Bottle and Stone

Welles Street and Earl have emerged as two of the central city’s most beloved hospitality spots. Now meet Bottle and Stone, their cheeky little brother and the “most unorthodox pizzeria and bottle-o” around. You’re going to love it. The Welder, Bottle and Stone is a hole in the wall pizza joint. With just 25 seats this spot is tiny but bursting with sunshine and a whole lot of heart. Taking pride of place in the open kitchen and representing the second half of the name, the Italian stone oven weighs a whopping 500kg. Every pizza is fired within this special hearth before being served to happy customers. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Bottle and Stone pizzas begin their journey with a 72 hour cold fermentation process. The base alone sets this pizza apart and the gluten free version does not pale in comparison. Made with buckwheat and semolina flour it’s every bit as delicious. From there the dough is hand kneaded and topped with combinations that celebrate classic Italian flavours and all things carbohydrate. Each pie is cooked in a metal pan giving these slices a deeper profile to support maximum flavour.

Bottle and Stone pizza is served ‘al taglio’ or by the 'slab'. And thank god for that because it’s hard to choose just one. The Freda Margherita comes heaped with traditional buffalo mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, sharp parmesan and plenty of basil and garlic. The Spud Slice features rosemary and garlic potato, whipped ricotta, mozzarella and pecorino and is the carb on carb pizza you didn't know you needed. Five of Bottle and Stone's pizzas can be made vegan with Grater Goods vegan cheeses.

And what’s pizza without some booze? Lonely! Bottle and Stone has their own bottle shop as well as Peroni on tap and house cocktails like the Southtown Margarita made with strawberry and basil picked fresh from the gardens along the laneway. Enjoy your pizza and bevies in house, at the outdoor tables or take it all to go.

The bottle shop can be found at the front of this wee shop and offers takeaway booze to the tune of craft beers and imported wines. We’re talking Italian Merlot, Proseco, Chianti, old vine pours and other drops that you can’t get anywhere else.

As local hospo legend and operator Tom Newfield put it, “This spot is grungy and fun, simple and delicious - the kind of place where you can drink wine out of a tumbler with your pizza while listening to 1990s R&B or take it all away to enjoy in the park.”

Visit our website