Nowadays, there are endless options when it comes to pizza in London – but it wasn’t always that way. When the first Pizza Express opened on Wardour Street back in the ‘60s, good pizza in the capital was hard to find. Since then, though, we’ve had an influx of world-class pizzerias – from traditional Italian-inspired joints to more formal restaurants, offering everything from classic margheritas to vegan pizzas and more.
The Best Pizza in London
A Brief History of Pizza
People have been eating pizza, in some form or another, for thousands of years. All the way back in the 6th century BC, it’s believed that Persian soldiers would bake flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields. Pizza as we know it, though, was born in Naples in the late 18th century. It might seem hard to fathom, but back then pizzas were scorned by food writers – regarded widely as cheap food that could be eaten quickly, and sold by informal street vendors.
However, things started to change in the late 1800s. During a visit to Naples, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita grew tired of the French cuisine that was popular at the time, and summoned pizza maker Raffaele Esposito to create three pizzas. The Queen’s favourite was a simple mix of tomato, basil and mozzarella – and so the margherita pizza was born. This signalled an important shifts in attitudes towards the Italian delicacy.
Pizza spread quickly through Italy, but it was slower to move to the rest of the world. During the 19th century it became popular in the US, with the UK being slower to catch on, but eventually joining the hype with a wave of cool Italian restaurants. Here we highlight London’s best for 2026.
Best Pizza Restaurants in London
Circus Pizza
St John’s Wood deli Panzer’s has long been a favourite amid North Londoners, but it got a whole lot more exciting when an on-site pizzeria appeared. Helmed by Kit Delamain, who trained as a pizza chef in Naples, it serves sourdough pizzas topped with the best ingredients – from the Devil(ish), which features spicy pepperoni and maple drizzle, to The Panzer’s, a mix of fior di latte, smoked salmon and zesty cream cheese. Look out for fun seasonal specials too (at the moment there’s a scallop and bacon number) and be sure to try the Portuguese Custard Pizza, which sees the custard tart reinvented in pizza form. Enjoy on the terrace or grab one to go for an al fresco feast in Regent’s Park.a
TRY: The Devil(ish) is devilishly good.
13-19 Circus Rd, London NW8 6PB, panzers.co.uk
Crisp Mayfair
This Hammersmith pizzeria went viral in 2023 before moving to a more central location last year. Nowadays Carl McCluskey and his team operate from The Marlborough, a pub and pizza spot on the corner of North Audley St and North Row in Mayfair. The USP? A thin, crispy, almost burnt-looking base. Signatures include the Crisp W6 Pie, topped with lashings of pecorino, and the Vecna which includes pepperoni, burrata and hot honey. At the new Mayfair location you can reserve tables in advance, but there are still some spots left for OG walk-ins.
TRY: Cheese lovers will be in heaven with the Cheese Pie.
24 N Audley St, London W1K 6WD, crispmayfair.com
Florencio
This pizzeria is central London’s best kept secret… Florencio is the brainchild of Chef Diego (of ZOILO-renown) and the result of his time cooking in NYC. Despite being six minutes from Marble Arch station, the 35-seater has a proper local’s feel, and you can nearly always walk in and grab a table (if not, there’s takeaway available – or you can prebook). The pizzas are priced comparable to any of the chains you might find nearby but at much, much higher quality. It helps that the pizzas are exceptionally inventive; the Stracciatella, for instance, is topped with caramelised pistachio pesto, while the Estela pairs purple sprouting broccoli with walnuts and balsamic. The chewy, tangy dough is fermented for 48 hours prior to cooking, too, so the team here are always starting with the good stuff.
TRY: The El Cuartito – pictured – which tops a springy base with tomato sauce, mozzarella, spicy salami, peppers and salsa verde. Like an American Hot given a glow-up.
14 Seymour Place, florenciopizza.com
Rudy’s
While it might serve up ‘the North’s favourite pizza’, Rudy’s has been stealing the hearts of Londoners for a while now. This lively joint now has multiple locations in the city, with its most recent outpost setting up shop in Clapham. With Neapolitan authenticity coursing through its heart, only trained and accredited pizzaiolos (pizza-makers) are let loose in the kitchen, many from the home of pizza itself, Italy. Everyone is catered for from the modern pizza eater (vegan options) to the traditionalist (the classic margherita or ‘carne’), and always a chef’s special. That all-important base is made using Caputo ‘00’ flour, made daily on site and left to ferment for at least a day, meaning a chewy light crust is par for the course.
TRY: Capricciosa, a tomato base pizza with prosciutto cotto, Kalamata olives, portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts, basil and fior di latte smoked mozzarella.
Various locations; rudyspizza.co.uk
Alley Cats
Fancy a slice of NYC pizza? Skip the long-haul flight and head to one of the London branches of Alley Cats, where you can sample variations including smoked pepperoni, fennel sausage and wild mushroom. Grab a slice like a true New Yorker, or go all in – featuring fresh ingredients sourced from Southern Italy, these dishes won’t disappoint.
TRY: The ‘Vodka’: a pizza topped with mozzarella and four-hour slow-cooked vodka tomato sauce.
Walk-ins only; alleycatspizza.co.uk
Yard Sale Pizza
Yard Sale Pizza started out small when three friends began experimenting with dough recipes in their Hackney garden. Now widely acknowledged as one of London’s most sensational slices, Yard Sale has venues dotted all over London in places like Balham, Walthamstow and Finsbury Park. Pick from favourites such as TSB (tender stem broccoli, manchego, pine nuts and olive oil) and The Aubergine (garlic roasted aubergine, parmesan crumb), or the classic Holy Pepperoni which takes things up a notch with the addition of ‘nduja. There are also vegan pizzas on offer, including the Magic Mushroom, complete with vegan mozzarella and truffle oil. Don’t skip the dips – the BBQ sauce has a tangy kick which perfectly complements the TSB.
TRY: The Aubergine is our top pick.
Various locations; yardsalepizza.com
Farina
A traditional Italian spot created by two Londoners, Farina pizzas are made by slow fermenting live yeast and Caputo farina (flour) – hence the name – for up to 48 hours, making for a fresh base with a puffy crust. Toppings-wise, Farina champions Italian ingredients: think San Marzano tomatoes and and Mozzarella di Bufala Campana. You’ll find the bricks-and-mortar location in Notting Hill Gate, but two dark kitchens in Vauxhall and Camden mean pizza lovers from all corners of the city can try its delights via delivery.
TRY: The Farina, topped with smoked mozzarella, Calabrian nduja and fresh basil.
19-21 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3JQ; farinapizza.co.uk
Zia Lucia
This pizzeria has restaurants dotted all over London in locations like Aldgate, Islington, Brook Green and Wembley. The restaurant is famed for its unusual 48-hour slow-fermented doughs and creative toppings – butternut squash cream features on one of the pizzas. There are four different bases to choose from, including a dramatic looking vegetable charcoal dough and a gluten-free option. You’ll never pay more than £15 for even the most loaded of pizzas, so go all out with the Arianna, a delicious mix of mozzarella, fresh sausage, taleggio goat’s cheese, pecorino and truffle honey.
TRY: The ‘Andrea Pirlo’ pizza – even if just for the name.
Various locations; zialucia.com
Berberè Pizzeria
There are now mutiple London outposts of Berberè Pizzeria, the Italian pizza spot from brothers Matteo and Salvatore Aloe. The pair travelled all over Italy in search of the best products, learning the ins and outs of the alchemy of fermentation – and their hard work has certainly paid off. Their sourdough creations are true pizza perfection: fresh, simple yet delicious, and perfectly light with a crispy texture. The menu features a mixture of classic favourites and specially created Berberè creations, both red and white. Highlights include the ‘Diavola’, one for the meat-eaters with spicy salami and mozzarella, as well as the white ‘Spek E Gorgonzola’, topped with a generous lashing of gorgonzola alongside speck, radicchio, honey and walnuts.
TRY: Those with a big appetite should brave the Montanarina: a large deep-fried dough ball which you can either have for antipasti with savoury toppings, or as a dessert with vanilla gelato and peanut butter.
Multiple locations; berberepizza.it
Homeslice
With outposts in Covent Garden, Marylebone, White City, Shoreditch and the City, you’ll never be too far from a Homeslice in London. This a good thing, because the restaurant offers some of the best pizzas in town. The focus here is on fresh, quality produce, balancing classic combinations with more innovative creation – from the classic Margherita to a decadent wagyu beef number with truffle crème fraiche and salsa verde. Homeslice is well suited to sharers, as the large pizzas feed two to three people, though you can also opt for half or just a slice.
TRY: The guest pizza is always worth a try.
Various locations; homeslice.co.uk
Daylesford
Ingredients maketh the pizza, and Daylesford’s are tip top (organic, British and ethically farmed) which is probably what makes them so delicious. Originally founded in 2002 by Carole Bamford on the Daylesford estate in Gloucestershire, the organic farm shop’s outpost in Brompton Cross means Londoners can enjoy the best farm-fresh produce without having to set foot outside of Zone 2. Even better, from 3-5pm on Mondays to Saturdays, enjoy bottomless prosecco and wood fired pizza with toppings like wild garlic pesto, salami Milano and kale and basil. Top foodie tip: the truffled mushroom and tomato topping isn’t one you’ll want to miss.
TRY: Daylesford’s own organic prosecco – clean notes of pear and melon, and it comes with the highest level grading a prosecco can receive.
76-82 Sloane Ave, Brompton Rd, London SW3 3DZ; daylesford.com
‘O Ver
One of London’s most authentically Neapolitan restaurants, ‘O Ver has converted many a discerning diner to its unique pizza making method – using pure sea water from the Med to make the base lighter and more easily digestible. Go for the classic Regina (Neapolitan buffalo mozzarella and cherry toms) to appreciate the method in all its glory, or load it up with fragrant Tuscan sausage, Roman artichokes and wild broccoli from Vesuvius. All ingredients are impeccably sourced from small Italian producers, and you can really taste the difference. Plus, no more post-pizza puffiness means extra room for all the glorious trimmings: a burrata stuffed with truffle that verges on life-changing, handmade pappardelle with a family recipe of porcini, sausage and shallots, and an exceptional cassata dessert that’s not to be missed.
TRY: The ‘Capo Rizzuto’ is perfection – a classic Margherita topped with spicy ‘Nduja. And leave space for what is undoubtedly the best Parmigiana in town.
44-46 Southwark Street, London SE1 1UN and 1 Norris Street, St James’s Market, London SW1Y 4RJ; overuk.com
Pizza Pilgrims
A telltale sign of great food is somewhere that starts trading from a food truck and gains such notoriety that it soon opens its first bricks-and-mortar site. This is the story behind Pizza Pilgrims, which has gone from a single stall to over 20 London restaurants. From the double pepperoni and spicy honey pizza to the Margherita Extra-Extra (which features burrata & basil pesto), it’s well worth the pilgrimage.
TRY: The Carbonara pizza, which is complete with roasted guanciale bacon, Pecorino cheese, egg yolk and even a few strands of al dente pasta.
Various locations; pizzapilgrims.co.uk
Happy Face
Puffy light dough, punchy flavours – Happy Face Pizza is a love letter to Italian food, where authentic Neapolitan pizza takes centre stage. An array of options are offered from the classic Margherita to Patata, where potatoes blend perfectly as toppings on a pizza. There are gluten-free bases and ‘Extra Happiness’ toppings to elevate your slice. The concise menu of Neapolitan-style pizzas created by Executive Chef Mario Mastrangelo will not disappoint.
TRY: Vegans, rejoice: there’s a plant-based pepperoni option here.
14 Handyside St, King’s Cross, London N1C 4DN; happyface.pizza
