Piccolo Grande

Ottawa, Canada

3.9

Closed now

12 reviews

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 613-241-2909
Website:
www.piccologrande.ca
Address:
55 Murray Street Suite 102, Ottawa, ON, K1N 5M3
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miRideau/Sussex nord
0.3 miRideau/Nicholas sud
0.3 miRideau/Cumberland nord
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Bussiness info

Accepted Cards
Credit, Debit
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
No
Wi-Fi
No

Today

Today 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Ottawa) 04:10 Saturday, 14 June 2025

Business hours

Monday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 9:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Piccolo Grande manufactures and retails Italian ice cream, known in Italian as Gelato. But as with any product there can be many grades of quality. Part of Piccolo Grande’s success is due to it’s commitment to top grade quality. Piccolo Grande has always used the finest ingredients available (including imported flavourings direct from Italy) to manufacture high-​grade, low over-​run (the amount of air that is found in the finished product) gelato. Piccolo Grande is your best place for gelato in the Ottawa/​Gatineau region in Canada

History

Established in 1987.

In the spring of 1987 on the urging of a friend, Steve (Piccolo) Hambling decided to go to Italy and study the art and chemistry of making gelato. He returned with about 30 recipes and no money. What he did have however was a half finished 800 square foot location on Murray St. A month later on July 18 the company opened it’s doors. And so was born… Piccolo Grande®! Little fat, Big taste. More flavours than you can ever remember!

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12 reviews of Piccolo Grande

No registration required
Place rating: 4
Vancouver, Canada
On a sunny cold Sunday I was downtown with my sister and her kids. We had finished our dim sum lunch and we were walking around the Byward Market area when my sister said she was going to take us to her favourite gelato joint downtown.
She took us to Piccolo Grande. It was about 3 pm on a cold Sunday so the place pretty deserted. Hmmm… There may have been 12 to 15 flavours to choose from. In the end I selected the Chocolate Chocolate on a sugar cone. It was pretty good.
I’m sure Piccolo Grande would be much busier in the Summer but when we were there in late March we were the only customers to enjoy their comfortable seating and pleasant surroundings. Too bad the weather wasn’t warmer! :))
Place rating: 5
Montclair, NJ
One of my favorite places in Ottawa. The staff was friendly and the gelato was excellent. We also had coffee and it was just as good. Worth the visit and Murray Street is my favorite street in Ottawa.
Place rating: 5
Kanata, Canada
This is the best gelato establishment in Ottawa. Having been to many different ice cream and gelato establishments in many countries, I have to say that we are lucky that we have a place of this quality in Ottawa.
Place rating: 4
Frederick, MD
I’m only giving 4 stars just in case that my joy in this gelato was overrated because I haven’t had any sort of dairy in a long time! Piccolo Grande was an awesome welcome back to the world of dairy! I got the bourbon vanilla and the coconut, neither which disappointed! The gentleman behind the counter loved to talk about their gelato and gave us a mini science lesson on how gelato has less air than ice cream and how that affects the flavor and consistency. Yum.
Place rating: 3
Ottawa, Canada
Grabbed some gelatos here today — Chocolate Chocolate Chunk for all us. (Yes, our family likes chocolate.)
Cute décor — but in need of a refresh. (Starting to look very worn.)
Staff were fine.
Gelato was good — but somehow not quite cold enough, so when we went outside, we had a very bad problem with melting! (It wasn’t that hot out.) Maybe this was a specific problem today, or just with that flavor — I can’t say.
All in all, I thought it was ok. I’m willing to go back and try it another day — many flavours to choose from.
Would I return: Yes, if I’m in the area.
Would I recommend: Yes, if someone is in the area and wanted gelato, I’d tell them about this place.
Place rating: 4
Mississauga, Canada
Mmmm, Gelato!
What more do I have to say? Good selection, tasty, fresh. Not cheap though. $ 5 for a medium cup!
I had the banana chocolate chunk (reminds me of chunky monkey). Not tooo sweet which was good.
Makes for a great treat!
Place rating: 3
Ottawa, Canada
This Piccolo Grande is a pretty cool place in an older building. In the summer time expect a lineup but it’s usually worth it for any half decent gelato. Come here for a date or to cool off when the weather is hot.
The prices are on par for Ottawa and I’ve only tried the fruit flavoured gelatos here. Some tasty ones and some ok ones.
The seating situation sucks here so I’d recommend you walk out to one of the lovely park or courtyards around here :)
Place rating: 5
Ottawa, Canada
It’s a hot summer day and you’re craving a nice cold tasty treat. What better than a nice cup or cone of tasty gelato.
They have a great selection (I’d say just over 25 flavours) that vary every day. You can pick either a cup or cone, and they come in 3 sizes. My drool-​worthy favorites are definitely the Bourbon vanilla, raspberry, as well as lemon. The prices are fair and you get a good bang for your buck!
Having had gelato overseas, in the heart of Italy, the gelato definitely does not compare but it’s as close as you can get here in Ottawa.
All this gelato talk is making me want to head there RIGHT NOW. Mmmmm
Place rating: 3
Washington, DC
If you know you like gelato, this is the place. A zillion favours and consistently good service. Centrally located but a bit hidden. Very little seating but lots nearby. If you don’t know gelato and go expecting ice cream, don’t. Gelato uses milk not cream. Not as rich but often much sweeter.
Place rating: 4
Ottawa, Canada
The chocolates here are so good! I went for an afternoon coffee here with my Mom when she was visiting and we got a chocolate to go along with our coffee. I got butter cream and it was delicious. The coffee was ok, but I probably should have gone with an espresso or something.
The owner served us and she was so sweet. We took forever to decide what chocolates we wanted, but she waited patiently and told us about the homemade vegetable soup they were serving that day. After we paid and got our drinks, she gave us an extra little dark chocolate. She was so cute and friendly.
The chocolates were a bit pricey, just for two coffees and four chocolates it was around $ 13. But if you are looking for something sweet in the afternoon, this is definitely a great pick! The gelato looked delicious, but it was just too cold out to try it!
Place rating: 3
Ottawa, Canada
This is a delicious little spot in the heart of the ByWard Market. If you’re hankering for a treat in the market, but not a full fledged meal, this may be an ideal place to go. They have a huge selection of gelato, sorbet, milkshakes and sherbet all year round. The prices are average for a gelato bar in the market, although I still think it’s pricey for the amount you get. They also have a variety of soup du jour with many creative options including red pepper and lime, as well as root veggie and dill. The décor is very… happy and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-​esque, as Jason D put it.
However, there’s not a lot of sitting room and no patio to enjoy your gelato. If you’re looking for a place to settle your weary bones after shopping in the market or Rideau Centre, this place may not be a sure bet. If you’re looking to dreamily walk around the market as you nurse a delicious cold treat, Piccolo Grande is right up your alley.
Place rating: 4
Ottawa, Canada
Piccolo Grande is a super fun happy place just outside the Byward Market. It is a gelateria, selling yummy gelato ice cream. But wait, there’s more! Piccolo Grande also sells gourmet coffees, soup and vintage candies, such as Pixy Stix and those candy necklaces. Last year they also sold lollipops with scorpions in them. But, last time I was there the scorpion pops were absent. And, for the duffer in your family, they do carry their own brand of Piccolo Grande golf balls. Really. The décor is totally colorful and zany — like the set of a Tim Burton movie. The downside is that they do not accept debit cards. However, there is a handy ATM just by the entrance. Prices — around $ 3 for a piccolo gelato cone and around $ 5 for a grande. Not bad for the neighbourhood.