Gelato by the Pantheon: Cremeria Monteforte

There’s a fairly high risk that you will stumble into a tourist trap when searching for sustenance around Rome’s major monuments. However, proximity to beautiful landmarks is not necessarily a bad sign if you know how to pick out the winners.

Cremeria Monteforte is about as close to the Pantheon as you can get. The artisan ice cream shop faces the side of the ancient home of the gods – gazing directly at the monument.

As the name suggests, there are creamy chocolates and decadent pistachio behind the counter. The fresh fruit sorbettos are also delightful.

But one treat I can almost never resist is affogato – ice “drowned” in espresso.

At Cremeria Monteforte this is a towering three scoops of crema or zabaione (though you can also specify another flavor), piled up and then covered in a hot shot of espresso.

I took mine to the bench outside, in no rush to finish the sweet break – overlooking the one and only Pantheon.

Now that this San Crispino has closed – this tops my favorite local gelateria in the the immediate area. So pop in next time you find yourself near the famous site. 

Want to keep the sweet treats coming? Here are more of the best gelato shops in Rome, plus a guide to Italian iced coffees.

Cremeria Monteforte

Via della Rotonda, 22
Pantheon/Centro Storico
Rome, Italy

Closed Monday and two weeks in January. Open every other day 10 am – 11 pm. 

5 thoughts on “Gelato by the Pantheon: Cremeria Monteforte

  1. Tony M says:

    OH NO!!! We LOVED going to San Crispino! Dang!! But I think I could learn to like Monteforte.

    Funny story, here in Los Angeles there’s a coffee shop that sells affogato that is basically a (1!) scoop of ice cream in a cup of coffee. TERRIBLE! Only my husband thinks it’s the best thing ever. We def need to make another trip to Rome!

  2. Luke says:

    How about Gunther Gelato around the corner? I’ve had some great flavors there. (I don’t know if they do affogato but Caffè Sant’Eustachio is across the piazza…)

  3. Sam says:

    I don’t know this Gelateria at all – actually, I’ve passed by quite a few times but I always end up at Dolce Rotonda next to it, because they have lots of cute pastries and maritozzi. Thanks for the address!

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