Mozz.

Mozz. is a fine-casual pizza bar situated in the Beytepe district of Ankara that reimagines authentic Neapolitan pizza craft through an artisanal and contemporary lens. Founded in 2019, the establishment operates under the philosophy encapsulated by its motto, 'A fine casual pizza bar with a unique touch...', blending Neapolitan tradition with inventive culinary elements. At the core of Mozz. is recipe creator Güneş Öztürk, whose culinary direction draws upon deeply personal roots. A cornerstone of the kitchen's creative identity is exemplified by the signature 'Mercan's Chicken Stew' pizza, conceived in tribute to Öztürk's grandmother, Mercan. In family tradition, Mercan prepared a fragrant, Iğdır-style spiced chicken stew with onions over leftover bread during Sunday dinners to ensure nothing went to waste—a memory that now shapes one of the kitchen's most distinctive pizzas. Beyond traditional pizzeria expectations, Mozz. approaches pizza baking with rigorous technical discipline, subjecting its homemade dough to a 48-hour long fermentation period before baking each pie at 400°C in under 90 seconds. This meticulous process produces a cornicione that is light, airy, and leopard-spotted with gentle charring, while preserving a soft and juicy center. With a curated lineup ranging from classic Italian preparations to multi-course tasting menus, house-made small bites, and bespoke sparkling beverages, Mozz. offers Ankara a distinct dining destination where heritage cooking meets technical precision.

Cuisine and Menu

The culinary foundation of Mozz. centers on strict oven discipline and dough craftsmanship. Every pizza is crafted from homemade dough subjected to a 48-hour long fermentation, allowing complex flavor development and high digestibility. When fired at 400°C for less than 90 seconds, the crust develops a prominent, airy cornicione characterized by authentic leopard spotting and blistered charring, encasing a tender, juicy center. Adhering to authentic Neapolitan standards, pizzas are presented whole and unsliced at the table, though slicing is available upon request. Due to strict baking standards, the oven accommodates only two pizzas simultaneously, creating an intentional rhythm for every service.

The menu unfolds across focused chapters, beginning with vibrant bites and vegetable plates. Highlights include the Hummus, Cheese and Beetroot (590 TL) served with Ezine cheese and roasted beets, the Fava, Buche and Sea Bean (660 TL) paired with goat cheese and caramelized onions, and the delicate Cacio e Pepe Focaccia (460 TL). Fresh plates feature the Date and Purslane Salad (620 TL) with ricotta and scallion crisps, alongside warm plates like Oyster Mushroom Skewers (610 TL) over spicy yogurt fava and the layered Hasselback Potato (620 TL) topped with pickled red cabbage and herb pesto.

Pizza offerings span classic staples, inventive signatures, and boundary-pushing creations. Purists can savor the classic Margherita (850 TL; +300 TL for buffalo mozzarella) or the Burrata Verde (1390 TL) dressed with sweet peas and green herb pesto. Creative profiles emerge in the sweet-savory Sucuk, Chili and Honey (1180 TL) and the Mortadella (1290 TL) accented with pistachios and parsley pesto. For daring flavor profiles, the kitchen crafts the Kebap Pizza (1340 TL) featuring cubed entrecôte with sumac-and-turnip-marinated red onions, the Truffle and Sweet Potato (1290 TL) finished with egg yolk and garlic confit, and the heritage-driven Mercan's Chicken Stew (990 TL) garnished with zahter croutons. Guests can customize pies through Burrata additions (790 TL), Group A proteins and gourmet cheeses (390 TL), Group B toppings (290 TL), or Group C accents (100 TL).

For structured group dining, Mozz. offers two comprehensive multi-course tasting journeys: the Classic Tasting Menu (5 courses at 1890 TL) and the Experience Tasting Menu (7 courses at 2190 TL). These multi-course menus require table-wide participation and must be ordered by 21:00. Meals conclude with inventive desserts such as 5 States of Milk (580 TL), which combines milk helva, milk jam, kaymak, milk tuile, and milk foam snow, alongside the house Tiramisu Mozz. Way (590 TL) with espresso caviar and zabaglione, complemented by house-crafted sparkling refreshers like the anise-infused Lion's Milk (300 TL; 1180 TL per 1-liter pitcher).

Atmosphere and Who It Suits

Mozz. delivers a refined yet approachable fine-casual atmosphere designed around visual transparency and relaxed sociability. Housed within a standalone architectural structure featuring expansive glass walls, the dining room is bathed in natural light during daytime and transforms into an intimate, warm setting as evening arrives. Central to the dining room experience is a fully open kitchen concept that puts culinary craft on display. Guests seated throughout the space have unobstructed views of the pizzaiolos stretching fermented dough, artfully assembling fresh toppings, and managing the intense heat of the pizza oven.

The ambiance strikes a thoughtful balance between casual comfort and sophisticated dining. Without the rigid formalities of traditional fine dining, the venue maintains an elevated focus on technique, ingredient provenance, and presentation. Tables are arranged to accommodate diverse party sizes while preserving a sense of personal space, and the establishment maintains a welcoming pet-friendly policy that allows guests to bring their four-legged companions along.

In terms of audience suitability, Mozz. caters seamlessly to couples seeking an intimate evening over artisanal pizza and signature drinks, as well as close-knit groups of friends looking to explore bold, unconventional culinary pairings. Because the kitchen's baking discipline restricts oven capacity to two pizzas at a time, larger tables are particularly well suited to ordering the communal 5-course Classic or 7-course Experience Tasting Menus. This setup transforms dinner into a synchronized, progressive tasting experience where plates are shared course by course, turning dining into an engaging social ritual.

Location and Practical Details

Mozz. is located at Beytepe Mahallesi, Ertuğrul Gazi Bulvarı No:46 in the Çankaya district of Ankara. Situated in the elevated upper section of the Beytepe neighborhood, the venue occupies a strategic position nestled between the rear entrance of the Hacettepe University Beytepe Campus and the main route leading toward İncek. Visitors arriving by car can access the location smoothly by traveling along the Bilkent road from the METU (ODTÜ) junction in the direction of Beytepe, or by branching off into the Beytepe junction directly from the İncek thoroughfare.

Operating hours follow a structured weekly schedule. The restaurant remains closed on Mondays. Service runs from Tuesday through Friday between 12:00 and 22:00, on Saturdays from 13:00 to 22:00, and on Sundays from 15:00 to 22:00. An important practical detail for evening diners is that the pizza oven ceases operation exactly 30 minutes prior to closing time, meaning last pizza orders are placed by 21:30.

Given the venue's boutique dimensions and limited table capacity, securing an advance reservation is necessary to guarantee seating, especially during peak weekend hours. For those planning to order the 5-course Classic or 7-course Experience tasting menus, orders must be submitted by 21:00, and the entire table must partake in the tasting format. The kitchen also requests that guests inform staff of any specific dietary intolerances or food allergies in advance to ensure proper preparation. Direct inquiries and booking requests can be handled via email at [email protected], as there is currently no registered direct telephone line listed for this branch.

The Mio Angle: As a Meeting Spot

For the Mio community, Mozz. stands out as a compelling recommendation for diners who appreciate culinary craft without the stuffiness of white-tablecloth venues. In a city where pizza often leans toward standard commercial interpretations, this Beytepe kitchen brings genuine gastronomic curiosity to casual dining. Its standing is underscored internationally; according to listings released by the 50 Top Pizza organization, Mozz. was ranked 53rd among the best pizzerias in Europe in the 50 Top Pizza Europa 2026 guide, providing solid validation for local and visiting food enthusiasts alike.

From a budgetary standpoint, Mozz. occupies a well-balanced mid-range tier within Ankara's dining scene. Individual pizzas span from 790 TL for the tomato-forward Tomato Fields up to 1390 TL for the rich Burrata Verde, while small plates and salads range from 460 TL to 660 TL. For groups and culinary explorers, the multi-course tasting menus at 1890 TL (Classic) and 2190 TL (Experience) deliver substantial value, presenting a progressive exploration of signature doughs, regional ingredients, and inventive toppings at a set price point.

In terms of social sharing and visual storytelling, the venue offers rich visual content for social posts. The open kitchen provides dynamic footage of dough handling and high-heat oven blistering, while plated dishes offer striking contrasts—from the blistering leopard-patterned crusts to artfully presented desserts like the five-textured 5 States of Milk (580 TL) topped with milk foam snow. Paired with house-crafted sparkling refreshers such as the anise-scented Lion's Milk (300 TL) or sharing pitchers of Spiced Sangria (1180 TL), Mozz. provides an engaging setting for memorable date nights, intimate birthday gatherings, and culinary meetups.