Gostaria = I would like Gostava = I liked/I used to like Eu gostava de sorvete - I liked ice-cream, I used to like ice-cream Eu gostaria de um café - I would like a coffee

Gostaria - Algo que você iria gostar, que não aconteceu mas se acontecesse você gostaria. Gostava - Algo que aconteceu por um tempo e você gostava Tipo isso... se era para eu responder em português haha

First, it is best to know the verb conjugation of these verbs and what they represent. The verb "gostava" is conjugated in a verbal time called "pretérito imperfeito" (imperfect past). It represents something that happened in the past, but wasn't finished or gives a continuous idea, but it remains in the past. It's equivalent to the past continuous and past habit in English. - Example: "I used to like traveling when I was younger" (Eu GOSTAVA de viajar quando era mais jovem"). This gives the ideia that in a certain moment in the past, I used to like traveling. The verb "gostaria" is conjugated in the "futuro do pretérito" (future of the past), and represents a projection to the future based on something that happened in the past, or something hypothetical, or even to be polite. It is equivalent to the use of auxiliary verb "would" in English. - Example: "I told you she would like you" ("Eu disse que ela GOSTARIA de você"); "Would you like to have some water?" ("GOSTARIA de tomar água?"). I hope this helped...

"Gostava" is used to something you liked before, but don't like anymore or don't do it anymore. "Gostaria" mean you want something. Ex: Eu gostava de jogar pokémon quando era criança. Eu gostaria de conhecer o Brasil algum dia.

So I realize this is an old thread, but I'm not satisfied with the answers here. Yes, theoretically you use "gostaria" (Condicional) to say you "would like" and "gostava" (Pretérito Imperfeito do Indicativo) to say you "used to like". However, in truth no one really uses the Condicional form nowadays in Portugal, specially not when speaking. Instead we use the Pretérito Imperfeito in almost situation you should actually use the Condicional. I would like to go out today for coffee. - Eu gostava de ir tomar café hoje. -> not "gostaria de" I would like a beer, please. - Eu queria uma cerveja, por favor. -> not "quereria" I hope this helps. :)