good. There's nothing better than enjoying a gelato with your coffee. read more

Came here for the first time last night for gelato and was greeted by the line out the door around 8:15pm. It didn't take long to get inside where we met Victoria! Such a sweet woman who asked us how many scoops we wanted. Yeah, be prepared to say how many scoops you want before being able to see or taste the options. We paid for 3 scoops, gave our names, and moved into another line before being called to choose our flavors. It's a small place on the corner so it gets a little cramped but there are tables available outside. We decided on chocolate, vanilla, and mango. Our friends chose vanilla, berry, and lemon. The chocolate wasn't as rich as I expected it to be. The flavor of the vanilla gelato was underwhelming. The mango was strong but tastes like barbecued meal worms according to my boyfriend. And the lemon reminded me of minute maid frozen lemonade. But berry was simply magical! I highly recommended trying berry if you get gelato. read more

Pappalecco - 3 scoops - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Gelato was good but not great. Cleanliness of facility both outside and inside was questionable and not reflective of the reviews I had seen on Yelp. Another issue we experienced was you pay for the gelato before you get to see the flavors and they were out of many at the evening. read more

the service here was great! They're so nice and welcoming, I love it. They also take the time to introduce themselves and ask for everyone's names - takes a little extra time but definitely makes the experience here more personable. We ordered the grande and they gave us a lot more than expected inside such a small cup but it was worth every penny. The flavors and texture were perfectly decadent and smooth. I couldn't be happier with finding such a delicious place in SD. read more

Fast food Italian style. If you have little time and a natural aversion to hamburgers, or if you want a fix of gelato, Pappalecco may be the solution. It is also a good place to relax in the shade on the sidewalk with a (soft) drink. Located on a quiet street in Little Italy slightly off the tourist track, it is a gem in its class. Folks are friendly, food is good. Pappalecco also happens to be quite affordable, the lunch (get the soup, too) will cost you under $20. Stick to simple favorites: soup and ham-and-cheese on a croissant. Attempt to try focaccia with mushrooms and cheese was less successful, as the filling mostly consisted of less appetizing mass (of potatoes?), The coulis for the desert had a strong artificial smell. One star deducted. read more

Had a delicious Bacon and egg croissant. Cheese was excellent and croissant was buttery, perfect balance for a nice, easy breakfast! The customer service is always excellent, as well. Service with a smile :-) read more

Pappalecco - Bacon breakfast croissant, yum! - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Albeit my knowledge of the gelato world is somewhat blinkered, this was damn good Gelato, and very cheap. A waffle cone with two scoops is still less than five dollars. I ordered some pistachio and chocolate gelato. Incredibly smooth and purported to be concocted with only but five natural ingredients. With any of your orders, you're permitted to mix and match. It also looks like the waffle cone will not cost you more either ! read more

Pappalecco - Small gelato waffle cone. You get two scoops 5 dollars - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Why haven't I found this place sooner?! Came after dinner and I had to try the gelato here. Hands down best gelato I've had. I haven't been to Italy, so I can't compare to what they have overseas though. Gelato sizes come in 2, 3, and 4 scoops. I went for the 2 scoops and it was plenty enough to share as well. You have the option of cone or cup, since there was no extra charge for a cone, of course I went for the cone! Had the pistachio and strawberry gelato and they were so good. The strawberry was like a creamy sorbet. The pistachio was so good! My fiancé always gets pistachio flavored ice cream at home (but these are always the artificial flavors that I hate). But the pistachio gelato here was soooo good, tasted very natural and delicious! There are also plenty of baked goods and coffee options too! read more

Pappalecco - Strawberry and pistachio gelato in a cone - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

**BEST CHOCOLATE GELATO** Wow, their gelato is NO joke. It's as good as Italy or in some cases, maybe better. AMBIANCE ========= Small, friendly, and Italian. Inside seating and patio. PRICES ======= GELATO CUPS Piccolo 4.39 / Medio 4.99 / Grande 5.99 GELATO CONES Sugar Cone (two scoops) 4.39 Waffle Cone (two scoops) 4.95 Waffle Cone (three scoops) 5.95 GELATO ======= CHOCOLATE Best flavor hands-down. Super creamy, wonderfully fresh. RATING: 5/5 Get some samples of other flavors. OVERALL ======== A bit pricey for gelato (missing those 1 euro scoops) but gentrification has its price. HIGHLY RECOMMEND their chocolate gelato. read more

My most favorite spot for ice cream! As an ice cream fanatic, I have been to a billion different ice cream spots in San Diego, and have come to the conclusion that Pappalecco is by far my favorite place for ice cream. They are a small, artisanal gelato store that transports their clientele to Italy, with their aesthetic, simplistic ambiance that gives off an Italian flare. When paying for the gelato, you first pay for the gelato and then choose which flavors you want. Their staff is extremely friendly and they are open to having people sample the different flavors. Also, they are willing to provide suggestions! I have tried almost all of their gelato flavors, and all are amazing. Some of my favorites include pistachio and hazelnut, which have a very strong, nutty flavor. One of my favorite combinations is the dark chocolate gelato and raspberry sorbet in one cup, which tastes similar to a raspberry truffle. Parking can be somewhat difficult, but you will not be disappointed if you're craving ice cream and are in the Little Italy area. read more

Pappalecco - Dark chocolate and raspberry sorbet - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Been tired of getting Starbucks coffee. This little cafe was just perfect. Each cup of coffee we received tasted like a cup of happiness.

Visited on Thursday, April 8th around 8:30 PM and waited in a long line to pay for our order. As we were waiting for the server to call our name, I noticed the people behind were already served their gelato. Apparently they lost our ticket but they didn't even apologize and the girl at the counter was very rude and disrespectful. read more

We'd just spent a tiring day and night at San Diego and wanted a kick-start for another day of exploring this city. My hasband found this place on Yelp and thought we'd give it a shot. We were welcomed with a smile from Bora - our cashier/waiter. He was chatting us up about San Diego, talking to us about the cafe, and the city. In the same casual conversation, he asked for our names. Both of us had ordered coffee, and a breakfast dish each. H ementioned that they'd call out our names for coffee. When they came out, I was immensely surprised they correctly called out my name for my coffee and his name for his mocha. Bora never wrote our names down, or made a show of remebering them, even though he saw tens of people after that. All of the tables except the one just by the cash register were full. While sitting there, I happened to overhear the cashiers talking to the customers, and everyone of the employess sounded so happy to be there and help. It was so refreshing and honestly made my morning a 100 times more special. Coming to the food, we had: - Coffee (black) - I always drink my coffee this way and it was really good here. Worth a mention since other breakfast places we ate at had average coffee. - Mocha - My husband claims this is the best mocha he's ever had and I tasted some and thought it was wonderful. - Veggie panini - My husband had this one and he loved it. Simple ingredients that packed a lot of flavor. The pesto and mozzarella were really fresh and tasty. - The Tuscan way - Eggs scrambled with onions, potatoes, mushrooms and tofu with a slice of bread - this also was in keeping with the theme of the place, to put somple ingredients together and I really liked it. The potatoes added a nice touch to this dish. Probably what I loved most was the service - everyone was smiling and happy and wanted to have a conversation with us. This felt genuinely nice and completely transformed my quiet Sunday into one filled with memorable moments. I will be back here for sure! read more

See all

Excellent service, Rafa is the best! Great cappuccino, Nutella croissant and paninis. In San Diego for 3 days, went here on the first day and returned each day after. Perfezione! read more

Pappalecco - Frittata - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

OMG... YES! Just YES! I love Pappaleco because it is everything I didn't know I wanted or needed in my life. To think you can get a lemon-vanilla custard pie, a croissant, gelato, a bowl of AMAZING tomato-basil soup, cookies, tiramisu, a DELICIOUS doesn't need cream or sugar house blend coffee, or a sandwich in one place- COME THE FREAK ON!!!! Everything here is delicious and the staff here is so nice!!! I'm here at lease twice a week, if not more. COFFEE IS GREAT. GELATO IS DELICIOUS. STAFF IS HELPFUL. Everything here is just sooooo good! read more

Look, the gelato itself is very good. We had several flavors, all tasty. But... WILDLY over priced. Almost $9 for "3 scoops" that were equal to maybe one scoop of ice cream at any decent shop. Save yourself the time and walk a couple blocks to Salt and Straw. You will be thankful. read more

This is my favorite Italian dessert place. The place is small but it is enough for a coffee shop with snack, pastries & desserts. They have the best cannoli. The gelatos are tasty with so many flavors. I always got the Italian hot chocolate which is not sweet & thicker texture compare to regular chocolate. read more

Pappalecco - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Totally totally worth it for the coffee! I've actually been here twice, once for the coffee and once for the frozen goods. It is super worth it for the coffee and same with the gelato! I feel like this is a staple to any trip made in San Diego, the need to stop in and at least check out of one of the traditional stops of Little Italy. The coffee is great, made for an actual treat to enjoy with a taste of espresso. The sweet treats are great, made traditional to dine in or take to go. I really enjoy their coffee. Personally its pretty cheap, legitimately good and worth the stop! read more

Great service, great people, and great coffee! I love how friendly and homey the vibe is. read more

Pappalecco - Iced morrachino - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Really great gelato at the heart of Little Italy! It was so creamy and delicious! Even just the vanilla gelato had so much flavor! Definitely a good stop after a delicious lunch in little Italy! Will definitely try to come earlier since they ran out of a lot of the flavors by the time I got there. read more

Laughably bad Gelato. So overpriced for probably the worst gelato I ever had. Don't believe the hype. The signature flavor is bizarre tasting and the milk flavor tastes like...sour milk. Recommend literally any gelato place over this read more

Very good Iced Nutella Latte but I did not like that they only supply paper straws. The straw they provided disintegrated within minutes and thankfully I had a regular straw in my car. Also, the Pollo panini was excellent!!! read more

Heard of this place from Yelp! I saw that it had so many good reviews so I had to try it for myself! I came here last night with my friends after we went to The Crack Shack. First of all, PAPPALECCO HAS THE FRIENDLIEST SERVICE EVER!!! An Italian girl named Iearia helped us and she was super sweet and energetic! She looked like she really enjoyed working there. She said I could sample all the gelato I wanted and she didn't say it in a way where she was hoping I actually wouldn't like Baskin Robbin's 31 Flavors does ha ha She really wanted to make sure I liked what I got. The ambiance is super cozy and intimate. I got the Pappalecco and fragola (strawberry) gelato and it was delicious! I've been to Italy several times and it tastes so similar to the gelato there! Reminds me a bit of Amorino! My friend ordered the nutella hot chocolate and it was super good as well! I'll have to order my own the next time I go! Definitely make this a stop when you visit Little Italy! LOVE IT! read more

Pappalecco - Fragola and Pappalecco gelato!! - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

From India Street, walk up, east, toward the apricot glow at the corner of Cedar and State, the glow of Pappalecco. Ognuno sta solo sul cuor della terra trafitto da un raggio di sole: ed è subito sera.* Well - yes...it's evening...but we can still enjoy what few hours are left. Let's enjoy the gelato! I enter and EVERYONE is speaking Italian, including the customers. I order quiche and a Panini to go and with the cashier's recommendation, a half-Pistachio, half-Peanut Butter-Chocolate Gelato. Gioia! Maybe this Pistachio Gelato makes it on my last meal list. Sidewalk dining, divine gelato, the option to order a cortado and I'm suddenly innamorairsi di sconosciuti. Bravo, Pappalecco, bravo! *Salvatore Quasimodo read more

See all

The gelato here is super good! But such small portions and overpriced for the tiny cup. The flavors are really spot on though, especially the espresso, hazelnut and pistachio so quality is definitely there. Really good gelato! (just kinda expensive for the portion) read more

Pappalecco - Grande (3 flavors) ~$7 - Sandwiches Near Me - San Diego, California

Great place! Great espresso and gelato! Trying their panini for the first time...can't wait!

Pappalecco is greaaaat! My crew and I were super impressed with the staff's friendliness/attentiveness and how amazingly their gelato tasted! It's such a great way to experience and to taste authentic Italian gelato! Nom nom nom! We arrived around 10 pm and the shop was still popping in and out with customers. WOOHOO! That is a great sign! They allowed us to try as many samples as we liked. Each flavor we tasted was SO good and it just made it hard to pick a flavor. We were already super full from our late dinner and just couldn't help ourselves to 2 scoops of gelato to satisfy our desserty needs. But hey, there is always a 2nd stomach for dessert! Samples I had: Frutti Di Bosco - is a mixed berry flavor. Very fruity! Love it. Nocciola - hazlenut flavor. Oh gosh am I nutty for this one. Fragola - strawberry flavor. Always a safe one if you don't want to branch out and very fresh indeed! What I've had: Nutella & Straacciatella - milk and chocolate. 1 scoop of each made the perfect mix of flavors together. What my buddy had: Croecolata Fondente - 1 scoop of chocolate chip mint and 1 scoop of straacciatella inside a cookie sandwich. Looked tasty tasty! Overall, our experience was superb! And we definitely would love to come back to SD soon. Pappalecco is seriously hands down delicous. I really reccommend you to make a pit stop here! AS ALWAYS, NOM FOR LIFE! read more

See all

Even though I was stuffed from eating at Royal India, I sacrificed for the greater good and got gelato at Pappalecco...because hey- you only live once, right? Half Pappalecco/half chocolate hazelnut gelato FTW! ! ! ;D read more