Giovanni's
A laid-back Colombo pizzeria serving authentic wood-fired pizzas with a cozy courtyard ambiance, perfect for casual dining.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Giovanni's
Highlights
Must-see attractions
A laid-back Colombo pizzeria serving authentic wood-fired pizzas with a cozy courtyard ambiance, perfect for casual dining.
"Experience authentic Italian pizza in a cozy setting with great service and a BYOB policy."
Make a Reservation
Booking in advance is recommended to ensure you get a table, especially during peak hours.
BYOB Opportunity
Guests are welcome to bring their own liquor; there's no corkage fee for your bottle.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian
Price
Mid-range
Phone
+94 77 033 5366
Address
145 Thimbirigasyaya Rd, Colombo 00500, Sri Lanka
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Authentic Wood-Fired Pizzas
Experience delicious, thin-crust pizzas baked in a clay oven with fresh toppings and a perfect crispy crust.
Cozy & Inviting Atmosphere
Enjoy a relaxed vibe with fairy lights, vintage decor, and checkered tablecloths, ideal for dates or casual meet-ups.
BYOB Friendly
Bring your own bottle of wine to complement your meal without any corkage fees. An easygoing dining experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Menu
Most Popular Items
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Make a Reservation
Booking in advance is recommended to ensure you get a table, especially during peak hours.
BYOB Opportunity
Guests are welcome to bring their own liquor; there's no corkage fee for your bottle.
Brunch & Unique Drinks
Try their brunch menu until 3 PM daily or unique offerings like homemade ginger beer.
Parking & Peak Times
Parking can be difficult; consider taking a cab or getting dropped off to avoid hassle.
Tips
from all over the internet
Make a Reservation
Booking in advance is recommended to ensure you get a table, especially during peak hours.
BYOB Opportunity
Guests are welcome to bring their own liquor; there's no corkage fee for your bottle.
Brunch & Unique Drinks
Try their brunch menu until 3 PM daily or unique offerings like homemade ginger beer.
Parking & Peak Times
Parking can be difficult; consider taking a cab or getting dropped off to avoid hassle.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Diners rave about Giovanni's authentic wood-fired pizzas with their crispy crusts and fresh toppings, as well as the cozy, welcoming atmosphere perfect for any occasion. Some find certain dishes, like the mushroom pizza, less impressive, and parking can be a challenge during busy periods. Despite minor criticisms, the consistent quality and friendly service make it a highly recommended spot.
"I recently had the chance to eat at Giovanni’s Restaurant, and I’m still thinking about how delicious the pizza was! It was freshly baked, full of flavor, and had the perfect thin, crispy crust. You can really taste the quality of the ingredients, and the cheese was so rich and gooey!
The place had a cozy, relaxed vibe, and the staff were super friendly and welcoming. It felt like a small slice of Italy right in the city. Whether you're a pizza lover or just craving something truly satisfying, Giovanni’s is the place to go.
I’ll definitely be going back. Highly recommended for anyone looking for amazing, authentic pizza!"
Shanuka Rathnayake
"A cosy haven tucked away in a busy street. Welcoming checkered tablecloths, BYOB with cheery greetings. Splendid service. 10 minutes and you have your wood fired pizza made to perfection. Dived into an all meat pizza in the company of friends, a yum delight! The mushroom pizza however is not the best - locally packeted mushrooms cut the fine taste of blue cheese. Yet the cheese bruschetta starter with the tag along thin crust bread, a beauty ample for 3 persons. Parking could be an issue, best to cab it or be driven!"
Sharmini Nadesan
"Sounds like you had a delightful time overall! Here's a rephrased version of your experience, keeping the cozy and friendly vibe:
Nestled amidst the city's hustle, this charming spot welcomes you with cheerful greetings and inviting checkered tablecloths. The splendid service and the joy of BYOB set a relaxed tone. Incredibly efficient, they deliver a perfectly wood-fired pizza in just ten minutes! Our group thoroughly enjoyed the all-meat pizza – a truly yummy delight. While the mushroom pizza, featuring perhaps less vibrant locally sourced mushrooms that slightly overshadowed the blue cheese, wasn't a standout, the cheese bruschetta starter was a beauty. Served with ample thin crust bread, it was perfect for sharing among three. Just a heads-up, parking can be tricky, so arriving by cab or getting a drop-off is probably your best bet! 🍕🍾❤️"
Chrishan Danushka
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the cozy atmosphere with fairy lights and vintage decor makes it an ideal spot for date nights.
Absolutely! Giovanni's is a BYOB restaurant, meaning you can bring your own bottle of wine or liquor without any corkage fee.
The thin-crust, wood-fired pizzas are highly recommended, particularly the Margherita and all-meat options.
Parking can be challenging, especially during peak hours. It's advisable to take a cab or get dropped off.
Yes, Giovanni's offers brunch options available until 3 PM daily.
It is recommended to make a reservation ahead of time to secure your table, especially on weekends.
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Tuck in to some of Colombo’s best pizza in a little courtyard just off Thimbirigasyaya Road. Crispy dough, fresh flavours and the ideal cheese-to-ingredient ratio attest to years spent in Italy: this really is great pizza – and the famously laid-back vibe has us coming back again and again. With fairy lights strung up above a brick-walled enclave and a vintage Ford in the drive, Giovanni’s has date nights down, while the wooden benches are a top spot for noisy catch-ups.
Where you can BYOB in Colombo
Almost everyone’s favourite thin-crust pizza joint is perfect for that laidback bottle of red wine with its rustic decor, great food, friendly service – and no corkage!. Giovanni’s in Thimbirigasyaya is a personal favourite and is great for hosting some friends too. As the writing on their wall says, you can BYOB, so long as you don’t leave the empty bottle!
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This lovely little pizza place is a local favourite, serving some of the most authentic Italian food in town. Pizzas are made fresh in a clay oven and prepared by a local chef who once lived in Italy. While the indoor restaurant is quite cosy, on a good day, their alfresco dining area is frequented by crowds for its Instagrammable décor and easy-going vibe.
YAMU’s Most Frequented (Where We Actually Eat) – Yamu.lk
They don’t do very wide delivery, but they cover Colombo 5 pretty much and their pizzas are amazing. Really generous amount of toppings (sometimes you can’t even pick them up) and quite affordably priced (usually around Rs. 850 to 1300). Dimuthi is a pizza journeyman of sorts who has worked at a few places before opening up shop here.
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A post shared by Giovanni’s Presto Pizza (@giovannis_presto_pizza) on Aug 17, 2019 at 7:29am PDT. Definitely, a go-to spot for most when it comes to authentic Italian pizza, and rightly so. Although providing only their signature pizzas on the menu, they’ve added pasta and gnocchi options as well, which hold their own.
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A homely little café with red bricked walls and red and green checked clothes covering the tables give Giovanni’s a charming atmosphere. Sitting among the wooden furniture and enjoying some home cooked pizza is the upshot of what you can experience at this establishment. It’s run by a chef who uses a clay oven.
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Admittedly, Sri Lanka is not the country where you’d be seeking out great pizza. For the longest time, Pizza Hut was the best you could get, and I made my peace with it. That is until my sister-in-law introduced me to Giovanni’s, the most popular pizza spot in Colombo.
The 7 Best Pizzas In Colombo
Giovanni’s on Thimbirigasyaya Road is a cosy and charming bistro with pizzas cooked in a clay oven. The owner varies the toppings depending on what’s fresh that day. Pizzas have perfect chewy crusts and charring from the flames.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit