Our Story

Caliendo's 1950

Front Row L-R : William, Josie, Silvio, Rosina, Lilian

Back Row L-R : Mary, Lizzie, Chris, Basilico, Tom

Family History

Caliendo’s is a company with deep family roots in artisanal Italian Gelato. Michelina’s great, great grandfather Donato Caliendo was a gelato vendor and confectioner born in 1846 in Saviano, Nr Naples; Donato and his wife Filomena arrived in London sometime in the 1880s with their 9 children. When in London, the family did what they knew best, made and sold gelato to the local community.

The family business was based in Clarkenwell, or Little Italy as the area is still known today, which is about 3 miles from the current gelateria. We know that the business had prospered and by 1890s there are recounts of staff being taken on to sell gelato from barrows across the city. We like to think of these as the original pop ups!

Michelina and Fiona's joint love of traditional Italian gelato started the journey to resurrect a family tradition of producing artisanal gelato

Combining our passion for classic cars "Caliendo’s Gelato is the Italian Job themed Gelateria, where craft meets passion with cheeky British flare"

Having trained with Italian gelato chefs, we pride ourselves on sourcing the finest ingredients from around the world to create the most delicious flavours ever made.

Compared to ice-cream, our gelato is low in fat and sugar, using organic milk and cream, and only natural ingredients

With over 200 recipes, we are constantly challenging ourselves to perfect the balance, texture and flavour

Vision

At Caliendo’s Gelato, our vision is to craft an unparalleled gelato experience where quality is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in bringing affordable luxury to our customers, ensuring every scoop reflects the passion and artistry behind its creation. Staying true to traditional artisan methods, we honor the rich heritage of gelato-making while embracing partnerships with local and family-run businesses. Whenever possible, we source directly from farms and producers, fostering a deeper connection between our ingredients and the communities they come from. Guided by a commitment to environmental empathy, we strive to minimize our impact and make sustainable choices at every step. For us, the community is not just our customer; it is an integral part of who we are, and we support it wholeheartedly. Finally, we are dedicated to doing right by our staff and partners, fostering a culture of fairness, growth, and shared success. Together, we create gelato that is more than a treat—it’s a meaningful experience.

Mission

Keeping quality is at the centre of everything we do

Bring affordable luxury to customers, they should feel the passion in the product

Stay true to artisan craft and keep the product and service as traditional as possible

Work with local and family run business where possible

Source directly from farms or producers where possible

Have environmental empathy in all that we do

The community is our customer, support it where we can

Do the right thing by our staff and partners so that we all prosper