10 Gelato Shops In North Carolina Serving Up Local Dairy Goodness
Gelato lovers, North Carolina is quietly scooping up something special.
These gelato shops craft creamy, dreamy treats using fresh local dairy that turns every bite into a celebration of rich flavor and smooth texture.
Whether you’re craving classic vanilla or adventurous seasonal twists, these spots serve up sweetness that’s as fresh as the countryside.
Indulge in a scoop or two and discover how local ingredients make gelato an unforgettable experience.
1. La Vita Dolce – Chapel Hill
Tucked away in Chapel Hill’s Southern Village, La Vita Dolce brings authentic Italian gelato techniques to Carolina. The owner trained with gelato masters in Bologna before opening shop in 2002.
Their pistachio gelato, made with locally sourced cream and milk, has won regional awards three years running.
During summer peach season, don’t miss their farm-fresh Carolina peach sorbet paired with mascarpone gelato.
2. Asheville Chocolate – Asheville
Mountain magic happens at Asheville Chocolate where they’ve perfected the art of combining local dairy with handcrafted chocolate.
Family-owned since 2015, this downtown gem sources milk from cows grazing just 20 miles away.
Flavor adventurers flock here for their lavender honey gelato, infused with wildflower honey from Appalachian beekeepers.
The shop’s rustic wooden interior and mountain views create the perfect backdrop for savoring their creamy creations.
3. Geluna Gelato – Cary
When former NASA engineer Tom Luna traded rocket science for gelato making, Geluna was born. His scientific approach results in mathematically perfect texture every time.
The shop partners exclusively with Maple View Farm for their dairy, ensuring each scoop supports local agriculture.
Their signature moon dust flavor (vanilla bean with chocolate cookie crumbles) pays homage to Tom’s space background, while seasonal offerings rotate with what’s fresh at the Cary Farmers Market.
4. Gnam Gnam Gelato – Greensboro
Say the name twice – it’s Italian for “yum yum”, and you’ll understand why locals can’t stop talking about this Greensboro hotspot.
Founded by Italian transplant Selma Gualazzi, authenticity is never compromised here. Every morning begins with delivery of fresh cream from nearby Homeland Creamery.
The shop’s bright turquoise walls and hand-painted murals create an instant mood lift, perfectly complementing innovative flavors like their famous fig and mascarpone or Carolina sweet potato pie gelato.
5. Sugar & Snow Gelato – Asheville
Punk rock meets gourmet gelato at this edgy Asheville establishment where tattooed artisans craft small-batch frozen perfection.
Their commitment to sustainability extends beyond local sourcing to compostable cups and spoons. Lines form early for their breakfast gelato series featuring flavors like maple bacon and cinnamon roll.
The shop’s floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the French Broad River, making it a prime spot for people-watching while enjoying their famous bourbon caramel swirl made with Troy & Sons whiskey from Asheville Distilling.
6. Gelarto – Wilmington
Beachside bliss comes in a cup or cone at Wilmington’s premier gelato destination. Just steps from the boardwalk, Gelarto infuses coastal inspiration into every flavor.
Salt air and sunshine somehow make their sea salt caramel taste even better.
The shop’s fourth-generation gelato maker, Paolo, brought his family recipes from Sicily in 2018, adapting them to showcase Carolina dairy and coastal ingredients like local honey and Wrightsville Beach sea salt.
7. Tutti Gelato – Charlotte
Charlotte’s urban oasis of Italian frozen delights sits in the heart of NoDa’s arts district. The walls showcase rotating exhibits from local artists while the gelato case displays equally artistic creations.
Owner Maria Rossini studied under gelato masters in Florence before bringing her craft to the Queen City. Her signature lavender honey gelato uses honey from rooftop beehives maintained just three blocks away.
During summer months, the shop stays open until midnight, becoming a favorite post-dinner destination for Charlotte’s culinary crowd.
8. Corrado Gelato – Charlotte
Hidden gem alert! Tucked inside a converted 1920s gas station in Charlotte’s historic Dilworth neighborhood, Corrado Gelato serves up nostalgia alongside innovative flavors.
The vintage pumps now dispense water and napkins rather than fuel. Third-generation gelato maker Antonio Corrado uses his grandfather’s hand-cranked recipes with modern twists.
His bourbon pecan pie gelato, made with pecans from a family farm in eastern Carolina, has developed such a following that customers can sign up for text alerts when fresh batches arrive.
9. A Little Gelato – Durham
Size doesn’t matter at Durham’s tiniest sweet spot, where the 400-square-foot shop packs massive flavor into every spoonful.
Located in the American Tobacco Campus, this micro-gelateria has just four rotating flavors daily.
What they lack in variety they make up for in perfection. Owner Jess Little (yes, that’s really her name) sources dairy from her family’s farm just outside Durham.
The simplicity of their classic stracciatella, with flecks of single-origin chocolate from nearby Videri Chocolate Factory, proves that sometimes less truly is more.
10. Artisen Gelato – Matthews
Science meets sweetness at this laboratory-turned-gelateria in suburban Matthews. Former chemist Dr. Jennifer Park applies molecular gastronomy principles to create gelato with unmatched smoothness and flavor intensity.
Glass beakers serve as water glasses while periodic table-themed flavor cards explain each creation’s composition.
Their signature nitrogen-frozen gelato is made to order, creating an Instagram-worthy cloud of vapor as each batch freezes instantly before your eyes.
The doctor’s prescription? Their famous dark chocolate orange gelato, rich with local dairy and cold-pressed citrus.