Pizzeria Oliva

Pizzeria Oliva is an artisan pizzeria in the heart of Dubrovnik Old Town, just behind St Blaise Church. Its speciality is thin, crispy pizza made from hand-prepared dough fermented for 72 hours, with Italian ingredients such as San Marzano DOP tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella combined with seasonal Croatian produce.

Oliva works equally well for a sit-down lunch or dinner and for a quick bite while sightseeing. Alongside whole pizzas, the restaurant offers pizza by the slice, panzerotti, focaccia sandwiches, pasta and takeaway, making it more flexible than many Old Town restaurants.

Is Pizzeria Oliva worth visiting?

Oliva is a good choice if you want pizza in the centre of Dubrovnik without turning the meal into a formal dining experience. Its location makes it particularly convenient while exploring the Old Town, but the restaurant puts more effort into its dough and ingredients than a simple tourist takeaway.

The pizzas are deliberately thin and crisp rather than thick or heavily topped. The dough is made by hand, fermented slowly for 72 hours and prepared without additives. This gives Oliva a clearer identity than simply being another restaurant serving pizza near Stradun.

For a wider selection of places to eat, see our guide to restaurants in Dubrovnik.

What makes Oliva's pizza different?

The main difference is the dough. Oliva ferments its pizza dough for 72 hours, using selected Italian type 00 flour and no additives. The result is intended to be light, thin and crispy rather than dense or bread-like.

The restaurant uses San Marzano DOP tomatoes for its tomato base and fior di latte mozzarella, while many toppings come from Croatian producers and local family farms. Seasonal vegetables are sourced locally where possible.

The menu ranges from simple classics such as Margherita and Funghi to pizzas using Adriatic anchovies, local shrimp, Croatian cured meats, goat cheese and other regional ingredients. There are also white pizzas and vegetarian choices.

What else is on the menu?

Although pizza is the main reason to visit, Oliva also serves pasta, salads and local meat and cheese plates. Its pasta selection currently includes šurle, a short type of Istrian pasta, prepared with several different sauces.

The drinks list extends beyond standard soft drinks and beer, with Croatian wines, craft beers, spritzes and kombucha among the current options.

Menu items and prices can change, so check the current Pizzeria Oliva menu rather than relying on older prices published elsewhere.

Gluten-free pizza and pasta at Oliva

Oliva currently offers gluten-free pizza and pasta, which makes it one of the more useful Old Town options for travellers avoiding gluten.

There is an important limitation: the restaurant states that its gluten-free dishes are prepared in a kitchen where gluten is present and that complete protection from cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed. Oliva therefore says these dishes are not recommended for guests with coeliac disease or severe gluten allergies.

If you have a medical dietary requirement rather than a preference or intolerance, discuss it directly with the restaurant before ordering.

Pizza slices and takeaway

You do not need to sit down for a full meal at Oliva. Pizza slices, panzerotti and homemade focaccia sandwiches are available for travellers looking for something quick between Old Town sights.

The regular restaurant menu can also be ordered for takeaway. This makes Oliva particularly useful if you want better-quality pizza but do not want to spend part of your sightseeing day waiting for a restaurant table.

The location close to Stradun, St Blaise Church and the central Old Town sights means it is easy to fit into a walking itinerary.

Do you need a reservation at Pizzeria Oliva?

A reservation is useful if you specifically want a sit-down table during a busy lunch or dinner period, particularly in summer. Oliva has both indoor seating and tables in the narrow Old Town street outside.

The restaurant accepts online reservations, which currently need to be made at least three hours in advance. If you are looking for something spontaneous, takeaway or pizza by the slice gives you another option.

Reserve a table at Pizzeria Oliva

Where is Pizzeria Oliva?

Pizzeria Oliva is at Lučarica 5 in Dubrovnik Old Town, a few steps behind St Blaise Church and very close to Stradun.

The narrow pedestrian street is quieter than the main thoroughfare while still being right in the centre of the Old Town. Outdoor tables sit directly in the lane, giving the restaurant the intimate street atmosphere typical of this part of Dubrovnik.

The entire Old Town is pedestrian-only, so visitors arriving by bus, taxi or car will need to continue on foot from one of the city gates.

Practical tips for Pizzeria Oliva

• Come for the pizza: the 72-hour fermented dough is Oliva's main point of difference.
• Short on time: pizza slices, panzerotti and focaccia sandwiches are available to go.
• For a sit-down meal: reserve ahead during busy periods.
• Gluten-free diners: options are available, but the kitchen cannot guarantee against gluten cross-contamination.
• Try local ingredients: several pizzas combine Italian staples with Croatian seafood, cured meats, cheeses and seasonal vegetables.
• Check the current menu: ingredients, individual dishes and prices can change.

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Address & contact details

Street: Lučarica 5
Postcode: 20000
City: Dubrovnik
Telephone: +385 91 324 5940
Website: Pizzeria Oliva