Pizzeria Sisily opens behind Cafe Sisily in Golden Beach

Owners of a Sunshine Coast cafe once crowned the best in the region and known for its authentic Italian pastries, have welcomed a new addition to their growing foodie empire.

Pizzeria Sisily is described on its social media page as the “younger sister” of the beloved Cafe Sisily, owned and run by Giuliana Steppa and her partner Paolo Valvoletti. Photos: Patrick Woods/Supplied

A popular Golden Beach cafe known for its authentic Italian pastries has expanded with a brand new pizzeria, bar and restaurant.

Pizzeria Sisily is described on its social media page as the “younger sister” of the beloved Cafe Sisily, owned and run by Giuliana Steppa and her partner Paolo Valvoletti.

Cafe Sisily was voted the best cafe on the Coast by Sunshine Coast Daily readers in February 2021, less than a year after it opened, and is known for its authentic Italian cannolis being a staple of their menu.

Cafe Sisily has been voted as the best cafe on the Sunshine Coast. Owners, Giuliana Steppa and Paolo Valvoletti with daughter Eliana. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The new business, which opened on June 22, is in the same building as Cafe Sisily but located directly behind it, Ms Stepa said. She described it as an authentic Italian pizzeria, bar and restaurant which served everything from pizzas to arancini and a range of local and imported beverages.

Both Ms Steppa and Mr Valvoletti are of Italian heritage, she said; as are their business partners in the new venture, Lawrence and Mai Mon Forte.

Ms Steppa said she and Mr Valvoletti always had intentions to expand Cafe Sisily.

Cafe Sisily has been voted as the best cafe on the Sunshine Coast. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Obviously it’s come a lot sooner but also at a good time for us as well,” she said.

She said they had been discussing expanding for some time, but decided to proceed with idea after deciding it was something Golden Beach needed.

This was fuelled by customers throwing their support behind the expansion also, she said.

“They were sort of crying out for something closer to the area that they didn’t have to travel a long distance to go to,” she said.

Pizzeria Sisily was described as an authentic Italian pizzeria, bar and restaurant which served everything from pizzas to arancini and a range of local and imported beverages. Photos: Supplied

Ms Steppa’s father, Carmelo Steppa, was a key element and “driving force” in starting up Cafe Sisily and in the creation of the pizzeria.

“He had a huge role in the designs … and the build,” she said.

The response to opening Pizzeria Sisily was “overwhelming in a positive way”, Ms Steppa said, but it was “extremely humbling” to be met with such support.

Ms Steppa said the team would love to expand again in the future but at this point in time, their focus was on making Cafe and Pizzeria Sisily the best they could be.