Dolce Vita Gelato & Espresso

Besides wonderful gelato and coffee, Dolce Vita boasts a full bar.For happy hour, try prickly pear sorbet with fresh lime juice and tequila. more

I almost don't want to give such a good review because I want to keep this place quaint and I selfishly keep it as my secret place to go for a drink. First of all, the staff is AMAZING: extremely personable,patient and friendly- and they know what they are doing when they make a drink! Their sorberitas, assorted martinis and cappuccinos are to die for and fairly priced for a starving college student looking for a treat. Perfect hours, fun happy hour, and a nice crowd for a 26 year old who is sick of Spider House and needs to study- I would recommend this place to anyone and everyone. more

If you're ever in the Hyde Park area, there's a good chance you've seen people sipping coffee and eating gelato at Dolce Vita. They seem to be have at last a small crowd just about all times during the day and evening. And it's for good reason - the place definitely has the Austin vibe down, and who can turn down dessert? As you'd expect, Dolce Vita has a large selection of gelato flavors (over a dozen, if my math skills serve me right). My favorite (so far) is the tiramisu, and it seems that there's at least a couple of new flavors every time I stop by (Jalapeno Lime sorbet, anyone?). I'm not much of a coffee drinker, so I can't comment on that. But everything else I've tried has been great. So, the gelato makes it a great place to stop for dessert or a snack, but that's just the beginning. They also have a very well stocked bar and can make just about every mixed drink you can think of. The prices are really reasonable and the service has been really quick and friendly every time I've visited, even when there was a considerable crowd. I had the pleasure of trying a wide array of different single-malt scotches there late one night (they have a great selection), along with some special concoctions created by the bartenders (tell them what you like and ask for recommendations). They also have a growing selection of food, with everything from cheese plates and salads to paninis. I highly recommend DV, whether you're in the mood for desserts, drinks, food, or just hanging out on the patio. Pros: Full bar, great indoor/outdoor seating, great service more

My favorite coffeeshop by far. You must try the affagato...I know that word is not spelled correctly but just ask and their staff will surely know.They are also open late, so it is a perfect after dinner treat for those couples coming from downtown after dinner. Pros: Expresso, Coffee, Gelato more

I love this place! Super coffee and friendly staff. The atmosphere is perfect for catching up with old friends or just relaxing after a long day. more

This place is overrated. I don't know about the other offerings, but their ice cream was just okay. Nothing spectacular. more

I love this place! They have great booze, good coffee, and fantastic dessert! I always bring people from out of town, as I've never been disappointed. Pros: Great desserts and booze Cons: coffee is only so-so more

Whether you want to enjoy a nice dessert and gelato, or maybe some wine outside, Dolce Vita is the place for you! After having some food at Mothers or maybe Hyde Park Grill, I recommend taking a date here for some dessert and some nice beverages to compliment it. This place also has happy hour with some nicely priced martinis! I strongly recommend this as a nice date spot for some nice ice cream or wine outside to maybe some hot coffee and dessert inside! Either way... you can't lose! Pros: Great place to hang out and chill. Great desserts, drinks, and gelato! Cons: Parking lot may be limited more

Gelato and white wine outside as the sun is setting - who could ask for more? : ) Great place to stop for dessert after dinner at Mother's across the street. more

I absolutely love this place! It's me and my friends hang out every summer! Even in the winter we'll muster up the guts to have cold gelato because we love it so much! They have many flavors that are always changing, and we all order what we want, but always sample each others gelato! My favorite is the Rasberry! It's a nice change from the regular ice cream. The sitting area inside is very cozy in the winter time and outside is perfect in the summer. Great place for dessert after a date! more

I want to like this place, I really do. It's right around the corner from my house and it's a nice place to sit. But what's the deal with the gelato freezers? Are they not cold enough? The gelato is always slushy. I've also never had a flavor I really liked. Also, the panini's arent' very good, not enough inside. Coffee was bad too. I really tried! But I'm done with Dolce Vita. more

This is a nice place with a good atmosphere, but what they serve is much closer to ice cream than real gelato. It's not creamy enough and it's too icy, but hey - if nobody's noticed so far then I guess it's all good. Pros: Ambience, Great liqueurs more

whether you're yearning for a well-executed mocha, a taste of gelato or sorbetto (all created within the kitchen of the tiny cafe), or one of the dozens of liqueurs that are not carried anywhere else in austin, you will find what you are seeking at this dainty gem. it's an exquisite place for a date and it will serve a dessert-seeking family equally as well. *tip: the staff is not only polite and friendly, but they will always have recommendations for those less familiar with the place. Pros: variety of desserts, excellent espressO, cute baristas Cons: potential lines, lack of space, prices more

I love spending an evening at Dolce Vita -- if I'm alone, I can read, people-watch, and perhaps run into Hyde Park locals. It's a great place to meet friends. With small food offerings, excellent desserts, tasty gelati, and an extensive high-end bar (the scotches! the cognacs! the grappas! wow!), it's really perfect for almost any evening. The staff there is fantastic and friendly -- a welcome departure from the I'm-going-to-ingore-you-while-I-make-your-coffee usual Austin fare, and it's very concerned about being part of the neighborhood. more

Though it is a little small, everything they have to offer is top quality, mouth watering. Pros: Very tasty Cons: little claustrophobic more

Last year I visited Italy for the first time, and among the highlights of the visit were the gelaterias, the ubiquitous coffeeshop-c u m-dessert parlors. The quality and the ambience at all of them was amazing, especially in comparison to diner-esque ice cream parlors more common on this side of the pond. Then, I found Dolce Vita. Their selection of liquers is mind-boggling (ask for a limoncello and find yourself choosing from 8 or so varieties!) and the ice creams and sorbets are the best in town, bar none (the chocolate in particular is shockingly good.) The tiramisu (a favorite dessert of mine) is made perfectly -- the coffee not too bitter, the cream not overwhelming sugary-sweet, just right. Plus, the staff are knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful, the restaurant is beautiful, and the atmosphere is always pleasant. Pros: Friendly Service, Amazing Food, Diverse Selection Cons: Often Crowded more

Best coffeeshop in Austin, bar none! With a good barista, the espresso is fantastic! The ice cream is also the best in town -- much more enjoyable than Amy's, to my taste. However, with a bad barista or melted ice cream, the experience can be negatively affected, but this is rare. Also fantastic atmosphere! -- always packed at night, even weekdays, eclectic Hyde Park crowd, and a great, social vibe. Ugly surrounding (i.e. parking lot), a bit steep, closes too early, and VERY laptop-unfriendly, but once you get used to the coffee/food here, all other coffee shops leave you wanting! Pros: BEST Espresso!, BEST Ice Cream!, Great vibe! Cons: Closes too early., Laptop unfriendly!, There's only 1! more

Dolce Vita is the freshest and best of Austin's frozen desserts. Amy's has great ice cream, but the gelatos, sorbettos, and tarts at Dolce Vita are in an entirely different class. Many an evening has been spent with friends on the deck smoking cognac-dipped cigarillos and sipping espresso or any of the fine liqueurs they stock. Everything is FRESH and made in season--citrus in the winter and peaches and berries in the summer. Truly, you are in for an exquisite treat. Should you bring the kids? Not in the evenings, as it would destroy the romantic ambiance. Should you take a date? Most definitely! more

I had passion fruit flavor Italian ice. It was great though a little pricey ($2.71 tax included for a small bowl). more