In Belgrano, there’s an ice cream shop that opened in 1977, which the Buenos Aires City Legislature declared a Site of Cultural Interest and which is now run by the third generation of ice cream makers: the Ambieni family. It’s called Gruta, located at 2356 Mariscal Antonio José de Sucre, and they continue to make ice cream on the premises every day. Do you know La Gruta ice cream shop?
Since 1977, La Gruta has been a neighborhood institution. Longtime customers know it by heart, and now that the heat is setting in, it’s once again a must-visit spot for anyone looking for an old-school ice cream shop. It’s a family-run business, and it shows in the service: at the counter, they let you sample the flavors before you choose—something you’ll want to take advantage of since they have over 50 flavors.
What to Order at La Gruta Ice Cream Shop
The menu combines fruit flavors and classic cream-based options. Among the most popular flavors are dulce de leche slush, pistachio, chocolate with almonds, nocciola, coffee, and whiskey-flavored kinotos. As for fruit flavors, raspberry and passion fruit stand out. The fruit flavors aren’t overly sweet, while the dulce de leche is definitely on the sweeter side.
The star of the show is the sambayón, served with crunchy caramelized almonds added right at the table. The shop prepares them every day the old-fashioned way: with very little sugar and no water, stirred in copper ladles until they’re crispy and shiny, and then spread out on marble tables.
A tip for those who order by weight: if you buy a quarter kilo, they usually throw in some caramelized almonds.
Where it’s located and what to do afterward
The address is Sucre 2356, in Belgrano. You can find more information on their official website or call +54 11 4780-0603. Since it’s a place much loved by the locals, there might be a bit of a line—so be patient. With your ice cream in hand, the best thing to do is walk toward the river through the neighborhood streets, such as 3 de Febrero and O’Higgins and the surrounding areas.
