Massimo Gelato

Pretoriusstraat 89, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Massimo Gelato is exactly what it sounds like: a gelato shop that takes the whole thing way more seriously than most places in Amsterdam. They make everything on the spot, in open kitchens, using natural ingredients from suppliers they actually know. Pistachios from Bronte, hazelnuts from Piemonte, lemons from the south, and milk from a local farmer near Amsterdam. No shortcuts, no chemical stuff. Just gelato the way the founder learned it from his grandmother in Liguria. There are five locations across the city, from De Pijp to Gelderlandplein, so you're never too far from a fix. The flavours go beyond the usual suspects: Fior di Latte, Ricotta & Figs, Tiramisu, and a solid lineup of sorbets if you're not doing dairy. They also do homemade pastry and traditional caffé from a family roaster Massimo has known since childhood, so it's not just a one-trick pony. The vibe is pretty simple. You walk in, you smell roasted pistachios and hazelnuts, you see people holding gelato and looking ha…