Gastronomy in Ghana: Arlecchino Gelateria Italiana

Gelato in Accra! Ghana never ceases to amaze. My children, who have become my official reviewers of restaurants and places to go, and I have uncovered a gem of a place for real Italian ice-cream.

Arlecchino opened its doors about  a year ago promising real Italian ice-cream and we have as yet not been disappointed. The shop, though not that big, offers a wide display of varied flavours - which they will let you taste before you make your choice - that in itself is a treat.

There is a small seating area inside that offers a wide view to Oxford Road for a bit of 'people watching'. They have an equally small but colourful seating area outside, perfect on cooler days.

The varied and original flavours they offer have kept us going back for more. We have made it a mission to try every flavour on offer, and this is no small feat given that they change their flavours often. My daughter, who always prefers hers out of a cone - biscuit and not wafer- assures me the cones are always crispy. Nothing like some quality assurance from a bona-fide ice-cream lover.

Arlecchino is also a coffee shop so if it's a caffeine kick you're after, they do make a good espresso - huge coffee machine inside and there is a bakery corner offering the usual fare of muffins, biscuits and cakes.

The owner, on seeing my curiosity as to the goings-on at the back was obliging enough to offer me a quick lesson on what makes ice cream, just ice-cream and gelato, well gelato. Gelato is all about the freshness of the ingredients. The ice-cream can only keep for up to a maximum of four days because they do not use preservatives and additives - as opposed to remaining frozen for months on end.

It is made with fresh milk (NOT powdered), fresh cream and natural flavours. This explains the creamy taste without the fatty taste. Their use of local ingredient's is easy to spot in some of their flavours, cashew, pineapple, mango...

Dulce de latte, creamy lemon, coffee, chocolate, also make the list, and the list is extensive.

Arlecchino's offering has kept us going back for more and always 'licking our bowls clean' each time we return.
They have a stand at the Golden Tulip if you do not want to battle the Osu traffic and have also recently added another stand on the Cinema level at Accra Mall.

Arlecchino's Gelateria
Oxford Street, Osu