Pizzateca Lupa is a newly opened Italian-style cafe and pizzeria located in South Melbourne Market’s restaurant precinct by brothers Lino and Gabriele Torre.
Located on the corner of Cecil and Coventry Streets, Lino (DOC Gastronomia Italiana, Park Street Pasta & Wine) and Gabriele Torre (DOC Gastronomia Italiana) hark back to their Italian roots and childhood memories of focaccia-filled weekends with family.
Co-owner Lino Torre says, “Growing up, Saturdays were always spent with family, and for us that meant eating focaccia with our grandparents. Gabriele and I have fond memories of that time, so it feels really special to be running Pizzateca Lupa together in South Melbourne, which is going through an exciting revival as a dining destination in its own right.”
Named after ‘Lupa’, an Italian she-wolf in Roman mythology and a powerful symbol of Rome, Pizzateca Lupa is an intimate 34-seat venue celebrating pizzas of the thin, crisp crust and typically rectangular or square shape typical of the Italian capital, contrasting the more familiar round Neapolitan pizza style of southern Italy.
Co-owner and pizza chef Gabriele Torre says, “Traditionally, Roman pizzas feature a light and crispy crust, which is what we’re doing at Pizzateca Lupa. We’re really focused on depth of flavour, it’s not just about adding tomato and anchovies; we pre-cook the tomatoes for richness and every ingredient is considered using the best quality produce we can find.”
Leading the kitchen with Lino and Gabriele is Sammie De leso (Bau Bau, Donna Maria).
Split between dine-in and takeaway, the menu features Roman-style pizza in teglia (square, tray-baked slices) served by the slice for lunch, while the dine-in experience includes antipasti, rotating house-made pastas – from cacio e pepe to amatriciana – and 13-inch pizza tonda (round pizzas in the Neapolitan style) with a mix of classic and original toppings. Traditional tiramisu and sweet seasonal pizzas round out the offering, alongside ST. ALi coffee.
For dining in, antipasti may include fried globe artichokes, fritto misto or a selection of artisanal cheeses and meats. For mains, expect a handful of pastas using traditional Italian pasta makers Pastificio Liguori in traditional Roman styles such as carbonara tubettone, cacio e pepe spaghetti, and amatriciana fusilli, alongside other crowd pleasers such as a seafood scoglio calamarata and pork ragu tortiglioni.
Pizzateca Lupa’s tight drinks offering includes signature cocktails such as Venetian spritzes, paloma, and negronis. Beers include Peroni and local brewery Bodriggy (Abbotsford, Melbourne). The focused wine list reflects Australian and Italian varietals and are available by the glass, 500ml carafe, and bottle.
The understated design by Melbourne-based Jackson Clements Burrows (HER, Arbory Bar & Eatery), evokes a palette of walnut timber finishes and deep reds, drawing inspiration from alimentari/grocery-style eateries.
Pizzateca Lupa accepts walk-ins, bookings, and takeaways via their website with indoor and outdoor seating available.
Photography by Michael Pham.
