It should be no surprise to anyone that in Venice, gelato is taken as seriously as the wine. And the best gelato is taken more seriously. Ingredients are often referred to with an echo of vintners discussing terroir (pistachios from Sicily; gianduiotto from Piedmont), and each maker with a their own unique, often secret, process. But with a gelato stand seemingly around every canal bend, how does one prioritize? Read our list below, for starters.

1. La Mela Verde

La Mela Verde, a nondescript artisanal shop, sits right on the Rio di San Provolo canal. Inside, the Granny Smith–green space is standing room-only, with a case of around a dozen daily flavors. La Mela Verde makes its gelato, some of the creamiest in Venice, using whole Italian milk. Flavors include ricotta with Sicilian pistachio and seasonal sorbets like candonga strawberries in spring or saturn white peaches in summer. Get it on a cone or piled into a "panino gelato"—ice cream sandwich.

2. Gelato di Natura

Gelato di Natura lures in pedestrians with colorful tiles and exposed wood rafters. Inside, it’s standing room-only, so be prepared to eat your scoops on the go. The gelato here is made from high-quality ingredients and whipped using traditional machinery, giving it a dense, yet somehow fluffy, texture. The Gianduja Torino blends hazelnuts from Piedmont with chocolate from the Ivory Coast, and the Zuppa Inglese whips together egg yolks, biscuits, and Alchermes liqueur. The popsicles taste exactly like their ingredients, from Mediterranean lemon to mint.

3. Venchi

Venchi, a historic 19th-century chocolate shop, serves its own take on gelato in a regal setting. First and foremost a chocolate company, only recently did Venchi venture into gelato-making. As such, opt for one of the flavors that incorporates chocolate, likely single-origin chocolate from Ecuador, Venezuela, or Peru. And this is one of the few Venice gelaterias that doesn't overlook the often nderappreciated cone; instead, it's celebrated with seasonal grains.

4. Gelateria il Doge

Gelateria il Doge might be a little out of the way—across the Grand Canal from Piazza San Marco in the lovely neighborhood of Campo San Toma—but that’s all part of the charm. There are more than 15 flavors of creamy, homemade gelato at this award-winning shop, including eight versions of chocolate, like the signature Crema di Doge (candied orange and chocolate), spicy chocolate (with pepper), and dark-pink Himalayan salt and cocoa. Sicilian dessert fans will also appreciate the traditional Sicilian granita (in five flavors) and the cassata Siciliana gelato, inspired by the classic fruit cake.

5. Gelateria Nico

Located on the scenic Fondamenta Zattere ai Gesuati promenade overlooking the Giudecca Canal, Gelateria Nico boasts an enviable waterside setting. This is one of the rare gelaterias where you can actually dine-in, and as such, the gelato arrives in style in hurricane glasses and other flamboyant glassware. The classic gianduiotto, a best-seller, is served with ample whipped cream. The tiramisu and the cassata are also great; in summer, the shop serves hand-made popsicles with various coatings and, if you're in the mood, a solid Aperol spritz.

6. Bacaro del Gelato

Bacaro del Gelato is a teensy gelateria created by two young Venetians devoted to the classics. The bright, simple storefront gets straight to the point: traditional gelato, done well. A chalkboard menu displays the day's offerings. The dark chocolate is rich and bittersweet, making it one of the top sellers. The pistachio, hazelnut, and tiramisu all follow close behind, but whatever you order, opt to put your scoops in a homemade brioche for an otherworldly gelato sandwich.

7. Gelatoteca Suso

Gelatoteca Suso is a classy gelateria with more than two-dozen Instagram-ready flavors like mascarpone with fig and walnuts, Orient Express (with ginger and cinnamon), and passion fruit. It’s clear the folks here take gelato quite seriously, as evidenced by the artful presentation, immaculate storefront, and the employees’ sleek, black-and-red uniforms. The shop is also keen on experimentation; a riff on Japanese mochi, for instance, stuffs peach, pistachio, or chocolate gelato into rice pasta.

8. Stickhouse Venezia

Stickhouse Venezia, a tiny, unassuming gelato stand, goes in a surprising, somewhat unorthodox, direction: swap the cone and the cup, and present artisanal gelato on a stick. High-end raw ingredients like milk and sugar—no emulsifiers, dyes, preservatives, or artificial flavors—go into small batches of gelato. There's a variety of flavors; standouts include strawberry, mango, licorice, and chocolate. Inside is standing-room-only, with a modest glass case filled with a rainbow assortment of sweet options.

9. Gelateria Alaska

The humble Gelateria Alaska is just as laid-back as its neighborhood: Santa Croce, on the edge of Venice. But don’t let the mellow vibe and dressed-down appearance fool you: Despite the sun-bleached striped awning and cartoonish gelato statue, this take-away gelato parlor holds its own with bold flavors and generous scoops. Artichoke, ginger, celery are not part of a farmers' market shopping list. Here, they’re gelato flavors. For those with a less adventurous palette, the classics like gianduia and seasonal fruit flavors are dense, creamy, and reliably good.