La Perla

La Perla is one of Amsterdam’s most established and enjoyable pizza destinations. It occupies two premises facing each other on Tweede Tuindwarsstraat, a particularly atmospheric Jordaan street commonly known as Amsterdam’s Little Italy because of its concentration of Italian restaurants and specialist food shops.

On one side of the street is the original pizzeria and takeaway, centred around the large pizza oven. Directly opposite is La Perla’s sit-down restaurant, offering indoor tables and outdoor seating. This unusual arrangement is part of the experience and gives the restaurant a lively neighbourhood character, particularly on warm evenings when diners gather outside.

The pizzas are thinner and crisper than the soft, dramatically puffed Neapolitan pizzas. La Perla focuses heavily on the quality of its toppings, using buffalo mozzarella alongside ingredients such as San Daniele ham, Calabrian ’nduja, Tuscan fennel salami, stracchino, gorgonzola, taleggio and Parmigiano Reggiano DOP.

The menu combines recognisable classics with several distinctive house specialities. The Margherita keeps things simple with tomato, buffalo mozzarella and basil, while the Puttanesca adds anchovies, olives, capers and garlic. Meat lovers can choose pizzas topped with spicy Piedmontese salami, San Daniele ham, Calabrian ’nduja or fresh sausage from Pistoia.

Vegetarian choices include the Carciofo with marinated artichokes, olives and capers; the rich Quattro Formaggi; and the Melanzane alla Parmigiana with aubergine, capers and Parmigiano Reggiano.