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For the team behind Pizza Reggina, it turns out pizza was only half of the dream. After a string of recent trips back to Italy, co-owners Domenico and Vince realised what they missed most wasn’t the trattorias, it was the pasticceria culture. The sweet breakfasts. The late-night desserts. The shiny cakes, crunchy cannoli and espresso served standing up at the bar.
So when the shopfront next door became available, they didn’t hesitate. They’ve converted it into Pasticcino Bar e Caffè, a sweet spinoff that officially opened last week and brings a slice of Italy to Adelaide’s northeast.
“The dream really came from missing the Pasticceria’s and bars in Italy, reminiscing on our trips and wondering how we could bring that experience to Adelaide,” Domenico and Vince tell us.
“With Domenico’s experience as a pastry chef in Italy, we thought we’d create exactly what we were missing.”
And in true Italian family fashion, everyone in their bloodline brings a craft to the Pasticcino table. Domenico’s partner Huyen is also a pastry chef – and they swear she makes the best cannoli shells. Vince’s father ran a gelateria on the Yorke Peninsula for many years, so he’s mastered the art of the perfect scoop. Even Nonna is part of the crew.
“It really is a team effort,” Domenico and Vince share. “Huyen and Domenico handle the cakes, Vince churns out the gelato, and our real-life Nonna—Vince’s mum—comes in to bake her famous biscuits.”
Like many new hospitality openings of late, Pasticcino leans into the casual, community-focused style of dining. It’s the kind of place you can drop into for a quick espresso or relax over a pastry. And while a liquor licence isn’t quite locked in yet, the goal is to become a go-to for post-dinner sweets and late-evening treats – especially that gelato-in-a-brioche bun that we tourists are only just discovering.
Everything is made on-site and by hand, elevating classics well beyond the expected. There are Sicilian ricotta-filled cannoli using imported sheep’s milk ricotta (“the traditional filling for a true Italian cannoli”), rum baba, amoretti biscuits and cornetti. From their Calabrian roots comes pesche – delicate biscuit “peaches” filled with custard and lightly soaked in cherry liqueur. Zeppole are filled to order with jam, Nutella or pistachio cream. The pastry cabinet changes constantly, depending on what the team is baking that day.
Vince is behind the gelato, and alongside the expected crowd-pleasers, he’s churning more nostalgic flavours such as zuppa inglese (English trifle with liquor-soaked sponge) and crema limoncello.
“We’ve had a special request from Vince’s daughters to have pan di stelle gelato,” laughs Domenico. “So we turned their favourite Italian cookie into a signature cookies-and-cream flavour.”
Even the coffee service stays true to Italian tradition. After trialling multiple beans, the team landed on the classic Vittoria Caffé Bianco blend.
“We were a little fussy,” the pair admit. “You won’t find matcha lattes or oversized mugs here…we are keeping things authentically Italian with smaller cups, classic latte glasses, and a “quick stop” coffee experience.” The stand-up bar encourages sipping al banco, just like in Italy.
The space itself reflects that classic pasticceria look. Marble benchtops, soft-toned finishes and a large window overlooking the Adelaide Hills allows light to pour in and an incredible view out. The venue is solely designed around the colours that the pastries and tubs of gelato provide.
“We’re so happy with how the space came together,” Vince says. “With help from family and friends this all happened in three months. We’re excited to finally share it.”
What was once a missing piece for these owners is now a sweet new ritual for locals. Cornetti and cappuccino in the morning, gelato and dessert after dinner, and boxes of pastries taken to friends’ houses so no one arrives empty-handed. A little pocket of Calabria, right next door to pizza.
“Between the pasticceria and the pizzeria, we joke that we practically live there, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We love what we do—and love sharing it with our customers even more,” they conclude.
Pasticcino Bar e Caffè
Where: Shop 4, 855 Lower North East Rd, Dernancourt
When: Wed to Sat 8am-2pm/5-9pm, Sun 10am-9pm
For more info, find the Facebook page here.
Dining and Cooking