Review Scopa Pizzeria - Wellington

Certainly, here's a revised version of the review: The atmosphere at Scopa on Cuba Street is vibrant, with a mix of seating options for individuals and groups. However, if anyone in your party has hearing impairments, it may not be the ideal choice due to the loud music and crowded setting. Service is a strong point here, marked by friendly and professional staff who provide a flawless dining experience. The standout menu item is the single-serve pizzas with sourdough bases, celebrated for their delightful soft and chewy texture and well-balanced toppings. On the other hand, the Kale Caesar salad disappointed as it lacked traditional ingredients like eggs, croutons, and bacon, containing mainly kale, dressing, and Parmesan cheese. Furthermore, the burger and fries left much to be desired as they were served cold and underwhelming. In terms of pricing, anticipate spending around $30 per main course. Overall very good.

My partner and I ordered take out from Scopa this evening. We split the Zucchini and Arrabbiatta pizzas, and I thoroughly enjoyed the garlic cream on the Zucchini pizza and the spicy sauce on the Arrabbiatta. They’re personal sized pizzas, so order one per person. If you order online for pick up, they include a free hot chocolate with your order. They’re famous for their hot chocolate and I can understand why. If you wait until you finish your pizzas to drink it, it’s basically pudding! I’d recommend ordering it for takeaway because the restaurant itself is quite cramped.

The fries were amazing! Had the Diavolo and loved it! Definitely recommend!

Came here for the famous hot chocolate. Will be back again for it. Fried chicken were quite dry, lemonade saved my day

Best hot chocolate ever. The Formaggi is excellent, nice service. Highly recommend when in Welly

mozzarella special? glorious. Love me some hot honey but the basil definitely needs to be fresh. The tomato salt is amazing and the hot chocolate? Love a thicc cheeky coco. Overall, great value for price and a good vibe.

The pizza was smaller than I remembered. The mushroom one was very good the other we order not that much. Not enough ingredients for the price. Each pizza is over 26nz and it’s supposed to be one pizza per person. Definitely not enough to share.

Very busy for a good reason. Only went in for their hot chocolate and it is as good as they say! Staff seem very friendly and it's exciting to sit at the bar and watch them work their magic! Will have to come back and rate their pizza!

From the pizza to the olives their signature fried chicken raspberry sundae and ofcourse their signature hot chocolate and our pinot Gris we didn't waste any and we were happy to indulge on all the dishes and drinks. Scopa was an easy place chill relaxed good food azing service fast and comforting you can never go wrong in this place very straight forward just good quality delicious food simple offers that upscale your palate and experience definitely worth the try and a runner up for a go to place

Five stars for the hot chocolate at Scopa! It's absolutely delicious and a delightful treat, undoubtedly the best in Wellington. If you're a fan of hot chocolate, you won't be disappointed here. Fantastic service always.

Friendly service, very casual place ... Pizzas were some of the best we have had in this trip.. that's a highlight on a string of misery.. it felt as if they were baked too long at too low a temperature.. maybe just their oven which is not quite top level

Food was great, but the service was questionable. Temporarily seated at the bar, but then forgotten… it was busy (during level 2 alert). Okay that’s fine, but they basically forgot about us. The guy serving us, one minute he’s friendly, tells us about the secret menu item, the next it’s like “can you mind to move your plates”, and then drops the pizza on this tiny bar, somehow not noticing it’s clearly not enough space, and walks away without a word... A table becomes available, so we ask a server, could we have that table, “I’m not sure, ask the guy at the bar”… asp we try to get his attention, but in moments it’s just about to be given to a guy who just walked in? So we say hey can we have that table? “since you’re already eating”, not even “sorry about that”. I mean I don’t expect to be treated like a prince or anything, but.. did I do something wrong? Was I wearing the wrong shoes or something… I don’t get it. We ordered an off menu pizza and hot choc The sign out front says “$15 pizzas”, sounds like a good deal until you realize actually there’s only one pizza that price, the margarita. Classic bait and switch. Good food, yeah, but the experience is slightly soured.

Wonderful atmosphere with amazing pizzas! And wonderful service from the wait staff!

Great location. Friendly Staff. Wonderful atmosphere. The food is amazing, but you got to try their Hot Chocolate. I must say, it's the best Hot Chocolate in Wellington. Velvety smooth texture, rich and full bodied flavour with a creamy finish and well balanced sweetness takes Hot Chocolate to the next level. Great job team. Well done 🙂

This cafe has the best $10 meal Monday to Thursday and the best tiramisu I’ve ever eaten<br/>

Best hot chocolate in town! It's very rich, équivalent of à proper meal for a girl like myself. It's a must try when you visit Wellington!

Came here for a short break from studying in the afternoon and was absolutely stunned (in a good way) by the amazing hot chocolate they have on their menu. It is a little heavy, but the thickness of it is perfect. It also isn't sweet as what you'd expect with chocolate. The dark and rich flavor was exactly what I needed that day. <br/><br/>I will be certainly coming back for more, hopefully for a meal.

I went to scopa, 8pm Sunday night and got a Italian hot chocolate with my 3 friends. half way through our hot chocolates my friend pulled a chunk of glass out of her mouth. The piece of glass was the length of a 10 cent and 1 cm thick. We each passed it around to see what it was and then went to ask for the hot chocolate to be remade and to find out where it came from. They only offered to remake one of the hot chocolate (the one with glass) even after we expressed concern and asked if it could be in any of the others. There were no apologies and we were dismissed at every chance with "its not glass its ice". The glass was sitting in her hot chocolate for more than 5 minutes so there was no possibility for it to be ice as it would have melted. The staff were rude and treated us as if we were in the wrong for expressing concern about this extreme health and safety issue. They need better health and safety precautions and better training on customer service.

Pasta of the day was underwhelming though cheap. Gamberi pizza was just so so. Ambience is good though. Not worth the price. Lots more to offer elsewhere I reckon..

The food was amazing and the hot chocolate is one of the best in the world.

You can’t beat Scopa for their $8 Margherita lunch deal. Not the most wow Magherita of all time, but for $8 it’s an actual steal. The Chili oil is copious and it is dope

Food was alright. I like the generous piece of fish in the burger but the bun was a bit thick for my taste.<br/>Service was excellent as always.

I was quite excited to come back after 5 years.<br/>Ended up leaving without ordering after main host lady responded with a blunt "what?" when I was wanting to make an enquiry with her.

The pasta was absolutely delicious and the service was genuine. The gramigna was cooked just right and toppings were good balanced. The only down part is the serving of the wine, the Pinot Noir was very flat when served.

Been to Scopa multiple times for pizzas and mains, always great flavours with a busy atmosphere. I only just found out about their hot chocolates which are to die for! Nice thick and velvet texture a real pleasure to drink.

Service was 11/10. I heard from fellow Aucklanders that the hot chocolates were worth a stop and they did not disappoint! Swung by for a quick meal before my flight home and the waitress was so accommodating amongst the dinner rush to make sure the food came before I had to leave. Yummy pizza too. Definitely use the table oil, it’s great.

I love Scopa and come here all the time for dinner. Their pizzas are amazing, its great service and the vibe in the restaurant is great. the staff are always super helpful and friendly

Looked on Zomato and found Scopa, looked at the menu on-line and knew what I was going to order. Sat down in the restaurant and the menu was different which threw me plus I didn’t see a pizza oven, I love wood fired pizza :(<br/><br/>I was pleasantly surprised, the pizza is tasty and thin. Base is crispy and it holds the toppings well, yummy. <br/><br/>The only down side to Scopa is their wine by the glass selection. The only Sauvignon Blanc on the menu was one of the worst I have tasted. <br/><br/>

Not bad! Much better impression of the ambience in person compared to the photos I looked at. We started with the marinated olives, very nice. Then had the prawn and crab linguine and margarita pizza. Would have preferred more sauce in the pasta, and perhaps a tad too salty. Both competent dishes, overall. The wine selection is vast, with useful descriptions of each one.

Nice beautiful spot. Perfect for a small group of friends.<br/>Nice selection of beers and amazing italian hot chocolate. Highly recomend to try there hot chocolate something totally different.

Amazing service and wonderful food. Great place for a small group. They were able to cater for my requests with no fuss. Portion sizes left us wanting just a little more but the tastes were spot on. Can see why it's always so busy!

Went there for the Italian Hot Chocolate after I had heard so much about it. The size (I ordered a large at $6) can be deceiving. It might look not-so-large at first, but it's alot! It's rich, thick and smooth. Loved it. Totally worth it. Going back for more❤️

Normal Italian restaurant with pizzas and pasta. Suprisingly, they do excellent hot chocolate drink. .. nice chocolate flavour but not too sweet ....... not something I normally have.

Nice little restaurant. Focaccia starter was tasty. My partner had the Beetroot risotto which was ‘amazing’. I have the Carne pizza, which was delicious. One little gripe, the menu online here is different to the menu in restaurant. Apart from that a great place to have a feed and a beer!

Food is always top notch! I am a sucker for their amazing hot chocolates that are ten times better than a regular hot choc but the same price! The pasta special is such a reasonable price and always changes. Service is usually very good but at times can look super bored and not wanting to be there

Scopa Caffe Cucina is such a nice place. <br/>I’ve been here so many times, and the service has been outstanding on every visit. <br/><br/>Make sure you order their hot chocolate! It’s like the most amazing hot chocolate ever!!!

The pizza here is simply fantastic. The most authentic Italian vibes in Wellington. <br/><br/>Nothing bad to say. If you have heard good things about this place... THEY ARE TRUE!

I’ve come here every time I’ve visited Wellington and make sure to grab a pizza here. Always excellent, to the point where it’s become my default restaurant when I can’t decide, but want guaranteed great food.

BEST HOT CHOCOLATE I HAVE EVER HAD!! it’s like eating a chocolate pudding! Only $4 for the regular size which is so cheap! A must-try if you are ever in the area especially on cold Wellington days. The pizza here is also great!

The most amazing Pizza in Wellington. It's my annual ritual when I come to this Windy City. The woodfired Pizzas are out of the world!!! And the Hot chocolate is a must try.<br/><br/>If you are in Welly... Don't miss a visit to Scopa. You will not regret!!!

good food and environment，also location. specially have nice wheather. I will come back again：） 环境和食物都不错，天气好在窗边坐着最舒服了，服务也很好，西餐的好处就是没有味精，主要不是油炸的普片比中餐健康，既然人在异乡多尝试不同的风格。想吃中餐可能自己做是最好的。

The service wasReally good but not a lot of choices on the menu lacking the good old favs, would recommend as a place to drink rather than to eat

Ate at scopa on the 2nd January, there wasn't many restaurants open but I'm glad this one was. It was very busy and we hadn't booked so had to wait for a little bit. They had a small bar area so enjoyed a drink as we waited.<br/><br/>We both had pizza and they were delicious. Lots of toppings to choose from, great bases and a good size. Very tasty.

Good place for a tasty pizza or pasta especially if you like veg options as the menu is filled with non- meat choices. Both dishes were very tasty.

Been here a couple of times and the last one was for a leaving dinner of a friend who is moving back overseas. The food (we ordered pizza) is  always amazing and they serve the best hot chocolate in NZ! One of the staff though was so rude she literally stood in front of us waiting for us to finish the drink! Two were nice and friendly. Disappointed with the other one. I might not go back in the near future due to rude staff.

The food and coffee is fine but was disappointed with the service, and while the price is comparable to other Italian eateries, it is at a level where you want everything to be on point. The restrooms are worth a visit though.

1st visit for lunch<br/>Busy atmosphere and friendly staff.<br/>Tried pasta which was divine (be aware - it was a special lunch menu and quantity was good.<br/><br/>Can be really sunny which is a good thing.<br/>I can confidently recommend the place to my friend.<br/><br/>2nd visit for dinner<br/><br/>-adding this review after visiting there with family.<br/>We ordered two pastas. They were good but quantity was too small. Please be generous for $25 meal. The staff told me it was weighed for 120g. Well I will not go there as I feel like I need another meal.<br/><br/>If you want, just try their lunch special but don't think dinner meal will be the same quantity.

This is a lovely place to have coffee on a windy day in wellington by busy Cuba street. <br/>The cafe has a lovely setting and is very comfortable for breaky or lunch. The place had great service and food is quick to come out. We got a table by the window so we enjoyed the sun without being in the wind. Coffee was really good and I did enjoy our experience here.<br/><br/>I would recommend to others.

TWr came on a very busy night and the staff were friendly and the service was great. We start the bar and enjoyed both dinner and drinks. I highly recommend the pizza and the calamari.

We only came here for the hot chocolate and dessert. The hot chocolate was thick and nice but was not as rich as I expected it to be. The affogato was good but the ice cream was just plain vanilla. The place itself had a nice exclusive vibe but still welcoming

Had a good dinner a Scopa a few weeks ago. We needed to wait for a while for a table but wasn't a bother and they look after you. Food when we ordered came quickly and I really like how it's actually hot every time. Special pizza had a lot of Salsa Verde on it quite rich but everything else we enjoyed. Recommend Scopa

Sorry but I was very disappointed with scopa the front of house lady was very rude when we arrived and gave me attitude when I asked where it was ok to sit . Would never visit again as was most under whelmed with the food

Great meal and great service. I had the blue cheese and roasted pumpkin gnocchi which was perfectly seasoned and light fluffy gnocchi. Tiramisu for dessert topped it off nicely, and the staff were super friendly.

In the fray of assignments and deadlines i came here tonight for a quick Ish bite to eat. My friend had the bruschetta while I had the Formaggie pizza. This was received quickly with really enthusiastic service. The pizza was decently portioned and good value. However my friends bruschetta was charred on the crust and not the Italiano way. But this somewhat rectified with my delicious parmesan and gorgonzola pizza . I would recommend to anyone after a nice meal.

Went there for lunch on a Saturday ordered the special pizza which had pulled pork, (something similar to) kale, and olives. The pizza base was excellent, thin, light, and crisp but there could have been a little more flavor. I also ordered the bailey's hot chocolate. It was delicious but difficult to drink as it was rather thick. I ended up eating it like chocolate sauce with a spoon. I also tried the hotcakes which were to die for and a ragu pasta dish which I can't recall the name of which was also rather tasty. Comfortable dining area and friendly service would definitely come again but would probably stay away from the specials next time as the items on their menu were significantly better.

We came on a Saturday here and although busy they found us a table. We had red wine which was a good price and good flavour (we are white wine drinkers so that's even more of a compliment) and they offered gluten free options! The only thing that's slightly annoying is that their gluten-free pasta isn't freshly made the waitress told me - I then realised all other pasta was fresh and mine was coming out of a grocery store packet to be boiled and put on my plate at a premium. But whatever that's life. The sauce was delicious and it was only olive oil, Parmesan and pepper! I could eat it all day. The plus side to gluten-free was I think I got more pasta because it was very generous! Adams gluten-free pizza said it was one of the best crusts he'd had - would go back again!

Had the seafood pasta dish and it was the best pasta I have ever had! Beautiful al dente pasta with the best sauce. The seafood was perfection. We had a table that was quite close to the neighbouring tables so it was slightly noisy. Also had the hot chocolate. So good!

Hubby and I had a celebratory lunch here yesterday and were very grateful it was open during that awkward time between lunch and dinner. I went for the pumpkin and sage gnocchi which was beautifully pillow like and absolutely delicious. Mr had the Salsiccia pizza which was also really good. Staff were attentive and friendly but not overbearing and the place was buzzing with other patrons.

Another fabulous evening at Scopa! <br/><br/>I've always had great experiences everytime I've been to Scopa, and Tonight was no exception. As always my friend and I were seated promptly and the attention we received throughout the evening was just right. <br/>As a vegetarian I am always excited to see what options were available to enjoy. Tonights choice was the Mushroom Risotto with crispy shallots. The risotto was creamy and full of flavour with the shallots giving a nice texture to the dish. <br/>The hot chocolate to finish was amazing as always, creamy and decadent but not too sweet. <br/>I can't wait to see what I try next time I'm back.

Very busy on a Friday night but the staff seemed organised and our food was quick to arrive. The calamari and caprese salad to start were good, and the mains; seafood pasta, mushroom risotto and Gorgonzola pizza; were also very fresh and tasty. The desserts were simple but worked well as a small sweet treat after dinner. Overall a good quality Italian meal and experience.

Had an amazing experience at Scopa last night, pre show drinks and dinner. Us girls shared a bottle of wine, gluten free pizza and a salad. The wait staff were very attentive and helpful, food and drinks served quickly and all great value for money. I will definitely be returning.

Pizza: fantastic<br/>Gnocchi: bland.  but the gravy was full of flaour<br/>Bruschetta: the bread was over-heated and burnt<br/>Rocket salad: tasty just like regular salads.<br/>The famous hot chocolate：kind of like a cup of melted chocolate to me

We have enjoyed many meals at Scopa over the years.  <br/><br/>It is an efficient operation - sometimes cursed with staff that are "too cool for school" but that seems to have improved.<br/><br/>The pizza is lovely - great crust and excellent flavours (have the potato pizza!).  Main dishes are very satisfying too.<br/><br/>If you have room - have a legendary hot chocolate.

Went for brunch with friends. Good service with friendly waiting staff. Food was good, with a reasonable selection of food available. <br/><br/>Need to come back at another time to try the pizza.

Had a delicious pizza at Scopa the other day. It was a simple pizza: tomato base, a few prawns, rocket, and I added a good dose of chilli oil and it was absolutely divine. I was one piece off finishing the entire thing. I like the atmosphere here, it’s great on a sunny day when the doors are open and the sun pours in. The service here isn’t very good which is a shame. I asked if the pork on one of the pizza’s was free range and the young man gave some big story about how they imported all their ingredients from Italy so it must be. When I asked another waitress, she said “I’ll just find out” she promptly came back and reported that it was. However, neither staff members were very friendly and took their time to take our order. The service here is way too casual and the wait staff are inexperienced. Overall though, I really recommend this place, the food and ambience are delightful.

A nice basic meal here, pizza for lunch. A tasty coffee and the pizza was enjoyable. A good location in Cuba St with friendly service and comfortable surrounds. I'd go back for another meal but there are lots of other cafes to try beforehand. No wow factor but enjoyable none the less.

My favourite brunch spot in Wellington. They make great pizzas and the hot chocolate is the best in Wellington! I have never had a bad experience!

This is the first time I went to a proper Italian restaurant and I loved it. <br/>The food was refreshing and different. <br/>We ordered the Pasta of the Day (nice and fresh) and the Pizza Salsiccia (amazing!)

Amazing hot chocolate and great service. The pastas are perfect and have so much sauce and cheese while the pizzas are crusty and have quality toppings. Their chilli oil is not to be left aside!

I've always recommended Scopa to anyone coming in from out of town but after my last visit on new years day it was less than satisfactory. Once seated we waited 20 mins for our waitress to take our orders let alone given some water. We then waited 30 mins for a granola and buttermilk pancakes with a side of bacon. My granola I received was about 1/2 cup with some luke warm milk. Considering it was a public holiday and I then had to pay surcharge on top of that left me feeling a little underwhelmed. From now on I would only come back for margherita tuesdays or pizza because that is still damn good.

Visiting from Oz! Now regretting I don't live in Wellington because that was truly the best pizza I have ever eaten - Gorgonzola, walnuts, truffle oil and fresh rocket on the top. Wow! You will find me coming back for more of that and the perky service every time!

Faultless service, friendly staff and fantastic food. <br/>Dined with friends from out of town and they still raving about it the next day.<br/>Ice cream sandwich was to die for glad the staff recommended it !!!<br/><br/>

Stopped in for a quick brekkie after arriving in Wellington. <br/>Nice location on a corner & inviting decor.<br/>Service was great - even checked in after I started eating to ensure everything was OK which I normally only experience in a restaurant. <br/>Coffee was excellent. No sugar needed.<br/>I tried the vanilla risotto with rhubarb & a pistachio crumb as it was something I hadn't seen before. Very tasty with nice flavours & textures. Only suggestion would be for it (even just the risotto) to be served warm as cold on a cold day was not as nice as warm. <br/>Will be back - a yummy sounding prawn spaghetti on the lunch menu has caught my eye!

went to scopa the other day with a few friends I ordered the ox tongue ravioli which I found delicious =) and the pizza we had was also yummy I enjoyed the atmosphere and the server was awesome

We had saw the poster for 'Every Tuesday gets special magherita for 8 dollar', so we decided to give it a go. Pizza is tasty, worth the price. Hot choc is really nice, the best on in town. Definitely will go back and try others.

Friendly, fast service in this intimate little spot amongst the hustle and bustle of Cuba Street! An abundance of delicious things to choose from on the menu, I went with the gamberetti pizza which was amazing! My boyfriend had the pepperoni pizza which was tasty and a nice spicy kick! Will definitely be back.

We had hot choc definitely the best in NZ , the pizza was very good we well , great seating and service , we enjoyed our quick meal at scope

Best hot chocolate in town! Haven't tried many of the dishes, but the pizza is delicious and ice cream with olive oil and black salt is to die for! Sounds interesting, but trust me, you won't regret it.

Based on the Wellington on a Plate food, I wasn't really impressed. I've heard the pizza is good so maybe I'll give it another try but I'm in no hurry. Servers were great though!

Amazing dinner location! One of the best pizzas I have had in a long time.<br/>Ate with a gluten free friend who ordered the gluten free base-which apparently is the best gluten free pizza she has had! Would also recommend the calamari fritti (polenta covered calamari). Good bustling atmosphere even on a Wednesday night... Worth the wait for a table!

I think this is the best porridge in Wellington. Why? Nutty, creamy, thick porridge on a cold day served with runny cream. What more could you ask for? Ohhh the poached pear on top, so tasty, I can't even think of what the flavour is but it is really good. Scrambled eggs done here are also good - spicy goodness on toast. Coffee is also good. Makes me curious about what dinner would be like.

All though a lot may tend to disagree with me, (especially the local cafe snobs that lurk in Wellington). I didn't find this place that special? The Scopa bro's are certainly doing some cool things around town hands down (what with tommy millions, gentleman's beans, the Bresolin etc) but my singular outing there didn't impress me as much I would of thought. Now I usually wouldn't write a review based on one event, the reason I'm writing it is because I don't think I'll be back anytime soon! Not with the talent it's surrounded by. <br/><br/>Perhaps take this with a grain salt, but I found my pasta lacked flavour, as did my girlfriend's. The service isn't exactly stellar, it wasn't unpleasant but it wasn't pleasant either. The coffee they did get right but doesn't do much else, I feel these guys have far more potential than they showed today. Maybe I've just convinced myself to give them another shot - in the meantime this is my opinion of it. Do what you wish with it 😂 SORRY SCOPA. Bresolin next. <br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

Had the tiramisu and the hot chocolate; the hot choc was delicious thick rich and very filling. Not sure what it was thickened with but was very filling; couldnt finish the large size. <br/><br/>The tiramisu was fine but would have been better with a bitter coffee to bring out the sweetness; not ideal with the hot choc as I think it drowns out its taste.<br/><br/>Busy but chill vibe, cool place for hanging with mates.<br/><br/>Would love to come back and try the food next time.<br/><br/>7/2 Yums

We went to Scopa on the for my wife's birthday on the assumption that we would be able to get a vegan meal (since we had spoken with them earlier and they confirmed they could accommodate us) and were disappointed to find our options limited to two choices, both of which were below-average at best. Basically we were told that they we could subtract items from other dishes, though not replace with another veg item...and furthermore the gluten-free pasta was just store bought pasta, which we could have just made ourselves at home.  Plus there was an additional wait since we ordered the gluten-free, which apparently is only available in penne.  On top of this the waitress did not seem to have a clue and got our order wrong...it just wasn't at all what we were expecting. I am not one to complain, but the food was bland, disappointing and when my wife requested some tomato sauce to flavour her meal, it did not arrive until the end, when we had basically finished with our meals. We understand as vegans that our options can be limited when going out, but that is why we ask beforehand whether an establishment can cater to our dietary requirements.  We were under the impression that they could, and said they could, however we were very let down by the whole experience.Bad food, bad service, and when our issues were brought to their attention they did not even has the courtesy to respond.

Honestly although their hot chocolate is very good, I know of one better. Well worth the visit though. Excellent service and good food. Will come back again.

OK so I must start with this... SCOPA IS A HOT CHOCOLATE GENIUS!! Seriously it has some of the best hot chocolate that my tastebuds have ever had the glory of salivating over. It tastes like the cream gods made a baby with the chocolate gods. Yes that good. I would go there just for the hot choc, even if the food was bad. Luckily though, it isn't. Their pizza and pasta are also pretty delectable, and their service usually very good (albeit a tad 'cold' at some points). With their weekly deals you kind of also can't go wrong. But seriously, that hot chocolate!

Came in tonight - great food! Really yummy pizza and starters - had Margarita with added mushroom and rocket. Service was good and staff really friendly. However slight wait for mains. Would definitely come back

Wonderful pizza, decent pasta and an unrivalled hot chocolate. Fantastic place to go for a casual dinner with a reasonably relaxed vibe. The wait staff are always helpful and friendly. Can be a wait for a table but always worth it

I am not a hot choc fan but i LOVE the hot choc here! <br/>Heaps of sitting available. Lovely atmosphere. The staffs are friendly :) i would definitely go there again

Beautiful pizza and red wine just like they do in Italy and if you want a good deal go on a Tuesday and get your margarita for $10 - perfect bases which not all of the other Wellington pizzerias have managed to master.

This place was recommended by a friend to try out in Wellington. We shared a pizza which was pretty good but the stand out of the meal has to be the hot chocolate! Dense, creamy and simply amazing! The service here was good too.

Had a very pleasant time at Scopa this evening. Our table of 4 shared 3 pizzas and the rocket salad between us, which proved to be plenty. <br/><br/>It's great to see a variety of tasty vegetarian pizzas on the menu, my favourite being the 'Sicilian' (one really small suggestion is that the parsley could maybe be chopped a little finer?). We were also impressed with the waitress who served us (the one with the English accent). She was attentive the whole evening and was really delightful to speak to.

The paparedelle is to die for! I don't know how you can get such amazing flavor out of such simple ingredients. The wait staff was very nice and attentive. Our water glasses were refilled almost 8 times! Love this place! It alone is worth the trip.

Now I remember why I stopped coming here. We were sat at 1pm. It took just over 50 minutes for our pizza and pasta to arrive. When we did ask at the 30 minute mark where our food was, we were told that our order was next. I didn't realize that meant the cook hadn't even started our ticket.<br/><br/>I wish they had warned us, prior to seating, that the kitchen was backed up almost an hour so we could have made an informed decision.  Other restaurants provide that honest courteousness here in Wellington and it is always appreciated.<br/><br/>But I felt really bad for the three-top behind us; they were visibly and audibly hangry, too, like us. It's not good to keep older people waiting that long....it plays havoc with metabolism and blood sugar levels.<br/><br/>The lesson is: don't go there on weekdays if you have anything to do ... like work, run errands, or appointments.<br/><br/>The pizza is good with a nice crunchy crust.  Papardelle pesto with chevre was delicious....but was swimming in pesto -- too much.<br/><br/>Terrible experience - decent food.

Coffee while well brewed was quite expansive for a small cup. My partner had their big breakfast (scopa carne) which is shown in the attached photo. Tasty but not lack in a wow factor. Mine was a olive, basil scramble egg on toast and that it was very tasty. The egg was done to my likely, still a bit runny and was packed with big flavours. Bold and adventurous, loved every single bite!!

Hot chocolate just brilliant! I have only tried the hot chocolate. But that is enough to make me memerable. However, the pizza seems yummy which is made jn their own oven. We would try the pizza next time!

'Scopa' this place out if you haven't been before! <br/><br/>Hot chocolate YES!!! Pizza YES!!! Dessert YES!!! Scopa you scored an amazing trifecta with me and that undoubtably gets you awarded with my very first 5/5.<br/>The Pizzas are tasty and I just love the chilli oil. You cant go wrong with anything you order here. I have been a few times now and I am never disappointed. Because this place is consistently good I keep coming back. It is well known amongst the locals for a good reason! The waitstaff are a friendly bunch and are always keen to chat.

Best pizzas. Scopa does the best woodfired pizzas. Perfect base with a bit of crunch and a great range of fillings. Add a drizzle of chilli oil too.

Excellent pizza with lots of flavour and very well cooked. The entree was very good and the perfect size. The tiramisu for dessert...ohh divine!

Firstly, the service was fantastic. But then so was the food! We visited for a spot of brunch, ordering the avocado on brioche and French toast brioche with a light lemon cream adornment....the most light, delicious flavours!! Would absolutely recommend ordering and sharing both dishes for a taste of sweet and savory. We followed this with a lovely bitter iced chocolate. Hit the spot!

This can be the most worse big breakfast I had till now. Toasts n bacons were too dry and so did the potato, coffee was too bitter so that I could not believe it's gentlemen's coffee bean! Service was friendly and efficient but it could not cover the sucks food up. 3 points only for their friendly staffs.

We enjoyed our lunch, my wife ordered the spaghetti with cloudy bay clams and anchovy gremolata. It was soooooo good. The pizza was perfectly cooked. Our daughter had the potato gnocchi which she loved. Our son wasn't being adventurous and had eggs and toast.<br/><br/>I wouldve rated a 5 if the wait staff had asked if we wanted to see the dessert menu before clearing out table like they wanted us out of there. <br/><br/>

I've often wondered why this place is so popular- the pizzas are good but you can't really go too wrong when you've got the wood fire oven. There's nothing wrong with the food but there's nothing particularly exciting about it either, just another pizza/pasta place which is a bit pricier due to its amazing location.

Famous for their signature Italian hot chocolate, Scopa Caffe Cucina is located right in the heart of Cuba St, a popular eatery and bar with a great variety of Italian cuisine and drinks. Scopa seemed very hyped about in the Wellington food scene, not to mention they are always busy everytime I pass by, so I had high expectations when I dined here twice for lunch and dinner. <br/><br/>On my first visit, I had their Vegetarian Big Breakfast and Vinocello Spritz cocktail. My Vegetarian Big Breakfast was good but frankly quite boring; it wasn't exciting like my usual Big Breakfast/Vegetarian Big Breakfast at Enigma. My cocktail was also pleasant; nice and refreshing, perfect for that Sunday afternoon but also not very unique.<br/><br/>On my second visit, my partner and I tried out the Wellington On A Plate menu, and once again, everything was good but not thrilling. I usually find trying out a new restaurant an exciting experience, but unfortunately nothing really tasted extremely special or incredible to us. Our entree, anchovies, was very sour so you had to make sure to have it with the bread and salad to balance out the taste. My Martingelo cocktail was nice but not delicious; it had a herbal and slightly bitter taste. My octopus spaghetti, which I was most excited to try, turned out to be average - it was filling and satisfying, the octopus had the strong taste and texture of meaty sausages and it was complemented well with the flavours and condiments in the pasta. My partner's Tagliatelle pasta was also just 'nice'. He enjoyed it but didn't find it incredible. Same went for our dessert, the affogato. <br/><br/>The only thing we really did find incredible was the Gusto Cioccolato, which didn't disappoint. Having heard about the signature Italian hot chocolate, I'm glad we tried it out - it was creamy, sweet and delicious, with the taste and texture of heavenly melted chocolate. Absolutely loved this!<br/><br/>Altogether I'd describe my experience with Scopa to be average - the atmosphere, customer service and food are all mostly good, but not what I'd describe as exciting, incredible, or amazing. I would come back here again to try out new dishes in the hope of finding something more memorable and delicious, but it wouldn't be my first choice when choosing a restaurant for a great night out.<br/><br/>Update (April 2015): I went to Scopa once again today and had the elderflower & apple cocktail which was enjoyable. However I chose roasted beetroot with it and didn't think the beetroot was 'roasted' at all (photo attached). Great presentation, but it could've been cooked a lot better and accompanied by better salads & condiments - though the creamed feta & walnut was lovely. The waitress was very cold and unfriendly - she did not smile during my entire visit, avoided my eye contact when we were speaking with each other, and 3 times she came to my table to take my order, refill my water and light my candle, I said "Thank you" pleasantly to her, to which she completely ignored without a glance or a smile and just walked off all 3 times - something that has never occurred to me at other restaurants. Will not be returning after all three very average visits.

Had breakfast here for our anniversary last weekend. The atmosphere was great as usual, such a pleasant experience. Wait staff were friendly and helpful and polite. <br/>The big breakfast (carne) was delicious and I got mine with hollandaise sauce as an extra which was absolutely divine. Thank you, scopa!

We had the pepperoni and vegetarian pizzas, and I had the famous Scopa hot chocolate. The pizzas were pretty good and quite up there by Wellington/NZ standards: fresh, tasteful ingredients on a perfectly good base. The hot chocolate was heaven melted in a cup - warning, it is rich, decadent and thick.<br/><br/>Service was great, and so is the location (go here if people watching is your thing).

Came here for breakfast on a weekday. It was pretty empty when we got here.<br/>We decided to get the Italian hot chocolate as we had been hearing good reviews about it.<br/>It was delicious, but quite overwhelming and overpowering. A little bit over the top in my opinion. I struggled to finish it.<br/>The breakfast of hot smoked salmon on dark rye with poached eggs were up to scratch, but there wasn't anything to shout about.

Had the Wellington on a plate lunch and it was delicious. We had a pizza too which was fresh and tasty. Good service and reasonable price.

Friendly service and amazing hot chocolates

Staff were very friendly! The interior could use a bit of light. <br/>The food was not that awesome as other other reviews had indicated. The gnocchi tasted like it was overcooked, the hazel nuts were not crunchy, they tasted like stale nuts. Overall, it was an average experience.

Truly stunning - excellent and very attentive service, surprisingly good for Saturday lunchtime on Cuba. Hot chocolate was to die for and perfectly proportioned. We shared the mushroom and hazlenut gnocchi; it was delicious and an interesting and original flavour combination. The rest of the menu looked intriguing. It's a good idea to have mains in varying sizes, and Scopa has two sizes and prices for each main. One large main to share was enough for the both of us for lunch, and at $24 was excellent value. We'll be back!

Actually 4.5 stars, great pizza, pasta, a warm buzzy place and a good wine list. Pizza is not a NZ strong suit but Scopa's is excellent.

Has been a favourite of mine for a few years now. The staff are always friendly and the place is clean and warm. I always get a margherita pizza, and the last 5 or so times that I've been the pizza has been disappointing... Not too sure why, just a little flavourless. The servings of basil and mozzerella used to be very generous but now, not so much. Definitely don't buy a margherita pizza on their 2 for 1 day, even worse than usual. Otherwise a nice place to go, hot chocolates are always yummy.

Went with friends who suggested it as they had been there before and enjoyed it. Was a very cool atmosphere; loved the layout especially the bathrooms! Founds the tables a but too close otherwise perfect layout in m a great spot.<br/>The staff were great and managed to pull together a table for us quickly with no booking and during busy hours. <br/>The food was ok. It was good but nothing spectacular. The four of us got different meals and tried a little of each. <br/>Would go back there if others wanted to again but wouldn't be my first pick.

Yummy Pizzas and delicious classic Italian hot chocolate, this place is almost always busy when I walk past. With good reason too, their customer service cannot be faulted. One night, a friend and I went for dinner here and it was superb! We also appreciated the fact that the waitress refilled our water jug every time it was empty despite the fact we were just chatting and had finished our meals a long time ago. They certainly have top notch customer service! Atmosphere is also very good and the vibe here is perfect for catching up with friends!

I eat here often and the food is good but the chefs need to watch their mouths, it's a little restaurant and you can here everything said in the kitchen even in the busiest of services.<br/>And their Hot chocolate is like a chocolate crème patisserie, it should be the filling for a doughnut.<br/>Rather average over all unfortunately, it has some real potential to be a great restaurant

I have never eaten here but I have made a point of treating myself and visitors to a visit especially for their Hot Chocolate. Oh my!!, it's amazing. Absolutely amazing, well worth the visit. Definitely in the Excellent category.

All pizza &amp; pasta are pretty good. Good atmosphere and friendly staff. Recommended!

I recommend the salami, chili oil, cherry tomato, grana, and red onion pizza. really tasty pizza; pomodoro still holds the edge on crust though. If your after lunch their $10 pasta is good value too.

Best hot chocolate in the country. <br/><br/>Pizza &amp; pasta were pretty good too!<br/>Had such a chirpy conversation with the waitress about meat meat meat and more meat. <br/><br/>Scopa is always busy and buzzing and the atmosphere is just so lively that you just can't help but smile :)

My husband and I turned up on a busy Friday night and were lucky to get a table right by the window. Cafe was quite hot, noisy and busy - we loved that. Staff were helpful, with great advice on Italian wines, which were excellent. Lots of water top-ups, but not obtrusive. <br/> Probably the best calamari we've ever eaten! The pizza was delicious, although not a lot of filling, in the European authentic style. My desert (forget the name, sorry) was an amazing Italian orange ice-cream and cake that matched anything I ever ate in the inner-city Italian restaurants of Sydney.<br/>I was so delighted I spoke to Chef, to thank him for the delicious meal.

Not bad a place for a slowburn coffee experience though there are plenty of other great cafe's on cuba thesedays. One thing that I never quite enjoyed (though I should probably respect more) about Scopa are the frequent interruptions by the staff to fill up your glasses of water. Now I might be picky but in the middle of a conversation I like not having to be disturbed every 2-3 minutes. Food was pretty good, though the Margarita pizzas lack toppings or flavour.

Woah! Did not expect such a great lunch. All members of my party had either the pasta special or the soup special and we shared a pizza. Everything was tasty, fresh and quality. Fantastic service and friendly staff. The only thing about this restaurant was the location and interior - a renovation may be on the cards. It also got quite warm which made it a bit uncomfortable. But a must visit for yummy, value for money food!

The ambience and service are great. <br/><br/>I had the Maestro pizza which was okay. It cannot be faulted, but I've had better. Portions are generous. I'll probably try the pasta next time if I ever drop by Scopa again. The tiramisu was good, the coffee flavour was very strong which is to my liking.

Absolutely love their pizzas! Best in town I reckon! (and so do all my friends by the way...)<br/>One thing though... The place is packed and small so if you're looking for intimacy, you might want to go somewhere else. At pick time, don't even dream about getting a table and if you do, well consider yourself lucky...

I worked in the restaurant business for over 12years, and have found it very hard to find a good quality restaurant.. When we first arrived we had o wait 15mins for a table, while at the bar I asked for the wine menu, they have a range of Italian wine which I am not familiar with but the bartender offered us a small glass to try it was their house red and was so yummy. We waited less than 10mins and were seated, our waitress was great and very attentive but not at all over attentive. She topped our water up often and was very helpful.<br/>The food was great, but yes I did think it was sightly over priced but in the end the night was fabulous. I feel that restaurants in Wellington are slacking in the department of good service and food but Scopa seems to have mastered it. I'm not sure what the hype is with the hot chocolate wasn't a fan, but my friend loved it.<br/>I will be back again and highly recommend it....

Wow. I was impressed by Scopa. <br/><br/>We went their for lunch during the week and they have really good lunch specials. <br/><br/>My partner got a margherita pizza and I got the pasta of the day. Both were very tasty and hot and fast. <br/><br/>I also got the Italian hot chocolate which was lovely, rich with chocolate and creamy. <br/><br/>Staff are super friendly too. I really enjoyed my experience there.<br/><br/>Highly recommended!

We've been here numerous times and have enjoyed every single visit. The staff *are* cool but have always been professional &amp; friendly, and very tolerant of our young son who wants to sit up at the bar and watch the hot chocolate going around and the pizza being made, or be held up at the kitchen window to see the prep. It's always busy, but if you love your companions enough there's no difficulty in feeling as though you're having an intimate dinner! The food's delicious, though I do miss the pumpkin-based pizza that's no longer on the menu.

Ridiculous! Over priced and under delievered. The service staff we're "too cool for school" and uninterested in us. Unfriendly and bland really. Asked for water with our meal and we were simply told no, they half fill your tiny glass when passing when they feel like it. Pizza was average. Experience was less than. I wont be going back.

The place needs a good ventilation system to start with; it was quite crowded when I was there and it feels like being inside a pressure cooker. My friend likes their hot chocolate so I gave it a try, way to thick, like drinking tar, they should go easy on the cornflour, it's a drink not a gravy! The muffin was average and there are better places to eat pizza, one quite near La Scopa by the way.

Must try the hot chocolate!!!!!!!!<br/>Must must must MUST!<br/><br/>DELICIOUS<br/><br/>the 3 of us had a pizza as well <br/>which was amazing too!

Good place to go any time of the day whether it is for a meal (mmm best vegeterian pizzas in town), coffee or a wine. I love it when the weather is nice enough for the side doors to be open, as it's a great place to people watch. <br/><br/>Staff are always smiling and know exactly how I like my coffee.

Another dinner venue selection on the basis of Menu Mania and wasn’t disappointed either.<br/><br/>We were fortunate to arrive at a time when there were a couple of tables free and nobody else waiting. Similar to a few other places, they only take bookings for large groups. As the night went on, most people coming in had to wait 15-30mins for a table.<br/><br/>Scopa has tried its best to get as many tables in as possible, so there is minimum distance between your table and the next - but it still doesnt feel like too much of an imposition on private conversation.<br/><br/>Service was brilliant. Staff refilling your water as you needed it, and checking back a couple of times throughout the evening to make sure everything was okay.<br/><br/>The food was beautiful. Neither of us had pizza, except for the Giordino for an entree, so food assessment is not about the pizza. I had the aged sirloin steak and all I can really say is, perfectly cooked and my mouth is watering now just thinking about it again.<br/><br/>Now some people will think I have something of a fascination with toilets (see my review of Iguacu) and I dont really, I just think toilets can be cool ... and I'm not the only one. I cant comment on the women's loos, but the men's has these large stainless steel funnels, which look like oversized penne pasta for urinals. I know its not very nice to be talking about the loo on a food review site, but at least go have a look at the facilities if you do go there.

I tried Scopa for the first time on Saturday night and absolutely loved it! I had the Ravioli which was delicious. Followed by the Panna cotta, which was divine! Excellent service and food.

Ciao dall'Italia<br/>Very professional service but in Italy pizza is other thing.Garlic garlic garlic no thank you.The vampire live in Transilvania not in Naples.<br/>I come back sure.

Have been here twice now and really enjoyed it both times. The service,food and wine were all excellent. The decor is modern and trendy but manages to be cosy and intimate as well.

For a pizza bar scopa finds its niche in amongst the restaurant’s in Wellington. The restaurant is centred around the bar and is warm and inviting. The decor adds to the mystique place and leads you to believe that you have found your self a place to eat where people who belong to the town eat. As you gaze around at the other patrons you see that they are all quiet different and unique, the staff are international and local and all bring their own unique personality to work. Service is enjoyable; their wine list complements their dishes nicely. The pizza's melt in your mouth and explode with their own unique flavours and one can tell that they are eating some thing fresh, its been along time since i was able to eat a pizza out and left feeling full refreshed and amazed at the flavour sensations that had danced over my tongue. I highly recommend Scopa, make sure you check out the bathrooms they were a right design treat.

Enjoyed a smoked salmon with eggs on dark rye. It was nicely presented and tasted great. Service was excellent and definitely a place worth to visit.

Really good Italian food with mostly great service