Gelato Messina Kent Town — Restaurant in Adelaide

I did some exercise after dinner last Saturday night. I jogged along the Parade until I arrived Messina. I was a bit surprised when I saw a long queue at around 8:30 pm. Originally, I planned to buy a gelato, but I gave up after I saw the long queue.😅

I never intentionally visited Messina Kent Town, the only one Messina in SA, since living in SA from January 2025. I was never keen to visit Messina because I have tried various Messina in Sydney for quite many times, I would rather try some local South Australian gelato.

In fact, when I lived in Sydney, I would rather visit Cow & the Moon or Anita Gelato etc. I would say Messina Gelato was also good, but just their prices increased quite significantly, whilst portion size became less generous compared with some other gelato shops in recent two years or so. Besides, nowadays Messina is available everywhere in Sydney, with over 20 stores, maybe, so I could get a Messina gelato pretty easy.

I googled Messina yestersay, I learnt that the founder of Messina, Nick Palumbo, was born in Adelaide but moved to Sydney to open his first Messina in Darlinghurst in 2002. So returning to Adelaide to open the first Messina in 2024, at Nick's childhood suburb, was a big milestone and was a very meaningful development of Messina.

I think Adelaidean is proud of Nick's success and achievement in gelato business and happy to support his returning to Adelaide.

After reading Messina's story, I am sure I will re-visit Messina Kent Town very soon to join the long queue of Adelaideans and to show my support.

Updates on 21 July 2025: Finally, I tried this Messina last weekend. I ordered a 1.5L take-away tub box. I tried Pistachio, Macadamia Crunch and White Chocolate Hazelnut. Their gelato were really tasty and creamy. They were probably one of the most delicious gelato that...

I pre-ordered and paid for a cake from Messina a day in advance, selecting a specific pick-up time to line up with a dinner reservation next door. I arrived just before dinner to collect it - something that should have taken two minutes.

The store was busy, and while I wasn’t there for ice cream, I walked in to pick up my order. Almost immediately, I was met with judgmental looks and a hostile confrontation from another customer who wrongly assumed I was skipping the line. She loudly accused and threatened me in front of everyone - and staff witnessed the entire incident without stepping in.

Instead of assisting, they continued serving others, ignored me, and treated me as if I was the issue. When a kind new staff member tried to help, she was publicly shut down by a more senior colleague who questioned if my clearly confirmed order was even ready.

What should have been a simple, two-minute pick-up turned into a stressful, humiliating ordeal. If pre-orders are offered, there should be systems in place to support them - clear signage, basic staff training, and most importantly, awareness of what respectful service looks like.

People might be happy to wait 40 minutes for ice cream - but it’s only after an experience like this that you realise how little that sweetness matters when the service leaves such a sour aftertaste.

I will never be...

I’ve been to Messina Gelato several times, and it continues to be one of my all-time favorite spots for dessert in the city. What keeps me coming back is their monthly rotating menu — there’s always something new, creative, and full of personality to try. Each flavor feels thoughtfully crafted, often with playful or nostalgic twists, and that’s what really sets Messina apart from other gelato shops.

One of the standouts for me was the Oat Leaf Zest & Lemon Zest gelato. It was absolutely stunning — citrusy, refreshing, and beautifully balanced. I love how they take bold or unconventional ingredients and turn them into something both flavorful and surprisingly harmonious.

A particularly special moment was discovering their Pandan Coconut flavor. As someone from Southern Vietnam, this flavor instantly reminded me of Bến Tre’s coconut candy — a sweet and fragrant treat from my childhood. It was almost nostalgic seeing that same flavor transformed into a creamy, smooth gelato. A really unique and memorable experience.

Messina does more than just serve good gelato — they bring imagination to each scoop. If you’re into bold new flavors or want a taste that sparks memories, this is the place to go. Definitely worth...