Cantina, one of my favorite Italian restaurants, is launching a pizza pop-up this weekend. It’s a spin-off of their Pizza Mondays and takes place in a beautiful hidden garden in the Design District in Shuwaikh.
A couple of days ago, I was invited to try some of the new pizzas during @chefbasmah’s friends and family night. The pop-up has eleven pizzas, up from the usual four at Cantina. I tried the fungi and the salami, and while the fungi was great, the salami (which also had mustard seeds) is now my favorite pizza in Kuwait. I also ordered the Margherita, which I always get at Cantina. Basmah’s pizzas are very crispy with no flop. She describes the style as “crispy Neapolitan,” and in true Cantina fashion, she’s using only the highest quality ingredients.
My favorite part of the pop-up though is the location. It’s tucked away in a secret garden area of the Design District, the same spot in Shuwaikh that houses Ovo, Cure and the Contemporary Art Platform. The garden has its own side entrance from the main road, a narrow corridor that leads you into a semi indoor and outdoor space that feels like a greenhouse. It’s temperature controlled, so even if the weather is warm, you won’t feel it inside.
The setup is super casual. You walk in, pick the pizzas you want and grab a seat at one of the two large communal tables. The menu is up on a board and it’s strictly pizza and soft drinks, nothing else. Also, no reservations needed, just show up.
The pizzas are small in size, so I’d recommend two per person, which is great because there are a lot of interesting flavors on the menu you’ll want to try anyway.
The Pizza Pop-up is happening only on weekends starting with this upcoming one. It’s open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6PM to 10PM, and will go on every weekend until it gets too hot. You can spot the entry corridor to the pop-up from the main road, it’s to the right of Cure, and you should see a “Pizza” neon sign hanging above. @cantina_kw.
15 replies on “Cantina Pizza Pop-up in the Secret Garden”
6kd for a mini pizza. What times we live in.
It’s 3KD for a pizza, unless you want the salami, so relax, no need for the drama.
Prices are actually very reasonable.
Pizza hut medium cheese pizza is selling at KD 3.750 😂 now let that sink in.
Pizza Hut large on weekdays with Buy1 get 1 4.750 lol, thats pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and 2 flavours .
unbeatable
its unfair to compare this to pizza hut i know, since pizza hut uses some industrial oven while this place im guessing uses a wood fired oven and as mentioned in marks write up, the ingredients are topnotch, so gourmet pizza vs fast food pizza.
I would still extend to compare it to pizza express, who are on a much cheaper price point.
You can’t start off the comment saying it’s unfair to compare to pizza but then compare to pizza express. Pizza Express are on a much cheaper price point because they’re a cheap fast food pizza place. If you’re going to compare the pop up to something it has to be like Solo Pizza.
i agree that pizza express is a fast food chain, however their pizzas pastas are a level above fast food, i guess the only true way to compare is to try it out then post a verdict. cantina this weekend it is
I never regarded Pizza Express as a fast food chain, especially if compared to Dominos, Papa Jones and Pizza Hut which are all frozen. Pizza Express makes the pizza from scratch in front of you and they are priced at 4-5KD which is not cheap for a pizza either.
a bit pricey … but if that price point is off-putting you can simply choose to not patronize the restaurant. There are definitely cheaper options available elsewhere.
Can i bring my own bacon ?
yes, BYOB
So like an idiot, I didn’t read the time the pop-up was there and turned up at lunchtime on Saturday for pizza.
What I did find for the first time was Cantina, which I would definitely recommend.
Fantastic pasta and the best Tiramisu I’ve had in Kuwait.
Would definitely recommend!
Cantina is a treasure no doubt … one of the best, if not the best, restaurant in Kuwait
Too bad they didn’t operate in the 40 years of our life spent in Kuwait. I would have gladly done Cantina carrying my own canteen of jasmine infused herbal tea.