Pizzeria Da Michele, the most famous pizzeria in the world

In the movie Eat Pray Love, Liz (Julia Roberts) makes a trip to Italy, where she also goes to Naples for a day with a Swedish friend to eat perhaps the best pizza in the whole world, at Da Michele.

The film is based on the book by Elizabeth Gilbert – Eat Pray Love – and the thrill of eating the pizza is even more fun in the book than in the movie.

I'm so in love with my pizza that in my ecstasy I think the pizza might just reciprocate those feelings. I'm having an affair with this pizza, almost an extramarital affair. Meanwhile, Sofie is almost in tears because of her pizza.

Thanks to that pizza, she's going through some sort of existential crisis and asks me in a pleading tone: Why are they still trying to make pizza in Stockholm at all? Why do we even bother to get something to eat in Stockholm?' (from: Eat Pray Love, page 118-119, Cargo 2008.)

Julia Roberts smiles at you in Amsterdam (photo: Da Michele)

Antica pizzeria Da Michele in Naples

Liz (Julia Roberts) eats this divine pizza at Antica Pizzeria Da Michele. As early as 1870, the Condurro family started making pizzas. Son Michele perfected the family art by learning the secrets of the famous masters of the Torre Annunziata, experts in making pasta and pizza dough.

Michele opened his own pizzeria in 1906. In 1930, the pizzeria moved to 1 Via Cesare Sersale in Naples, where they are still located. They are also called 'the temple of pizza'. Every travel guide and even the Michelin restaurant guide mentions this pizzeria.

Da Michele was recently named the best artisanal pizza chain in the world by 2022. Because there are now also branches in various Italian cities, in Japan, England, Spain, the US, the United Arab Emirates and Germany and recently also in Amsterdam (see also : www.micheleintheworld.com).

combined pizza Margherita and Marinara Da Michele — Combined Pizza Margherita and Marinara (Photo: Da Michele)

Pizza concept

Why is Da Michele such a household name when it comes to pizza? Their secret, as they say themselves, is 'simplicity and love for tradition' in their pizzas there are only natural ingredients and they use an old and proven method to let the dough rise. The pizzas are still made the same way they were in 1930, because why change something that is good?

The menu at Da Michele is clear: you can choose between the famous pizza Margherita with mozzarella and the pizza Marinara with only tomato sauce, oregano, garlic and generously drizzled with extra virgin olive oil.

Around lunchtime and in the evening you often stand in line and you have to take a number and if you're unlucky the dough is gone before it's your turn. You don't want to dine here for a long time, you eat the pizza and then leave.

A brief history of pizza

The origin of the pizza is not very clear. It is known that round, flat breads were made around the Mediterranean region thousands of years ago, so a kind of pizza crust, which was topped with herbs.

However, it lasted until the 17^e century until mention is made of pizzas in Naples: flat breads topped with cheese, herbs and garlic. Probably the first real pizza was the pizza marinara. Fishermen's wives prepared a tomato sauce with oregano, garlic and olive oil for their men (sailor Man).

The big breakthrough for pizza is thanks to Raffaele Esposito. He was invited by the then king of Italy, Umberto I, to make a pizza for him and his wife. He made a pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil, the colors of the Italian flag.

Queen Margherita was impressed by this pizza and sent a letter to Esposito thanking him. As a tribute, Esposito named the pizza after Queen Margherita. Pizza is now known all over the world and since 2017 the pizza has even been on the list of UNESCO of Intangible Heritage.

Da Michele in Amsterdam

Recently, the world-famous Neapolitan pizzeria also has a branch in Amsterdam, to be precise in De Pijp. You almost imagine yourself in Naples, because here too you stand in line outside if you want to eat at Italian times and you hear a striking amount of Italian around you.

Da Michele's oven — The interior of Da Michele in Amsterdam (photos: Janneke Verdonk)

Inside, just like in Naples, almost exclusively men work and the working language is Italian. However, the menu here is much more extensive: you can choose from 12 different pizzas and a few starters and desserts.

The pizzas are delicious. The dough is airy, the bottom thin and pliable, just like in a movie! You can even get one here fried pizza order, a fried pizza filled with, among other things, ricotta, salami, a kind of bacon and milk cream. The kitchen naturally has a large wood-fired oven in which the pizzas are prepared.

So for all pizza lovers, this is definitely a must! Reservations are not possible and if you don't feel like standing in line, just go early.