In a country where 90% of the land is desert or semi-desert, it’s no surprise that frozen treats hold a special place in the hearts of many.
To understand frozen yogurt in Libya, one must first look to its colonial past. From 1912 to 1947, Libya was under Italian rule, following centuries of Ottoman control. During this period, Italian culinary traditions—especially gelato—took root in Libyan cities like Tripoli, Misratah, and Benghazi. Even after Italy relinquished its claims in 1947, the love for creamy, cold desserts remained.
Today, Italian-style gelato shops are a common sight in Libya’s urban centers. These establishments, often family-run and steeped in tradition, serve not only gelato but also soft-serve frozen yogurt—a nod to both heritage and modern tastes.
Libya has a population of approximately 7.5 million. While Libya is oil-rich, it has also been plagued by political instability.
Froyo History & Trends
Frozen yogurt has found its niche in Libya’s largest cities, particularly along the Mediterranean coast. Tripoli, the capital and largest city with over 1.2 million residents, leads the way.
Currently, there are ten known places in Libya where frozen yogurt is served. Interestingly, only two of these are dedicated froyo chains—both branches of the international brand Pinkberry. The rest are gelato shops that have added frozen yogurt to their menus, blending Italian tradition with contemporary cravings.
Despite the initial enthusiasm that began in 2015 with the opening of Yogurtii, the frozen yogurt boom in Libya has cooled. Six froyo-focused businesses—primarily counter-serve shops—have shuttered their doors in recent years. Several factors contributed to this decline, including the pandemic, political instability, and the economic volatility of an economy that is almost primarily dependent on oil and gas production. Since the civil war that erupted in 2014 and lasted until 2020, Libya has been divided between rival governments in the east and west. This fragmentation has made it difficult for small businesses to thrive and also hampered franchise investment from foreign investors.
Current Places to Get Froyo
- Buonissimo Gelato, Al Jaraba Street, Tripoli, is a traditional Italian gelato shop that also offers soft serve frozen yogurt. It may have opened in 2012.
- Buonissimo Gelato, V4CG+W43, Tripoli
- Buonissimo Gelato, V8VV+9J3, Tajoura, is inside the Taj Mall
- Dabshi Sweets, Alfornaj Rotary, Tripoli, may have opened in 2017 – it offers gelato and a wide variety of sweets, including frozen yogurt
- La Dolce Vita, Tripoli, is a gelato shop that serves froyo. It may have opened in 2017.
- Mondo Gelato, Gergarish Main Rd, Tripoli, has two locations in Tripoli. It may have opened in 2014. The soft serve froyo is counter-serve.
- Mondo Gelato, V5MR+VWP، شارع الجماهيرية،, Tripoli opened in 2022
- Pinkberry, Tripoli – Al Garaba, opened in May 2024
- Pinkberry, Benghazi, Venice Street, opposite the Directorate of Security, opened in September 2025
Closed Frozen Yogurt Businesses
- Funkiberry opened in 2016 in Tripoli. The counter-serve frozen yogurt, sandwiches, crepes, and pancakes shop may have closed in 2021.
- Myyo, Ras Hassan Tripoli, was a counter-serve Italian froyo shop that opened in 2017 and may have closed in 2021.
- Yogurtii opened in 2015 or 2016 in Tripoli, last post in 2019, offering counter-serve froyo, waffles, and shakes.
- Yogurtii in Tripoli, Andalusia opened in 2018 and moved to Aposta in 2019
- Yogurtii, Aposta may have closed in 2019?
- Yoopi, V6C4+9RJ, Tripoli, was open in 2016.
To see the frozen yogurt shops of Libya, check out our Pinterest board, Froyo in Libya.
Did we miss any froyo shops in Libya? If so, let us know.
