A Local's Guide: Pizza al Padellino and Where to Eat Pizza in Turin

When most people think of Italian pizza, they picture Naples: a soft, charred crust, simple toppings, wood-fired oven. And while that tradition is extraordinary, it's not the only one. Turin has its own pizza — and almost no one outside the city knows about it.

Pizza al padellino is a genuinely Torinese tradition — born in the city and found here and in the surrounding towns of Piedmont. It's not widely known outside the region, and even within Turin itself you have to look for it: the city has changed a lot over the years, with waves of new residents who didn't grow up with this food. Many younger Torinesi have never tried it. But it's having a quiet revival — more people are rediscovering it, a few places are championing it again — and if you know where to go, it's absolutely still there.

✨ In this guide I'll tell you what pizza al padellino actually is, where to eat it, and how it fits into Turin's broader — and surprisingly rich — pizza scene.

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What Is Pizza al Padellino?

Padellino means "small pan" in Italian, and that's exactly how this pizza is made. Each one is baked individually in a small, round, well-oiled metal pan — which gives it a completely different texture from anything you've had before.

The base is thick, soft, and almost bread-like on the inside, with a slightly crispy, golden-brown underside where it's been in contact with the oiled pan. The edges puff up into a pillowy rim. The toppings are simple and traditional — tomato, mozzarella, maybe a few classic additions — and the whole thing is modest in size, meant to be eaten as a personal portion rather than shared.

It's comfort food in the truest sense: unpretentious, deeply satisfying, and completely unique to Turin.

✨ Pizza al padellino is not better or worse than other pizza traditions — it's just entirely its own thing. Comparing the two is like comparing focaccia to a baguette. Different traditions, different textures, different occasions.

The Farinata Combo: A Local Ritual

If you ask a Torinese how to eat pizza al padellino properly, most will tell you the same thing: start with farinata.

Farinata is a thin, crispy flatbread made from chickpea flour, olive oil, water, and salt, baked at high heat in a large copper pan. It's golden, slightly smoky, and extraordinarily simple — and it's been a staple of Turin street food for centuries.

The local ritual is to order a slice of farinata first, eat it while it's hot and fresh out of the oven, and then follow it with a pizza al padellino. The contrast works beautifully: the crispiness of the farinata against the softness of the padellino, the simplicity of chickpea against the richness of tomato and cheese.

👉 Want to explore Turin's food traditions with a local guide? These experiences are a great way to discover the city's lesser-known specialities:

• Turin Gourmet Tour: A Premium Tasting Experience 🔗
• Turin Food Walking Tour with Tastings 🔗

Where to Eat Pizza al Padellino in Turin

Da Gino 🔗 €

If there's one place that embodies the soul of pizza al padellino in Turin, it's Da Gino. This is a historic spot — the kind of place where generations of the same family have been coming for decades. My grandfather used to come here with my great-grandfather, taking pizza home for the whole family. That kind of history doesn't happen by accident. The padellino here is the real thing: simple, honest, and exactly as it should be.

Ai 4 Assi 🔗 €

One of the most traditional spots in the city for pizza al padellino, and a genuine institution. No frills, no fuss — just a simple, honest menu built around padellino and farinata, eaten at shared tables by a lunchtime crowd of regulars. Exactly the kind of place that makes Turin feel like Turin.

Dessì 🔗 €

Another classic, with the same unpretentious approach and the same dedication to doing a few things well. Dessì has been around long enough to have earned its loyal following, and the padellino here is reliably good.

Alla Baita dei 7 Nani 🔗 €

A historic spot right in the city centre — one of the few places in central Turin where you can still find a proper pizza al padellino. If you're staying or exploring downtown and don't want to venture far, this is your go-to.

👉 For an equally authentic, home-cooked experience of Piedmontese food culture, the Turin Dining Experience at a Local's Home 🔗 is something special

Pizza al Padellino vs. Classic Pizza: What's the Difference?

Turin also has a strong classic pizza scene — and it's worth understanding the difference before you go, so you know what you're ordering.

Neither is better. They're just different — and if you're spending a few days in Turin, there's no reason you can't try both.

Where to Eat Classic Pizza in Turin

Turin has a strong pizza scene beyond the padellino, with a good mix of Neapolitan-style pizzerias and excellent spots that do their own thing. Here are my recommendations

• A casa di Pulcinella🔗 — A relaxed, informal spot in the Politecnico/San Paolo area, with a loyal local following. Very good pizza in a no-fuss setting.
• Gennaro Esposito🔗 — One of the most respected Neapolitan pizzerias in Turin. Proper cornicione, carefully sourced ingredients, the real thing.
• Da Ciro🔗— Straightforward, reliable, Neapolitan. Good pizza without the fuss.
• Pizzeria Cammafà🔗— Neapolitan tradition with a more contemporary edge. Worth a visit.
• Ruràl🔗 — Not Neapolitan-style — no big cornicione here — but very good pizza with a focus on quality ingredients and a slightly more creative approach.
• Fratelli Rosselli 🔗 — Another excellent option that doesn't follow the Neapolitan template strictly but delivers consistently great pizza. A solid neighbourhood favourite.
• L' Antica pizzeria da Michele🔗 — The Turin outpost of the legendary Naples original. Purist Neapolitan: only marinara and margherita, done exceptionally well. 

Practical Tips

• Arrive early at Da Gino, Ai 4 Assi and Dessì — they're small, they fill up fast, and there are no reservations.
• Order the farinata first. It comes out of the oven at specific times — ask when the next batch is ready and time your order around it.
• For classic pizza, evenings work well at all the spots listed above, and most accept reservations.
   
  ✨ Pizza al padellino won't make it onto most Turin itineraries — and that's exactly what makes it worth finding. It's the kind of thing locals eat without thinking about it, the kind of food that doesn't need a story because it's just always been there. Go find it.

👉 For the full picture of what to eat in Turin, head to my complete guide: A Local's Guide: Best Food in Turin Italy 🔗

👉 And if you want to know where locals actually sit down for a proper meal, don't miss: Best Piole and Traditional Restaurants in Turin 🔗

Buon appetito!

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