I’ve been working in South Melbourne for years now, and like many people, I’ve spent countless lunch breaks wandering through South Melbourne Market. While there’s always been a takeaway spot selling pizza slices and Italian goods, something’s been missing: a proper sit-down pizza restaurant where you can relax with a margherita and a glass of Italian wine.
That gap has finally been filled with the opening of Pizzateca Lupa, and the team behind it knows what they’re doing.
The Dream Team
The restaurant is the brainchild of Lino Torre, who also owns Park Street Pasta and Wine (another South Melbourne favourite), along with his brother Gabriele Torre and Salvatore Malatesta from St Ali. If you’re a coffee person, you’ll know St Ali – the iconic South Melbourne roastery and cafe that’s been a Melbourne coffee institution since 2005, when it opened its converted warehouse doors on Yarra Place. Malatesta took over the business in 2008 and has since built it into a thriving empire that includes multiple locations and is known for its dedication to artful coffee-making techniques.
But back to the pizza. Gabriele Torre is the former head pizza chef at DOC in Carlton, and if you know Melbourne pizza, you know that’s serious credentials. DOC is legendary for bringing authentic Italian pizza to Melbourne, with thin, crispy bases and a focus on the best imported ingredients. They’re basically the godfathers of artisan pizza in the city, with their fire-engine-red pedestal-mounted meat slicer and bustling atmosphere that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a corner pizzeria in Italy.
The kitchen team is rounded out by Diana Desensi, who comes from Saint George in St Kilda (Karen Martini’s Mediterranean tavern and grill that took over the historic Saint Hotel), and Sammie De Leso from Bau Bau on the Mornington Peninsula.
Three Ways to Enjoy Pizza
Here’s where things get interesting – Pizzateca Lupa doesn’t just do one style of pizza. They do three, and each has its time and place.
Lunchtime: Pizza al Teglia
During the day, you can grab Roman-style pizza from the takeaway window. These are baked in rectangular trays (teglia) and cut into slices. The dough uses an impressive 80% water to 20% flour ratio, which creates an especially crispy base. Toppings like fresh basil and pre-cooked tomatoes change daily, so there’s always something new to try. Perfect for a quick market lunch.
Dinnertime: Pizza Tonda
For dinner, they switch to 13-inch round thin-crust pizzas in the Neapolitan style, available for both dine-in and takeaway. You’ll find all the classics here: margherita, calabrese, and more. These are the pizzas you dream about when you think of Italian pizza done right.
Weekly Special: Pizza al Padellino
This is the one that caught my attention. Pizza al padellino is a Torino specialty that’s harder to find in Melbourne. It has a thin, soft crust and is traditionally baked in a small pan. According to Gabriele, the dough takes at least 72 hours to make, but the wait is worth it; it produces a much crunchier pizza than the standard tonda. This is only available as a weekly special, so you’ll need to time your visit right.
More Than Just Pizza
While pizza is obviously the star, the menu includes antipasti, pasta, Italian street snacks, and tiramisu. The food draws from the Torre brothers’ memories of family dinners around the dining table, which is exactly the kind of personal touch that makes a restaurant feel authentic.
To drink, there’s Molecola (Italian cola), chinotto, wine, beer, and a short list of Italian-style aperitivo cocktails. Basically, everything you need to feel like you’ve taken a quick trip to Italy.
The Space
The restaurant was designed by Melbourne’s Jackson Clements Burrows, the same team behind Her and Arbory. They’ve created a space that seats 34 with relaxed timber and maroon facades that evoke a quaint streetside Italian eatery. It’s the kind of place where you can pop in for a quick slice or settle in for a longer meal with friends.
The Details
Address: 116 Cecil Street, South Melbourne
Phone: 0490 119 490
Hours:
Monday: 5:30 – 10 pm
Tuesday: 5:30 – 9:30 pm
Wednesday: 11 am – 9:30 pm
Thursday: 11 am – 9:30 pm
Friday: 11 am – 9:30 pm
Saturday: 11 am – 10 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 10 pm
I haven’t been yet (it’s fairly new), but with Gabriele Torre’s DOC pedigree and the involvement of St Ali’s Malatesta, this is definitely going on my list of places to try. The three-pizza approach is smart – it gives you options depending on what you’re in the mood for, whether that’s a quick lunch slice or a sit-down dinner with the 72-hour fermented pizza al padellino.
South Melbourne Market has always been a great spot for food shopping, but having a proper pizza restaurant right there makes it even more of a destination. I’ll be back to update this once I’ve tried it myself, but if you’re in the area and love pizza (and who doesn’t?), Pizzateca Lupa is worth checking out.
