Sorella Gelato

Along just about the coolest strip in all of Dunedin lives a family of Italian-inspired spots - pizza, wine and, now, handmade goodness from sweetheart Sorella Gelato. Fittingly, the name is Italian for sister, and she sits pretty on the corner of the Esplanade near St Clair Beach.

Though the store was ten years in the making and boasts its own gelato maestro, it's not to be taken too seriously. None of the spots in this Esplanade precinct are, in fact. Around these parts, elegance is effortlessly balanced with approachability. Like any true Florentine gelateria, Sorella is all about fun: a little retro, a little ornate, and perfectly happy to see you arrive with sandy feet or in your bathing suit.

Designed to complement its neighbours while whisking you off to the Mediterranean, the red brick facade welcomes you in past squat stools and beneath a striped awning. Inside, tubs of artisanal flavours line a speckled terrazzo counter backed by dark marble mosaics. Beyond the glass at the back is where you'll find the maestro handmaking every small batch using traditional methods.

Biscoff, tiramisu, pistachio and black doris plum lead a cast of decadent gelato classics, alongside sorbetto artigianale, dairy-free scoops, rotating seasonal specials and gelato cakes (there's even a rocher creation). Once chosen, scoops are passed over the counter or through a hole in the wall to locals, visitors and toddlers alike, all enjoying theirs in time-honoured fashion, strolling by the sea.

Let it be known: whether you're on the Esplanade for a pizza night or simply down for a beach day, any reason is a good enough reason to stop in at Sorella for a scoop.