The best pizza in the world might be a topic of contention for some, but if you’re a diehard pizza lover who travels, it might be a good idea to know where some of the best pizzerias on the planet are located.
For many, this savory pie is the perfect comfort food, with its combination of satiating cheese, rich, tomato-based sauces or generous olive oil coatings, crispy and slightly charred thinner or thicker crusts, and varied toppings.
And while pizza aficionados might disagree about what constitutes a “real” pizza, you’ll find no shortage of trattorias around the globe putting their own creative spin on this appetizing dish.
Here are 17 of the best.
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Naples
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Naples
A good place to start is the birthplace of this iconic dish, Naples, where it all began with the invention of the humble margherita.
The Italian Queen Margherita of Savoy, while staying in Naples in 1889, requested something simple for supper. Three pizzas were prepared for her and her husband, Umberto I. She chose basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes as her favorite—and henceforth the “margherita” was born.
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Naples
You’ll find arguably the best margherita at L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, a simple pizzeria revered by locals.
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele’s pizzas are large and delicious. This spot, in existence for about 150 years, had only two different pies on the menu in the past, but now has a whopping four different selections for patrons to choose from.
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Naples
The margherita and the marinara are still the go-to orders for the freshest ingredients. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele is extremely popular, so you may have to wait—a numbered ticket in hand—for an hour or more before you get your pie.
Read: An Insider’s Look at Italian Food Culture
Seu Pizza Illuminati, Rome
Seu Pizza Illuminati, Rome Photo by Andrea Di Lorenzo
Who doesn’t want a great pizza when visiting Rome, a city brimming with culinary romance? Seu Pizza Illuminati, located in the Trastevere neighborhood, won’t disappoint.
And don’t let the sleek modern décor, bright marble floors, and black walls fool you; this pizzeria knows its pies.
Seu Pizza Illuminati, Rome Photo by Andrea Di Lorenzo
Proprietor, and the restaurant’s namesake, Pier Daniele Seu, serves up classics like marinaras and margheritas (plus pizzas with inventive toppings, like pears and roasted broccoli), made with fresh local ingredients—and the chef’s creative flair thrown into the mix.
You’ll find lots of thirst-quenching IPA craft beer selections here as well, which seem to pair nicely with all of that delectable pizza.
Bæst, Copenhagen
Bæst, Copenhagen
Danish pizza lovers and visitors to Copenhagen looking for a hip dining environment know Bæst is the place to visit for a chance to dive palate-first into a unique pizza tasting experience.
Bæst only uses local organic produce, although is “inspired by Italian tradition and crafts”. What’s distinctive about this spot is that rather than simply order pizza off the menu, you have the option of selecting a tasting menu “built” around a pizza of your choice, then paired with cheese, side dishes, and wine.
Bæst, Copenhagen
You’ll find plenty of pizzas with mozzarella and tomatoes, but you’ll also encounter toppings like blue cheese, and zucchini pickled in elderflower, which can only add to the distinctiveness of feasting at Bæst.
Read: The Ultimate Copenhagen Food Guide
Forno d’Oro, Lisbon
While Lisbon might not be synonymous with Italian food, you’ll find plenty of pizza joints in Portugal’s capital city. And the cream of the crop, for many, is the oh-so-chic Forno d’Oro.
Forno d’Oro, located close to the high-end shopping thoroughfare Avenida da Liberdade, is probably the best pizzeria in the city. The award-winning chef here, Tanka Sapkota, was given the “Certified Neapolitan Pizza” award from the Associação Pizza Verace Napoletana (AVPN), which is like the Michelin star of pizzas.
At Forno d’Oro, Neapolitan pizzas reign supreme, as do handcrafted beers. If you’re in the mood for pizza done right, and a refreshing brew, this spot is definitely a contender for the best pizza in the world.
Del Popolo, San Francisco
Del Popolo, San Francisco
The casual yet chic Del Popolo in San Francisco started life out as a food truck. Now it’s a sit-down brick-and-mortar restaurant with an easy-going urban vibe, close to Union Square. Del Popolo is where locals head for some flavorsome Neapolitan crust, created by artisans who know their craft.
The crusts, made with sourdough starter, convey just the right hints of tang after coming out of the wood-fired oven that’s located in the center of the pizzeria, with the perfect amount of bubbly char.
The margherita di bufala is one of the standouts here—but chances are you won’t go wrong with any pizza you choose, whether opting for classic recipes or something a little more inventive.
Dalmata, Paris
If you’re wandering around Paris, swing by Dalmata, a small pizza joint, within walking distance of the Louvre Museum.
Dalmata, with its bright pink décor and white tiles, features a cozy marble counter where you can pick up (to eat in or take out) amazing Neapolitan-style pizzas, with many of the ingredients imported from Italy.
A few lip-smacking examples here include the Black Delirium, with ricotta, Mozzarella fior di latte, mushrooms, and truffe fraîche (cream), and the Anchovizz, which comes with Stracciatella, pink garlic, anchovy coulis, plus a few other zesty fixings.
Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles
Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles Photo by Anne Fishbein
In Los Angeles, one of the best pizza joints around has got to be Pizzeria Mozza, a laidback establishment that takes the best that California has to offer, combines it all together, then finishes it off in a wood-burning oven.
Pizzeria Mozza, Los Angeles Photo by Anne Fishbein
Pizzeria Mozza is famous for its puffy, lightly charred pizza crusts (this is not a locale for pizza heathens who throw the crust away). The chefs here focus on fare made with locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. The Napolitana and tomato pies are musts for true pizza aficionados.
The Aglio e Olio (olive oil and garlic), featuring fontina, mozzarella, chili flake, and parsley, is another simple, yet elegant selection that will let you savor Pizzeria Mozza’s wonderful crusts, and expert pizza-making skills.
Mama’s Pepper Pizza, Palma de Mallorca, Spain
If you’re hunting for the best pizza in the world, and you’re visiting Palma de Mallorca, stop by Mama’s Pepper Pizza, and see what all of the fuss is about.
Mama’s Pepper Pizza, located in Plaza Mayor, owes its incredible pizzas—with just the right amount of char on their bubbly crusts—to award-winning Italian chef Stanislao Valente, who hails from Naples.
Tuck into classics and inspired pies like the “gourmet” margherita, or the Pizza Bronte, with mozzarella, pistachio cream and mortadella. If you’re feeling adventurous, order the Chef’s Fantasy Pizza, which, as the name suggests, springs forth from the creative mind of the chef, typically changing every week.
John’s of Bleecker Street, New York City
John’s of Bleecker Street, New York City
John’s of Bleecker Street stacks up against the best pizzas in the world for a few simple reasons. This family-run joint has been around since 1929.
They only serve full pies, not slices; it’s first come first serve here, and there are no reservations. They’ll also let you carve your name into their wooden booths, assuming you’re the graffiti-prone type.
John’s of Bleecker Street, New York City
Oh, and John’s Pizzeria consistently makes the list of best pizzerias in the United States due to its old-school coal-fired brick ovens, which crank out crispy, thin-crusted creations, adored by loyal patrons over the decades.
Two of the highlights are The Jimmy Gambino (sausage, ricotta, basil), and The Boom Pie (roasted tomatoes, ricotta, garlic), although you’ll find many other tasty pizzas here to choose from.
Pizzeria da Peppe Napoli Sta’ Ca”, Tokyo
Pizzeria da Peppe Napoli Sta’Ca” in Tokyo is no exception to Japan’s overall culinary excellence—although this pizzeria got some help from its Napoletano owner. The mozzarella, olive oil, and tomato sauces all came from Italy, and go into creating what many consider the best pizza in Japan.
If you’re looking for a perfectly salted, olive oil-laced margherita made by true kitchen artisans, or a pizza decorated with spicy salami, you’ll be glad you dropped by Pizzeria da Peppe Napoli Sta’ Ca” for some Neapolitan flavor in the Japanese archipelago.
Di Matteo, Naples
Di Matteo, Naples Photo by Richard Mortel on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
One of Di Matteo’s claims to fame is that this well-regarded pizzeria once served President Bill Clinton. Another facet of this small establishment is that they make incredible Neapolitan pies.
Located on the narrow Spaccanapoli street, at the core of the historic center, Di Matteo is a place where you can pick up your pizzas to go or sit down to enjoy your food.
This downhome restaurant is also a friggitoria, or a shop specializing in fried food. You can opt for pizza fritta (fried pizza) here if a buffalo mozzarella margarita isn’t exotic enough for you, or perhaps try some of their deliciously gooey arancini fried rice balls.
Pizza e Mozzarella Bar, Adelaide
Maybe Australia doesn’t come to mind when pondering the best pizza in the world, although it should, given the sizeable Italian community here. If you happen to be in Adelaide, along the southern coast, and have a hankering for some Italian goodness, Pizza e Mozzarella Bar should fit the bill.
This trattoria’s motto is “Fired by Artisans, Fueled by Seasonal Ingredients”. One of their two wood ovens is calibrated for meat, the other solely for pizzas. Margherita, capricciosa (artichoke, ham), utto mare (anchovy, mussels, prawns), and the no-cheese rosemary garlic are just a few of the pies made here with care—and fluffy crusts, with the perfect amount of chewiness.
If you’d like to learn how to make a wood-fired oven pizza from scratch, Pizza e Mozzarella Bar also offers cooking classes you can sign up for, which take place about once a month.
Antico Forno Roscioli, Rome
Antico Forno Roscioli, Rome Photo by Marco Verch on Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0
Back to Rome for a few more slices of pizza that Italy is known for. Antico Forno Roscioli is a stripped-down Roman bakery specializing in focaccia, baked goods, and pizza. This spot also works with different kinds of dough, including brewer’s yeast, sourdough, and Biga yeast starter.
The pizzas here come in slabs, and you order by the slice, to eat in or take away. Find a seat somewhere in the bakery, then savor every bite of a hot slice of your choosing, like the pizza rossa, with its luscious tomato sauce glaze. This is the ideal spot to quickly satisfy those hunger pangs.
La Mezzetta, Buenos Aires
When in Buenos Aires, head over to La Mezzetta if you’d like to partake of this nation’s unique spin on pizza, known as fugazzeta.
Fugazzeta is, essentially, a double-crust pizza that evolved from Argentina’s onion-topped focaccia-style fugazza, which doesn’t have tomato sauce on it and doesn’t always come with cheese. In contrast, where fugazzeta really shines is in the cheese department, with generous amounts of mozzarella stuffed between two layers of dough, with sliced, caramelized onions spread across the top.
And while this distinctly Argentinian dish might divide pizza purists, if you’d like to try a nourishing fugazzeta for yourself, the no-frills La Mezzetta—in business since the 1930s—is the place to go for a crispy, cheesy, double-crusted fugazzeta pie.
Paulie Gee’s, New York City
Paulie Gee’s, New York City
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, pizza slowly spread from Naples across Italy, then to America, where Italian immigrants and others experimented with different recipes. As an example, Paulie Gee’s in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, has established itself as a pizzeria producing some of the best pizza on Earth.
Paulie Gee’s, New York City
Paulie Gee’s piping hot wood-fired pies are for dine-in only—lest pizza apostates take one home and eat it cold. The foundation here is a crispy Napolitana-style pie with an inventive take on toppings and pizza names.
A few examples include the “Brian DeParma”, featuring Parmigiano Reggiano and Italian tomatoes. If you like spice, the “Hellboy” pizza, made with fresh mozzarella, Berkshire soppressata piccante salami, Italian tomatoes—and for a quirky twist, Mike’s Hot Honey—should be more than enough to set your mouth ablaze with flavor and fire.
Gusta Pizza, Florence
Ah, Florence – so full of outstanding art, and, this being Italy, pizza, of course.
The family-run Gusta Pizza is perfect for any hungry sight-seer, as this pizzeria, close to the Ponte Vecchio, and Piazza Santo Spirito, aims to satisfy with its blistered, fluffy crusts.
Due to Gusta Pizza’s popularity, you’ll usually encounter a line of people here waiting for a table. If in a rush, order a wood-fired pizza—like the pesto and mozzarella, or the Gustapizza (cherry tomatoes, parmesan, olive oil, and more)—to go, then sit down somewhere in Santo Spirito for great food in Florence, plus some interesting people-watching opportunities.
La Braciera, Palermo, Sicily
If you make your way to Sicily, and the island capital, Palermo, with its grand palaces dotted about the city, why not drop by La Braciera for a chance to tuck into one of the best pizzas in the world?
Located on the northern outskirts of this Sicilian town, La Pizzeria La Braciera boasts an extensive, creative menu, including pizzas with ingredients like porcini mushrooms, parmesan flakes, Apulian stracciatella, Parma ham, bacon, and gorgonzola.
One of the more unique aspects of La Braciera is that you, the customer, can select your own pizza crust dough, with options ranging from traditional dough and sourdough to zero yeast dough, whole grain Kamut dough, spelt flour, plus several other choices.
Read: The Ultimate Sicilian Food Guide
Naples
It’s a big planet, with a lot of pizza to dig into. If you’d like to sample some of the most outstanding traditional and creative takes on this iconic dish—from Naples to Tokyo and beyond—visit Celebrity’s website and browse cruise itineraries to one of the many destinations mentioned here, where you can try some of the best pizza in the world.
