Is this the Best Pizza place in Colombia?
With the village of Guatape in our rear-view mirror, the road narrowed and turned to dirt. Our Kia Picanto, an economy hatchback handled the rural mountain road with ease, except for the washed out sections that required me to carefully choose my lines. The views on these roads outside Guatape are stunning.
Carefully following the maps app, I made the final turn at the faded Italian flag sign, which marked the descent toward Pizzaria de Luigi. The Kia’s gearbox whined as the steep descent required me to give the breaks a little rest.
A small, yet beautiful finca on the right was the home of this secret pizza spot. Luigi, an Italian expat has called Colombia home for many years. His wife, Janed, is Native Colombian and her huge corazon was apparent.
Wandering around their finca, I saw lots of unique plants from Marijuana and coca, to herbs and fruit trees.
The real charm of the place however, fades in as the sun sinks low. The mountain temps dropped fast, putting a chill in the Antioquian air. Janed fired up a series of beautiful hand made (by Luigi) fireplaces, made out of old air tanks. The dry wood crackled to life as the heat and light escaped the confines of the fireplace.
I ordered the Marinara pizza for 37.000 COP ($8.50 USD). It came out after being crafted masterfully my Mr. Luigi himself. My inner Dave Portnoy came out, as I grabbed the first slice. A slight char underneath meant a perfect crunch and the sea salt added perfect flavor. The locally-sourced cheese, tomatoes, and herbs yielded literally the most perfect pizza I have ever had. And that is not a title I toss around easily.
After dinner, I tried their dessert pie with Cinnamon and Nutella. It was very good, but my heart remained with the marinara pizza.
Not only is Luigi’s pizza the best in Guatape, but in my opinion it is literally the best pizza I have ever had. It is a combination of the skill of Luigi, the warmness of his wife, the beauty of their home, and the adventure it takes to get there.
Those are the perfect ingredients.
NOTE: Reservations are a good idea, and they are only open on weekends. They are also cash only, so bring plenty of pesos.
Getting there: Calle 28 Vereda La Peña Bajando Por La Escuela, Guatape 053840 Colombia