If you want to get a taste of the “real Italy”, you have to visit Massimo’s in Hout Bay. The restaurant was awarded “Best Pizzeria in Africa” in 2019 and 2021 and the family run business truly knows how to make an extraordinary and delicious pizza.

The owner and his wife come from a small town in Northern Italy (Piemonte) and introduced the traditional Italian-style pizza to Cape Town in 2009.

The highlight on the menu are clearly the different (and sometimes unusual) pizzas that all have the freshest ingredients and are all made in the wood-fired oven. But of course they also dish up other meals besides pizza in case you are in the mood for something else. You’ll find salads, pasta and even a vegan menu as well as special meals for the “bambinos”.

At Massimo’s they have an inside and outside seating area whereby the outside deck is right next to a small play area for the children. They will find a jungle gym, swings and space to run around. At the back of the restaurant (but out of sight) there is another bigger playground which can also be explored by the kids.

They not only have a big heart for children, but also for dogs. You are more than welcome to bring along your furry child and take a seat at some areas and outside. But what’s best is the fact, that they even have an entire Doggies Menu to choose from. We’ve never seen that before in any restaurant in the world. So this is truly something special!

The toilet situation is a bit tricky as there is no bathroom in the restaurant itself, but located in the shopping mall next door. So you’ll have to ask for the bathroom key and then walk your way down the passage to find the toilets a bit further away. It’s not a great inconvenience, but be prepared for that in case you come with smaller kids who urgently need to find a bathroom.