When veteran restaurateur Rinaldo Di Stasio started serving pizza for the first time, people duly took notice. Come for classic Margheritas and luxurious lobster pies in a colourful, artwork-filled space.

A three-storey Italian joint geared for good times. Head to the first floor for a woodfired pizza feast, or up again to the public bar for lambrusco and pool. The rooftop is one of the city’s best spots to drink with a view.

A rustic Italian spot serving hefty, semolina-crusted pizzas. Play it straight with Napoletana or dial up the salt with pancetta, anchovy, capers and garlic. It’s near Victoria Park – a perfect place to bask in the sun with takeaway.

Left-of-centre pizzas are the draw at this big, industrial-chic room from the Tipo 00 and Osteria Ilaria crew. Post up at the central bar for snacks and natural wines, or share bistecca and nebbiolo at a bistro-style table.

Leonardo’s is the kind of place you can accidentally spend hours at, and wake up far dustier than planned. The pepperoni is a classic, and the jalapeno number with fermented pepper and bechamel is a spicy wake-up call in the low-lit diner.

Named for its dough’s 48-hour rise time (and recognised as one of Oceania’s best pizzerias), the menu here runs the gamut of classic and modern pies with notable vegan alternatives.

The prefix for an international call to Italy is a fitting name for this tiny pizzeria (with big European energy). There’s enough pizza variety to satisfy any aficionado and an extensive antipasti selection, if you’re so inclined.

Stop by for a late-night New York-style pizza, either by the slice or whole. The magic mushroom’s mix of cheese and mushrooms with truffle oil is satisfying, while the pepperoni provides just enough bite. Stick around for cocktails.

The woodfired pizzas at this family-friendly spot are mainly classic, but occasionally defy your expectations with toppings like Goolwa pippies, parsley, lemon and cream. Also, take note of the banging wine list – it’s all about minimal intervention here.

Pizza is king here, but the ex-DOC owner behind it also serves killer antipasto. Enjoy your pie with an extensive drinks list championing lo-fi wines from Italian regions like Puglia, Toscana and Piedmont, and small-batch Italian beers.

Pizzas that fall somewhere between Neapolitan and New York-style. Pull up for spicy, garlicky clam pies (with chowder-like cream); zhooshed-up Hawaiians; crispy, cheesy mozzarella sticks; boozy desserts; and live music.

At this rock’n’roll pizzeria and bar you’ll find punny, Neapolitan-style pizzas such as the Meatallica, the Smashing Pumpkins or the Brockin’ in the Free World – by an ex-Rita's chef.

Short for “small eco-footprint”, this pizzeria is mostly vego – but when there is meat, it’s locally sourced. It’s also completely glass-free (all drinks are poured from a tap), and staff can deliver your pizza to nearby Victoria Gardens.

Behind the Western Bulldogs-coloured neon sign, the team from now-closed barbeque joint Burn City Smokers is serving New York-style slices – large, thin and pliable enough to fold into your mouth.

A Napoli-trained pizzaiolo brings more than 25 years’ experience to Boss, and it’s no surprise there’s a purist streak here – the tomatoes are San Marzano, the flour is 00-quality and the toppings are simple yet exceptional.

Ladro has a reputation for incredible pizza for every taste – from pork to porcini. It’s served whole with a cutting wheel so you can size your slice (no judgements). The sleek operation is clean, uncomplicated and all about the flavours.

If you’re after Italian with a fun, neighbourhood feel, head here. Restaurateur Chris Lucas’s buzzing southside spot turns out pizzas alongside salumi and traditional, crowd-pleasing pastas.

A killer pizza joint bringing a slice of Manhattan to Mentone. Visit for 18-inch pies (whole or by the slice) slathered in hot honey, super cheesy “upside-down” grandma pies and three-day garlic focaccia.

Whether or not you agree with the A25’s neon sign (“Pizza is sexy”), you can’t argue with the quality. This spot – named after an Italian motorway – turns out classic pies, occasionally wild toppings and a solid vegan range.

From its stone-baked slices to the retro neon sign hanging by the espresso machine, this spot looks like a scene straight out of Italy. There are also cured meats, classic pastas and wines imported from the motherland.

Organic, low-gluten spelt flour and vegan cheeses are staples at Farro. The dining room resembles a farmhouse kitchen – take note of the ​​ceiling, which features 400 suspended rolling pins. Also in Thornbury, Windsor, Fitzroy and Hawthorn.

This family-friendly spot is by a DOC and Caffe e Cucina alum, so you know it’ll be good. Stick to the classics, or order creative combos like a pumpkin cream base topped with buffalo mozzarella, sausage, basil and olive oil.

Pizza Meine Liebe (German for "pizza my love") rode in with a new wave of produce-driven pizza joints – and it’s still around for a reason.

D’asporto’s founder started making pizzas when he was seven. Today, his family-run diner serves some of the best pies in the west. The menu features red- and white-based pizzas, alongside plenty of Italian wines and beers. Also in Williamstown and Essendon.

A moodily lit diner that hits all the right notes, with a big hit of nostalgia. Slide into a cushy booth for a glossy pepperoni pizza – or a culture-crossing mortadella and pineapple. Then bring a round of Negronis to the pool table.

Vegans, rejoice. Red Sparrow’s owner spent years testing vegan “meats” and "cheeses", and only serves those he eats. A standout is a pepperoni pizza with “meat” made from organic gluten and tofu, with the original herbs and spices.

A kitschy, maximalist diner with Franco Cozzo furniture and truly original pizzas. Thin-crust numbers feature creative combos like smoked ham and caramelised pineapple. Plus, share-friendly wines and fun cocktails.

An imposing wood pizza oven welcomes you at Pizzeria Magma, a neon-lit diner in the former Supermaxi space. Come for Naples-style pies, plus small plates, antipasti and a fun, fizzy wine list.

Look for the fairy lights and locals eating puffy Neapolitan pizzas on the parklet out front. Find a spot there or head inside for pies with a twist (a Pepperoni number with honey), on-point pastas and mostly Italian wines.

Take a seat on the rooftop, mezzanine or one of two rooftops for woodfired pies like margherita and the gamberi with prawns, garlic, mozzarella, chilli, parsley and olive oil.

These 12-inch Roman-style wheels range from simple classics (margherita) to meaty (salami with olives and capers) to veggie-heavy (pumpkin with goat’s cheese).

This sleek, three-storey pizza bar keeps it things simple. Thin pizza bases come with blistered crusts and only four or five toppings to create well-balanced spins on old classics.

Order takeaway or dine in at the small shop, with decor that riffs on subway cars, for thin-crust 15-inch New York-style pizza.