The best pizza in Brisbane

Tartufo is the gold standard of traditional Naples-style pizza in Brisneyland, and one of only two pizzerias in Queensland to boast membership to the ‘True Neapolitan Pizza Association (Associazione Verace Pizza napoletana, AVPN)’. 

Needless to say, they take pizza very seriously at Tartufo’s, and you will be seriously impressed before even tasting a slice; just watching the chefs in the open kitchen expertly tossing dough is enough to get you salivating.

Tartufo’s founder Tony Percuoco is a living legend who grew up in Naples, the birthplace of pizza. Family photos adorn the restaurant walls, and generations of rich culinary history will permeate your plate, where you’ll discover dignified Neapolitan pizza in all its simple yet elegant glory.

Try the: Napoletana: Tomato, fior di latte, capers, anchovies, olives, oregano, basil and extra virgin olive oil

Takeaway or Delivery: Pick-up only

Forget six-inch or footlong subs, at Arrivederci you can order your pizza by the metre! Metric and soccer fans alike love the family atmosphere on Park Road lovingly provided by the Silverstri family for more than 35 years.

The restaurant was voted Brisbane's best pizza by 97.3fm listeners, and you’ll likely agree after experiencing their Sicilian-style rectangular pan pizza and famous hospitality.

You might see some soccer royalty here, as Brisbane Roar players are frequently spotted doing a post-training carb load. Vegan foodies can also enjoy an extensive vegan pizza selection as well as a monthly vegan night, where all vegan mains are only $15.

Additionally, if you really want to impress your colleagues, Arrivederci’s catering options include a boardroom table-length pizza that is almost guaranteed to land you a promotion.

Try the: Arrivederci Special: Tomato base, cheese, salami, bacon, basil olive oil, parmesan

Takeaway or Delivery: Both available

If you’ve ever experienced the ‘stuffing’ pressure from an Italian grandma insisting you ‘mangiare, MANGIARE!’ (eat, EAT!), then you’ll probably understand why this restaurant's name is so fitting. But in case the vengeful imagery of Nonna fitfully rolling in her grave at the thought of an all-vegan Italian restaurant isn’t enough to tempt you, the fact that the pizzas are devilishly delicious should.

Right in the heart of West End’s Boundary Street food precinct, you can enjoy Nonna’s Nightmare’s impressive vegan wine selection, paired perfectly with a broad range of pizzas catering to a range of food allergies and dietary restrictions.

Best of all, the replacement meats and cheeses taste as close to the real thing as you can get, and the entire menu is so scrumptious it’s sure to satisfy omnivores and vegans alike, making it the perfect pizza rendezvous for groups with differing dietary requirements.

Try the: Pizza Potato: Mozzarella (VG), ‘pork and fennel’ sausage (VG), roasted potato and capsicum, rosemary oil 

Takeaway or Delivery: Both available

A leafy outdoor terrace, relaxed and mellow ambience, and founder Paolo Biscaro’s now famous traditional-style woodfired pizzas: it’s a recipe for a great night and a belt loosening or two.

Beccofino is the older and more established sibling restaurant of Julius (see below), the younger, hip pizzeria in South Brisbane. But don’t be fooled into thinking Beccofino is over the hill or too old school to be relevant; it's one of Brisbane's Italian restaurant stalwarts for very good reason.

A combination of fresh ingredients, inventive specials, friendly and efficient service, an authentic Italian energy and consistent quality is what sets Beccofino apart. Bookings can be hard to come by due to its popularity, but the walk-in experience is worth the wait — even if you have to pitch a tent and camp out for that Finocchiona pizza with whipped buffalo mozzarella.

Try the: Abruzzo: Mozzarella, truffled salami, gorgonzola and chiodini mushrooms

Takeaway or Delivery: Pick-up only

This sleek younger sibling of Beccofino opened in 2014, rapidly gaining a stellar reputation for its bustling atmosphere in Fish Lane, modern Italian cuisine, and its beating heart — a custom crafted Stefano Ferrara woodfired oven from Naples. 

Similar to Beccofino, Julius offers a creative and inspired range of both rosse and bianche pizzas, some that feature creative ingredients such as broccoli, roasted desiree potatoes and truffle paste.

Bookings are limited, but walking in and soaking up the vibe and smells emanating from that incredible oven while expert chefs create masterpieces in the open kitchen is a wondrous experience.

Try the: Pizza patate e pancetta: Mozzarella, scamorza, pancetta, potatoes and rosemary

Takeaway or Delivery: Both available

Tanya Colonna established Sugo IT in the trendy heart of Bulimba after drawing inspiration from the pizzeria in her father’s hometown of Termoli on the Adriatic coast of Italy. Not bound by the rules of staunch Neapolitan or Roma pizza traditionalists, Sugo IT features some truly wild and wonderful non-conventional topping combinations, including confit duck and caramelised pear or roasted pumpkin with pine nuts and balsamic glaze.

While still catering to the classics, Colonna has cemented Sugo IT as an innovator of Italian cuisine, and the alfresco set-up adjoins its award-winning gelateria, making for a perfect dessert to chase any of the immaculate pizza creations.

Try the: Anatra: Confit duck, mozzarella, caramelised pear, parmesan and rocket

Takeaway or Delivery: Pick-up only

Tiny but mighty, Spread is tucked away in Camp Hill and is the alter-ego of Brisbane's favourite purveyors of platters and grazing boxes Say Cheese.

As to be expected, the cheese experts have brought a lot to the table when it comes to their small but impactful pizza menu. Primarily pomodoro (rosse) bases, the range features delightfully playful toppings such as pumpkin, zucchini and walnuts, and prawns with chilli oil.

For the savoury inclined, the hero vegetarian option (the Ortolana) features baked potato and zucchini; but for the sweet tooths the true pièce de résistance (or should we say pizza de résistance) is found on the dessert menu in the form of Nutella, sliced banana and crumbled cookie pizza… hand me my bib!

Try the: Inferno: Pomodoro base, mozzarella, extra-hot salami, olives, 'nduja, basil, extra-virgin olive oil

Takeaway or Delivery: Pick-up only 

With three locations (northside, southside and city) it’s clear that Brisbanians love Corbett and Claude’s chic yet rustic approach to homestyle Italian cuisine. The original restaurant and namesake, located at the Corbett Chambers building on Elizabeth Street, features an open bar and kitchen and an inviting, non-pretentious brand of hospitality that feels both refreshing and warm.

Pizzas range from classic to experimental, and in case you fancy enjoying an argument alongside your meal there’s even a smoked ham and pineapple pizza to help divide your table from the onset (camp pineapple will reign supreme!).

In case the pineapple didn’t spark enough controversy at your table, the signature Cigar Pizza will surely spark World War III. Appearing to be a love child of a calzone and a kebab, the cigar pizza (a rolled pizza) delivers the same luscious condiments and crust of a pizza via an alternative delivery system to your mouth, and it works on many levels. We can only dream of a day where further scientific advancements in the field of pizza delivery systems give us the ‘vape pizza’... but until then, you’ll love the cigar pizza.

Try the: Truffle beef: Creamy sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, mushrooms, roast beef, caramelised onions topped with truffle mayo

Takeaway or Delivery: Both available

One of the few positives to arise mid-pandemic for pizza lovers in Brisneyland was the addition of Gemelli Italian to the James Street food quarter. After years of being a solely Gold Coast institution, the restaurant's stylish and cheeky flair is proving a hit, as evident in menu options such as the Griffiti or the Che Stupido pizza.

Founders and namesakes the Carney brothers are twins (Gemelli in Italian) and are as proud of their Italian heritage as can be, participating in annual sauce and salami-making traditions and bringing that charming sense of warm Italian hospitality to the James Street precinct.

Several of their pizzas boast bold and exotic ingredients like 24-month prosciutto di parma and dried figs (drool!).

After devouring a scrumptious range of contemporary Italian cuisine, it’s customary to relax next door at Bar Tano, the adjoining bar. Featuring a gorgeous marble fit-out, it’s an intimate and sleek experience dripping with Italian charisma.

Try the: Che Stupido: Fior di latte, leg ham, mild salami, fennel pork and chilli sausage

Takeaway or Delivery: Both available

Another recently established pizza peddler proving popular with Paddington pizza lovers (and alliteration fans alike) is Elementi Restaurant. Three friends who just happened to have worked in some of Brisbane's finest Italian kitchens (Beccofino, Julius, Maeve Wine) combined forces to create a sophisticated and stylish menu that showcases both local produce and their passion for pizza.

Four staple rossa and bianca bases are on offer, each offering a delicious woodfired crust and balanced flavour profiles, but it’s in the sfizio (on a whim) menu where the fun really begins.

We’re talking house-made pork sausage calzone, truffled salami piada, mortadella pizza panini with pistachio bechamel. It's an unadulterated sensory overload of pizza and pizza-adjacent options, and we can only look forward to more marvellous creations fusing influences from their Brazilian, Colombian and Sicilian roots.

Try the: Emilia: Pumpkin puree, smoked mozzarella, pancetta, fried sage, balsamic glaze

Takeaway or Delivery: Pick-up only