Bambina Pizzeria
MondayClosed.
Tuesday11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Wednesday11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Thursday11:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Friday11:00 am – 8:00 pm.
Saturday11:00 am – 8:00 pm.
SundayClosed.
Alessandro Buttazzoni is a name possibly familiar to those from Hawke’s Bay, given he is the widely experienced creator of the beloved Alessandro’s Pizza e Pasta Napoletana in Havelock North. In 2021, Buttazzoni decided it was time for a change, so he sold Alessandro’s and took a break before coming back in 2023 to his biggest love: making authentic Italian pizza.
Buttazzoni’s latest venture, Bambina Pizzeria, dishes up not just the well-known Pizza Napoletana style pizzas (round and perfect for sharing) but also Pizza Romana style - that is, rectangular pizza by the slice. In fact, Bambina is the only pizzeria in the country serving Pizza Romana at the scale it does.
These rectangular pizzas are displayed in a large glass cabinet and topped with plenty of high-quality, seasonal ingredients, chosen in combinations to compliment the dough best. There are over ten rotating flavours daily, and with options like pork and fennel sausage and salami with chilli-infused honey or pear, walnut and creamy gorgonzola with white truffle honey, you’ll be hard-pressed to choose just one.
The dough for this pizza is also a work of art. It’s made from specialised flours sourced from Naples and combines with water, Sicilian sea salt and Alessandro’s very own sourdough starter. Good things take time, and in true Italian fashion, the dough ferments for no less than 72 hours before it is baked in ovens imported all the way from - you guessed it! - Italy. The result? A dough that is both thick and light, with a crispy crust and rich in natural fibre.
Pizza is an art form that has been perfected over centuries gone by, and at Bambina’s, the mission is to honour it. Mission accomplished, you might say.
Words by Nicole Mudgway & Photography by Anna Briggs
Information not correct? Report an error
Location
211 Heretaunga Street East, Hastings
Nearby Places
Common Room
The Common Room on Hastings Heretaunga Street is the best little bar in the bay, with friendly hospitality and banter, live music and comedy nights, and an atmosphere that...
Spooky’s Pizzeria
According to Luke, owner and chief pizza maker at Spooky's Pizzeria in Hastings, pizza has long been one of the best foods in the land.
Sazio
In the heart of Hastings, neighbourhood pasta bar Sazio is driven by the philosophy of “Eat with the people you love. Eat well. Eat often. Eat pasta.”.
Hastings City Art Gallery
Te Whare Toi O Heretaunga Hastings City Art Gallery is focused on showcasing high-quality, contemporary art from Hawke's Bay, Aotearoa and beyond.
Similar Places
Cellar 495
Hastings is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, with many pockets around the centre seeing new buildings and renovations come to life.
Mary's
Looking for a neighbourhood restaurant where the vibe is that perfect mix between casual, approachable, yet effortlessly sophisticated? Mary’s in Havelock North fits...
Long Island Delicatessen
Need a bite to eat when you’re on the go? Looking to pack a picnic for lunch? Or searching for somewhere that provides knockout catering? Hastings’ Long Island...
Workroom
Hidden down a laneway on Joll Road in Havelock North, you will come across caffeine superstars Workroom.