Gelato Messina’s main jam is to tantalise tastebuds with its delicious flavours and cakes. But this year, it will combine its most popular signature flavours with custom-made desserts, at its first pop up store in Adelaide — part of Vogue Festival.

From 18–20 October, Vogue Festival, presented by Vogue Australia in partnership with the Rundle Mall Management Authority (RMMA), City of Adelaide and the South Australian Tourism Commission, will take over the heart of the city with dozens of events celebrating Australian fashion, lifestyle, beauty, skincare and more. And there’s no better way than to celebrate with a pop-up Messina store!

Located on Rundle Mall, near the famous Mall’s Balls sculpture, Gelato Messina’s dessert game will be as strong as ever, with eight of their most popular flavours, two custom sundaes and two mini gelato cakes on offer. The pop-up will serve scoops of salted caramel and white choc, pistachio praline, tiramisu, super dulce de leche, choc fondant and strawberry sorbet, as well as two special flavours which are close to the owner’s hearts.

Johanna Williams, General Manager of the Rundle Mall Management Authority, says, “We’re so excited to have such an iconic brand be involved with this year’s Vogue Festival. Gelato Messina is a personal favourite of mine, and I can’t wait to indulge in the salted caramel flavour.”

Brothers Nick and Danny Palumbo who founded Messina, grew up in Adelaide and ran multiple cafes and restaurants, before moving to Sydney in the late 90’s to open the first Gelato Messina in Darlinghurst, Sydney. To celebrate getting back to their roots, the Messina team are bringing one of their most popular Italian specials:

Fat Clemenza: Sicilian ricotta gelato, cracked cannoli shells, citron, chocolate bits and Breakfast in Adelaide: Fior di latte gelato with nutella fudge and yo yo biscuits which is an ode to people who grew up in Adelaide and Nick’s favourite childhood snack.

“We are taking our visit to Adelaide very seriously — even including the state’s iconic Farmers Union Iced Coffee on our sundae menu. It doesn’t get more South Australian than a scoop of Farmer’s Union Iced Coffee gelato atop a traditional custard tart. We’re also serving the ‘Nonna Carlo’ sundae, another Sicilian childhood favourite: strawberry sorbet, vanilla cream and masala soaked brioche,” says Nick.

And if you’ve been dying to try one Messina’s famous cakes, they’re bringing two of them in miniature form. Single serve Dr Evil’s Magic Mushroom and Bombe Alaska gelato cakes, will be available over the three days until sold out.

Gelato Messina operates 19 stores across NSW, VIC, QLD and the ACT, with plans to eventually unveil one in Adelaide, where it all began.

From 18–20 October, Adelaide will be able to take a small break from all of the shopping Rundle Mall has to offer, and enjoy a smorgasbord of Messina!