Slice, Slice, Baby: A Round Up Of Melbourne's Best Pizza
Cut my life into pizzas.
PIzza (Green Acre's)
When it comes to love languages, pizza deserves to be part of the conversation.
Although nothing more than a circular slab of dough loaded with tomato paste, cheese and whatever toppings take your fancy, there is no denying how good a slice of pizza tastes.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of thin base pies with a crispy crust, Chicago deep dish style stomach fillers or even the divisive pineapple on pizza combo (no judgment here), there are few foods as comforting and gratifying as pizza.
And while nothing beats authentic pizza from Italy, Melbourne has its fair share of top-notch pizzerias to satisfy your cravings.
You can’t discuss the best pizza in Melbourne without mentioning 400 Gradi.
Recently voted the best artisan pizza chain in Australia (and sixth in the world), founder Johnny Di Francesco’s desire to give Aussies a taste of Neapolitan pizza has created an empire that includes seven pizzerias, a dessert bar, and a delicatessen.
Cooked at 400 degrees for 90 seconds, these pizzas are as close to traditional Italian pies as you can get, with simple ingredient combinations prioritising flavour.
We recommend the Margherita Verace, awarded World’s Best Pizza in 2014.
Address: 99 Lygon St, Brunswick East
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The sister establishment of Leonard’s House of Love in South Yarra, this 70s-inspired bar is a bustling haven for pizza lovers.
The menu is limited but the pizzas will tickle your tastebuds, with the doughy yet crispy crusts and generous toppings sure to please. You also get a side of ranch to dip your slices in and a tasty selection of local and international beers and wines.
It's a great place for a meal and some drinks before kicking on.
Address: 29 Grattan St, Carlton
As the name implies, Sal’s is an authentic pizzeria that originated in 1970s New York before owner Salvatore Leo shut up shop and moved the business to New Zealand in 2009.
A decade later his son Brian left for Melbourne and opened the first of five stores across the city.
Using 100% imported American ingredients, Sal’s has a small but mouthwatering selection of classic pies, with the famous New York Pepperoni, Sausage (Italian pork and fennel sausage), and Sal’s legendary Cheese pie all highly recommended.
Address: 148 Exhibition Street, CBD
Founded by six friends who dreamt of sharing their love of pizza with Melbourne locals, +39 is an ode to authentic Napoli pizza.
Named after the international dialling code for Italy, you can pick either a red or white base pie stacked with fresh toppings and indulge in your pizza fantasies.
A selection of dipping sauces is also on offer along with several pasta dishes and a few salads for those wanting a little green in their diet.
Address: 362 Little Bourke St, CBD
No, this pizzeria isn’t named after famous rapper The D.O.C. The DOC in DOC Pizza and Mozzarella Bar stands for “denominazion di origine controllata,” which translates to “destination of origin.”
This is a classification system applied to Italian wine to differentiate what region it comes from. DOC applies this to their pizzas, with the menu giving a detailed rundown of where in Italy the produce is sourced, adding to the traditional Italian dining experience offered at DOC.
As far as pizzas go, expect thin, traditional-style bases with minimal toppings and maximum taste and a great selection of Italian wines and beers to pair with your meal.
Address: 295 Drummond St, Carlton
Footscray is an underrated foodie haven and home to one of the best pizza joints in Melbourne. Fact.
Influenced by New York pizza, you can buy by the slice or order a full pie while washing it down with a local craft beer. Slice Shop cooks up thin, large foldable slices with a solid menu covering all the favourites, from Pepperoni to Mushroom.
Follow them on Instagram to keep up to date with the special of the week, with past pizzas including a roasted beetroot puree topped margarita with goat cheese and a lemon ricotta and spicy honey pie. Yummy.
Address: 101 Nicholson St Mall, Footscray
Compass Pizza is an unassuming restaurant and bar in the heart of Brunswick East with an old-school vibe.
It’s a no-frills eatery with a focus on good service and even better food. Compass is a great spot for vegetarians too, with one of the more impressive offerings of vege pizzas.
Get down on a Thursday for the weekly quiz but be sure to book ahead as tables fill up quickly.
Address: 317-319 Lygon St, Brunswick East
Having just opened their first pizzeria in Italy, it’s safe to say 48th Pizza e Gnocchi Bar knows what good pizza is.
While their gnocchi and pasta options are recommended, it’s the pizza that keeps folks coming back. The key to their delicious pies is the dough, which is made with natural yeast and leaned for 48 hours, creating a light and fluffy mix ideal for use as pizza bases.
We recommended the di Parma (tomato sauce, mozzarella, prosciutto di parma, Italian buffalo mozzarella, rocket and Grana Padano), voted the best pizza at the 2019 Australia Pizza World Championship.
Address: 373 Malvern Rd, South Yarra
A Melbourne favourite, this grimy-looking pizza parlour has been a saviour for those looking to line their stomachs after a boozy night out in Fitzroy.
Serving by the slice, there’s a real New York feel to Shawcross, with the Notorious P.I.G. – BBQ sauce, mozzarella, Italian pork sausage, bacon, red onion and jalapenos – ideal for soaking up the booze after one too many pints.
Vege options are also on the menu and for those who want to feed the crew, 22-inch monster pizzas can also be ordered.
Address: 324 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Abbotsford has become a popular hub of restaurants and bars over the past few years, with Rita’s leading the way.
Started by three friends – managers Brett Graham and Rob Lowther and chef Daniel Spizzica – Rita’s serves 10-inch and 13-inch pizzas in a charming and lively setting. The Bingo Bango (mozzarella, salami, pancetta, caramelized onion, and olives) is the big seller Rita’s is known for, but don’t look past the Salty Pig (tomato, mozzarella, pancetta, chilli, garlic, capers, and anchovies), another must-try.
Address: 239 Johnston St, Abbotsford
We live in a world where more and more people are concerned with the environment and the impact we are having on it.
Green Acre Pizza Bar shares these concerns and is doing their bit to help out. This sustainable pizza bar sources from local suppliers, uses 100% bio-degradable packaging and serves predominantly vegetarian and vegan-centric pizzas.
Now, none of this matters if the pizzas aren’t up to scratch, but thankfully Green Acre’s delivers on all fronts. The Vegan Margherita and Pumpkin pizzas are to die for, while the Vegan Pepperoni actually tastes like pepperoni.
Address: 328 Victoria St, Brunswick
If you prefer your pizza with an American flavour, look no further than the much-loved Deep End.
Located in the trendy suburb of Fitzroy, Deep End offers thick Chicago deep dish pies, square Detroit pan pizzas, and New York-style thin crust options.
You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, still, it’s hard to pass up the Chicago deep dish.
Although there are just three choices – Cheese, Pepperoni, and Classic (sausage, mushroom, onion, capsicum, mozzarella, tomato sauce, black olives, and pecorino) – each pie is baked for 30 minutes and chocked full of flavour.
Address: 4112A Brunswick St, Fitzroy
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