On Strand Road, time stands still. Step into Fiorentini's for proper Italian gelato made on the premises from a recipe handed down through four generations — and the chunky-cut chips Derry has loved for over a century.
In 1912, a 13-year-old boy named Ignazio Fiorentini walked into an ice-cream parlour on Strand Road to learn his trade. He rose before dawn and pushed a hand-cart of fresh gelato to Buncrana to sell.
More than a century later, his great-grandson still makes ice cream on these same premises — using the same secret recipe — for the same families who have been coming for a "wee treat" for generations.
From the terrazzo tiles to the chrome-and-chequer counter, Fiorentini's is the last of Derry's classic Italian parlours. Walk through the door and the city slips away.
Plan your visit →From terrazzo tiles to the recipe in the freezer — the Fiorentini family brought Casalattico to Strand Road in 1912, and never left.
Our ice cream isn't shipped in. It's churned in the back, the way it always has been. You can taste the difference in the first spoonful.
Grannies bring grandchildren to the same booths they sat in as kids. It's a "wee treat" that has lasted four generations.
"Proper Italian ice cream — it actually tastes delicious. The chocolate honeycomb sundae was unreal."
"Traditional Italian fish & chips and ice-cream at its best. Chunky chips, perfect batter."
"Generations of families come here for a wee treat. Wholesome family feel — somewhere time stands still."
Right between St Eugene's Cathedral and the Tower Museum — you can't miss the red awning.
Phone ahead to skip the queue, or just walk in — there's almost always a booth waiting on Strand Road.