Sofia: A Modern Southern-Italian Eatery in Stellenbosch

The Cozzolino family have quietly been serving delectable and true-to-style Neapolitan pizza for more than a decade at Vesuvio, their trattoria at the Tyger Waterfront, long before it became the sudden hipster-craze in Cape Town.

Now their offspring, siblings Geliano and Lorena, have flown the coop and opened a small, modern Southern-Italian eatery at the bottom end of Church Street in Stellenbosch. At Sofia, the focus is very firmly on what Neapolitans do best: think cone-sized arancini with ragu, a multitude of bruschette, homemade tagliatelle carbonara, a wild mushroom risotto and, of course, four classical pizzas.

Don’t expect Roman cracker-crisp pizza here, and ask for pineapple on your pizza at your own peril… you might politely be told to p!@$$ off. Neapolitan folk are easily offended when it comes to their culinary heritage.

The menu entails much more, though: a very decent Italian-slanted breakfast offering, light bites throughout the day and, of course, the obligatory cocktails and aperitivo in the afternoons.   Keep a look out for traditional desserts, including the best cannoli south of the equator, and a flourless Capri cake, which in itself makes a visit worthwhile.

There’s a beast of an espresso machine from Astoria, the only one of its kind in the country, and Geliano will make you a shot the likes of which you haven’t had locally: dark and bitter (like your mother-in-law’s heart).

Good to know No reservations.
Opening times Monday + Tuesday, 8am – 5pm
Wednesday – Saturday, 8am – 9pm
Sunday, 8am – 2.30pm
Contact 079 107 2038, @sofiaeatery
Where to find it De Oude Bank building, 7 Church Street, Stellenbosch

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