Gelato Messina Is Opening an Epic Eight-Seater Degustation Bar

In glorious news this morning, Gelato Messina have announced their pièce de résistance, revealing their new Messina Creative Department. It's is a tiny eight-seat degustation bar next to the Darlinghurst store in the space that has previously held the Messina Lab (that is, where they dreamed up all those obscene gelato cakes we know and love). But now, in true Messina form, they've decided to do some new and downright crazy stuff with gelato.

The dark, intimate venue will host a seven-course dessert degustation with a non-alcoholic drink pairing with each course — and as you would expect, it looks batshit insane (in the best way possible). The menu, curated by OG gelato chef Remi Talbot, who will will feature a range of exquisite treats, running the gamut of sweet-sweet and sweet-savoury as you would expect from any degustation.

But hold your gelato-loving horses right there — you can't book yet. They'll be taking bookings through their website from Wednesday, April 20. There won't be many seats available though; there will only be two sittings per night, at 7pm and 9pm Wednesday through Saturday — that's only 64 spots a week. So you'll have to have quick fingers or you'll turn to stone while waiting.

In the meantime, They've released nine short teaser videos on the newly launched Messina Creative Instagram which will make your mouth water. Crispy fried bubbles, seared sugared figs, tiny hand-rolled ice cream cones garnished with crystallised flowers and — are you ready for this? — seaweed-esque, razor-thin tuile poking over the side of a golden bowl with a deep violet bloom balanced across it with plush lumps of white cloud surrounding a bed of pink sand dabbed delicately with drops of golden syrup. Phew. Whatever they're cooking up at Messina Creative looks more art than dessert — they are literally drunk on power and it looks delicious. We truly live in the renaissance era of desserts.

The Messina Creative Department degustations will be seven courses and cost $130 per person. You can now book here.