The Absolute Best Pizza in Miami

Neapolitan wonders, vegan show-stoppers, and timeless slice shops.

Eleventh Street Pizza
Eleventh Street Pizza | Photo courtesy of 52 CHEFS

At some point over the last, oh, eight months or so, you’ve no doubt been sitting down to enjoy a slice of your favorite pizza when you hear someone at the next table yammering on about how pizza elsewhere is better because, “It’s in the waaaaater.” Right.

Miamians know that urban legend couldn’t be more untrue, as our city boasts a pizza landscape capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with just about anywhere in the world. To prove it, we’ve assembled this list of South Florida’s best pizza joints, ranging from Neapoltian-style to vegan creations, each imbued with a greatness we’ll unscientifically credit to our network of underground limestone aquifers.

For years, figuring out who had Miami’s best pizza was a pretty simple discussion, as there was a sign on US-1 across from the UM campus directing us exactly where to go. Sadly, that spot is no more, but nostalgia-seeking alumni and Gables natives can once again rejoice, as it’s reopened just down the street from Mark Light Stadium. The latest iteration of Miami’s Best has all the same spicy sauce, doughy crust, and hot gooey cheese you remember, but now with a side of craft beer. The walls are lined with mementos from the glory days—though, even in 2021, “Miami’s Best” isn’t much of an overstatement.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or call 305-666-5931 for delivery.

Eleventh Street Pizza | Photo courtesy of 52 CHEFS

The Brooklyn-style pies coming out of the old Fooq’s space have quickly become the most talked-about in the city, ever since a certain one-bite reviewer stopped by. But these crispy crusted, sauce-heavy numbers would still be outstanding without internet celebrity endorsements. Their square Sicilian-style slices are Miami’s most authentic, topped with onions and sauce like a gourmet focaccia. And the Brooklyn-style slices will make you instantly forget all the late-night slop you’ve ever downed across the bay. The best part? They’re available half-off as part of one of Miami’s best happy hours.
How to book: Stop by for counter service or order take-out via Toast.

Oche Miami Beach | Photo by Jarran Flokkmann Foto

Given they’ve both been BFFs with beer for years, it’s surprising it took this long for pizza and darts to link up. Leave it to the Norwegians to make that happen, bringing this Topgolf of darts to SoFi and some outstanding pizza along with it. The coarse, flat crust is topped with a rich tomato sauce and just enough cheese to give it some heft. Add in some fresh basil and olive oil and Oche’s pizzas border on upscale, certainly the best bar pizzas you’ll find in South Beach.
How to book: Reserve online.

Photo courtesy of Foozo

Foozo

Multiple locations

Living in South Florida certainly has its culinary perks, and chief among them is our great variety of kosher foods. Foozo is another fantastic addition, dishing up Rabbi-certified pies that are crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, almost like a bagel. Foozo’s signature combos are well worth exploring, with the pesto- and sundried tomato-studded Foozo Pie reigning supreme the standout. There’s also a whole menu of Detroit-style pies, and even Shakshuka focaccia.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via ChowNow.

Simplygood Pizza

South Beach

Cheese pizza is always the true mark of a great pizzeria, showcasing whether or not a chef has mastered the basics without muddying it up with toppings. In the case of this proudly immigrant-owned pizza shop inside Lincoln Eatery, the wood-fired cheese pie isn’t only phenomenal, it helps the community. As part of the owners’ philanthropic mission, proceeds from each of its $10 Right Thing Pizzas benefit local charities, meaning you can feel a little less guilty ordering two of them all for yourself.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order delivery via Uber Eats and GrubHub.

Crust

Miami River

Like a cocaine smuggler's boat in the 1980s, the wave of great dining options is slowly making its way down the Miami River, and the folks behind Crust were way ahead of the game. The husband and wife team behind one of Miami’s best restaurants are not only making homemade Italian-style pies featuring luxe toppings like sirloin tips, mushrooms, and caramelized onions, but they're doing it for actually reasonable prices. Go figure.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable or order take-out online or get delivery via Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, and GrubHub.

Steve's Pizza

Multiple locations

Wood-burning pizza ovens are great. Brick-oven pizza? Fantastic. But you need exactly none of that mumbo-jumbo to survive decades in South Florida, especially when you’re as integral to local food culture as Cuban sandwiches and stone crabs. What you do need, however, is a classic New York-style crust and fresh ingredients, plus reliable, friendly service. Steve's is such a Miami institution that it’s THE spot Dade lifers name when talking best pizza. That, and eating challenges.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order delivery via Slice and DoorDash.

Never heard of it? That's a damn shame, and that also means you didn't read our groundbreaking ranking of all 16 slice spots in South Beach. Block's was rated number one, mostly because they stack all-organic ingredients atop housemade whole wheat sourdough crust, ladled with rich marinara and smothered in fresh basil and grated mozzarella, before leaving it unbaked right up until you order. That means it's the rare SoBe slice that hasn't been sitting out since lunch... and actually tastes like real-deal pizza.
How to book: Stop by for counter service or order take-out and delivery online.

Even though they’ve got a monopoly on the SoFi slice market—and could probably even draw a line out the door with a bag of freezer-burned Totino's—the crew behind this staple takes pride in their product, and serves not only the best slice south of Fifth, but quite possibly the best slice in the city.
How to book: Stop by for counter service or order take-out and delivery via Slice.

Lucali

Sunset Harbor

Unlike so many of our wonderful new residents, Lucali actually IS a big deal in New York, and Miamians have taken note. Mark Iacono's Brooklyn pizza palace has topped many a local's best pie lists since it opened, with its massive 22-inch pies, fresh-pulled mozzarella, and an entire basil plant adorning every pie. It’s also linked up to The Social Club next door, where you can enjoy craft cocktails and the occasional stand-up comedy show with a crispy pizza in front of you.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Uber Eats and DoorDash.

Stanzione 87

Brickell

In less time than it takes to wait for the light to change on SW 8th Street in Brickell, you can run into this all-imported Neapolitan pie shop and watch your pizza get fired in a blistering 57 seconds. That wood-burning oven has become a local legend, spawning not only a line of pretty solid sandwiches (the Meatball and Mozzarella goes down especially easy after a long night out) but also a fast-casual offshoot inside the Citadel food hall called Ash! Pizza Parlor. And for a time (and hopefully again), Stanzione offered a fantastic collection of cook-at-home vacuum-sealed versions that almost approximated the originals.
How to book: Call 786.360.1852 to reserve or order take-out via Toast.

Mora Pizza

Allapattah

Because nobody should have to give up the decadent indulgences of pizza when embracing a plant-based lifestyle, Mora Pizza is bringing Miami all the wonders of traditional pies minus the meat and cheese. Highlights include Cheeseburger Pizza made with vegan ground beef plus Crab Rangoon Pizza, Buffalo Chicken Pizza, Barbecue Chicken Pizza, and pretty much anything else you’d expect to find at a completely over-the-top pie shop. Its Instagram is far and away the best of any pizza place in Miami—if for no other reason than to show you vegan does not always equal healthy.
How to book: Stop by for counter service or order take-out via Slice.

If your Italian’s a little rusty, this place's name means “Master of the Pizza.” Ask any Italian, and they’’ll tell you this guy’s the real deal. In addition to specialty Neapolitan pies, they’re famous for their signature star-shaped pie with triangular pockets stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, pepperoni, and tomato sauce.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out via Slice.

This Biscayne corridor pioneer maintains a huge range of specialty combos, from Pesto Chicken to Tuscan Tuna, to the Seven Veggie Ratatouille. And though the neighborhood around it has seen dozens of new restaurants spring up since Andiamo paved the way in this converted tire shop, it’s still the top dining destination in MiMo.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Toast and Uber Eats.

The folks behind Graziano’s weren’t content to just sling Argentine steaks and Italian food for the rest of their lives. And who would be? So they snatched up this spot in an unassuming strip mall on Sunset Drive and turned it into a charming Italian restaurant. Here, you’ll sit down to order pizza made with fresh-from-Italy ingredients before scanning the walls around you for the perfect bottle of Italian wine, most of which is priced at about half-off what it costs elsewhere.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, order take-out online, or get delivery via Postmates.

APizza Brooklyn

Multiple locations

This clever play on words rapidly became THE New York-style pizza shop for the southwest suburbs when it opened its original location in Pinecrest. Fresh ingredients, wood-fired ovens, and rustic interior made it a destination for the rest of the city, too, and with a second location in Coral Gables, you can now experience the greatness without having to deal with US-1—though, the long menu of pastas and calzones almost makes it worth the misery. Almost.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, and ChowNow.

Ironside Pizza

Little River

If you haven’t spent time in Little River—the artsy enclave between Little Haiti and MiMo—Ironside Pizza is your perfect excuse. Here you can relax outside (with your own wine) and enjoy wood-fired Neapolitan pies topped with imported meats and Italian cheese. Your go-to courtyard order is the Regina, laden with cherry tomatoes, peppery arugula, Parmigiano, prosciutto crudo, and gooey mozzarella.
How to book: Reserve via OpenTable or order delivery via DoorDash and Uber Eats.

Matt Meltzer is a Miami-based contributor for Thrillist.

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