10 best pizza restaurants in Italy

There are endless opportunities to eat well in Italy, from street food to a panoply of regional dishes. But sometimes, all you want is a slice of pizza. With that in mind, here are ten of the best pizzerias in Italy (because, like gelato, not all pizza in Italy is made equal). These are top 10 best pizza restaurants in Italy.

Di Matteo, in Naples

It’s pretty hard to get a terrible pizza in Naples, but if you want a truly magnificent pizza—the world’s best, according to many locals—go to Di Matteo. It’s been open since 1936 and though it offers table service, most of its business happens on the street, as busy workers quickly swap a handful of euro for a folded up, fresh-out-of-the-oven pie wrapped in white paper. Don’t miss the pizza fritta, a ricotta and provolone cheese pizza that’s deep-fried.

Ai Marmi, in Rome

Disclaimer: this pizzeria is actually called Panattoni, but its better-known unofficial name is Ai Marmi (“marbles”), after its long marble counters. It’s got cafeteria-style seating, is perpetually packed and always understaffed, but the pizza’s so good that you won’t even care. Ai Marmi serves classic Roman-style pizza, with a thin, charred, crisp crust and a cheesy, sauce-laden middle. Though everything on offer is great, the standout pizzas are the margherita and the salsiccia e fior di zucca, topped with sausage and zucchini blossoms.

Il Pizzaiolo del Presidente, in Naples

This pizzeria was named Il Pizzaiolo del Presidente—the pizza of the president—after President Bill Clinton famously stopped in for a pie in 1994. Located in the heart of Naples’s centro storico (and just down the block from Di Matteo), the pies here are classically Neapolitan: doughy, tender and elastic, with a crisp crust. They’ll make any kind of pizza you want, but the simple marinara (tomato, garlic, oregano) and margherita (tomato, sliced mozzarella, basil) still reign supreme.

L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, in Naples

Though most of the pizzerias on this list are fairly no-frills, Pizzeria da Michele is purist in every way, from its bare-bones decor to its no-reservation policy and two-pizza menu (only marinara and margherita pizzas are served). But it’s a formula that’s worked since 1906, and it continues to be hailed by many (including author Elizabeth Gilbert in her novel Eat Pray Love) as home of “the world’s best pizza.”

Pizzeria Port’Alba, in Naples

Having opened in 1738, Pizzeria Port’Alba is believed to be the first pizzeria in the world. Each pie is crafted perfectly with a just-thick-enough crust that’s somehow strong enough to hold the soupy puddle of melted mozzarella and tomato sauce at its center. While Port’Alba offers indoor and outdoor seating and full table service, grab a portafoglio (folded) pizza and enjoy it while strolling leisurely around its cute, bookstore-packed neighborhood.

Da Remo, in Rome

Da Remo serves up Roman-style pizzas in a very Roman environment: crazy, frenetic and very noisy. Be prepared for claustrophobia-inducing crowds (mainly locals) and brisk, often surly service, all of which you’ll forgive once you sink your teeth into the beautifully charred, blistered, smoky crust of the thin pies. Naturally, the classic margherita is excellent, but you’ll also want to try the pizza con fiori di zucca e alici, which is loaded with zucchini flowers and anchovies.

Antico Forno, in Venice

Located in the Rialto market, Venice, Antico Forno serves both thin-crust, Roman-style pizza and thick, chewy, deep-dish pizza that’s hearty enough to satisfy you with one slice. Yes, that’s right—unlike many of the pizzerias on this list, you can actually order their wood-fired pizza by the slice. Each one is topped with tangy tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella, and seasonal ingredients, such as red cabbage, olives, and mushrooms. The calzones are equally good, too.

Nicola’s Pizzeria, in Bologna

The Neapolitan-style pizzas at Nicola’s are gargantuan—enough to share between three or four people—but so delicious you’ll want to have one all to yourself. It’s the same deal: doughy base topped with a mess of tomato sauce, mozzarella and other seasonal ingredients, rimmed by a crisp, charred crust. The recipe has been perfected by the owner (Nicola) who was born and raised in Naples, and can often be found mingling with diners. The pizza ai frutti di mare (seafood pizza) is exceptional.

Pizzeria Spontini, in Milan

Like Venice, Milan’s not exactly known for its pizza, but this tiny, bustling shopfront in Stazione Centrale has been drawing crowds since 1953. Spontini only serves one kind of pizza: a fat, fluffy, deep-dish margherita, cut in regular or large (abbondante) slices, both of which could very easily satisfy two people. Insider tip: it’s more of a take-out place, so grab your slice of pizza and cold beer and take it to the nearby Parco Don Giussani, a short stroll away.

00100, in Rome

This popular pizzeria, named after the flour used and the neighborhood’s zip code, is famous for its pizza al taglio, baked in a large rectangular iron tray in an electric or gas oven, and sold in square slices by weight. Besides pizza al taglio, the pizzeria is also known for its trapizzine: pizza bianca triangles filled with saucy stews like oxtail, tongue, and polpette al sugo (meatballs in tomato sauce), sort of like a Roman pizza pocket. It’s not your traditional pizza, but delicious all the same.