Ao no Jikan: An Italian hideaway with wood-fired pizza

Beppu has many charming hideaway-style restaurants and cafes. This time, I’d like to introduce Ao no Jikan, a popular restaurant on a quiet mountainside. It is an Italian restaurant with a spectacular view of Beppu Bay and a reputation for authentic wood-fired pizza.

I visited on a weekday at noon, but the parking lot in front of the restaurant was full and only one spot was available. This shows how popular the restaurant is! Incidentally, there are two separate parking lots, one down the street and another at the end of the street.

When I got out of the car, I found myself in a beautiful space, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The view of the garden and the building under the blue sky makes you feel as if you have wandered into another world.

That day, they were taking care of the garden and building a new kind of waterway. I’m looking forward to its completion!

Inside, there is a quiet and relaxing atmosphere. A friendly and cheerful waitress showed us to our table, and our seats were near the window. As I sat down and looked out, I could see Beppu Bay shining brightly below me. It was very nice.

We immediately ordered one of the wood-fired pizzas from the menu and one of the most popular pasta dishes. They also have a set menu, so this time I chose the set with a drink, salad, and dessert. The waitress recommended the Margarita and Quattro Formaggi Half and Half Pizza and the Tomato Cream Pasta with Lobster and Sea Urchin, so we chose both!

The salad was brought immediately after we ordered. It was delicious with the taste of fresh ingredients, and we quickly devoured it.

While waiting for my pizza, I decided to go outside to the garden. There are two private rooms, the Sea Room and the Sky Room, which can also be used for parties.

As I walked a little further, I could see the bright blue of Beppu Bay and the air was delicious! Since the restaurant is located in the forest, the air is very clean and clear. The contrast between Beppu Bay and the sky was so beautiful that it took my breath away.

In the meantime, the meal was served.

Here is the Margarita and Quattro Formaggio Half and Half Pizza.

This is the Tomato Cream Pasta with Lobster and Sea Urchin.

The pizzas are just the right size and are authentic without any unnecessary seasoning. The taste of the cheese and tomato basil ingredients is excellent. The dough is thin and crispy.

The pasta is a perfect combination with the plump texture of the shrimp, the flavor of the sea urchin, and the not-too-obtrusive tomato sauce, making it so delicious that you could eat as much as you want. It also goes well with wine.

Finally, the set dessert arrived. This time, I chose the homemade pistachio tiramisu.

The powder on top is pistachio. The fragrant aroma is irresistible. The balance of the moist dough and pistachio powder was just right. It was excellent. It is not too sweet but has a mature taste that you will never get tired of.

We enjoyed the pizza, pasta, desserts, otherworldly atmosphere, and spectacular view to our heart’s content. This time we had lunch, but next time I would like to visit for dinner as well. If you are ever in Beppu, I highly recommend a visit to this restaurant. It is popular, so advance reservations are recommended on weekends and holidays!

Located about 15 minutes from the highway exit in Beppu, drive in the direction of Terrace Midobaru and Galleria Midobaru, and you will see the sign for Ao no Jikan. It is a little easy to get lost, so I recommend putting the address into your navigation system before heading there!

Ao no Jikan

Tablelog Page

Address: 975-1 Minami-Tateishi Ikume-cho, Beppu City, Oita Prefecture

Business hours: 11:00 – 21:00 *Lunch 11:00 – 15:00 (last order 14:30), dinner from 17:30

Closed: Wednesdays

Phone number: 0977-24-5003

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