Our Story

Welcome to Pizzafino – authentic Italian flavours with a fresh, modern ambience. We are a family owned and run restaurant tucked away just down the road from Hahndorf in one of Littlehampton’s oldest heritage buildings. We made our name with traditional wood oven pizza, but are also passionate about creating rich, satisfying pasta, gnocchi, and risotto, the freshest seafood dishes, succulent steak, and a range of memorable Italian desserts. With over 100 wines and spirits behind the bar, we will find you the perfect pour to go with whatever you choose. We have everything to make your occasion special or elevate an evening meal or weekend lunch.

Head chef and owner Michael has 30 years’ experience in pubs and fine dining restaurants in Adelaide and Melbourne. “How great is it to be able to go out and taste the wonderful wines and food of the Adelaide Hills and then bring back an amazing new ingredient or wine pairing for our customers to try? This is why we can never laminate our menu – we are always tweaking something to keep it interesting.”

For her part, Michael’s Anglo-Italian wife Karlyn has made it her mission to make sure there is not a vine leaf or checked tablecloth to be seen. “That was great in the 80s, but Italy is also stylish and sophisticated. If you go to a place like Portofino, it has the gorgeous old architecture, the high-quality dining, and a relaxed friendly atmosphere. I think everybody needs a place away from home and work where they can be greeted like a friend and take some time to enjoy the finer things.”

Heritage Charm

We are privileged to occupy one of the oldest buildings in Littlehampton. It started life as the local Post Office and General Store in the 1800s, but since then the building has passed through many hands, been extended and enclosed, and finally extensively refurbished ahead of our 2021 opening. The chic modern interior is clean and contemporary but respectful to the old building. You can still see original stonework on the inside and the frontage has been carefully re-pointed and restored.

The restaurant seats approximately 70 people for a la carte dining and includes a secluded private area which can seat 10 comfortably as well as balcony seating and tables at street level.

Littlehampton itself is a quiet but developing little town just two minutes over the freeway from Mount Barker. There are many scenic approaches through the hills from other small towns or a smooth 25-minute drive up the freeway from Adelaide itself.

For Regulars

We love our regular customers and get a kick out of being a place where they can order ‘my usual’, get a generous meal, some friendly banter, and it won’t break the bank. We also make a point of having something fresh to try that might become a new favourite. This includes offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options as well as a kids’ menu (and colouring pages).

Our staff are knowledgeable about our menu and can make sound recommendations. They are not too busy to explain what schiacciata (skyah-cha-ta) means, what the Buffalo mozzarella is all about, or whether to have Shiraz or Nebbiolo with the Orecchiette Lamb Ragu.

For Special Occasions

Pizzafino is the perfect destination for date night – maybe after a romantic drive through the scenic Adelaide Hills – for birthdays, big family gatherings, Friday night drinks, or corporate functions.

We have a cozy private space for groups, or you can book out the whole restaurant if you’d like something more exclusive and tailored to your event.

Locally Sourced Gin, Wine, and Ingredients

The Adelaide Hills are world renowned for excellence in wine and food production. Proudly, all of our 30 plus wines and 60 gins are sourced locally and all of our seafood has the splash of South Australian salt still fresh upon it as it scuttles through the door. When we occasionally need an ingredient we can’t find here, we import the best from Italy.