Gelateria by Cucina

Everything is churned on site. Gelateria by Cucina makes its gelato and sorbetto in house from all-natural ingredients, in batches meant to be lower in fat and more intense in flavour, and serves them a few steps from Cucina at Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah.

An Italian dessert counter, made in house

The brief is narrow and Italian: gelato, sorbetto and composed desserts rather than a broad restaurant menu. The gelateria belongs to the same resort dining family as Cucina, but where that kitchen does trattoria cooking, this counter takes the sweet end. The structure is simple. Scoops of gelato and sorbetto form the base, then composed cups and toppings add the playful layer on top. Scoops can be taken plainly or built into a dessert, which is where the toppings earn their place. The house tells its own story as one of the world's best gelati and sorbetti, which is the handmade Italian claim it has chosen to be measured against.

A casual stop, with a class attached

The tone is informal and family-friendly, and the venue is happy to argue that gelato works at breakfast, lunch and dinner alike. That all-day framing makes it a repeat stop during a stay rather than a formal after-dinner destination. Hospitality here also comes with an activity: gelato-making classes run on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, two sessions a day, aimed particularly at children and families, and they finish with a chef's hat, a certificate and a Polaroid. That turns the counter into more than a place to buy a scoop, since guests can eat the gelato, learn how it is made and leave with a souvenir.

Order the gelato first

Start with the house-made gelato, which is the clearest read on the place, and take sorbetto as the other essential category; between them they define the venue more than any pastry or savoury item could. The standout composed order combines three gelatos with crushed nuts, cookies, chocolate syrup and candy floss, which is the full dressed-up version for anyone who wants the counter at maximum. A more adult route is the gelato and digestivo pairing, which links the dessert counter to Italian after-dinner ritual without turning it into a bar. Families can add the class to the same visit; it is an experience rather than a dish, but it belongs to the same menu.