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Summer in Melbourne is for jumping off the St Kilda Pier, taking weekenders down the coast (are you team Great Ocean Road or team Peninsula?), wining and dining al fresco in pretty courtyards, and last but not least: engaging in the sweet pursuit of the best ice cream and gelato around town.
While we've plenty of longtime favourites, it's always a delight when an exciting new artisan enters the stage. This year, it's Mondo Gelateria – a marvellous peach-hued gelateria housed within a 150-year-old heritage building in the CBD. As her namesake suggests ('mondo' means 'world' in Italian), she's coming in strong with 28 globally inspired gelato flavours on rotation, plus designer pastries, cold brew coffee creations and an aperitif bar – for Limoncello gelato infusions, of course.
The all-day dessert darling is owned by gelato artist Rio Olivetti, who was trained by Stefano Tarquinio (head of the world-renowned Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna). You'll taste the magic of Olivetti's time-honoured technique in every scoop, from the velvety-rich, cherry-spiked black forest gâteau to the silken pistachio crunch made with nuts from Sicily. Gelato enthusiasts can also anticipate plenty of innovative fusions, including yuzu and blood orange, cassis and calamansi, and matcha and mango.
Beyond gelato, Mondo serves up gorgeous pastries and cakes, courtesy of acclaimed Taiwanese pastry chefs Peini You and Jasper Yang. Treat yourself to one of the petit gâteaux, éclairs, brioche or cookies baked fresh daily. Seasonal cakes here are multilayered beauties incorporating gelato, sponge and mousse – the ultimate showstopper dessert for that summer dinner party you're planning.
Don't forget to pay a visit to the aperitif bar, which serves gelato flights infused with Limoncello and other botanicals, alongside monthly rotating concepts inspired by international flavours. Coffee comes from Veneziano Roasters, with both classic drops and creative cold-brew styles like the Tokyo Drift and Casablanca Dusk for those keen to venture out of the box.
As for night owls in need of a late-night sweet fix on Fridays and Saturdays, your dessert run will be soundtracked by actual DJs. Is this beautiful new shop literally gelato heaven? We reckon it could just be the closest thing.
Mondo Gelateria is open from 7.30am-11.30pm daily at 215 Elizabeth St in Melbourne's CBD. Find out more here.
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