Restaurant in Melbourne, Australia
Serious Neapolitan pizza, no occasion needed.
48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar in South Yarra delivers authentic Neapolitan-style pizza built on 48-hour fermented dough — lighter and more considered than most Melbourne alternatives at this price point. With housemade gnocchi, gluten-free and vegan options, and a second location in Elsternwick, it works for a wide range of diners. Book a day ahead to be safe.
If your window for pizza in Melbourne is limited, 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar on Malvern Road is where to spend it. This is not a special-occasion restaurant — it is a neighbourhood Italian that happens to execute at a level most of its peers do not reach. The 48-hour dough fermentation process is the operational detail that separates it from the average suburban slice: longer cold fermentation produces a lighter, more digestible crust with better structure. You are not just eating convenience pizza. You are eating something that took two days to prepare.
South Yarra's dining strip runs busy year-round, but the current season is when the room fills fastest. If you are planning a visit now, book ahead rather than assuming a walk-in will land you a table. The venue has two Melbourne locations — South Yarra and Elsternwick , so if one is full, the other is worth checking before you default to a lesser option.
Chefs Michele Circhirillo and Fabio Biscaldi built the concept around authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, with a crust that is soft through the centre and lightly crisp at the edge. The menu runs from classic combinations to more creative builds, including a dedicated selection honouring notable Pizza Masters , a signal that the kitchen takes its craft seriously rather than just broadly. The gnocchi is housemade, which is rarer in Melbourne than it should be, and the menu accommodates both gluten-free and vegan diners without the usual trade-off in quality.
Beyond pizza and gnocchi, the appetiser selection is worth exploring, particularly if you want to stretch the meal. The venue also carries a focused selection of Italian olive oils , an unusual touch that points to the founders' commitment to imported Italian produce. For drinks, the wine list and gin selection are both considered, making this a viable option for a longer dinner rather than just a quick eat.
For context on how this compares in the broader Australian pizza category: 400 Gradi in Brunswick East is the other name that comes up consistently in Melbourne's serious pizza conversation. Both are credible. 48h's fermentation-led approach and the housemade gnocchi give it a slight edge for diners who want more than pizza alone.
48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar works across a wide range of situations. Solo diners, couples, small groups, and families with dietary requirements all have a clear path through the menu. If you are a food-focused traveller comparing Melbourne's Italian options, this is the venue that rewards attention to craft at a price point that does not require justification. If you want white-tablecloth Italian with a broader wine program, Florentino is the move. If you want something more relaxed and ingredient-led, 48h is the better fit.
It is also worth noting that the founders operate a location in Italy as well, which gives the concept a through-line of authenticity that is not manufactured for export. That context matters when you are choosing between this and a Melbourne-built Italian concept with no roots in the source.
48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar is at 373 Malvern Rd, South Yarra. A second location operates in Elsternwick. Booking is direct , this is not a hard reservation, but current-season demand in South Yarra means same-day tables are not guaranteed. Book a day or two out to be safe. Gluten-free and vegan options are available across the menu. The atmosphere is relaxed and the dress code is casual. For a full picture of where this fits in Melbourne's dining options, see our full Melbourne restaurants guide.
If you are building a broader Melbourne trip, our Melbourne hotels guide, bars guide, and experiences guide cover the rest. For day-trip dining outside the city, Brae in Birregurra is the reference point for produce-driven fine dining at a distance.
Quick reference: South Yarra and Elsternwick locations | 48-hour fermented dough | Housemade gnocchi | Gluten-free and vegan options available | Casual dress | Booking recommended but direct.
Yes. The relaxed format and broad menu make it comfortable for solo diners. You can work through the menu at your own pace, and the atmosphere does not skew toward large-group bookings. If you are eating alone and want to try more than one dish, the appetiser selection alongside a single pizza is a practical approach.
Casual. This is a neighbourhood pizzeria in South Yarra, not a fine-dining room. Smart casual is fine if you are coming from elsewhere, but there is no dress expectation beyond that. Compare this to Vue de Monde or Attica, where the dress code carries more weight.
Yes, and better than most in its category. The menu includes gluten-free and vegan options, which is not a given at a pizza-focused venue. If you have specific requirements beyond these, contact the venue directly before booking , phone and contact details are leading sourced via their current listings, as they are not confirmed in our database.
The venue's casual format suits small to medium groups well. For larger parties, call ahead rather than assuming walk-in capacity. The Elsternwick location is an alternative if South Yarra cannot fit your group size on your preferred date. For a group that wants a more structured private dining setup, Flower Drum is the Melbourne benchmark for that experience.
One to two days is usually sufficient. This is not a difficult reservation by Melbourne standards , nothing like the lead time required at Attica or Aru Melbourne. That said, South Yarra fills on weekends, so booking the day before is smarter than assuming availability. The Elsternwick location gives you a backup if your first choice is full.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar | Easy | ||
| Attica | Australian Modern | Unknown | |
| Flower Drum | Cantonese | Unknown | |
| Vue de Monde | Australian Fine Dining | Unknown | |
| Florentino | Modern Italian | Unknown | |
| Moonah | Unknown |
What to weigh when choosing between 48h Pizza e Gnocchi Bar and alternatives.
Yes, and it is one of the more comfortable solo options on Malvern Road. The counter and smaller tables make single covers feel natural rather than awkward. The 48-hour fermented pizza is available by the pie, not as a shared tasting format, so you order exactly what you want. No commitment to a group menu or set price.
Come as you are — this is a casual South Yarra neighbourhood pizzeria, not a fine-dining room. Jeans and a clean top are standard. The focus here is on the food from chefs Michele Circhirillo and Fabio Biscaldi, not the dress code.
Better than most pizza spots at this tier. The menu includes both gluten-free and vegan options alongside the core pizza and gnocchi range. Ingredients sourced from Italy are featured across the menu, so ask staff about specific allergens when ordering.
Small to mid-size groups are manageable at either the South Yarra or Elsternwick location. The menu's width — classic pizzas, creative options, gnocchi, appetisers, gluten-free and vegan choices — means mixed dietary groups are easier to satisfy here than at a more rigid set-menu venue. For larger bookings, check the venue's official channels to confirm capacity.
A few days ahead is usually enough for this style of venue — 48h is a neighbourhood pizzeria, not a hard-reservation destination like some of Melbourne's tasting-menu rooms. Weekend evenings move faster, so book earlier if you have a fixed time. Walk-ins are worth attempting at lunch or on quieter weekday nights.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
