GELATERIA IL MONELLO

In Best Cafes & Bars Brussels, Best Shops Brussels

While browsing through Pinterest the other day, I came across the following quote: “You can’t buy happiness but you can buy ice cream. And that’s kind of the same thing”. I quickly pinned the image on my board and convinced myself I needed to cheer up a little bit aka try a new ice cream spot asap. After all, who am I to disagree with public wisdom?! And so I made my way to Gelateria Il Monello.

Located close to Place Stéphanie, just a few metres away from Bocca Moka, Il Monello is the work of two Italian siblings who wanted to create an authentic Italian gelateria in Brussels. The store, which used to house a bakery before, is spacious and colorful with a special corner for kids where they can draw and play. My sweet tooth had a hard time deciding which ice cream flavours were the best but luckily, the staff lets you taste before making up your mind. I finally went for the vanilla and zabaione (an Italian dessert with egg yolks, sugar and sweet wine) while my partner in crime tried the hazelnut and caramel ones. At this point I should probably confess that I’ve been back to Gelateria Il Monello a couple of times for their bitter chocolate as one of my friends is obsessed with it but without my camera (a rare occasion but it does happen!). The ice cream was tasty but a tad too sweet for my liking, my favourite being the hazelnut and bitter chocolate flavours. It’s subjective I guess but since I love Middle-eastern desserts I think I can handle sweet, just not when it comes to ice cream.

Next time I’m eager to try their ice pops or perhaps their semifreddo, an Italian ice cream cake. But even if you’re not an ice cream fan, Gelateria Il Monello serves a few savoury dishes at breakfast and lunch, like focaccia, arancini, pizza and quiches. A nice spot for a break in between shopping (Dille & Kamille is really close!) or a long midday pause – let’s not forget there’s free wifi. If you’ve ever been to Gelateria Il Monello, let me know what is your favourite flavour – I can always use some foodie inspiration!