There are so many delicious cafés and ice cream parlors which, don’t worry, we’ve mentioned in our list of the top 10 ice cream parlours in Düsseldorf blog post, but there’s certainly something to be said about the long-standing ice cream parlours around the city. These guys haven’t been around for just a quarter of a century, I’m talking hundreds of years.
There’s a reason they’re still around, and it’s not just to do with the fact that they’re offering up the true Italian recipes, but because they taste that good, that no one can stay away. Forget about frozen desserts at Netto, as far as German history goes, the oldest ice cream parlours in Düsseldorf have got to be part of our list.
So, how about a little history lesson? Let’s dive right in!
We have Jan Wellem to thank for our incredible selection of ice creams in Düsseldorf today (as well as our pivotal role in art and music around the world)! It wasn’t until he married the beautiful Anna Maria Luisa de Medici that Italian ice cream really made it big in the city streets of Düsseldorf. Anna Maria Luisa de Medici was born in Tuscany, Italy, and moved to be with her beloved husband, Jan Wellem, in Düsseldorf on May 6th in 1691.
Of course, there are no ice cream parlors that date back to Anna Maria Luisa de Medici’s time (300+ years), but we do still have quite a few recognizable and noteworthy ice cream parlours from the early 1900s. Check it out!
1906: Unbehaun Eiscafé
Unbehaun Eiscafé has been open in Düsseldorf since 1906. Since the beginning of time, they have only sold 5 different flavors which are made fresh right in front of your eyes – strawberry, chocolate, nut, lemon, and vanilla. Unbehaun ice cream is made from 100% fresh milk with no additives or artificial flavors. Oddly enough, rumors have it that Unbehaun wasn’t actually an ice cream parlor at all back in 1906. Apparently, they had originally opened as a pastry shop, but with such success selling ice cream, they made the switch.
1927: Eis-Café der Familie Forno
Technically, Eis-Café der Familie Forno actually opened in 1912 when the owner, Pietro, sold the ice cream from a handcart at the side of the road. However, it wasn’t until 1927 when they opened the shop up and started the business for real. While the original owners aren’t around today, but sources say that the grandchildren are now the ones making the ice cream, still from the original recipes from 1912.
1955: Palatini
Palatini is an Italian ice cream manufacturer that also runs its own café in the center of Eller. They produce more than 30 different favorites, but also take personal requests from customers making company orders (they offer customized branding too)! They originally opened up shop back in 1955 on Graf-Adolf-Strasse and have since then opened up on Lorettostrasse, Rethelstrasse, and now Gumbertstraße in Eller. Sadly, the original recipe is long to be forgotten (or not) and the old factory remains still lay on the empty backyard lot. The new ice cream manufacturer has been around since 2006 and produces the newest recipe over in Schwalmtal, for many different businesses to buy and sell.
1973: Eis-Café Belluno
Eis-Café Belluno has been a favorite among locals since 1973 simply because they offer some great choices when it comes to ice cream, sundaes, and other mixed desserts. Many compare Eis-Café Belluno to a typical meeting spot back in the cobblestone streets of Italy. Belluno is a place where you meet with friends and family while you sit for hours sipping on coffee and eating ice cream. While you can certainly just walk away with a scoop of ice cream, Belluno is known for its wonderful creations like Spaghetti Eis, Raffaello Bowl, and their Mickey Mouse Bowl for the kiddies.
