Possibly the most loved dish around the world, with a million variations (alright, maybe not a million), there’s nothing more comforting than tucking into a slice of good pizza, wherever we are. Here’s a list of where to find some of the best pizzas in the world.
#1 400 Gradi, Melbourne
Where: 99 Lygon Street, East Brunswick VIC 3057 Australia
What: Named after the temperature of the wood-fired oven that cooks up their pizzas, 400 Gradi owner Johnny di Francesco’s family hails from Naples, Italy (only birthplace of the pizza) — so you can say that pizzas are a part of who he is. Di Francesco is also the Australiasian Principal to the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana — no wonder he’s known as Melbourne’s Mr. Pizza!
Why: Not only was Di Francesco named the World Pizza Champion at the Pizza World Championship in Italy, his Margherita pizza also bagged the Specialita Traditionale Garantita (STG) pizza prize — so you know what to order!
#2 Pizza Rock, Las Vegas
Where: 201 North 3rd Street at Downtown Grand, Las Vegas, NV 89101
What: Pizza Rock is is heaven on a plate (or rather, pizza pan) and heaven on the dance floor combined. The brainchild of three best friends George Karpaty and Trevor Hewitt both experienced in the nightlife industry, and 11-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani (who also owns the famous Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco), the pizzeria brings together award-winning pizzas, good music and drinks together for a scrumptious good time.
Why: Try Gemignani’s award-winning pizzas, the Burratina Di Margherita (Burrata cheese, cherry tomatoes tossed with basil, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic reduction) and Napoletan-style Margherita which won the World Pizza Cup in Naples.
#3 Nya Gul & Blå, Piteå
Where: Höjdvägen 2 944 72 begsviken Piteå, Sweden
What: You’d be forgiven if you have never heard of Piteå until now. Located 850 kilometers north of Stockholm, this small town has recently made headlines for the local pizzeria that’s producing ‘The Vulkan’ — described by Swedish website Nyheter 24 as ‘the most beautiful thing to happen to humanity.’
Why: Their now-famous star shaped pizza has everything you could wish for on a pizza: diced steak, bacon, pepperoni, and of course, cheese.
#4 Pizzeria Starita, Naples
Where: Via Materdei, 27-28, 80136 Napoli, Italy
What: The birthplace of pizza, Naples is home to some exceptional pizzerias, and right at the top of the list is Pizzeria Starita. This Italian institution has been around since 1901 and now over a hundred years later, is still going strong — there’s always a line of diners waiting for a coveted seat, but rest assured that anything you order will be worth the wait.
Why: Following traditional Neapolitan pizza-making ways, they only use the best and freshest ingredients. Try their world-famous fried pizza, the Pizze Fritta and the Montanara Starita (fried dough with marinara sauce and cheese).
#5 Kesté, New York City
Where: 271 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10014
What: Helmed and owned by Robert Caporuscio who was trained by Don Antonio of Pizza Starita, the Greenwich Village pizzeria is as Italian as it gets. Adhering to the strictest traditions to ensure perfect crusts, the wood fired oven bakes pizzas to perfection and imported ingredients are responsible for the authentic Italian taste.
Why: In a city famous for pizzerias and giant sliced pizzas at every corner, Kesté was dubbed the #1 Pizza by New York Magazine (and this is just one of its many accolades). Plus, we love the American twist of this Italian pizzeria: choices, choices! There are over 50 different pizzas to choose from, including a variety of gluten-free options.
Have dough, will travel!
