The Best Pizza in Sydney
In the 1950s, you would have been hard-pressed to find pizza in Sydney outside Leichhardt’s Norton Street. And Pizza Hut, which preceded Domino’s by more than a decade, didn’t open its first shop here until the early ’70s.
But we’ve made up for lost time. Since the noughties we’ve had a constant stream of pizzerias serving Italian-certified Neapolitan and Roman styles, enormous New York rounds and chunky Detroit squares, and modern creations you can only get in Sydney. Here’s where to find them.
Words by Dan Cunningham
Updated on 9 September 2026
Restaurant
City Oltra
The ultimate inner-city hangout serving not quite New York rounds and chunky squares whole and by the slice. Sit at the bar for a closer look at those elite custom speakers. Also serving at Poor Tom’s Distillery in Marrickville.
Restaurant
Cicerone Cucina Romana
The Eternal City inspires this graffiti-covered pizza cave. Co-owner Stefano De Caro is one of the city’s best pizzaiolos, and his blistered Roman slabs are recognised by Italian food authority Gambero Rosso.
Restaurant
Bella Brutta
Bella Brutta plays in the Neapolitan ballpark, but really, this elevated spot serves a style all its own. Expect puffy leopard-spotted crusts, sag-proof bases and creative toppings. The white clam pizza with fermented chilli is the one to order.
Restaurant
Gigi’s Balmain
Everyone from Jamie Oliver to Dan Hong has made the trip to Balmain to try Daniel Semrani’s pizzas. Think somewhere between Neapolitan and Roman styles, made with a super-hydrated dough to achieve those capacious crusts and crisp bases.
Restaurant
MMC Slice Shoppe
The My Mother’s Cousin team opened this nostalgic spot after an extensive research trip to New York. While it may be serious about its slices, the place is fun, loud and family-friendly.
Restaurant
Bsp’eria
Claim a milk crate out the front of this tiny pizza joint next to Penshurst train station and watch the magic happen inside. The team recently opened a bigger shop in the suburb, with a third shop in Maroubra.
Restaurant
Regina La Pizzeria
When he’s not winning awards, Regina’s Matteo Ernandes is firing up the Fazzone oven and pushing the envelope with a range of contemporary styles and toppings. Try the twice-baked Bellucci and you’ll see what we mean.
Restaurant
Appizza
AP Bakery’s blockbuster pizza joint in the old Cafe Freda’s space breaks from the Neapolitan wave with New Haven-inspired toppings on jumbo slices. Arrive early for a slice in the sun before they sell out.
Restaurant
Westwood Pizza
This tiny pizzeria by two former Bella Brutta chefs makes around 150 pizzas a day, so order your fermented-garlic honey number early – this one tends to sell out. Hoover it on the footpath or grab a shady spot in Camperdown Park.
Restaurant
Pocket Pizza
Pocket Pizza reigns supreme north of the Harbour Bridge. Visit four locations serving house creations like the burger-inspired Return of the Mac and Hawaiian-riffing Gordon Hamsey.
Restaurant
Da Orazio
Chef Orazio D’Elia has been spoiling Bondi with exemplary Neapolitan pizzas for nearly a decade. Classic toppings, several spritzes to choose from and the sea breeze rolling in off the ocean. Does it get much better?
Restaurant
My Mother’s Cousin
A retro pizza parlour that’s been “proudly pineapple-free since ’83”. Pull up in a plush leather booth and crowd your table with huge New York-style pies and wings doused in hot sauce.
Restaurant
Ta Ta Ta
One of the first true Roman-style pizza joints in Sydney. That means light, airy and crisp slices, topped generously with seasonal ingredients and displayed in the glass cabinet. Trouble deciding? Order a mixed box for the win.
Restaurant
Lucio Pizzeria
Lucio De Falco was born in Naples and has been making pizza since he was 14. As you’d expect, the pizza here is ever-faithful to the Neapolitan style, following Italy’s official guidelines and receiving the nod from Gambero Rosso.
Restaurant
Matteo
The southern Italian vibe has been nailed at this breezy fave, where it’s all about the Roman dough – perfectly light and elastic without leaving you bloated. It’s the same story at Matteo’s CBD sibling.
Restaurant
The Dolphin Hotel
The front of this slick pub looks and feels like a design-forward wine bar. Out the back, find a fast-paced dining room with Neapolitan pizzas from an Italian Messiano wood oven.
Restaurant
Via Napoli
Lane Cove’s lord of traditional Neapolitan pizza. The goods here are made according to official Italian guidelines, with San Marzano DOP tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella. Also serving in Surry Hills.
Restaurant
Gigi Pizzeria
Gigi went completely vegan in 2015 and never looked back. Umami-rich, plant-based toppings here go above and beyond mere substitute status. You won’t miss the meat and cheese, that’s for sure.
Restaurant
Pizza Madre
Seasonal vegetarian toppings you’ve probably never tried on a slice of pizza. Carrot puree? Harissa eggplant? Pistachio cream? They’ve all done their time in the wood-fired oven here.
Restaurant
La Bufala
A veteran of the city’s pizza scene, La Bufala uses stoneground type-one flour in its dough for pizzas with more bite and less flop than a classic Neapolitan. Don’t leave without a serve from the extensive menu of house-made gnocchi.
Restaurant
Vacanza Surry Hills
Whether you visit Bronte or Surry Hills, Vacanza embodies the “less is more” approach with a tight list of pizzas informed by owner Nick Gilbert’s training in southern Italy.
Restaurant
Rosso Antico
Neapolitan tradition is well and truly on show here. Plus, a neat selection of pastas and a longer list of antipasti. Find it all in an exposed-brick space beneath the Urban Hotel.
Restaurant
La Coppola
Sicilian-style pizza isn’t as thick as a Roman, but not as thin and floppy as Neapolitan either. La Coppola is a master of the style, featuring a crisp base with a satisfyingly puffy and blistered edge.
Restaurant
Ullo Pizza & Wine
Great pizza, cold wine and cracking ocean views – this fun bar and diner is the answer to Dee Why’s prayers. Come for all of the above in a neon-lit space, with DJs spinning on weekends.
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