Find yourself anywhere in Sydney at any time of day, and chances are you’ll spot a few people walking about with Messina’s telltale green-and-orange cup piled high with creamy gelato. Since it started more than 20 years ago, Sydneysiders have been obsessed with the gelato brand’s knockout scoops and cakes. It’s since spread interstate (and to Hong Kong), with Messina outlets in Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra and Perth.

At it’s first Perth outpost in Highgate, a cloud-shaped cabinet houses 40 flavours – 35 classics and five specials rotating weekly. The former includes standouts like panna cotta with fig jam and amaretti biscuit; macadamia crunch; pandan and coconut sorbet; and milk chocolate with peanut fudge.

The gelato is made using all the same high-quality ingredients from the east coast stores, but some of the pasteurisation and churning takes place on-site in a raised open kitchen, giving customers a chance to see the gelato-making process up close.

The store sits in a prominent corner spot. Its fit-out is sleek with a pistachio feature wall, a curved white counter, gold pendant lighting, crazy flagstone pavers leading out to the street and recessed arches housing Messina merch and whimsical celebration cakes (think a Mario-esque mushroom and a cow-print buche).