L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Naples Institution, Now in Dubai

L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele is not a concept or a brand exercise — it is one of the oldest and most respected names in Neapolitan pizza, rooted at Via Foria 25 in Naples and now carried to Dubai's City Walk Mall. The recognition from Gambero Rosso, Italy's most authoritative food guide, confirms that the Dubai outpost holds to the same standards that made the original legendary.

The Space

At 400 square metres, the City Walk location seats 100 guests inside and a further 50 outdoors, making it a substantial destination rather than a casual counter. The centrepiece is a wood-burning oven built by Stefano Ferrara, the Neapolitan craftsman whose ovens are considered the gold standard for authentic pizza napoletana. The room feels deliberately rooted in Campanian character — a rare thing in a city as forward-looking as Dubai.

What's on the Plate

The menu stays close to the canon. The Margherita and Marinara are the cornerstones, exactly as served at the Naples mother house. Beyond those classics, the kitchen offers the Cosacca, the Napoletana with anchovies, and both the fried and baked versions of the ripieno — the folded stuffed pizza that is a staple of Neapolitan street tradition. A rotating monthly special keeps regulars coming back. Starters include vegetable antipasti and fried nodini, with desserts sourced from other Neapolitan producers. Alcohol is available and served on-site.

Why It Matters

Bringing true pizza napoletana to one of the world's most competitive dining cities without diluting it is harder than it sounds. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele Dubai earns its Gambero Rosso recognition precisely because it resists adaptation — the same dough, the same two founding pizzas, the same Ferrara oven. For anyone in Dubai seeking an honest, unembellished plate of Neapolitan pizza, this is the address.