Another great Galle Fort spot, Pedlar’s Inn Gelato is the newest addition to the Pedlar’s Inn family located (unsurprisingly) on Pedlar Street. Situated right opposite the eponymous Pedlar’s Inn Café and adjoining the gallery, the location is tiny but prime. They use a Carpigiani ice cream machine, which means the quality and standard is pretty much on par with international gelato. The best part is nothing is sickly sweet or smacks of syrup.
Ice Creams & Frozen Yoghurt
Their range is commendable for its quality if not for its size – even the staples have fun twists like vanilla bourbon and stracciatella. Their gelatos vary from milk to fruit flavoured. I tried their black cherry (pictured above), which hit the right balance of sweet and tart, as well as the coconut. The fruit flavours are commendable for managing to be both fresh and refreshing. Pedlar’s Inn Gelato has a couple of frozen yoghurt flavours which tend to vary. Nothing fancy, but good simple fro yo for the health-conscious. They’d do well to keep experimenting with new flavours, and maybe consider introducing some local fruit variants too.
They also have a peculiar new offering, spaghetti ice cream, which appears to be just ice cream made to look like spaghetti. Not sure if it’s worth it at Rs. 690 a pop, but definitely a popular quirk for the kids! Their milkshakes are pretty good, and incredibly rich and satisfying – essentially molten gelato with a bit of milk.
While the waffle cone is delicious and enticing, the hot southern coast weather means a cup may be a wiser option!
Ambience & Service
Located on the Pedlar strip, the ambience is quintessential Galle Fort. It has a rustic artisan vibe especially on a hot Galle afternoon, and is located right next to a whole heap of nice restaurants like Allora, Fortleza, and Pedlar’s Inn Cafe, so makes for a perfect dessert spot. They have a lovely upturned boat that serves as streetside seating, and a little (blissfully air conditioned) cove upstairs when you need a respite from the sun after a walk around the Fort. The adjoining gallery is also lovely, and they have a fixed exhibit of paintings of life in Galle Fort which is really a treat to peruse while you scarf down your ice cream.
The service is quick and friendly, and they serve generous portions.
