GelatoLove Carlsbad Village — Restaurant in Carlsbad

Disclosure: I used to make French pastries for this place years back when it was still Gaia Gelato, before the original owner Cristina left and went back to Rome. She used to make REAL authentic gelato with authentic recipes, using fresh REAL ingredients and fruits. Well this was my first visit in years and I was absolutely astonished, absolutely TERRIBLE QUALITY. Came on a Friday night to have Indian food and after the group decided to try the 'new' gelato. We saw the new owner walk by about 30 minutes prior with a cart, presumably bringing in fresh gelato from their satellite location. So we expected a nice selection of gelato, but instead we were shocked to see the whole front display was completely empty. The remaining small display had 3 flavors that were sitting empty and the rest looked, well, sad with a strange looking texture. I warned the group it did not look good, but they tried a 'small' anyway (which is more like an extra mini). OMG, absolutely the worst tasting gelato or frozen dessert I've had in my life. My message to the new owners: if you new product with fake sugar does not have a great shelf life, PLEASE toss it and replace with new product. Do not sell something that is not edible. The mango on its best day would've been inedible. It had tiny cubes of something in it that WASN'T mango, I don't know what it was. Tasted absolutely terrible. The cookies and cream tasted so odd, whipped like it had lots of air in it, barely sweet and the texture was even worse than the mango. This place has gone DOWNHILL in a major way. Even the once simplistic European-like decor and furnishings is now gone and has turned into a cluttered mess. The place is a...

This is my go to spot, and am there every week. Their gelato is rich, light, airy, and creamy, and packed with flavor. It is not overly sweet and packed with sugar so you feel blah after eating. So may varieties to choose from that it is hard to decide, as all are scratch made, with an artisan touch. My favorites are the spicy chocolate, which has a great hint of cayenne heat mixes in with a rich dark chocolate. The lemon custard has a great tang and tart, and is SO good. I also like their mixed berry sorbet paired with the lemon, as the balance of the sweet berries with the tartness of that lemon is perfect.

Another thing that makes this place amazing is the ambiance! The owners, who are from Italy always welcome you with big smiles and a hello. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome and that you are "friends." The place is spotless and so clean. You can eat inside or has a small outdoor cafe seating as well.

Not only do they have gelatoz but this place also serves the best espresso drinks! This is what I am in weekly for. I order my cappuccino, and then sit outdide, sip, and enjoy. Don't go to the Corporate America chain coffee location upstairs. Spend your money on small businesses like Gelato Love instead. Their espresso tastes SO much better than the over-processed bulk scorched beans. You will...

If you’re ever in Carlsbad Village, Gelatolove is an absolute must-visit. The gelato here is hands down the best I’ve had—rich, creamy, and bursting with authentic flavor in every bite. You can tell they take pride in using quality ingredients and crafting each batch with care.

But what really elevates the experience is the exceptional service. A special shoutout to Ali, a young gentleman working there who embodies everything you hope for in customer service—kind, welcoming, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping guests find the perfect flavor. His positive attitude and warm demeanor made the visit even more memorable.

Thank you so much, Ali, and the Gelatolove team—you’ve earned a loyal customer. I’ll...