Giovanni L. Gelato is an Italian-style ice cream manufacturer in the heart of Palma's old town: the brand's flagship address sits on Carrer de Jaume II 1, just a few steps from La Seu cathedral and Plaça de Cort. Under the "Gelato de Luxe" label, it's all about handmade ice cream made in the Italian tradition – right in the historic centre.
What makes Giovanni L. Gelato special
The location is half the story: if the smell of freshly baked waffles reaches you as you stroll the alleyways, you've arrived. With around 1,400 Google reviews and 4.6 stars, it's one of the most talked-about ice cream parlours in the city – family-friendly, good for dessert after dinner and a logical stop between sightseeing and shopping.
It can get busy on warm days, but visitors report that the queue usually moves quickly. A small terrace across the street invites you to linger; some guests simply sit on the nearby steps.
Flavours & specialities
The flagship flavour is pistachio with Mallorcan sea salt. It was for this exact flavour that founder Giovanni Lasagna was named best pistachio at the SIGA ice cream fair in Rimini in 2014 – worth a try if you're here.
Beyond that, more than 80 flavours await: classics like vanilla and chocolate alongside characterful creations such as "Tahiti Lemon with Basil" or "Sicilian Pistachio Verde". Reviews also mention Dubai Chocolate, Banoffee, Ferrero, Dulce de Leche, Baileys, mango, almond and even an ensaimada flavour. There's something for restricted diets too: vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free and halal-certified options. Add crêpes, bubble waffles and coffee to round things off.
Origin & quality
Behind "Giovanni L." lies a German-Italian family story. It begins in 1961, when the grandfather of the Lasagna family opened his first ice cream parlour at Lake Steinhude in Germany. Giovanni Lasagna, born in Steinhude in 1972, carried on the legacy and opened the first Giovanni L. parlour in Hanover in 2005, followed by Kiel in 2006.
In 2009 the brand – today based in Kiel – stepped onto the international stage with its first shop on Mallorca, in parallel with launching its franchise system. Giovanni L. is now present in Spain as well as Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and Austria. The promise stays the same everywhere: high quality, natural ingredients and the craft of the Italian gelateria.
