Very Italian Pizza Leiden in Binnenstad-Noord

2026 update: no doubt about it. The Vesuvio is the best pizza in Leiden! Ordered the spicy salami pizza. Was actually spicy salami. Crust was light and airy. Cheese was also good. Recommended!

This used to be my safe spot for my pizza, which is still ok. However, overtime I noticed that the quality has decreased. Also, this used to be the only place in Leiden with a good carbonara, without cream... Well, that's no longer the case. I don't even think there was egg yolk in mine, basically just cream and cheese with some very scarce pieces of spek. Staff was kind and friendly, fast and efficient service. The air in the dining area indoors was stuffy hot and humid to the point it was uncomfortable (mid September, not a hot day outside)

Delicious food. Nice deal on Social Deal too. Unfortunately, we were a bit forgotten on the terrace when it came to taking drink orders. The atmosphere by the water is very nice!

good service, Large portions, affordable

We were sat for 40 minutes waiting to be served, tried to get our servers attention multiple times, he kept walking past us, not even looking at us. Then I went to pay for our drinks so we could eat someplace else and they told me "oh, only drinks". Grown, bald guy with a beard, wouldn't recommend.

We took shelter from the rain here and had dessert. The chocolate Tartufo was delightful ❤️ The Panna Cotta was good but the strawberry jam was too sweet and tasted just like watered-down jam. One thing we loved was the staff!!! Oh my...lovely, happy, welcoming people who were very nice to us 🙏🏼❤️

The staff were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and the pizza base was delicious. However, there were really very few toppings. I also would have preferred the eggplant to be grilled/roasted rather than fried, as I didn’t really like the taste.

The restaraunt is amazing, the food is delicious and the waiters are very nice and, especially "Anna.M" thank you for the service.

Excellent food. Friendly and fast service. Excellent value for money. We'll gladly come again.

The four of us had very tasty pizzas and desserts. The wait time was very short and the staff friendly.

The service is really good! And the foods also! You should go and try all of them! Also the tap beers.

Good and fast service, not ridiculously expensive, had a tasty meal.

Cozy restaurant with delicious Italian food

Overpriced!! The location is beautiful, right next to the river. The service was good overall. However, the prices are quite high! A beer and a mojito cost €20, which felt overpriced for what you get.

Great Italian restaurant. Good flavors and a pleasant atmosphere; you can go right over for Italian delicacies. Just do it.

I didn't try the entire menu, just one vegetable salad and a smoothie. I couldn't eat more because of the heat. I didn't like the salad; you'd think there was anything wrong with vegetables. It was all arugula, and the flavor of the other ingredients was completely absent. It was dry and lacked any dressing, though at least I found some olive oil on the table. The smoothie was delicious. The tables by the water are gorgeous, and the service was good, but I'm not sure I'll visit this place again.

Nice pizza crust and toppings; and delicious tiramisu

Really good Italian pizza at a fair price. Very good service. Only the drinks are a bit pricey.

Orders are prepared quickly. The pizza is thin-crust, juicy, and delicious. The beer is fresh. The waiters are unfriendly, perhaps a "gift" for being the first customers after opening. 11 euros for 500 ml of beer is insane, especially when you only know it from the bill, not the menu. I'm left feeling disappointed.

Hello everyone. I always recommend this restaurant. Delicious, fast, and the staff is fantastic. I had lunch there on a very hot day; the air conditioning works perfectly. There is a wide selection of dishes. And I haven't even mentioned the restaurant's main theme yet: delicious pizza! If you are in Leiden and are in the mood for delicious pizza, go to a VIP restaurant.

I recommend the pizza “Burrata” and the tiramisu! Staff is attentive.

Pizza is ok, service bad and slow

The gluten-free pizza was good, but unfortunately the service was not. The waitress was unfriendly and the toilets were very dirty. I expected a better overall experience.

Great gem of a spot in Leiden. Perfect for a casual get-together with delightful food. Right on the water making it a great spot for a lunch on a sunny day

The pizzas were certainly very tasty, but I find the restaurant itself too big to enjoy a meal. Lots of parties and screaming children. I would rather go to a smaller restaurant.

Had a delicious meal, good service

Great service, inside seating as well as outside seating on the canal. Vegan and Gluten Free options.

Beautiful location. Friendly staff and delicious food. More importantly they respect their culture which is great 🙂

A very large Italian restaurant with a wide selection of pizza and pasta. Fast service. It's a pity that our food didn't arrive right away.

The friendliness of the staff was excellent. Personally, I didn't find the pizzas very tasty, but they are edible. I think I found the tomato sauce to taste a bit too 'synthetic'. They make special rabbit pizzas for children, which I appreciated. However, the children's pizza was very burnt in a few places around the edges. The restaurant also has a selection of pasta, but I can't say anything about that.

How do you know the name of the Italian waitress who worked today???. Congratulations, excellent food.

I dined at your restaurant this evening using a Social Deal package. I asked if it was possible to replace the dessert with coffee, as I follow a low-carb diet due to Crohn's disease. To my surprise, this was not possible. Frankly, I find that very unreasonable and not exactly hospitable. I did not ask for anything extra or more expensive, but rather for a cheaper alternative that better suits my diet for medical reasons. I find it very disappointing that you stick so rigidly to a standard menu, without any room for a small adjustment. Especially in the hospitality industry, you expect some flexibility and understanding towards guests. I therefore wanted to let you know that this has had a significantly negative impact on my experience at your restaurant.

Very mediocre, it takes a long time to get served, then you have to wait a very long time for your food, and what you get is incredibly salty.

Perfect after a visit to Keukenhof

Simply very good value for money. However, the staff is predominantly English-speaking. Correct but not passionate.

I was here during my liden visit one of the best place to go

A lovely pizzeria right on the water in downtown Leiden. The ambiance, both inside and out, is truly beautiful. Its central location on the canal gives it a unique charm. The only thing the pizzeria lacks is parking. The food is tasty. Not outstanding, but appropriate for the price! The selection of food and drinks is also very good. The service is friendly and attentive. The only slight drawback was the speed, which was a bit slower than expected. It took quite a while for the order to be taken. However, the food arrived very quickly.

While passing through Leiden, we had dinner at this very pleasant establishment with impeccable service. The portions were generous and delicious. Despite the language barrier, we managed to get some beer bottle caps to use in our bar table design. We highly recommend this place.

Good food, good service, fair price. The environment is comfortable but a bit dark.

Generous portions of good quality.

I have been a regular customer of this restaurant for the past few years. The food has always been both delicious and exquisite. I have had some really friendly conversations with the staff every time I visited, even though conversations faced some difficulties due to language barriers ;) Sadly my last few experiences have not been as nice. Some time ago a new waiter started working in the restaurant. This waiter is not only rude and ignoring customers, but also acting the same to other staff members, visually upsetting them every time I visit. Through conversations with other waiters I learned her name is Anna. I am not normally the person to leave reviews or discuss things like this, however it is sad to see how one person can bring down such a nice dining experience. I will now be considering alternative restaurants.

Delicious, well-topped pizzas and soft tiramisu. I really like the whole wheat option, and it's tastier (more flavor) than a regular crust.

Excellent, quality Italian food. Welcoming staff and atmosphere, and delicious pizza. Highly recommended, and we'll be back!

Good food for a reasonable price. It was quite noisy when we were there.

It had a thin crust, like the pizzas I've eaten in Italy.

The service is reasonable but not above average. The atmosphere is good but not exceptional. The food is nothing special, and ice cream from a supermarket-bought cup is too plain for the price. While there are no compelling reasons to complain, this is not a restaurant we'll be returning to. Either expectations were slightly different, or we misunderstood.

Great food, the staff wanted to get everything off the table quickly

Friendly staff and tasty food options. If you're into the "healthier" ones, you can choose the whole-grain pizza dough!

We had a fantastic Sunday afternoon lunch at these pizza places. On the coldest day in 10 years, it was already a lovely temperature by 1 p.m. The food was truly excellent. The bruschetta was a delicious starter, as were the risotto bitterballen. The pasta with turnip greens was surprising, but also a portion that was more than enough for our 25-year-old son. And the pizzas were truly excellent, the cheeses on the four-cheese pizza were of good quality. A special extra star for the house red. At room temperature, an affordable wine runs the risk of not being quite right. A glass of house wine is not only affordable (€2.75 cheaper than we got it half an hour before lunch at a bar just down the road), but the taste was absolutely fantastic. So, value for money, a 10. I forgot to ask what grape(s) the wines were made from. In short, highly recommended in the city center, within walking distance of everything, including the station. Very enthusiastic about it. If I had to suggest one area for improvement, it would be the service. The international student worker was very friendly. American tourists would have been thrilled with her constant vigilance with ordering and clearing the table. But we were happily dining with our children. She couldn't seem to make room for us because there were plenty of tables available. So, no points deducted ;) It's still a 10 for the overall experience.

Unfortunately, a disappointing experience at Very Italian Pizza. Food: The pizza carpaccio was disappointing. The dough wasn't in the oven long enough, and it completely lacked any natural flavor. Furthermore, the pizza was practically drowned in truffle mayo. Drinks: The piña colada barely deserves the name "cocktail." It seemed like it had simply been quickly mixed and shaken, lacking any balance or texture. Service: The only positive aspect was the staff, who were very friendly. Conclusion: Perhaps suitable for a quick student meal, but not recommended for a nice evening out with high-quality expectations.

We came here for dinner and asked if our pizza could be ready in 15 minutes, as my father had 15 minutes left before he had to take his medication. The staff member said yes, and our pizza was ready in 7 minutes. We don't know their name, but we want to thank them very much. The pizzas were delicious! 😍

I ordered online... the delivery driver thought it would be helpful to transport the pizzas on their side. When I mentioned it, it turned out they didn't speak Dutch or English. When I called VIP about it, they basically said: "Take it up with Thuisbezorgd, we can't do anything for you." This is absolutely the last time I'll order from them. What terrible service.

Surprisingly good food, nice service. The only thing I can complain of is that there was terribly cold. We were sitting next to some curtain and behind was some open storage with a child draft. Brrrrr..

Paid €50 for 2 days of diarrhea for 2 people.

Really good food. Joy a lot of service. Thanks

Comfortable place and nice food. Staff are friendly

Attentive and efficient service. The four-cheese pizza was very good and a good size for two people. The ice-cold beer was also delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and spacious.

The food was fantastic. I ordered a pizza tonno. It arrived within 10 minutes. Perfect toppings, nice and hot, and good quality. The menu caters to all dietary needs. Lovely place with a great atmosphere and delicious food!

Good: Pizza, service Less great: The tagliatelle salmon was a small portion and served with smoked salmon. I've definitely had much better versions. €3.90 for 0.2 liters of Coke is quite steep, especially when the menu doesn't specify the quantity.

Really nice food and kind service! You will not leave hungry. The best tiramisu ever ( not counting my own😂) and really affordable. Recommend.

It was very tasty and they arranged us a big table although it was pretty full!!!

We happened to walk past and decided to pop in to see if there was anything available. And there was... Good service, served quickly, drinks were served quickly, and bread and dips were served beforehand. Highly recommended, freshly prepared and delicious. Main courses were also delicious, with generous portions. The pasta pollo and spaghetti traditionale (with meatballs) were also excellent. Highly recommended for everyone, and definitely worth another visit next time we/I are in Leiden.

Massive/large/crowded. The food was okay, but a bit bland and not very promising (lasagna). Unfortunately, the staff spoke English.

The service was terrible! Bread was put on our table without us ordering it. When we asked, they said we had to pay for it because it had already been put on our table. The waitress was very arrogant.

Fast service, a cozy terrace by the water, delicious lasagna and pasta and a lovely late summer evening.

It's great - the only downside is you are being constantly, gently asked to leave the moment you finish your meal, but I still give 5 bc it is dutch restaurant culture thing, and not VIP's fault. Pizza was amazing.

Delicious food and ready quickly.

Always delicious and fast, and good value for money. Chicken is halal!

Great, i love it, food comes super fast

Food was dry, gluten free was also very dry and they just tried to mask it with overloading the pizza with vegetables. Service was not great either, do not recommend.

Pizza with little flavor, this can't be Italian. Mediocre.

Always a spot, no matter how busy it is. Well-organized and with plenty of friendly staff. Simply good, classic Italian food.

Just a good Italian restaurant. Not particularly special, but just fine.

Great restaurant on the Leiden canal, friendly service, good prices, great flavors, excellent staff.

Wonderful and high-quality food, excellent service

Very tasty and quick to prepare.

Super delicious, good quality food, and generous portions. We were there with 3 children and 2 adults. Something for everyone. One thing to consider: maybe provide some crayons and coloring pages for the children while they wait?

Great discovery of this pizzeria with a great terrace on the canals... top pizzas and very attentive service... I recommend

Delicious food, very nice service :)

Beautifully located pizzeria with seating on the canal and a view of the windmill! They also offer gluten-free pizzas!

Hele slechte surfes der spreekt niemand Nederlands en heb tot 3 keer aan toe me pizza moeten verandere geen aanrader zeker niet komen

Delicious food for a great price. Some sloppy finishing touches were applied to the food. Pleasantly busy, even early in the evening.

Very Italian Pizza's Leiden branch, located in the city's most central location, offers delicious pizzas at reasonable prices. First of all, the design is very stylish, but I'm not talking about overpowering elegance. It has a casual atmosphere where you won't feel out of place. The staff is very polite and attentive. The chef at the pizza oven was very friendly. After all, he's Mediterranean 😊🍀 For pizzas, we ordered the 4 Formaggi and the Chicken Pieces pizza with Truffle Mayonnaise. Both were delicious. First of all, the dough was just the right size. Not too thin, not too thick, just the right amount of dough, slightly crispy on the edges, and perfectly springy in the center. The cheese selection and balance at 4 Formaggi can be quite variable, so the result isn't always delicious. Here, the chef used the classic four cheeses (Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Taleggio, and Parmesan), and the balance was excellent. On the other pizza, the deep, earthy flavor of the truffle blended beautifully with the salty creaminess of the cheese. Neither flavor overpowered the other, nor did it feel overwhelming. The result was balanced and refined. Therefore, both pizzas appealed to my palate. The menu also offers antipasti and pasta options. The price was also quite reasonable. For two pizzas and two soft drinks, we paid a total of €40.50, excluding tip. However, the soft drinks were, as I've seen at some other places, overpriced, which I found inexplicable. All things considered, my rating for the place is: 8/10

Lovely floating terrace. Good view of the square across the water. Ordered pizzas and they were really good. Nice friendly staff.

Delicious food, highly recommended!

Needed 20+ pizza delivery. Other places couldn't provide but VIP came in clutch. Fast and delicious pizza

You can tell by the name that they’re not very traditionally Italian, but that’s the best part. They take Italian food, which is already delicious, and make it even better. So let them cook!

Beautiful setting, impeccable service and delicious but I recommend avoiding the gluten-free pizza, hard to cut. Next time I'll share the vegan pizza with a salad 🥰

Vegan choices for main course and dessert (a delicious brownie 😋), a gluten-free pizza option (even if the dough was a bit difficult to cut), very pleasant service and a very nice environment 🤗

Very nice ambience by the water, friendly service and good food

I love these guys. Easy dining, good pizza and attentive service.

Nice pizza, nice place, good service

What a bizarrely bad service! Ordered 3 Pizzas and chose delivery. Delivery via Thuisbezorgd was not done, suddenly it was delivered in the information in the app but Pizzas were not delivered. Called V.I.P. and they indicated that we had to contact Thuisbezorgd to ask for money back, sounds logical....but that was where it ended. No service by proposing to deliver 3 Pizzas or if I wanted to so that I could pick them up. In other words, we work with a separate party that does not deliver and a big finger in the area of ​​food, just order again and wait at least an hour again.

tasty but greasy food and the service of the waiters was terrible they were very mean to my girlfriend! we kept getting arrogant comments, sarcastic remarks and hypocritical answers from the waiters and they were very rude! I will never eat here again!

Good selection of pizzas, pastas, and drinks! The pizza had a great base — perfect texture and flavour. Pasta was tasty and full of flavour, though a touch more sauce would have made it even better. Service was attentive and friendly, and the atmosphere cozy and relaxed. Definitely recommended for a casual, satisfying meal!

Was a very tasty pizza for a normal price. Staff is neat and polite but not cozy. The place is very big and we sat by the window which was not the best place afterwards because we were in the wind when the door opened. It was a bit cold. 😉

We were welcomed nicely and helped quickly. The food was also brought very quickly and was super warm (hot), nice! Often the food is just edible warm elsewhere and it cools down quickly if you are not a fast eater. We were also very satisfied with the portions. All in all a very nice experience! We will definitely come back 😄

Repas en terrasse agréable. Service très rapide. Les plats sont bons et copieux. Les prix restent correctes. Un restaurant assez sympa dans l’ensemble.

Lovely on the terrace by the water. Friendly staff. For us, a bit too fast, the pizzas already in front of us but the pizzas were tasty and not expensive.

Good pizza and pasta place in Leiden. Don't come here looking for a very Italian restaurant, but the options are of good quality and taste. Few restaurants in Leiden are good enough like this.