Lievita

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

The Man Behind the Dough

Andrea grew up in Piedmont, the northwest Italian region celebrated for its pedigree wines, autumn truffles and mountain landscapes. By the age of six he was already transfixed by the table, watching his mother produce sprawling home-cooked spreads. More than two decades of working with dough and sauce followed, including a formative stint on the Amalfi Coast where he honed the craft of Neapolitan pizza. After repeated visits to South Africa, Andrea settled here in 2013 and began sharing his passion with local diners, first through Café 28 in Sandton, then through Lievita in Cape Town's Green Point.

The Heart of the Kitchen

The centrepiece of Lievita's kitchen is an imported Neapolitan "Fazzone" oven — the source of that characteristic blistered, slightly charred crust that separates a properly made Neapolitan pizza from everything else. Alongside the classics, the menu ventures into more inventive territory, and the Italian pizza and pasta offer is kept honest by a combination of locally sourced produce and imported Italian ingredients.

The pasta side of the menu carries equal weight. Dishes like the Gorgonzola and Pesto Rigatoni and a slow-cooked Ragù reflect the regional diversity of Italian cooking — different ingredients and techniques, but the same underlying seriousness about flavour. Starters and traditional desserts round out a menu that reads as complete rather than sprawling.

Recognition and Setting

Gambero Rosso, the authoritative Italian food and wine guide, awarded Lievita a slice — a meaningful nod to the authenticity of what Andrea is producing this far from Italy. It is the kind of recognition that confirms what regulars already know: the Italian cuisine here is not approximated for a foreign market but made with the same standards you would expect closer to the source.

The dining room is designed to feel like a proper Italian trattoria — warm and unhurried, suited to a long dinner with friends or a quieter evening for two. A private venue is also available for hire, offering a versatile space with both indoor elegance and an outdoor area, handled by a dedicated events team.

Takeaway is available, and Lievita has a presence on Uber Eats for those who prefer to bring the Italian pizza and pasta experience home.