Spizza Jelsa – Pizza, Fish, and Mediterranean Cuisine by the Sea

Spizza is located at Mala Banda, right by the Jelsa harbor, where tables are just steps from the water and offer views across the bay towards the center of Jelsa. The location is particularly pleasant for lunch, but especially for dinner when the harbor calms down and the lights on the opposite shore come on.

Despite its name, Spizza is not just a pizzeria. The menu is quite extensive and combines pizzas with fish, seafood, pasta, risottos, salads, and meat dishes. This makes it a practical choice for groups where some want pizza, others fish, and some prefer pasta or grilled items.

The atmosphere is informal and relaxed, without the feel of a traditional formal restaurant, which suits the location at Mala Banda well.

Tables Almost by the Sea

The most distinctive feature of Spizza is its location.

The terrace is right on the shore of Jelsa harbor, with views over the boats towards the older part of the town and the waterfront. The atmosphere here is defined more by the rhythm of the harbor, the passing pedestrians, and the boats moored just a few meters from the tables, rather than by cars.

It is a very short walk along the waterfront from the center of Jelsa, so using a car for dinner does not make sense.

In the evening, the location is particularly beautiful as it overlooks the lights of Jelsa across the harbor.

Pizza is Important, but Not the Whole Story

Pizza is one of the reasons why Spizza is well-known, but it would be incorrect to reduce the restaurant to just that.

The menu features classic and more elaborate pizzas, including options like Quattro Formaggi, and gluten-free pizza is also available. For guests avoiding gluten, this is a useful option, although it is advisable to check the preparation methods and the possibility of cross-contamination in cases of serious intolerance or celiac disease.

Pizza is well-suited for a more casual lunch or dinner when a full multi-course meal is not desired.

Fish, Squid, and Tuna

The seafood section of the menu is considerably more serious than one might expect from a place with the word pizza in its name.

The menu includes fish and seafood, squid, tuna, and various combinations with pasta and risotto. Fish soup is also one of the options to start a meal.

For a simpler lunch, a good combination might be a salad and fried squid, while for dinner, one could opt for fish, tuna, or pasta with seafood ingredients.

Spizza thus works well for guests who want to eat Mediterranean cuisine during their stay in Hvar, not just pizza.

Pasta, Gnocchi, and Risotto

Pasta is another important part of the offering.

There are combinations with seafood, vegetables, and truffles, and gnocchi and risottos are also available.

This part of the menu well reflects the character of Spizza: it is not a classic Dalmatian tavern, but it does not stray too far from Mediterranean flavors.

If one wants something between pizza and a full fish dinner, pasta or risotto are often the best choices.

Meat, Burgers, and Salads

Spizza is suitable for mixed groups precisely because it is not narrowly specialized.

In addition to fish and pizza, the menu includes meat dishes and burgers, as well as various salads.

Vegetarian and vegan options are also available, making it easier to arrange a shared dinner when not everyone at the table eats the same way.

This is an important advantage over restaurants that rely almost entirely on fish.

Gluten-Free and Vegetarian Options

Spizza is also interesting for guests with more specific dietary requirements.

Gluten-free pizza is one of the options for which the restaurant has been known for some time, and other dishes that fit into vegetarian or vegan diets are also available.

In cases of serious allergies and celiac disease, it is best to clearly explain what must be avoided before ordering, as the mere availability of gluten-free dough does not automatically mean completely separate preparation.

A Relaxed Alternative to a Traditional Tavern

Spizza does not have the typical appearance of an old stone tavern, nor does it attempt to be a formal dining restaurant.

It is best described as a combination of mediterranean restaurant and good pizzeria by the waterfront.

One can come for pizza and beer, but equally sit down for fish, pasta, and wine and stay for the entire evening.

This flexibility suits Jelsa well, where in summer, a place is often sought where one does not have to decide in advance whether to have a serious dinner or just something good to eat by the sea.

Mala Banda is Particularly Pleasant in the Evening

Mala Banda has a slightly different rhythm from the main Pjaca.

It is located across the harbor from the central part of Jelsa and offers a nice view of the illuminated waterfront in the evening. You are still practically in the center, but on the other side of the water.

Spizza is therefore a good choice when one wants to eat by the sea and continue a walk around the harbor after dinner without needing a car.

The number of tables by the coast is not unlimited, so during the busiest summer evenings, making a reservation makes sense if a specific spot is desired.

Spizza or a Classic Pizzeria?

If the only goal is to eat pizza, there are more options in Jelsa.

Spizza makes more sense when looking for a restaurant where pizza is an important part of the offering but not the only reason for visiting. One guest can order pizza, another tuna or squid, and a third pasta or a vegetarian dish, without feeling that someone has chosen a compromise solution.

This is particularly practical for families and larger groups.

Who is Spizza a Good Choice For?

Spizza is best suited for those who want an informal dinner by the sea and a wide selection of food.

It is a good choice for couples due to its location by the harbor, for families because of the pizza and varied menu, and for groups where everyone is looking for something different.

If one is looking for a strictly traditional Hvar tavern focusing on a few local dishes, there are more suitable places. If a relaxed restaurant by the sea where pizza, fish, pasta, and wine can be combined is desired, Spizza fits that idea very well.

Useful Information

  • Type of establishment: restaurant and pizzeria
  • Location: Mala Banda, by Jelsa harbor
  • Ambiance: relaxed terrace right by the sea
  • View: across the harbor towards the center of Jelsa
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean, Croatian, and pizza
  • Pizza: an important part of the offering
  • Fish and seafood: fish, tuna, squid, and other seafood available
  • Pasta and risottos: various combinations, including seafood and vegetarian
  • Meat dishes: available alongside the fish section of the menu
  • Vegetarian options: available
  • Vegan options: available
  • Gluten-free options: gluten-free pizza available
  • For families: wide selection makes ordering easier when not everyone wants the same type of food
  • Access: very short walk along the harbor from the center of Jelsa
  • Reservation: advisable during the busiest summer evenings
  • Specialty: a blend of pizzeria and Mediterranean restaurant on a terrace just steps from the sea