Restaurant in Pistoia, Italy
Ranked pizza, easy booking, worth the detour.
Ranked 21st on 50 Top Pizza Italia 2025, La Fenice is Pistoia's most credible destination pizzeria. Chef Manuel Maiorano's wood-fired menu spans classic Margherita to inventive sushi-style pizzas, with dough fermented 36–48 hours. Booking is easy, the service is attentive, and the format suits dates and small group dinners more than large celebrations.
La Fenice is one of the more interesting reasons to eat in Pistoia. Ranked 21st on the 50 Leading Pizza Italia 2025 list, it sits in a tier where the cooking is taken seriously and the experience justifies more than one visit. Exact pricing is not publicly listed, but given its national ranking and Tuscan location, expect to spend in the mid-range for Italy's better pizzerias — comfortably less than a fine-dining evening, and considerably more rewarding than a neighbourhood slice. If you are planning a special occasion in Pistoia and want something that feels considered without the formality of a tasting-menu restaurant, La Fenice is the right call.
Chef Manuel Maiorano runs a wood-fired operation where the dough rests for 36 to 48 hours before it goes near a flame. That slow fermentation produces a lighter, more digestible base — the kind that does not sit heavily after a full meal. The menu ranges from a classic Margherita through to sushi-style pizzas and experiments with steamed dough, which places La Fenice clearly in the contemporary rather than strictly Neapolitan camp. For a first visit, the classics anchored by those carefully sourced tomatoes, mozzarella, and anchovies are the right entry point. The Mediterranean-ingredient focus is consistent across the menu, and the kitchen's attention to raw materials is what separates this from a well-made but ordinary pizza.
Service is calm and attentive, which matters more than it sounds in a room where you are likely spending two hours across multiple courses. The Neapolitan-style appetizers are worth ordering , they are a distinct part of the menu and signal that this is not a venue you should rush through on a single pizza and leave.
La Fenice rewards repeat visits more than most pizzerias at this level. On a first visit, anchor your order on the wood-fired classics and the Neapolitan appetizers to understand the kitchen's baseline. On a second visit, the sushi-style pizzas and steamed dough experiments are where Maiorano's creative range becomes clearer , these are not gimmicks for their own sake but extensions of a coherent cooking philosophy. If you are based in or regularly visiting Pistoia, a third visit gives you enough range to understand what the menu does well across its full width. The format is relaxed enough that you are not committing to a long tasting menu each time, which makes repeat visits practical rather than aspirational.
For a date or a celebration dinner in Pistoia, La Fenice delivers on atmosphere and food quality without the commitment of a multi-hour fine-dining format. The service is attentive enough to feel like an occasion, and the food is genuinely interesting , the kind of meal where you are likely to talk about specific dishes afterwards. It is not the venue for a business dinner requiring a private room or for a group celebration expecting tableside theatre. But for two to four people who want a serious meal in a relaxed setting, it is one of the better options in the city. See our full Pistoia restaurants guide to compare options across cuisine types and price points.
Booking difficulty at La Fenice is rated easy, which means you do not need to plan weeks in advance the way you would for a Michelin-starred restaurant. That said, a 21st-place national ranking draws visitors from outside Pistoia, particularly on weekends, so booking a few days ahead for Friday or Saturday evening is sensible. For midweek visits, same-day availability is plausible. The address is Via Dalmazia, 73, Pistoia , direct to reach whether you are based in the city or arriving from Florence, which is under an hour by train. No booking method is listed publicly, so check current reservation options directly with the restaurant on arrival in Pistoia or via local listings. If you are building a broader Pistoia itinerary, also see our guides to Pistoia bars, Pistoia hotels, Pistoia wineries, and Pistoia experiences.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Fenice | La Fenice is a confident, modern pizzeria in Pistoia, Tuscany, known for its contemporary Italian and fusion pizzas. Chef Manuel Maiorano uses a wood-fired oven and dough rested 36–48 hours. The menu features classic Margherita alongside inventive sushi-style pizzas and steamed dough experiments, all delivered with calm, attentive service. The restaurant is ranked 21st in the 50 Top Pizza Italia 2025 list.; La Fenice is a pizzeria where you can live a gastronomic experience. Each dish is filled with passion and wood-fired oven aroma, every bite is a journey through the flavors of the carefully selected raw materials by Manuel Maiorano, the toppings are thoughtfully and creatively designed. Tomatoes, aromatic herbs, mozzarella, anchovies release the true Mediterranean scents. The dough is left to mature slowly for 36 to 48 hours, giving it the lightness of a cloud. Special attention is dedicated to typical Neapolitan appetizers. Well done Manuel and his collaborators for the impeccable service in the dining room, making every diner feel like a welcomed guest. Definitely worth trying multiple times. | — | |
| Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
| Dal Pescatore | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
| Osteria Francescana | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
| Quattro Passi | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
| Reale | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | €€€€ | — |
A quick look at how La Fenice measures up.
Yes, with the right expectations. La Fenice is ranked 21st on 50 Top Pizza Italia 2025, which gives it a credible food story to anchor a celebration. Chef Manuel Maiorano's wood-fired, slow-fermented dough and creative menu deliver a proper dining experience without the formality or time commitment of a fine-dining tasting menu. For a birthday dinner or date night in Pistoia where you want quality over ceremony, it works well.
A solo visit makes sense here, especially if you want to work through the menu methodically. The calm, attentive service noted at La Fenice suits solo diners, and a counter or table for one at a ranked pizzeria is a low-friction way to eat well in Pistoia. Booking is rated easy, so you are not competing hard for a seat.
The venue database does not include specific dietary accommodation details. What is documented is that the menu spans classic Margherita, inventive fusion pizzas, and Neapolitan appetizers, with carefully selected ingredients including tomatoes, mozzarella, aromatic herbs, and anchovies. Contact La Fenice directly at Via Dalmazia, 73, Pistoia to confirm what can be adjusted for your needs before booking.
Bar seating specifics are not confirmed in the available data. La Fenice is a full-service pizzeria with table dining as its primary format, and booking is rated easy, so securing a proper table is not a challenge that makes bar seating a necessary fallback.
Within Pistoia itself, direct competitors at La Fenice's level are limited, which partly explains why a 50 Top Pizza Italia ranking carries weight here. If you are travelling in Tuscany and want to compare, the ranking places La Fenice ahead of most regional pizzerias. For a completely different format, multi-hour fine-dining tasting menus exist elsewhere in northern Italy, but in Pistoia, La Fenice is the clearest option for a food-led dinner without needing to leave the city.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
