Hey there, food lovers and wanderers. If you’re looking for real Italian food in Sedona, you can stop looking. Imagine stepping into a small restaurant in the back streets of Rome — the espresso machine going, someone shouting an order, bread that smells like it took time. That’s what we built here, on 89A in West Sedona.
Family Operated Since Our First Kitchen in 1996
We’re not one of the many restaurants around here. We’re family operated, we serve with humility and pride, and we cook the food we actually grew up on — Sicilian from Palermo, Piemontese from Torino, Roman by training. Whether you’re craving pizza, a memorable dining experience, or a pinsa romana after a long hike, Vespa is your go-to destination. No doubt.
Food Is Our Love Language
What Actually Makes Us Different
Seventy-Two Hours of Patience
Our pinsa dough is four ingredients — flour, water, yeast, sea salt — and it rests cold at 4–6°C for three full days before anyone touches it. That is what makes it light and crisp at the edge. We did the waiting so you don’t have to think about it afterward. How the dough works →
Flour From the Man Who Invented Pinsa
Pinsa romana was created in 2001 by Corrado Di Marco. We buy our flour from Di Marco — the original three-flour blend, not an American approximation. Milled outside Rome, certified non-GMO, screened for pesticide residue under European standards. Our pasta is made fresh in Italy and imported; we don’t pretend to do it better than people who have done it for generations.
Two Grandmothers
Nonna Pina taught this family the kitchen. Nonna Maria taught the coffee bar. That is why we are a café and not only a restaurant — the espresso here is its own discipline, handed down by its own teacher. Meet the family →
Easy on the Body
Long fermentation, clean sourcing, four ingredients, and a bread that sits lighter than standard pizza. Food that doesn’t sit on you for the rest of the afternoon — which matters more than usual when you’ve got a trail to get back to.
Perfect Location
1350 W State Route 89A, Suite 22 — West Sedona, not Uptown. Easier parking, and we’re open from 11am every day without closing between lunch and dinner.
A Culinary Journey Through Italy
Sicilian aubergine, Ligurian pesto, Roman flatbread, and the desserts that close an Italian meal properly. Our menu is a map of where this family comes from. See the full menu →
72-HOUR FERMENTED | FOUR INGREDIENTS | ROMAN FLATBREAD
NOT GLUTEN FREE: UNIQUELY BETTER.
Our menu is a trip through Italy — Roman flatbread, Sicilian aubergine, Ligurian pesto, and the desserts that end every Italian meal properly.
Some dishes live beyond the main list. Ask us what is available or explore our secret menu.
LA PINSA ROMANA
Roman Style Pizza
Ten varieties on a 72-hour, 85%-hydration dough. Oval, not round. Airy inside, shattering at the edge. Start with the Margherita if it’s your first time, or the Rucola e Prosciutto if it isn’t.
ANTIPASTI & INSALATE
Appetizers & Salads
Bruschetta Capri, Burrata Caprese, organic leaves with apple and toasted pistachio. Italian starters wake your appetite rather than blunting it.
SORRISI FARCITI
Sandwiches
Built on the same three-day dough, filled and folded. Lunch that doesn’t slow you down.
People come to Sedona and search for pizza. Then they find us and see the word pinsa, and reasonably wonder whether they’re about to be talked out of what they wanted.
You’re not. Pinsa romana is pizza — it’s the Roman version, and it’s older than the Neapolitan one everybody pictures. Round versus oval. One flour versus three. A few hours of rising versus seventy-two.
What that means when it arrives: a base that’s crisp underneath and open inside, with a bit of chew and no grease. It doesn’t fold like New York pizza and it isn’t soupy in the middle like Neapolitan. It’s its own thing, and once people have had it they tend to stop comparing.
We bake it on stone over gas at around 608°F. Not a wood oven — Neapolitan pizza wants ferocious heat for ninety seconds, and this dough doesn’t. It wants steady heat, held exactly, from the first order at 11am to the last one at night. So if you searched for the best pizza in Sedona and ended up here: you’re in the right place. It just took us three days to get ready for you.
Nonna Maria taught this family the coffee bar, so the espresso here is not an afterthought. Italian beans, pulled the way it is drunk in Rome — standing at the counter, quickly, no ceremony.
The wine list is short and chosen to sit alongside this food rather than to impress anyone. We keep a proper range of amari, the herbal digestivi that close a meal in Italy — a little sweet, a little bitter, and kind to a full stomach.
Espresso That Wakes You Up: We use the best Italian coffee beans to make espresso that’s rich, strong, and totally authentic.
Wines for Every Taste: Red, white, rosé – we’ve got a wine to match your mood and your meal. Let us help you pick the perfect one!
Cool Cocktails and More: From Italian NA sodas, classic aperitivos staples like Aperol Spritz and Campari soda, to Locally sourced Mocktails, and Classic Martinis and Craft Cocktails, we’ve got plenty of ways to quench your thirst.
Amaros (Trust Us): These herbal liqueurs are a classic Italian way to end a meal. They’re a little sweet, a little bitter, and totally unique.
Planning Your Visit
WALK-INS WELCOME | DOGS WELCOME OUTSIDE | OPEN 11AM DAILY
No reservations, and that’s on purpose
We don’t take bookings. Walk in and we’ll find you a table. The quiet window is 11am to 12:30pm — hikers come off the trails around 1pm and every kitchen in Sedona gets slammed at once. Come before noon and you’ll barely wait.
Bring the dog — here’s how it works
Dogs are welcome at our outdoor tables. It runs a little differently from inside: order at the counter, we pack it up for you, and you carry it out. There’s no table service outside, and Arizona liquor law keeps wine and cocktails indoors. But after a morning on the trail together, you and the dog get to sit down in the Sedona air instead of eating in the car — and that’s worth knowing before you drive over.
Order ahead or take it with you
Order online through Toast and collect, or call and we’ll have it ready. Everything on the menu travels — the pinsa in particular holds up far better than pizza does.
Open straight through
11am to 9pm Sunday through Thursday, 11am to 10pm Friday and Saturday. We don’t close between lunch and dinner, which in this town is rarer than it should be.
Finding us
West Sedona, on 89A — not Uptown. 1350 W State Route 89A, Suite 22. Free parking in the plaza lot, though it fills up around the middle of the day like everything else in this town. Another reason to come before noon. Directions and landmarks →
CUSTOMIZED MENUS TO SUIT YOUR EVENT | OFF & ON-SITE EXPERIENCE
We cater weddings, private parties, corporate events and retreats across the Sedona area — the same kitchen and the same 72-hour dough, wherever you are celebrating.
Every event is fully custom. Tell us what you are planning and someone will reach out within 10 minutes. Guaranteed. That is the thing our clients mention most.
CAREER GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT | EMBRACE THE VESPA SPIRIT
Join our team at Vespa. We value excellence, creativity and a real commitment to hospitality — the Italian kind, where looking after people is the job rather than a policy.
The Zacchino family came from Piazza Sant’Onofrio in Palermo, by way of Sanremo on the Ligurian coast, and opened its first American restaurant in Phoenix in 1996 — Tutti Santi by Nina, still going today. Vespa came later, and further north.
Leonardo is the patriarch. Matteo runs this kitchen. Over the years we have become the local’s favourite and a visiting must, and the reason is not complicated: we cook the way our grandmothers taught us, and we treat people like they have come to the house. More about the family →
NEW, NEEDS WORK, PROMISING!
This restaurant shows great promise if they make some adjustments. First, let me say that the owner has serious chops given his two restaurants in PHX (we've eaten at his Scottsdale one several times and always excellent. Second, it is always a good sign when the FOOD is the most important thing; nice atmosphere is important BUT (as witnessed by the demise of Planet Hollywood) when time, energy and money are put into glitz, food often takes a back seat. Third, the majority of dishes were truly exceptional: the Genoana pinsa-5*, the Giulio salad-VG, the Tiramisu-WORLD CLASS (and I should know as I ordered tiramisu every night while in Florence, Rome & Venice! Considered it my 'job' to be a personal taste tester) and the highly original take on Cannoli. Now for the not-so-good, the average and the seriously-needs work! First, our order was placed @ 5:41 p.m. so was very surprised that there was no red wine available! There is a grocery store in the same shopping center, so it is inexcusable to run out of wine before 6 p.m. on a Saturday night! Second, since this is a restaurant and not a high school cafeteria, use real silverware. You use ceramic plates and plastic glasses so, obviously, there is dishwashing. It's not easy to cut the Cannoli on toasted pinsa or eat salad with plastic utensils. Third, the Contadina pinsa had way too much arugula rendering the roasted mushrooms virtually invisible...or maybe that was on purpose. I came for the flatbreads, not to eat GREENS! The Mela & Pistacchi salad suffered the same issues; didn't resemble the photo as there were minimal apple slices, a small amount of gorgonzola and pistachio crumbs. FINALLY, when we came in, I gave the gal behind the counter a note specifying 1) I was paying and 2) it was my daughter-in-law's birthday. I also spoke at some length with the owner and told him that I was a local bringing my PHX family, so he knew that we weren't tourists passing through. As a local, I and my friends not only frequent our favorites but also spread the word. I don't expect to be treated like royalty but would think that it's wise to make a little more effort...like bringing a birthday dessert? Will I come back? Most definitely but will let a little time lapse to see what has improved.
Claudio Gonzalez
23 April 2025
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
I don't know how I missed this place before, right next to Wholefoods, but let me tell you when I say this place is a hidden gem. Wonderful fresh food and great staff/service as well.
Cathy K
15 December 2025
Verified
Unique, flavorful and authentic!
Such a great find in Sedona! Amazing true Italian food. Small spot with big charm. We had to go back for a second meal during our week stay in Sedona. We had Mela & Pistacchi, Cesarina, Pollo & Pesto, Contadina, Chicken Parmigiana and lastly the Cannoli Cream (enough for two). Wonderful bursts of flavor with huge portions! Both of our servers, Nina and Alec were attentive and personable. Highly recommended!
Allen Heiden
16 October 2023
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
This place has amazing food. The owner is hilarious, and I will be back there again. Had the lasagna, and it was delicious.
Rob Schaerer
10 December 2025
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Good food. High quality. A little high on prices.
Emily M
21 August 2023
Verified
Best espresso in Sedona!
This spot has excellent espresso, which can be difficult to find in the area. They know what they're doing and always use quality ingredients. They're food is great and service is excellent!
Jeroam Z.
24 November 2025
Verified
Matteo is always pleasant and the food hits the spot. Nice having a place so close that's easy to grab and go for food.
Tyler Matus
7 April 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
+0
I am visiting from Long Island and saw that this restaurant had lots of good reviews and decided to try it and this place is amazing. Where do I even start. First of all I never write reviews but this place, wow, this place is incredible. The food is amazing, I had the burrata with focaccia and wow it was so good. I never eat tomato’s but today I did. And it was incredible. Then I had a pizza, specifically the Rucola and Prosciutto pizza, it was incredible, the dough brilliant, the prosciutto also brilliant, not much more to be said. For my entree I had the lasagna al forno, this too was also incredible, I have no complaints about it. The sauce was very good, the pasta amazing, everything about it was perfectly well done. Finally I had for dessert, cornetto al mirtilli selvatici. It was outstanding, the blueberries were so good and so rich, the filling was so flavorful and the pastry don’t even get me started I barely even had to cut to get through it. Finally I will talk about the service, the waiter and waitress were amazing they were very nice, my waitress gave me recommendations and everything she recommended was great. The owner Matteo, I love this guy, his personality is amazing, he was so kind, so funny, and he made me and my family feel right at home. If I could I’d give this place a Michelin star, maybe even more.
Billy Canterbury
15 May 2022
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
The best pizza/flatbread & coffee in Sedona. A must try that will become your favorite go to spot for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Ciao
JISHNU NAIR
6 July 2026
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.
Thankyou Emma for your hospitality! Loved the food 😊
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