If you’re on vacation, you should be having ice cream every day of your trip.
(Heck, even if you’re not on vacation, increasing your daily ice cream intake can dramatically improve your life.)
But, I’ll confess: I’m an ice cream snob. I don’t want just any ice cream. I want the best of the best.
That’s why I tried almost every single presentable heladería (ice cream shop) in Alicante, Spain searching for the city’s best ice cream. For you, dear foodie reader, I did it for you.
And, 17 ice creams later, these are my top five favorite heladerías in this beautiful city (plus a few honorable mentions):
The TL;DR Version:
#1 Livanti—32 Flavor options, best value gelato, always incredible.
#2 Fraganti—Light & European gelato, incredible waffle cones, best beachside option.
#3 Anomaly—Quality gelato with sweet toppings, great service.
#4 Holy Madre—Creamy and perfectly-texured Argentinian ice cream.
#5 Lucciano’s—Quality ice cream, lots of options, fun flavors (but the most expensive on the list).
#1 Livanti
With 32 different gelato flavors to choose from (one more than Baskin-Robbins), affordable prices, and gelato that’s always incredible, Livanti takes first place in my ranking of the best ice cream spots in Alicante. It’s my personal favorite, and I’ve been there too many times to count.
Every flavor I’ve tried (and I’ve tried a third of them by now), is absolutely fantastic. With each lick, you’ll experience the silky, soft texture of authentic Italian gelato. The gelato is dense, sweet, and the flavors always stand out.
It’s also the best value find. There are five size options, ranging from €1.50 to €6; making it more affordable than the other options on this list. (The ice cream cone pictured above is the small size, which cost €3.)
🍦Flavors to try: All of them are fantastic, you literally cannot go wrong. I almost always go fruity here—the pineapple, lemon, cherry, and strawberry flavors are unbeatable.
☝🏼Pro tip! You can also order Livanti’s gelato in large portions (eat the whole thing all by yourself or share with a friend, I don’t judge).
📍Location: Calle Muñoz 6. City center, next to the Co-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas.
💸Prices: (same prices for a cup and a cone)
Gran Capriccio (Mini): €1.50
Piacere (Small): €3.00
Tentazione (Medium): €4.00
Peccato (Large): €5.00
Vizio (Extra Large): €5.00
#2 Fraganti
There are ice creams that taste like they’ll give you diabetes (Ben & Jerry’s, I’m looking at you—with heart-shaped eyes, of course). Then there are ice creams that taste European. They’re light, natural, and delicious in their own unique way.
That’s the type of ice cream you’ll find at Fraganti. They’ve got fresh flavors like lemon, basil, and coconut. They’ve got creamy flavors like cookies, Reus hazelnut, dulce de leche, and toasted pistachio.
Although there’s not a huge selection (there are usually 12-15 options), the ice cream here stands out. We’ve come back to Fraganti time and time again (and brought our friends here!) because they have the most delicious, natural-tasting ice creams.
🍦Flavors to try: I especially love the coconut—packed with actual shredded coconut and just sweet enough—and the cookies flavor, which tastes like oreo, but creamier and lighter.
🏆Best Waffle Cones! Fraganti is second place on the list, but in the waffle cone category, they’re #1. You definitely want to order a cone here, they’re soft, chewy, and delicious.
📍Location: Ctra. Benimagrell, 176. Near Muchavista Beach, about 25 minutes from Alicante’s city center. They also have a shop in Alicante’s city center, on C. Cándida Jimeno Gargallo, 6.
💸Prices: (same prices for a cup and a waffle cone)
1 scoop: €3.90
2 scoops: €4.90
3 scoops: €6.50
#3 Anomaly
Just like the name, this gelato is out of the ordinary. It’s not just another ice cream shop—Anomaly stands out. With exceptional customer service, soft, creamy, and potently flavorful gelato, this place is a must-visit.
Though they don’t have a lot of flavors to choose from, they’ve got the classics. And, each ice cream comes with a free topping: fruit jelly, caramel, chocolate, chocolate chips. It’s the cherry on top that really sets this place apart.
🍦Flavors to try: Salted caramel, fior di latte (a milky, creamy flavor that pairs well with everything), and white chocolate.
📍Location: C. San Ildefonso, 10. In the heart of Alicante’s city center, near Plaza Nueva.
💸Prices: (same prices for a cup and a cone)
Small (two flavors): €3.80
Medium (two flavors): €4.80
Large (three flavors): €5.80
Extra Large (four flavors): €6.80
#4 Holy Madre Heladería Argentina
This ice cream spot surprised me! They serve authentic Argentinian ice cream, and it’s the real deal. Each of their 20-ish flavors are all really high-quality, creamy and perfectly textured. For one euro more, you can get your ice cream cone dipped in chocolate too!
With baby blue, white, and gold colors that represent Argentina and other fun sweet treats like churros, alfajores from Argentina, and specialty coffee, at Holy Madre, there’s something for everyone.
🍦Flavors to try: Banana split. This one was a winner for sure. Super creamy, and just enough of a hint of banana—but without being overpowering. And, try the dulce de leche con alfajor, this caramely flavor is their best seller.
📍Location: C. San Francisco, 58. Right on Alicante’s famous mushroom street.
💸Prices: (same prices for a cup and a cone)
Small (only one flavor): €3.80
Medium (two flavors): €4.80
Large (three flavors): €5.80
#5 Lucciano’s
After trying Lucciano’s for the first time in Barcelona, we were thrilled when they announced that they were coming to Alicante! They have beautifully-designed ice cream shops and lots of fun flavor options.
Their ice cream is high-quality and there are a lot of flavors to choose from, but it’s ranking last on this list because it is significantly more expensive than the other spots—and the portion sizes don’t make up for it.
🍦Flavors to try: Coco Rock (coconut with white chocolate), Avellana Blanca & Caramelo Salado (hazelnut and salted caramel), King Bueno (Spain’s famous Bueno candy bar).
📍Location: Passeig Esplanada d’Espanya, 7, C. San Fernando, 15. Right on Alicante’s famous Explanada (the main street with the cool wavy red and blue tile design).
💸Prices: (same prices for a cup and a cone)
Small: €4.50
Medium: €5.50
Large: €6.50
Plus, One Extra: Amorino
If you’re a foodie, you’ve probably heard about Amorino’s famous gelato—and seen their colorful rose-shaped gelato cone creations! They have a ton of flavors to choose from—each delicately crafted so you can enjoy every bite.
Though very popular, Amorino’s ice cream is most definitely NOT overhyped. It’s creamy, richly flavorful, and made with quality ingredients that wow.
The only reason I didn’t include it in the top 5 is because you’ve probably already heard of it. And if you’ve already tried Amorino in a different country, I really hope you do give one of my top 5 a try. (But I won’t judge if you go to Amorino too, I do truly love their gelato.)
🍦Flavors to try: Literally all of them, they’re all 10/10.
📍Location: Rbla. de Méndez Núñez, 10. Right in the center of Alicante, near the Explanada.
💸 Prices: (same prices for cone and cup)
Piccola (Small): €4
Classic (Medium): €5.10
Grande (Big): €6.10
Grandissima (Really Big)—Cup Only: €8
A Compartir (Sharing)—Cup Only: €11
Things to Do In and Near Alicante, Spain
Alicante is one of my all-time favorite cities in Spain. If you’re visiting for the first time, make sure you check out my complete one-week guide to Spain’s Costa Blanca. In between meals, these are some of my favorite things to do:
Hike to the top of the Santa Barbara Castle for amazing views of the entire city and the mediterranean ocean.
Explore Guadalest, Altea, and Algar Waterfalls on a day trip! This tour takes you to see one of my favorite spots: Guadalest, a picturesque castle atop a rocky mountain that oversees a beautiful turquoise lake with gray peaks decorating the backdrop. Plus, you’ll visit Altea (also known as the Greece of Spain) and a cool waterfall swimming spot!
Go snorkeling around Tabarca Island! This little island off the coast of Alicante has it all: snorkeling, cliff jumping, beaches, and island vibes! It’s my favorite spot to snorkel and I try to visit as much as I can in the summers.