Whether you like it crispy or chewy, with traditional or creative toppings, pick up the perfect slice at these top London pizzerias.
1. Homeslice
For slices of pizza bigger than your head, look no further than Homeslice. This popular pizzeria first opened in Neal’s Yard and now has locations in Fitzrovia and Shoreditch. Dare order a gigantic 50cm (20’’) pizza to share between friends, and try unusual flavour options such as aubergine, cauliflower cheese, spinach and harissa; or spiced lamb with savoy cabbage and sumac yoghurt.
2. Sartori
For a real taste of Naples in London’s West End, head to Sartori, an authentic Italian pizzeria a short stroll from Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Share delicious metre-long pizzas for a pre or post-theatre treat, and daydream about the sunny Amalfi coast as you savour the Neapolitan chefs’ creations.
Where: 15 Great Newport St, WC2H 7JE
3. Pizza Pilgrims
Enjoy amazingly chewy and soft pizza, Neapolitan-style, at trendy Pizza Pilgrims. Taste its speciality, the nduja pizza, with a delicious crusty dough, rich tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and nduja sausage. Visit the flagship restaurant in Dean Street, Soho, or find more venues around London, from Carnaby to Shoreditch and Canary Wharf.
4. Portobello Ristorante Pizzeria
Indulge in a wide variety of pizzas, boasting a satisfyingly chewy dough and lashings of stringy mozzarella, at Portobello Ristorante Pizzeria. Slightly more sophisticated than your average pizza joint, this Notting Hill pizza restaurant is the perfect destination for a date or for a family dinner on the charming terrace.
Where: 7 Ladbroke Rd, W11 3PA
5. Santa Maria
Experience the authentic taste of traditional Neapolitan foodat Santa Maria, a pizzeria that imports everything from Italy, from the wood-fired oven to the flour. Expect to tuck-in slices topped with wonderful ingredients such as melt-in-your-mouth burrata, truffle oil, Salame and Cotto Ham, amongst plenty of other options.Santa Maria started with two Pizza afficionados from Napoli and now counts a few restaurants all over London, from Fulham to Ealing, Fitzrovia and Brentford.
6. Saporitalia
Watch mouth watering pizzas spring to life in the roaring furnace of Saporitalia’s clay oven, at centre stage in the dining room. Choose between first-rate toppings, including olives, mozzarella and San Daniele ham, heaped on top of a light and airy crust.
Where: 271 Portobello Rd, W11 1LR
7. Sodo
If you hadn’t guessed already, Sodo stands for sourdough, which in this instance ferments for 48 hours before baking at more than 232°C (450°F). The result is a light base with crisp crusts so delicious that a simple margherita tastes like a slice of heaven. Find cosy Sodo cafes all over the city from Clapton, to Hoxton, Hammersmith, Bethnal Green, Walthamstow and Deptford.
8. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Don’t miss the chance to try one of the most celebrated pizzas in the world at the London branch of L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele, founded in Naples in 1870. Its pizza received global notoriety when Julia Roberts took a bite in the film Eat Pray Love. Head to Soho or Baker Street to sample the two favourites on the menu: the margherita (tomato, mozzarella and basil) and the marinara (tomato, oregano, olive oil and garlic).
9. Franco Manca
Follow Franco Manca’s rapid expansion from its original Brixton market location to sites across the capital including Islington, Belsize Park and Kentish Town. The recipe to this extraordinary success is simple, great pizza, reasonable prices and friendly service, while carefully sourced ingredients elevate the humble slice to dizzy new heights.
10. Santoré
Nestle in Santoré’s cosy restaurant in Exmouth Market, and enjoy heartwarming Italian food in a rustic and welcoming environment. Sold by the metre with toppings that change along the way, these pizzas are as much works of engineering as they are delicious food, and are best enjoyed with friends.
Where: 59-61 Exmouth Market, EC1R 4QL
11. Mamma Dough
Discover Mamma Dough’s small chain of South London pizzerias. Its stellar reputation is well deserved with pizzas made of thinly stretched sourdough, baked until crisp. Ask nicely, and they’ll make a half-and-half pizza so you can try all the ingredients, from salami Calabrese to mouth-watering goat’s cheese.
12. Pizza Metro Pizza
Treat yourself to delicious pizzas by the metre and enjoy the cheerful vibe at Pizza Metro Pizza’s Battersea and Notting Hill branches. Featuring the finest Italian ingredients and a perfectly crafted base, this is one of the best pizzas you’ll find south of the river.
