Walking around the city centre in Budapest, one might get the feeling that everyone and their mother is opening an Italian restaurant these days. Neverland entered this saturating market in the summer of 2024, causing many to raise an eyebrow: what business does an escape room have in the world of Neapolitan pizzas? However, the name proved to be a guarantee. Just as they managed to become the best among escape rooms in a few years, they have found that extra something in pizza making that elevates Neverland Pizzeria above the rest.
In this article, we will go through:
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What is pizza napoletana.
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Why Neverland wanted to bring this to Budapest.
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What exactly makes Neverland’s pizza special.
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Why, in their case, “unique” equals “good“.
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What the place offers beyond quality food.
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Which of their pizzas is recommended for whom.
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How they apply their cocktail expertise built up over recent years in their new unit.
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And finally, the easiest way to test all this in person.
Neapolitan Pizza – the buzzword we love to hear
Many gastronomic cultures have their own version of a dough disc with toppings (see the local example: lángos), but you would be hard-pressed to find a corner of the world where Italy’s competitor, the undisputed king of the category, hasn’t established itself: the pizza. Many places have tried to mold the Italians’ invention to their own image, but no one could compete with the greatness lying in the simplicity of the original Neapolitan version; so it’s no wonder that anyone who wants to make good pizza these days makes Neapolitan pizza.
We all know roughly what this means: the pizza dough is relatively thin, the baking time is no more than 2 minutes, and there aren’t many toppings, but those used are of high quality and very “Italian”—and ketchup or pineapple are out of the question! However, fewer people know that there is a genuine rulebook for what makes something a pizza napoletana: the Italian organization AVPN (Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana) wrote down in 1984 that a pizza can be called Neapolitan if:
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The dough contains nothing but flour, water, salt, and yeast.
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Its shape is a circle with a maximum diameter of 35 cm.
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It is baked in a domed oven at 430–485°C for 60-90 seconds.
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It is max 0.3 cm high at the center, but 1-2 cm high at the edges.
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The result is a dough that is soft and elastic, with an airy crust.
So this is the criteria for a Neapolitan pizza—and this is what Neverland adheres to only in these broad strokes, sacrificing the AVPN certification in the finer details to follow its own path and level up even further.
A Pizzaiuolo’s philosophy from Campania to Budapest
Before we examine in detail the unique features that make Neverland’s pizza Budapest‘s best, it is worth saying a few words about what such a high-quality restaurant is doing in a place famous for its escape rooms. Those who have been to Neverland know that they don’t tend to fit into just one box anyway. Since their opening in 2018, they have offered one of the most complex entertainment options in the city, welcoming guests with and a high-quality bar in their veritable cellar system on Dohány Street, in addition to escape games.
However, when the opportunity arose in 2023 to create a separate restaurant in the premises located above them on the ground floor, the owner, Josep Zara, jumped at the chance to bring the defining taste of his childhood to Budapest. Zara, who has Catalan and Italian ancestors in addition to Hungarian ones, regularly spent his summers at his aunt’s house in Barberino di Mugello, where Valentino, the neighbor pizza chef, reliably delivered the most authentic Italian pizzas possible—unsuspecting of the consequences this would have on Neverland, and thus on Budapest’s gastronomic scene.
With this motivation, Zara began planning Neverland Pizzeria in the second half of 2023, part of which involved spending a month in the province of Naples, Campania, studying the craft of the pizzaiuolo (pizza chef), searching for small producers to find the best ingredients, and of course trying as many local pizzerias as possible in hopes of inspiration. The result of the latter was the idea of sourdough pizza, which they tasted at the Pepe in Grani pizzeria in a tiny settlement called Caiazzo, not far from Naples. This experience proved decisive for the future of Neverland Pizzeria, as following the philosophy of the owner, Franco Pepe, the Zaras finally decided that individuality and quality are more important than the AVPN badge.
Neapolitan style + Personality = Neverland Pizzeria
Speaking of The Pizza itself: naturally, Neverland Pizzeria didn’t throw out the trade’s rulebook entirely, merely making minor modifications where they felt it necessary for higher quality. Below, we explain along the main aspects where Neverland follows the traditional recipe and where the points of difference lie:
Ingredients
Naturally, the dough ingredients here are also flour, water, and salt, but instead of yeast, Neverland’s pizza contains sourdough originating from Altamura, Italy, and they also add olive oil. It can be said of both the dough ingredients and the toppings that they do not originate exclusively from the Campania region: most ingredients come from various small producers discovered during Zara’s frequent trips to Italy, from every corner of the country. Certain items (organic flour, mozzarella) come from Hungarian producers, while the olive oil comes from Spain.
The Dough
Beyond the ingredients, Neverland differs from the traditional Neapolitan pizza in that they ferment their dough for 48 hours instead of 24 to utilize the sourdough to the highest degree, allowing a more complex flavor to unfold and resulting in higher fiber content. Furthermore, instead of the regulation 60-65% hydration, their dough is around 80%, thanks to which the result is juicier. It meets, and even surpasses, all the output requirements—namely size, softness, and airiness.
The Baking
Regarding the perfect end result on the plate, the most critical minute and a half is undoubtedly the time the pizza spends in the oven. This time, which might seem surprisingly short at first, is included in the AVPN recipe for a reason: at the proper temperature (430–485°C), this is the maximum time needed for the thinly stretched dough to bake perfectly soft. This is such an important moment for Neapolitan pizza that Neverland didn’t try to modify it, but to maximize it. They acquired their oven straight from Italy, from the Morello Forni manufactory, which counts as the top category of pizza ovens with its more than half-century history.
Uniqueness as a guarantee of quality
Whether a pizza is truly the best is hard to decide: the competition is huge, and the criteria are subjective. What can be stated with confidence about Neverland is that theirs is Budapest’s most unique approach to pizza napoletana. But this begs the question: is the most unique necessarily the best? Searching for the answer, we collected the positive benefits of the elements that constitute the Budapest pizzeria’s uniqueness.
Sourdough instead of yeast
As a consumer, the most important effect is that the pizza is easier to digest because the sourdough partially breaks down the gluten and slows the absorption of starches. Thus, even if they don’t currently have a perfectly gluten-free option, the sourdough dough is already a better choice for sensitive pizza lovers; plus, there is a so-called double-sourdough version which includes rye sourdough and whole wheat flour so that even the most health-conscious can enjoy the Neapolitan style without guilt. The sourdough fermentation also ensures a more airy structure and a deeper flavor experience for the pizza.
Higher water content
Some might find original Neapolitan pizza dry, especially if it contains sourdough, which absorbs more water than simple yeast. The higher water content is therefore necessary so that Neverland’s pizza is perfectly juicy.
The best possible of every ingredient
Keeping authenticity in mind, many Italian restaurants strive to source their ingredients exclusively from Italy, and in the case of pizza, specifically from Campania. Neverland, in contrast, only sources products from there if the best quality truly is there; however, if they find the best olive oil in Spain, for example, they source it from there.
Individually visited small retailers
The previous point is also a consequence of the fact that at Neverland, they strive almost religiously to ensure that if they do something, they develop it to absolute perfection. Thanks to this, the founder, Josep Zara, regularly visits the most diverse small producers worldwide so that, stumbling upon a potentially better ingredient, he can further elevate the standard of Neverland’s pizzas.
These factors lift the product itself, the pizza, above a standard Neapolitan pizza, so it is not surprising that feedback from Italian guests stating that they ate the best pizza of their lives here is not rare. Besides all this, however, the atmosphere awaiting us at the given place can be just as important a factor when choosing a restaurant.
Spreading the “Neverland Feeling”: now for dates too!
For many, memorably good food is enough in itself to return to a place, but some choose a restaurant for the next time based on the overall experience. This can include how atmospheric one found the place, which depends greatly on the kindness of the staff and the sophistication of the guest area. But subconsciously, music, and even scents can influence the image we form of a restaurant. Relying again on the word of those who have been visiting Neverland for a longer time, it can be stated that maintaining a direct and friendly atmosphere was an essential aspect from the beginning, just like the quality of the service.
This friendly attentiveness might be considered standard for an escape room, but it is worth mentioning how they managed to authentically transfer this spirit into the operation of such a high-quality Italian restaurant like Neverland Pizzeria. With this, the “Neverland feeling” causing instant cheerful moods has expanded its target audience: while previously the city centre spot was popular as a venue for adventurous dates, birthday gatherings, and bachelor/bachelorette parties, with the opening of their Italian restaurant, they also provide a great opportunity for those desiring meetings with a more refined, celebratory tone.
Besides the adventurous escapers, the typical visitors to the hospitality section so far were corporate events, as it is indeed convenient to arrange the team-building game experience, try exciting cocktails, and take care of hungry stomachs in one place. However, these types of events regularly occupied the ground floor area, so it wasn’t always compatible with smaller, family events. The Pizzeria offers a solution for this too, as the restaurant opening with huge glass doors from Dohány Street is designed specifically with 4-6 person tables, ensuring a comfortable place for family lunches as well.
So, which is their best pizza?
The question is, of course, incorrect. If there were a clear answer, what use would the other items on the menu be? Taste is different for everyone. The founder Zara, for example, recently revealed to We Love Budapest that his secret favorite is the Burrata, which features homemade pesto and pistachio in addition to the creamy cheese that gives it its name. However, there are pizzas that perfectly meet some specific criteria. Based on this, they recommend the:
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Bianca for those who are primarily curious about the special sourdough dough.
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Margherita for those who want to get the most authentic Italian experience.
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Diavola for those who like it if there is something spicy on the pizza.
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Tartufo for those who crave a very rich flavor experience.
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Monthly changing seasonal pizza for those who return regularly and always want to try a special novelty.
Besides pizzas, they also offer salad and dessert specialties, including the Aranygaluska (Golden Dumplings), which achieved such legendary status in the months following the opening that you can find guests who have been returning regularly from the countryside just for that ever since.
The well-proven accessory: Neverland’s cocktails
Beyond the best pizza Budapest has to offer and the truly special guest experience, there is one more thing that visitors rarely leave out of their Neverland experience report: the signature cocktails. It is hard to find a guest escaping from the Wizard Trials room who wouldn’t want to taste the Potion of Eternal Life they found, or a bachelorette party group where no one knows what the Lady Neverland or the Rubino is like.
The professionally and consciously built cocktail selection does not fall short in the Pizzeria either: a separate restaurant drink list awaits the people of the city centre wishing to eat pizza, the items of which were created specifically so as not to overpower, but to complement the artistically prepared Neapolitan pizzas detailed above. Thus, the status of the Fly Mango and Neverland, already considered classics in the cocktail bar downstairs, could soon be reached by the Easy Peach, for example, whose name already indicates that they are not trying to put a metaphysical explanation of the world into the glass here, just a light peach drink which, thanks to its balance, can be a suitable choice alongside any pizza.
A step from Budapest city centre, a click from here
Looking through the history of Neverland Pizzeria, starting with the owner’s connection to Italian gastronomy, through the building of the “Neverland feeling” to the personal visits to small producers and finally the creation of the homely, family-friendly premises, it seems that arriving here, we are truly stepping into Budapest’s most honest and best Neapolitan pizzeria. And the place hiding in the middle of the Astoria–Deák Ferenc Square–Blaha Lujza Square trinity can be a perfect choice for those looking for a friendly but high-standard Italian restaurant in the city center, whether for a simple lunch, an intimate date, or even a family celebration.
And for those who aren’t just getting hungry in the middle of a pleasant stroll, but are planning their visit to Neverland Pizzeria more carefully: you can secure Budapest‘s best Neapolitan pizza by clicking the button below!
