More Than a Café. More Than a Pizzeria.

The Story of Two Icons, One Dream — ALIMENTO Pizza Café

ALIMENTO Pizza Café is a café by day and a pizza and pasta restaurant by night, located in the heart of beautiful Collaroy on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Born from the merging of two beloved local institutions — CHILLAX Café and ALIMENTO Pizza — our venue brings together the best of both worlds, all under one roof. While the merge officially happened in November 2022, both businesses have a long-standing tradition of serving the local community with passion and quality.

We pride ourselves on using local, fresh ingredients and preparing all our dishes from scratch on the premises.
For over four decades, this location has been a favourite among locals — a place to gather, enjoy good food, and feel at home.

Start your morning with the comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee, buttery pastries, and wholesome breakfast classics. From fluffy pancakes and smashed avocado toast to hearty omelettes and homemade granola, there’s something for every craving.

As the sun sets, our café transforms into a relaxed Italian eatery, serving hand-stretched pizzas and freshly made pastas. From a classic Margherita to rich Bolognese or creamy Boscaiola, our evening menu delivers comfort, tradition, and bold Italian flavours. Pair your meal with a glass of wine or a cold Italian beer to complete the experience.

The Journey of Alimento Pizza Cafe

The roots of ALIMENTO Pizza stretch all the way back to the early 1980s, when a small pizza shop named Paradise Pizza first opened — just a few doors down from where we are today.

In 1993, a 15-year-old local named Mario, born in Reggio Calabria, began working at Paradise Pizza. His love for cooking came from his mother, Maria, a passionate home cook whose traditional Italian recipes still inspire our sauces today.

Mario’s journey took him through different jobs, but he never strayed far from pizza. Eight years later, in July 1993, Mario returned — this time as the owner. He renamed the business Absolute Pizza, running it successfully until selling it in 1999.

As history tends to repeat itself, Mario soon missed the energy and creativity of the pizza world. In 2003, he bought the shop again and relaunched it as ALIMENTO Pizza Pasta. The name Alimento was chosen for two reasons:

1. In Italian, alimento means nourishment, food, ingredient.
   
2. Back in the days of White and Yellow Pages, Alimento would appear first in the phone book under "Pizza Shops" — making it easy to find.

Where Tradition Meets Taste

Our Journey

Meanwhile, Just Around the Corner...

In late 2013, a new café opened in Collaroy: CHILLAX, founded by Jan. Known for its chillaxed vibe, comfy coffee-sack cushions, high-quality coffee, fresh juices, and vibrant menu, CHILLAX quickly became a local favourite and community hub.

Jan shared Mario’s deep commitment to customer service and community involvement, sponsoring surf clubs, kids’ sports teams, and schools. But in 2022, Jan faced an unexpected challenge — the building CHILLAX operated from was set for demolition.

Determined not to leave the Collaroy community behind, Jan searched for a new space. With time running out and no suitable vacant shops available, a new idea emerged: what if he teamed up with a local restaurant that only operated in the evenings?

ALIMENTO Pizza Pasta was the perfect fit for Jan’s café.

A New Beginning

Jan approached Mario with his idea. While Mario was hesitant at first, the concept made sense — and felt right. After careful planning, the two renovated the space to support a dual café-and-restaurant setup.



On Monday, November 21st, 2022, CHILLAX meets ALIMENTO was born.

From that day, CHILLAX began operating from ALIMENTO’s space during the day, while ALIMENTO continued to serve its famous pizza and pasta at night. What began as a practical solution soon turned into something much greater. The businesses blended so well that over time, it no longer felt like two operations — it felt like one.

By early 2025, Jan and Mario made it official: they merged the two into a single business — ALIMENTO Pizza Café.

The Legacy

What started as a creative solution to a tough situation became a thriving business model — one that maximises the use of space, honours decades of history, and celebrates both the Italian tradition and modern café culture.



With recipes passed down from southern Italy, four decades of pizza-making legacy, and a loyal community of locals, Jan and Mario are now focused on the future — franchising ALIMENTO Pizza Café, and sharing this unique concept with others who are just as passionate about food, people, and hospitality.