Dolcezza, the gelato and coffee shop based in Washington DC, is kicking off its 2025 expansion plans with a new location on H Street NE. Slated to open in mid- March, this marks the sixth outpost for the local shop, known for its small batch gelato and craft coffee program.
The new shop will be located at 600 H Street NE and will have indoor seating for 18 guests plus additional seating in the lobby of the Apollo building. The H Street location will debut a Dolcezza Soft Serve program that will launch with two flavors: Pistachio and Dulce de Leche.
“What makes this pistachio so insane is that we are creating our own pistachio butter by stone milling whole pistachios in our Union Market factory. No one does this anymore because it’s a ton of work and more expensive, but it’s the absolute best pistachio soft serve you will ever put in your mouth”, said co-owner Robb Duncan in a statement, who says he is “on fire” after returning from a research trip to Buenos Aires earlier this month.
Also making their way to the rotating soft serve menu in 2025 will be flavors like Sambayon, Lemon Meringue, Nocciola, and Single Origin Chocolate, according to Duncan. The Dulce de Leche soft serve is an ode to Dolcezza’s roots in the gelato parlors in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
“You can’t have an Argentine gelateria without making Dulce de Leche”, said co-founder Violeta Edelman, “It is everywhere you go in my hometown and now we are bringing it to Washington, DC.”
The soft serve flavors will be served alongside Dolcezza’s signature 20-flavor gelato menu, fresh roasted coffee from Unido, which roasts coffee inside Dolcezza’s Union Market factory, pastries from local favorite Pluma Bakery, and ceremonial grade matcha from Rocky’s Matcha.
“The early 2020s were wild for ours and so many other local businesses. But now thankfully we’re back to explosive double digit growth, and excited to be celebrating our first opening in 6 years,” according to Edelman.
Known for collaborations with cultural institutions including NASA, The Hirshhorn Museum, and NPR, and flavor collaborations with local chefs like Masako Morishita of Perry’s, for whom Dolcezza created its Okinawa Black Sugar Coffee, Dolcezza’s gelato is also served in over 100 restaurants throughout the DMV.
Signature flavors like Hazelnut Crackle, Strawberry Tarragon, Blackberries & Cream, and Mascarpone & Berries showcase the company’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients and traditional old world methods. Every flavor is made by hand daily in Dolcezza’s factory in the Union Market District.
The H Street location joins existing shops at DC’s City Center, Dupont Circle, and the Hirshhorn Museum, Virginia’s Mosaic District, and Maryland’s Bethesda Row. Additional openings in 2025 will bring the company’s total to seven DMV locations by year’s end, according to owners Edelman and Duncan.
Hours: Monday – Thursday 7 AM – 11 PM; Friday 7 AM – 12 AM; Saturday 8 AM – 12 AM; Sunday 8 AM – 11 PM.
