A decade ago, three friends from Verona, Italy, arrived in Barcelona with a dream: to open a pizzeria that honoured their culinary roots while embracing the Mediterranean spirit of their new home. Today, La Balmesina not only celebrates its tenth anniversary but also its consistent place among the continent’s elite, cementing its status as a cornerstone of Barcelona’s thriving food scene.
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Located at Carrer de Balmes, 193, the pizzeria founded by Alessandro Zangrossi, Mattia Ciresola, and Massimo Morbi recently completed a renovation, introducing a fresh look with light woods and colours. While the decor has changed, the philosophy remains the same: exceptional quality at a fair price. This commitment has earned them repeated recognition in the prestigious 50 Top Pizza Europe guide. In the most recent 2025 ranking, La Balmesina secured the 11th spot, continuing a multi-year streak in the upper echelons after placing 9th in 2024 and 10th in 2023.
The Secret in the Dough
The journey for the three friends faced challenges. Initially, finding the right location in Barcelona proved difficult. However, their passion for pizza quickly won over the city once they settled on Carrer de Balmes. Their success is built on unwavering dedication to the dough, which undergoes a slow fermentation process of over seventy-two hours.
“Since we opened, we’ve made so many,” co-founder Massimo Morbi told Ara Cat. They then top this perfected canvas, made with organic flour, with seasonal and, whenever possible, organic ingredients.
Morbi highlights two pizzas in particular. One features local produce, such as artichokes from the nearby agricultural hub of El Prat de Llobregat, black olives, and parsley. “It’s the simplicity of the product in its season, on a base of organic flour, like we always use,” he explains. Another is a rich Amatriciana, prepared with tomato, guanciale, parmesan, pecorino, cow’s milk ricotta, and black pepper. Thoughtful options also grace the menu, including the cheese-free ‘Manel’ and the vegan ‘VegANNA’, with prices ranging from €11 to €15.50.
More Than Just a Pizzeria
While its pizzas have earned European acclaim, La Balmesina is a complete Italian restaurant. Its weekday lunch menu offers one of the best value-for-money offerings in the area, with a three-course meal for €15.90 or a pizza menu for €14.90. Diners can find expertly prepared pasta dishes and main courses like calamari stuffed with artichokes.
“We are a family restaurant; we always aim to offer high quality. We only serve quality. And we are careful with our prices because we believe it should be that way,” says Morbi. This ethos extends to their drinks menu, which features a strong selection of natural wines. Knowledgeable owners and staff are always on hand to offer recommendations.
The starters also honour their heritage, offering dishes like vitello tonnato, Bonfatti mortadella, and a traditional Veneto speciality, baccalà mantecato (creamed salt cod) served with Sardinian pane carasau. It is a fitting tribute to the region where the three friends first met and dreamt of the Barcelona institution they would one day build.
Barcelona’s Pizza Prowess
La Balmesina’s sustained success highlights Barcelona’s emergence as a European capital for high-quality pizza, a city now competing with the best outside of Italy. This underscores a decade of passion and perfection, stemming from three friends and a simple, powerful idea.
