Gina’s Gelato | Traditional Handmade Gelato, Sorbetto & Desserts in Nelson BC
Welcome to Gina’s Gelato, an art nouveau–deco gelateria and dessert house in Nelson, British Columbia. We honour pre-industrial food values, slow-food ethics, and an unapologetic devotion to real, traditional ingredients—all wrapped in an unhurried hospitality that’s rare today (but still alive here).
Gina’s Gelato Latest
Our new “Layers” are here!
Ever wanted to add the crunch of nuts, or a smothering of whipped cream? Love the pistachio but wish you could make it “Dubai” style? And do you always wish you could perfect the milk chocolate hazelnut with chunks of cookie dough?
We got you. “Layers” are our handmade mix-ins and toppings: brownie bits, pistachio crème, shortcake dough, upcycled cookie dough (ask our servers about this), and more. Add toppings like hot fudge, salted caramel, whipped cream, or toasted marshmallow meringue.
Choose your faves and we’ll fold them into your scoop right in front of you.
Each Layer 100% natural and made on site. No artificial anything, just real ingredients and handmade process, as always—just like everything at Gina’s Gelato.
Gina’s Gelato Journal: The Insider’s Scoop
Love food? Us, too. Become an insider at Gina’s Gelato via our gelato journal (aka “The Insider’s Scoop”) and gain insights not only to traditional Italian gelati and sorbetti, but explore culinary books in our book list, get first view into what’s happening in our kitchen, meet our local Kootenay and British Columbia ingredients and vendors, explore desserts from around the world, first-access to our in-person experiences, and more.
You can expect to receive The Insider’s Scoop as often as Gina has time to step away from the kitchen to research and write (i.e. not too often — no spam here). Use the button below to gain insider access!
Old-world Artisan Gelato & All-natural Desserts—Handcrafted in the Heart of the Kootenays
Actual page is coming at some point once Gina — a real person who really makes it all on site entirely herself — has a day off from roasting & grinding hazelnuts and snapping up chocolate slabs for cookies. (The sweet server team does help peel pistachios.)
For now, we’ve got the necessities: a phone number that rings up our 1910 phone (come see it, it really works), hours, and — of course — a location.
Get in contact, get in our door, and get a rare-but-true, entirely from-scratch, traditional-ingredient gelato, sorbetto, and/or dessert delight (no judgement from us if it’s “and”) in your hand.
Though we’re told it’s unheard of (and that we’re crazy for not making it easy on ourselves), there are absolutely no pre-made mixes or bases used here. We
- pour the milk (from BC cows)
- grind the nuts (no pre-made pastes here)
- crack the eggs (fresh from Creston)
- make the cones (hand rolled in our kitchen)
- source individual, natural ingredients as locally as possible, prioritizing Nelson and the Kootenays (see our local suppliers below)
- and all the etc., etc.
We’ve already churned our own butter and ground our own almond flour, but heck, if we could milk the cow, raise the chickens, mill the wheat, and grow the citrus, we’d do that, too.
(It’s going to happen; mark our words. ;)
We do it all ourselves, from the first pour to the final scoop, using real ingredients from Nelson, the Kootenays, British Columbia, Canada, and then (and only then), beyond. We take no shortcuts so we can serve you naturally flavourful, meticulously-made gelato, desserts & delights.
You might say Gina’s Gelato is like stepping back into the slow-food era of the early 20th century — and we love it if you do. It’s what we’re aiming for in our art nouveau–deco gelateria.
All of this sounds better than a fancy website, right? ;)
. . .
Hours:
Get your spoons poised: we’re open 7 days a week! Our spring hours are listed below.
Please note: Hours change seasonally & to accommodate our sweet team (because education is a priority!). Stay tuned to our Instagram & TikTok.
EVERY day (yay!) 2–9 p
Telephone:
Location:
526 Victoria St.Nelson, BC V1L 4K8
Click map for directions, hours, reviews, etc.
Say hello to our local friends, producers, and suppliers
We source and collaborate with producers across Nelson, the Kootenays, and British Columbia, strengthening local food systems and supporting our regional small business economy. Meet the local producers behind our ingredients and our friends:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a scoop of our gelato look smaller than ice cream?
Because it is smaller visually. Gelato is churned slowly, with very little air, so our scoops are denser, richer, and weigh more relative to their size than an ice cream scoop puffed up by air (up to 50% air in ice cream).
More on the gelato vs. ice-cream ↗
Do you use pre-made bases or mixes?
No. Everything is crafted on-site by hand, without any pre-made bases or industrial mixes — just real ingredients, carefully sourced and prepared.
Can I bring outside food or drinks to enjoy on your patio or inside the gelateria?
When entering Gina’s Gelato patio or inside seating area, please enjoy the food and drinks we have taken the time to prepare. Gina’s Gelato is a dedicated slow-food gelateria and dessert house; to maintain the integrity of our service experience and the atmosphere we’ve intentionally created, we ask that you please refrain from bringing outside food and beverages. (Our team would be happy to help you choose something from our menu if you’re looking for a new favourite.)
Do you sell gelato to go?
Absolutely. Choose a cup, a handmade cone, a sandwich, or a refundable & reusable pint jar for home. Jars: Return the jar on your next visit and we’ll swap it with one that’s ready-to-fill with your favourite flavour—zero-waste decadence.
What are “Layers” and how do I get them?
Layers are our handmade mix-ins and toppings—think pistachio crème, brownie, toasted-marshmallow meringue, etc.. Pick your scoop, pick a Layer (or a few), and we fold it in right in front of you. Real ingredients, as always, made on site.
Is everything here really all-natural?
Yes. We’ve never had any synthetic flavourings, stabilisers, or colours cross our kitchen door. We roast our own nuts, condense our own condensed milk, and let real ingredients do the talking.
There are only a handful of ice cream & gelateria doing this; here’s where to find us ↗
I’ve heard you don’t use premade mixes—so what do you use?
It all depends on what the flavour demands! Gelato always starts with BC milk. Depending on the flavour, we may incorporate eggs from Creston (see our suppliers, above). Sorbetto is traditionally fruit- or water-based, so you might find organic fruit from Abbotsford or Kootenay Boundary or espresso from Trail Coffee Co. Each flavour is made with real ingredients, and real ingredients have different needs; just like humans. No one size fits all.
Can I join the team?
If you think whisking custard at midnight sounds romantic, you might be our kind of human.
Current openings ↗
Are you open late?
Yes. Gina’s Gelato was founded with the core idea of offering something Nelson needed but didn’t have: a warm, inviting, and unhurried place to gather into the evenings that isn’t a bar or a restaurant. We don’t have WiFi or TVs—just good desserts, good company, and a pace that lets you stay a while. Our current seasonal hours are listed above.
Are you locally owned and operated?
Yes. Gina’s Gelato is independently owned and operated by Gina, a Nelson, BC resident. Every batch, every scoop, and every decision starts here.