Hila Gelato Caffè

Dipali Prabhu 2 weeks ago

We were so excited when we first heard about this authentic Sicilian gelato spot in SF and couldn't wait to try it out, as we always love supporting small businesses. Unfortunately, our experience left us quite disappointed. When we arrived, there was a long queue with just one employee managing everything - from crafting specialty drinks, shakes, and coffees to serving gelato. Because of this, the wait was understandably long. The owner wasn't there during our visit, so we didn't have a chance to chat with them. We tried the dark chocolate and pistachio flavors as those are our favorites and with the no sample policy, we wanted to take it safe. Having enjoyed small-batch gelato across SF, New York, and throughout Italy, we were sad to find that the textures fell short of what we hoped for - both flavors had ice crystals and were quite grainy. The dark chocolate was tad too sweet with an unusual aftertaste, while the pistachio was super sweet and lacked that rich, nutty depth found in authentic Italian pistachios (or even our incredible local California pistachios). We also found the overall atmosphere very unwelcoming. While having a no-samples policy is fine for a small business,

Carina Tina 4 months ago

10 out of 5 stars. The whole family loves this place. The owner makes everything fresh. love the gianduia and any of the sorbeti. The cannoli is a must. Best one I’ve had in San Francisco so far, better than any place in North Beach.

David Bui 6 months ago

My wife and I did her gelato workshop this weekend, and we loved every second of it! Hila is super friendly and thoughtful. It was really engaging to learn about the ingredients, steps, and techniques that Hila demonstrates, especially after learning a lot about her history. And of course at the end, we enjoyed the amazing gelato we all made together. Having traveled to Sicily awhile back, taking that first taste of her gelato immediately reminded me of my trip so it was truly authentic and can tell it was made with Sicilian love. Overall, I greatly recommend this place if you’re ever in San Francisco because this is a true gem!

Matty Easton 6 months ago

The “WE DON’T DO SAMPLES” sign at this bright little spot was a dead giveaway that this was a true-to-form European gelato shop, and sure enough a charming Italian woman served us from behind the counter. Without a doubt, we knew we’d be getting an authentic dessert!! Dropped in at 9:30pm on a Friday night, and felt like we stumbled into a magical little corner of Valencia. The gelato here is whipped up in these futuristic spinning machines with bubble lids; they almost look like washing machines. Absolutely whimsical. The flavors are expansive and fresh; the strawberry was excellent, though the Greek yogurt was our surprising favorite. There were so many unique and intriguing flavors (from orange and cinnamon to strawberry balsamic), we’ll absolutely have to stop by again. The real charm of this place comes from the story; we read about it while waiting in line and were absolutely captivated by the story of love, community, and heritage that shapes Hila. It’s well worth a read, and honestly sold us on the shop (although the gelato definitely still carries its own!). The story of Hila breathing life back into an old parlor is absolutely heartwarming. I wish nothing but much suc

Karl Pamat 6 months ago

Was walking by Valencia and I’m glad I stopped by this local ice cream shop. Got three flavors and I personally loved the Saffron ice cream! She only makes the flavors that she likes so you’ll never go wrong with any of the flavors you choose!