WALNUT CREEK, CALIFORNIA — Downtown Walnut Creek is getting a serious gelato upgrade. In fact, one of America’s top gelato spots is officially coming to town!
One of the developers behind the project, Brian Hirahara, reached out to share details with the Bay Area Telegraph.
Bacio di Latte, the fast-growing Italian gelato brand with a major following in Southern California and Brazil, is preparing to open a Walnut Creek shop at 1500 Mt. Diablo Boulevard, according to an announcement shared with Bay Area Telegraph by Hirahara.
The new gelateria is planned for the former Vineyard Vines space, which is being subdivided. Vineyard Vines’ own store page now lists its Walnut Creek location as closed, and the shop had originally opened in the 1500 Mt. Diablo development back in 2015.
A Big-Name Gelato Shop for Downtown Walnut Creek
Bacio di Latte is a powerhouse in the gelato world.
The company was founded in 2011 by Edoardo and Luigi Tonolli, who set out from Milan to study traditional Italian gelato recipes before opening the brand. Its U.S. website says the company makes gelato daily in every shop and uses milk and cream from Sonoma County farms, along with ingredients such as Belgian and Italian chocolate, pistachios from Italy, and hazelnuts from Piedmont.
The brand has already been expanding in California. A Santana Row listing says Bacio di Latte produces gelato “in front of their very eyes,” and the San Jose shop marked a major Bay Area arrival for the company earlier this year.
For Walnut Creek, the address is especially notable. The 1500 Mt. Diablo block already sits in one of downtown’s strongest restaurant corridors, near spots like Va de Vi, Teleferic Barcelona, Slice House, and Rooftop.
The Bay Area Telegraph staff are big fans of the location in Newport Beach, and can confirm that the gelato is amazing.
What Bacio di Latte Serves
The Walnut Creek shop is expected to offer more than 22 regular flavors, including best-sellers such as Pistachio, Giandujotto, Cioccolato Belga, Crema & Biscotti, and Salted Caramel, according to the company announcement.
Bacio di Latte’s online menu currently lists flavors such as Pistacchio, Giandujotto, Bacio di Latte, Stracciatella, Cioccolato Belga, Crema Torino, Tiramisu, and several fruit and vegan sorbet options. The company also says flavors are made fresh in-store and that new flavors and spotlights rotate every few weeks.
The Walnut Creek location is also expected to offer the brand’s “Ciocchino” upgrade, with cups, waffle cones, and bowls coated in hazelnut or pistachio spreads, plus a Bacio Affogato Bar featuring gelato with espresso. Bacio’s website describes its affogato as “two Italian classics: gelato & coffee,” with options built around scoops of gelato and espresso.
Designed Like an Italian Country Kitchen
The company says each Bacio di Latte shop is designed to feel like a cozy Italian country kitchen, with hand-glazed tile, exposed wood beams, white millwork, and decorative details like milk bottles, latte cups, copper bowls, whisks, and other cooking tools.
That will make the Walnut Creek location a more atmospheric dessert stop than a basic scoop shop. The brand’s Southern California locations have been described by food writers as stylish, European-inspired shops with displays of gelati and sorbetti.
“Our journey has been driven by a passion for sharing the authentic taste of Italian gelato with the world,” Edoardo Tonolli, founder of Bacio di Latte, said in the announcement. “We look forward to welcoming the vibrant Walnut Creek community into the Bacio di Latte family and continuing to create unforgettable moments, one scoop at a time.”
Another Sign of Downtown Walnut Creek’s Food Momentum
The gelato shop is the latest in a string of downtown Walnut Creek food changes. Doppio Zero recently announced an opening date for its Walnut Creek restaurant, and MIXT is under construction in the former Genova Delicatessen space.
For now, Bacio di Latte has announced the Walnut Creek shop but has not shared a firm public opening date. When it does open, expect it to draw plenty of attention from dessert fans, downtown diners, and anyone who believes a night out is better when it ends with pistachio gelato.
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