Lolita's Gelato — Restaurant in Municipality of Thira

Incoming long review! Firstly, Aggeliki who runs the front of shop is the nicest and explained what was in their flavor “Greek Viagra”. It’s yogurt, honey and hazelnuts from what I remember. We didn’t try Viagra but we did try other pick-me-ups aka the rest of their ice cream:

Mango - 9/10 Silky and smooth, sweeter than their other sorbets

Strawberry - 10/10 A little more tart, but tastes fresh and has strawberry pulp inside, a great contrast to the creamier flavors

Orange - 11/10 My personal favorite, orange can be overpowering but their sorbet is light and refreshing. Was recommended this flavor by several locals.

Lemon - 8/10 Really tart and has no ice chunks whatsoever, if you like your lemonade more sour you’ll definitely like this one.

Pistachio: 10/10 so decadent and creamy without feeling too heavy, definitely getting this one again

Hazelnut: 7/10 We weren’t the biggest fan of this one, it tastes like Nutella (surprise) which was a little overpowering, and we felt it didn’t pair well with other flavors.

Yogurt: 11/10 another must-have. If you’ve had Pinkberry or Yogurtland (sorry non Americans) it’s basically their plain flavor but way richer—like high-end froyo instead of...

One fine morning in June, I started the scenic hike from Fira to Oia, heading for Lolita's with Rick Steves's guide book in hand. One bite each of the mango sorbet and pineapple gelato overwrote my fond memories of gelatos from a handful of venerable gelato establishments in Rome and Florence. After licking up the last bit of the good stuff, I went back into the store to tell the server that the gelato tasted better than the one I had in Italy. He confessed that he took a class on gelato making in Bologna before opening this shop. Seeing that I didn't order his best, he gave me samples of orange sorbet and banana gelato, because both were made from real fruit. They tasted like heaven! I recommend this store which is steps from the Oia bus / taxi station. Do order the flavors that are made from real fruits. You will be wowed! We also tried pistachio and coconut flavors. Both are very...

Lolita’s Gelato is pure magic. This amazingly quaint, family-owned spot has a vibe that’s both cool and deeply personal. I had the pleasure of meeting the third-generation grandson whose family started making gelato right in their home — now the kids’ bedroom is literally the gelato factory!

The owner even shared a photo of himself as a child and showed me how the house looked 50 years ago. It felt like stepping back in time, and that personal connection made everything taste and feel 10 times better.

Not that it needed help — the gelato is a solid 10/10 on taste and texture alone. My kids devoured their cones, and after hearing the story, I treated myself to an iced espresso that was honestly the best I’ve had anywhere in the world (yes, even Italy).

If you’re anywhere nearby, do yourself a favor and experience Lolita’s. It’s...