You won’t find any crazed scientists in thick-rimmed glasses and white coats in this laboratory, just rows and rows of gorgeous sub-zero desserts.

Gelato Messina’s side-project, the ‘laboratorio’, is a gelato patisserie that’s just as indulgent and imaginative as you’d expect from the geniuses that brought you Gianduia Bianca gelato and Pandan and Coconut sorbet. And it’s right next door.

Contemplating the physics of assembling these frozen works of edible art may be enough to induce a brain-freeze, but comprehending their appeal isn’t exactly rocket science.

Messina’s mini Dr. Evil is a wicked combo of chocolate gelato, dulce de leche jam, peanut butter cookie and vanilla gelato on a grassy pop rocks base, or try sinking your teeth into a Royale w’ Cheese – chocolate crackle gelato, financier bun, white chocolate gelato and apricot geleé complete with a slice of compressed cucumber.

Not all science is above suspicion, but we’ll trust anything that comes out of this lab – even if it means tasting some ‘Ugly Balls’.

Gelato Messina Lab
241 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Sunday – Thursday: 12pm – 11pm; Friday & Saturday: 12pm – 11.30pm