Pizza is the Italian food par excellence, known throughout the world. However, contrary to what one might expect, eating good pizza in Italy is not always easy. Olbia is no exception in this respect, but after a long search we finally found our (few) favourite pizzerias.
For us it’s not enough that it’s tasty, the right pizza must also be digestible thanks to a long leavening to avoid that unpleasant effect that keeps us awake the night after dinner.
Follow this mini-guide and you’ll find the perfect place for you.
Giropizza
Type of cuisine Pizza
Average price 20-25 euros
Distance from Altré 1 minute walk
Instagram @giropizzaolbia_trikurestaurant
A stone’s throw from Altré, Giropizza is undoubtedly the best pizzeria in town. For years Loredana, Ettore and their staff have been searching for the perfect mix of flours, the right leavening time and the most genuine ingredients to make their pizzas so incredibly good and digestible.
The menu is full of original combinations inspired by the great artists of international music, but also strictly local, and while they keep the same names, they change constantly with the changing seasons.
Enrico’s favourite is the Jolly Roger with fresh seafood (but really fresh!) while Chiara’s favourite is the Dottor Boost with mozzarella, cream of courgette, Ovinsard, pork cheek made by iSalis and Grananglona.
If you want to dare a bit, order a “Omaggio a Rita Denza” dedicated to the pioneer of high-level food in Olbia: lettuce in mussel water, mussels, saffron mayonnaise and sheep’s yoghurt.
With pizzas of this level, we recommend drinking a high-quality Sardinian craft beer. Let the staff advise you on the best accompaniment.
Finally, still here but under the name of Triku, they also have a restaurant menu of great quality. But more on this in a separate article.
At Giropizza the prices are not popular – don’t expect to pay any pizza less than 8 euros – but they are undoubtedly in line with the very high quality of the proposal.
TO KNOW
Giropizza is located in Via Fausto Noce, 34 (click here for map).
Especially in the summer months and at weekends, it is preferable to book your table at +39 347 134 4026.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Funchal
Type of cuisine Pizza
Average price 20 euros
Distance from Altré 8-10 minutes by car
Instagram @pizzeriafunchal
Time seems to stand still here, but don’t let the first retro impact fool you: you have just entered the temple of light, thin, crispy pizza in Olbia. If you love this kind of pizza, Funchal is undoubtedly the right place, but if you don’t, there’s good news for you: just ask for a double dough and you’ll be satisfied!
This pizzeria was opened in 1988 by Elsa and Francesco, now flanked by their son Alessandro, who has brought a breath of fresh air to a very classic menu.
References to Portuguese Madeira, Elsa’s island of origin, can be found in the names of the pizzas: Madalena do mar, Porto Moniz, Funchal and Madeira.
Chiara, who loves to be pampered, never renounces to a personalised pizza with tomato, mozzarella, grilled aubergines, fresh sausage and Sardinian “peretta” cheese. Enrico’s favourite pizza is the classic Parigina with tomato, mozzarella, cream and prosciutto crudo at the end of cooking: there is no other place in Olbia where they make it so good.
Funchal‘s pizza is so crispy, light and delicious that you’ll want to order another one as soon as you’ve finished it! We recommend that you leave some space in your stomach to finish off your dinner with a great classic that not everyone can make well, but luckily there’s Mrs Elsa here who makes an AMAZING Tiramisù! Who knows if one day we will be able to convince her to put pastéis de nata on the menu too…
To end the evening, you absolutely cannot leave without tasting a glass of homemade lemongrass liqueur, a real gem!
TO KNOW
Funchal is in Via Algeri, 5, about 10 minutes by car from Altrè (click here for the map). Your dog, whether large or small, is welcome as long as it is well behaved. Reservations are recommended by calling +39 351 870 9710.
Mint Julep
Type of cuisine Pizza e cocktail
Average price 25 euros
Distance from Altré 8 minutes walk
Instagram @mint_julep_olbia
Web mintjulep.it
This pretty cocktail bar, reminiscent of those in London, New York and Singapore, overlooks Piazza Regina Margherita and is famous for its fine cocktails (we will tell about it here) but also for its gurmè pizza. No, that’s not a mistake, that’s what they call it: “gurmè”. Here the pizza is served in slices and each slice is a perfect morsel that gives those who eat it a great balance of taste between the base and the rich toppings.
Each pizza is characterised by a unique and personal style. The dough is made from organic, wholemeal and semi-wholemeal flours that are left to rise for at least 48 hours on a sourdough starter, while the toppings are made from the highest quality raw materials, depending on the season.
As we were saying, Mint Julep is mainly famous for the cocktails made by Marco Pistone which, following the staff’s precious advice, can be paired with the different pizzas. We tried “Il marinaio innamorato” (The sailor in love) with San Marzano tomato, stracciatella, marinated anchovies, grated capers, oregano and Cetara’s anchovie “colatura”. The perfect match? “Il nobile Negroni“, an interesting variation of the classic aperitif cocktail.
TO KNOW
Mint Julep is in via Garibaldi, 2 at the corner with piazza Regina Margherita (click here for the map).
The place is really tiny, so booking is strongly recommended. In the warmer months it is possible to enjoy the tables outside in the lovely dehor set up in the adjacent alley. The number for reservations is +39 347 273 9022.
Il Vesuvio
Type of cuisine Pizza
Average price 20 euros
Distance from Altré 4 minutes by car
Instagram @il_vesuvio
Web pizzeriailvesuvio.com
This is the perfect place for lovers of Neapolitan pizza, with a soft crust at least a centimetre high. Here you can find all the best of the tradition: buffalo mozzarella, burrata, friarielli, escarole, but also fried pizzas, calzoni and pizzas with a ricotta-filled crust. All strictly baked in a wood-fired oven.
In our opinion, the best thing to do when we talk about Neapolitan pizza is to choose one of the simplest to enjoy this product recognised since 2010 as a “Traditional Speciality Guaranteed” by the European Union. From this point of view, Margherita, Marinara and Napoli are the best for the palate.
As in all pizzerias in southern Italy, at Vesuvio you will find a wide choice of starters and fried food to enjoy while waiting for your pizza; don’t miss “Io mammeta e tu”, a selection of a crocchè, an arancino and a montanara.
The staff is really friendly and the service is very quick, maybe a bit too much sometimes, especially on days when the service is organised on shifts. That’s why we recommend this place for a quick dinner. If you want to catch up with an old friend you haven’t seen since high school, you might want to choose another place.
TO KNOW
Il Vesuvio is in via Mariano Forteleoni, 47 (click here for the map).
At weekends and during the summer months, service is organised in one-and-a-half-hour shifts. Book a few days in advance to choose your preferred one and not to risk not finding free tables by calling +39 0789 50346.
Your dog is welcome, but please inform the restaurant if he/she is coming with you.