Pizza, it’s Australia’s favourite takeaway, and for many, during the pandemic, its saucy, cheesy goodness provided much-needed comfort. Ask anyone, and they will tell you about their favourite slice, from the best pizza places in Sydney. Fortunately, Sydney is home to a thriving pizza community, delivering everything from classic Napoli thin crust, wood-fired bubbly charred crust to deep dish and New-York style slices. Sydney’s changing food scene also led the way for vegan pizza joints to join the conversation.
So if you prefer a classic Margherita, pillowy dough or are craving something new, these are the best pizza places in Sydney.
Pizza Fritta 180
Surry Hills
In Surry Hills, you will find Pizza Fritta 180 and Luigi Esposito serving the sealed, flash-fried pizza he’s been eating since childhood. So what is fried pizza? They take a flattened ball of dough and cover with toppings, then top it with another flattened ball of dough and throw it in a deep fryer. Inside, they stuff it with everything from ricotta and mozzarella to salami, pork cheek, and eggplant. The deep-fried dough balls with Nutella dipping is also a must.
How to order: Ubereats
Fermento
Darlinghurst
Born out of a shared appreciation for everything Italian that ferments, Fermento is a casual pizzeria in Darlinghurst, serving dishes you would expect to find in Calabria and Milan. The small narrow restaurant is reminiscent of trendy New York eateries, but the food is the hero here. Diners will find a buttery homemade prawn ravioli, eggplant parmy rolls, and ham and truffle pizza. Don’t expect round pizzas, they’re more rectangular here. The pizza dough is made in-house through the fermentation process, which enhances the structure and flavour of the dough, making it a contender as a unique place to grab a slice in the city. The wines have also been expertly picked to accompany the food menu.
How to order: Fermento
Bella Brutta
Newtown
Bella Brutta does things differently and people either love it or hate it–although the packed house says it all. The base is thin and crispy, the edge is puffed and blistered to the point of second-degree burn, providing that crispy foundation to hold the toppings yet a light bite at the end. Luke Powell’s blend of Australian and Italian flours and long fermentation lends to its savoury and slightly sour taste. Expect pizzas topped with a handful of surf clams, salamis, and meats from LP’s Quality Meats and different cheeses.
How to order: Bella Brutta
Potts Point
Restaurateurs Brent Savage and Nick Hildebrandt of Bentley Group opened Ria Pizza and Wine at the end of 2020, plotting their latest venture in Monopole’s former outfit. The secret to their success is the sourdough. Biga is fermented for 36 hours before being mixed into the dough and left to sit for another 24 hours. The result is crisp at first, then chewy base reminiscent of slices found in Rome and Northern Italy. The toppings are local, and there is an option to pimp your pizza with truffle, anchovies, or caviar.
How to order: Ria Pizza
Newtown
If you want fast food with the authentic taste of Naples, Rosso Antico is the place to go. In 90-seconds, the hand-stretched dough is cooked in a wood-fired oven between 450 and 480 degrees. The secret is the 36-hour dough fermentation and a mix of local and Italian produce. Sitting comfortably on Enmore Road, Rosso Antico holds its place as one of the best pizza spots in Sydney and does its own thing in a white-tiled repurposed art gallery setting. They don’t take bookings and have a fully-licensed bar.
How to order: Deliveroo
Lane Cove, Surrey Hills and Hunters Hill
You don’t have to travel far for a slice of Italy’s best. Via Napoli has outfits in Lane Cove, Surry Hills, and Hunters Hill. Head Chef Luigi Esposito imports flour, tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, and olive oil from Italy, to serve traditional Naples pizza. Expect to see hanging cured meats, large cheese wheels, and an open kitchen. Gather a group of friends to tackle the show-stopping two-metre-long pizza topped with the restaurants’ most popular toppings.
How to order: HungryHungry
Newtown
The new kid on the block isn’t all that new, but it’s the only one dedicated to serving vegan slices. Gigi Pizzeria was known for selling some of Sydney’s best Neapolitan pizza, yet, pizzaiolo Marco Mattino rid the popular pizza joint of animal products. The pizza is still traditional, just without meat and cheese. Instead, pizzas are topped with mushrooms, eggplant, Beyond Sausage, and tree nut ricotta. Even without vegan cheese products, the slices have the same umami taste thanks to Pugliese yellow tomatoes.
How to order: Gigi Pizzeria
Randwick and Surry Hills
Although Maybe Frank Surry Hills is closed while they look for a larger space, pizza lovers can still get a slice of Sydney’s best wood-fired pizzas at Maybe Frank Randwick outpost. Expect the same great-tasting pizzas, only with a crispier base, less puffy edges and simpler toppings. The bar is the best-kept secret, serving aperitifs and digestive cocktails on an outdoor terrace. All cocktails are $10 and happy hour is every day from 5-6 pm.
How to order: Ubereats
Chippendale
Mary’s is a word every Sydneysider knows. Whether you’ve been to Mary’s Underground or munched down on one of their iconic burgers, Mary’s is a name associated with good food. And that includes Mary’s Pizzeria. The intimate 12-seat corner in the Landsdowne Hotel serves New York-style pies, cheesy deep dishes, and cheeky menu sporting names like the “Mushroom Fucker.” Fridays and Saturdays from 6 pm to 9 pm, pizzas are $10. Did someone say pizza party?
How to order: Deliveroo
Balmain and Bondi Junction
Sorry, no pineapple on pizza here, or half and half-style. Only authentic Napoli pizza complete with shouting Italian waiters and a roaring pizza oven. As for the food, Italian toppings rule here. Expect prosciutto, the best Italian cheeses, cured meats, and a super tomato base. There are also four options for vegan pizza and non-tomato-based pizzas such as the Porcini and Prosciutto. Rosso Pomodoro has two locations: Balmain and Bondi Junction.
How to order: The Fork
Redfern
La Coppola is your friendly-neighbourhood pizzeria. The hole-in-the-wall pizza joint serves the flavours of Sicily, where owner Stefano grew up. Slices are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, but not wet like Neapolitan slices. The menu includes family-inspired creations, such as Stefano’s pick, “Contesse”, with mushroom, roasted capsicum, and artichokes. Pick up a slice of house favourite, “Lilla” with Italian pork and fennel sausage, artichokes, and fresh fennel. It seems pizza runs in the family with Stefano’s daughter joining the ranks with inspired ideas.
How to order: Ubereats
Surry Hills
Vacanza which translates to vacation in Italian is the brainchild of Nick Gilbert who spent months learning the art of tossing dough in Southern Italy. His flagship in Bronte lasted all but two years before Gilbert opened a second shop in Surry Hills. The pizza is simple but is excellent. Think Margherita with mushrooms and prosciutto, San Marzano tomatoes, and smoked ham. The side-kick of the show is the buffalo mozzarella bar paired with a variety of Italian nibbles, including olives, focaccia, and prosciutto.
How to order: Vacanza
Surry Hills
It’s not very often Sydneysiders are grateful to Melburnians, but the renowned delicatessen from the D.O.C Group has us on our knees. D.O.C Surry Hills slings 14 different pizza options in a narrow space, occupied by a marble bar and people watching advantage spots. The pizzas are loaded with simple toppings: San Daniele Prosciutto, truffle oil, mozzarella imported from Campania, and much more. Keep an eye out for the daily specials on the blackboard.
How to order: MrYum
Roseberry
We all have our favourite slices, Da Mario’s is a classic. Although it’s been around since 2013, it still remains among the top contenders for the best slices in Sydney. The Margherita ‘extra,’ comes with a handful of extra buffalo mozzarella. Who doesn’t want that? As for the rest of the menu, expect authentic Italian slices, with heaps of pancetta, ricotta, spicy sausage, speck, and more. The atmosphere is laid back and friendly, as it should be. The wine list is diverse with bottles from Mudgee to Italy.
How to order: Call 0296692242
CBD
Sydney’s favourite pizza food truck, Happy as Larry became a brick and mortar shop, serving different slices but still attracting lines of hungry people wanting a slice of the 11inch, 48-hour slow rise fermented dough. The toppings are classic, except for a few creative additions including the prawns, zucchini, and mint pizza. The split-level space is outfitted in retro-cream with red leather seats.
How to order: Menulog
Surry Hills
Perhaps one of the best examples of Australian pizza using local ingredients is the ones on the menu at The Dolphin Hotel. The wood-fired pizzas here are hand-stretched, inspired by the traditions of Rome and Northern Italy, except the toppings are all local. The anchovies and parmesan are the only things on the menu that aren’t from around here. The Eggplant Bagna Couda, Funghi, and the Mari & Monti are some fan favourites. The wine list also has some impressive corks to pair with a cheesy slice.
How to order: The Fork
Glebe
Chef Alfredo Repole has been making pizza since he was 11, so it comes as no surprise the slices at this award-winning restaurant are on the list. The authentic wood-fired pies are thin and crisp, topped with favourites on white or a classic base. They also have a fried pizza on the menu, stuffed with ricotta, mild salami, and tomato. If that’s not reason enough to go, they just won the AGFG Reader’s choice for the year 2020. Go get a slice.
How to order: Ubereats
Mascot
Craving a thin, floppy base with a puffed blistered crust? Then La Bufala is the place to go. House favourites include the Margherita, with Fior di latte cheese and basil, and the Tartufo with porcini mushrooms, truffle oil, and fior di latte cheese, topped with freshly sliced prosciutto. There is a special menu released at the beginning of the month which features unique combinations of pizza toppings courtesy of Alessandro, the in-house pizzaiolo. You can also have La Bufala to yourself with the food truck catering for private events.
How to order: Deliveroo
Surry Hills
The pizza here is unlike any other in Sydney. They take sustainability seriously, using local and seasonal ingredients for balanced and healthier slices. So if you’re vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free, Al Taglio has you covered. Although the toppings are rebellious to your nonna’s pizza, the base is where the magic happens. A mix of barley and semolina flour is used for the lunch slices and for dinner, Italian wheat flour. The result is a soft, light, and slightly crunchy experience.
How to order: The Fork