Fat Pipi Pizza is a rustic, relaxed pizza restaurant on Revell Street in Hokitika, across the road from Hokitika Beach and its iconic beachwood sign. Owners Wayne and Ange, along with family and staff, welcome guests to dine inside or in the picturesque alfresco seating outside, with two comfy couches and magazines available for those waiting on a takeaway.
The story began in 2006 when original owners Pam and Mike leased an unused pizza oven in a local Hokitika bakery. Within two years demand had outgrown the space, and they moved into a former restaurant known as the Tin Shed, refurbishing it with native timber furnishings - the current premises today. In 2023, Mike and Pam passed the business on to Wayne and Ange, who continue the Fat Pipi legacy.
Pizzas are unique and varied, from the popular Whitebait pizza to the Mexi, Chicken Lick'in, T-Rex and The Punk. Bases are made on site, along with special secret recipe sauces, using locally sourced ingredients where possible. Fat Pipi also has its own wine label, Far Canal, a Central Otago Pinot Noir, alongside white wines from Nelson's Anchorage vineyard, New Zealand and international beers, soft drinks, tea and coffee. Fat Pipi Pizza was recognised by Restaurant Guru in 2024 for best outdoor seating.
On Revell Street in Hokitika, directly across the road from Hokitika Beach and its iconic beachwood sign, Fat Pipi Pizza has built a reputation as a rustic, relaxed spot for pizza by the sea. Owners Wayne and Ange, alongside family and staff, welcome guests to dine inside or in the picturesque alfresco seating outside.
Fat Pipi's story began in 2006, when original owners Pam and Mike were offered the chance to lease an unused pizza oven in a local Hokitika bakery. What started as evening takeaway pizza grew so quickly that within two years they'd outgrown the bakery, moving two doors down into a disused restaurant known as the Tin Shed, which came with its own pizza oven. Mike spent the next two years refurbishing the space with native timber furnishings while Pam kept the takeaway service running, until they finally moved into what is now Fat Pipi's current premises - complete with an old cannon ball uncovered during the excavations, still on display today.
In 2023, Mike and Pam decided to take things a bit easier and passed the business on to good friends Wayne and Ange, who had watched Fat Pipi develop from day one while managing the retail shop next door. They took over the legacy and continue to welcome customers old and new.
Fat Pipi's pizzas have something for everyone, from the popular Whitebait pizza to the Mexi, Chicken Lick'in, T-Rex and The Punk. Bases are made on site, along with many special secret recipe sauces including the house pizza sauce, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.
Fat Pipi has its own wine label, Far Canal - a Central Otago Pinot Noir named after one of original owner Mike's fishing boats. The cellar also stocks white wines from Nelson's Anchorage vineyard, alongside New Zealand and international beers, soft drinks, tea and coffee.
Fat Pipi Pizza is open Thursday to Monday, from 5pm to 8pm, at 89 Revell Street, Hokitika. The restaurant offers gift vouchers for any occasion, and can accommodate gluten-free or dairy-free requests, though traces may remain since pizza bases are handmade in the kitchen. Fat Pipi Pizza was recognised by Restaurant Guru in 2024 for best outdoor seating.