Stefano's Pizzeria sits at the river end of Trafalgar Street, combining the roles of pizzeria, cafe and bar in a recently renovated dining room. It is open for both lunch and dinner, so the same address can suit a quick midday pizza, an evening meal with wine or a takeaway collected on the way home. Delivery extends that practical side, while bookings and private-function enquiries make the restaurant useful for groups that want the structure of a sit-down Italian meal.
Handmade pizza remains the defining part of the kitchen. Local and Italian ingredients go into bases finished in a stone oven, with small, medium and large sizes giving tables room to mix styles. Calabrese layers spicy Italian salami with jalapeño, olives and caramelised onion; Napoli uses anchovy, caper and olive; and Quattro Formaggi brings together blue cheese, feta and brie. A cheese-free Vegan Gianni and optional small gluten-free base broaden the choice, with the restaurant clearly noting shared flour preparation areas.
Pasta has become a substantial second reason to visit rather than a token alternative to pizza. House-made spaghetti is dressed with extra-virgin olive oil, garlic, leek, chilli, Parmigiano and toasted garlic crumbs, while tagliatelle comes with either beef-and-pork ragù or prawns, cherry tomatoes, garlic and basil oil. Filled shapes include pappardelle with pumpkin and goat cheese, and cappellacci enclosing slow-cooked beef, giving the menu both light, aromatic combinations and richer comfort-food options for diners who want a complete Italian plate of their own.
The supporting dishes keep an Italian thread without overcomplicating the meal. Pizza bread arrives with mozzarella and garlic or rosemary oil, while a Mediterranean salad combines tomato, olive, feta, cucumber and red onion; the Caesar can be ordered with chicken or anchovies. Nelson and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot sit alongside Italian and Australian wine, with local and international beer also available. The result is a flexible neighbourhood pizzeria where a shared pizza, fresh pasta or a more complete meal all feel equally natural.
Address: 91 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 7010, New Zealand
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