The Absolute Best Pizza Shops in Philly

From greasy late-night slices to artisan pies.

Philadelphia may not be the first city to come to mind when you consider top pizza destinations—but it should be. Our city has hand-tossed, artisanal, thick square, tomato, and even upside-down pies, and there’s no shortage of places to sample each and every variety. From upscale pizza at a restaurant with real ambiance to greasy masterpieces served best straight from the box, it’s all here, so take a look at our top picks for Philly’s best pizza and dig in.

Alice Pizza

Center City

Alice offers thick and crispy squares to savor, al taglio style, giving you the option to mix and match from the pizza of your choosing—or get a mega chunk of whatever you’re currently craving. The all-time favorite is the signature Philly Special, created in honor of Super Bowl LII and fixed with pesto, ricotta, sun-dried tomatoes, cheese sauce, arugula, and Parm. Why not relive the glory of the past in the form of pizza?
How to order:Get takeout through Caviar.

Angelo’s Pizzeria

Italian Market

Angelo’s South Philly storefront offers mouth-watering cheesesteaks, bagels, and other freshly baked goods, but the real star is of course the pizza. Owner Danny DiGiampietro has been cited many times saying Angelo’s can do any kind of pizza style, from Detroit to Roman to Neopolitan and beyond, as well as more American-style pizza sold by the slice. Peek at the limited daily menu that still manages to dole out some surprises.
How to order: Call 215-922-0000

Barbuzzo Mediterranean Kitchen & Bar
Courtesy of Barbuzzo

This narrow, bi-level restaurant fills up quickly thanks to artfully made pizzas incorporating unexpected ingredients, as well as locally inspired desserts like the signature budino. For pizza, try the Uovo if you want “secret” white sauce, Parmesan, fresh greens, and a truffle farm egg as the cherry on top.

Available for Reservations

Blackbird Pizzeria

Northern Liberties

Blackbird Pizzeria offers pizzas and cheesesteaks that can win the heart of any vegan. The entirely plant-based menu features seitan, tofu, garlic, and a whole lot of violife mozzarella to give vegans the joy of pizza that everyone so deserves. If you’re in Center City, also check out the spot’s sister location, 20th Street Pizza.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Circles + Squares

Various locations

The pizza influencer known as Pizza Gutt crafts pizza under a few different shop names around the city: there’s Circles + Squares in Olde Richmond, Pizza Plus in East Passyunk and University City, and Pizza What as the metaphysical and literal landing page for all (as well as orders out of Bourbon & Branch in NoLibs). Regardless of how you go about procuring these creations, it’s essential you try both the round hand-tossed and the fluffy yet crunchy deep-dish square pies, preferably in one sitting. The pepperoni has a little kick of spice and curly fries are always a side option.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Clarkville

Spruce Hill

For the perfect cross between laid-back, hand-tossed pies and artisanal Neapolitan-style, Clarkville is the choice. The eclectic pizza offerings undergo periodic updates (as does the craft beer list), offering classic cheese-and-sauce fixings alongside options featuring Sriracha honey, roasted lamb, or even some roasted pork shoulder.
How to order: Get delivery through Caviar

The Couch Tomato Café
Couch Tomato

Gluten-intolerant pizza lovers, find peace at Couch Tomato. Not only does Couch Tomato offer fresh ingredients atop unique signature pizzas big enough to feed a crowd, but customers can opt for gluten-free and whole-grain crusts. Try the Godfather: a perfectly prosciutto-topped masterpiece complete with arugula, red pepper, garlic, and balsamic glaze. Also, you will be seriously missing out if you don’t order the cheesy breadsticks on the side.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

One of the city’s oldest craft breweries is also home to some of the best pizza in town. Supplement the rotating brew selection with hit-the-spot carbs with stone-ground flour fired on hardwood, offering artisanal without the diminutive size. For something a little different, try the Fig Jam ‘za with creme fraiche, mozzarella, fresh herbs, fig spread, bacon, and gorgonzola.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Down North Pizza

Strawberry Mansion

Down North Pizza offers up Detroit-style square pies alongside sides like mango habanero wings, spicy crab fries, and apple pie milkshakes. You can expect a beautifully crispy crust and ultra-fresh ingredients, but at the real heart of Down North Pizza is activism. Owner Muhammed Abdul-Hadi and executive chef Michael Carter exclusively employ formerly incarcerated individuals and offer them culinary training and educational resources.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

The Philly outpost of this delectable Detroit-style square pizza chain opened in Queen Village in 2019, and we’re so lucky to have it here. Sink your teeth into ultra-thick red or white pies and then take a break to try the equally amazing cheesy garlic sticks. If you really want to test the limits of your stomach, tack on the fried chicken parm sandwich for the table, too.

Available for Reservations

Visit the new home of High Street Philly for super fresh salads, pastas, and pizzas that feel elegantly simple yet special. Pizzas are a perfect mix of Neapolitan style with an extra nice, doughy crust that may just be peak pizza crust goals. You can’t go wrong with a to-the-point Margherita, or go for the smoked mushroom with a sunny-side-up egg on top.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

The focus at Mattei is “Molise-style” pizza, taking culinary inspiration from a southern region of Italy, which translates to pizzas that offer a Neapolitan-adjacent chewy crust and soft center but in the larger sizes more common in Italian-American pizza. Outside the pizza world, though, the menu also features pasta, quesadillas, burritos, wings, nachos, tacos, and burgers, so you definitely won’t go hungry.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Nomad Pizza

Bella Vista

Nomad prides itself on using local, organic produce and natural meats to make its pizzas. Since its origins as a food truck, Nomad exemplifies the ideal wheels-to-mortar progression, with two additional locations outside the city. Even better, the spot offers a decent selection of craft beer, which comes in handy when you’re working your way through a Spicy Sopressata topped with honey and sea salt.
How to book: Walk-in

Tacconelli’s is a Philly institution that spans generations, supplying tomato pie to the masses for nearly three-quarters of a century. If you’re not into tomato pie, though, you can opt instead for the regular, white, or Margherita varieties.
How to order: Call 215-425-4983 or walk in

Pitruco dishes out ultra chewy, doughy 12-inch Neapolitan-style pies, the perfect size to keep all to yourself. Pitruco functions out of both a mobile food truck and out of UCity’s Franklin’s Table Food Hall, where every pie is made to order from scratch.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Pizza Brain

Various locations

This artisan thin-crust pizza is among the very best, and visiting the shop in person means you are setting foot into the one and only Pizza Museum of Philadelphia. Pizza Brain has been a constant for Philly’s pizza landscape even as the city seems to have more options than ever before, even stronger with its Brewerytown Pizza Dads outpost.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Pizza Jawn

Manayunk

Pizza Jawn sells out weekly thanks to its three equally luscious types of pies: the Grandma (a hybrid grandma-Sicilian style with sauce on top), the Round (a hybrid of NYC-style and Neapolitan), and the Detroit (with cheesy crust!), all of which can be made vegan, too. Double pepperoni is a favorite at the shop, and keep your eyes peeled for other special concoctions.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

This corner pizza shop opened in 2018 with very big shoes—and real estate—to fill, taking over the space formerly occupied by the infamous Pizzeria Beddia. Turns out these crisp and acutely charred pizzas from chef Marcello Montagnaro are just as crave-worthy and wait-inducing. Even if you don’t normally go for white pizza, the cream base with hints of lemon and basil is a must.
How to order: Walk-in

Pizzata Pizzeria

Fitler Square

Pizzata Pizzeria is the creation of two self-proclaimed “pizza dorks” who make every pie with naturally leavened dough. This makes the dough richer in aroma, easier to digest, and a celebration of the era of pre-commercial yeast. Pies are made 16-inches wide in a New York style and run the gamut from classic plain and Margherita to the Salsiccia, which comes finished with sausage and hot honey. Salads, paninis, toasts, and Italian desserts are also available to round out your pizza party.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Pizzeria Beddia
Adam Robb

Pizzeria Beddia has come a long way since sparking national hysteria when Bon Appetit proclaimed it the best pizza in the country in 2015. Since then, pizza maker and owner Joe Beddia has opened a larger dining room with a full staff and dining, so you can try this top-tier pie at the restaurant or at home. Debates can still ensue on what it really means to be the “best pizza” ever, but it’s much more fun to shut up, eat pizza, and enjoy the spot’s lovingly curated wine menu.

Available for Reservations

Pizzeria Vetri

Various locations

You should definitely start with the spot’s signature Rotolo, which comes in a cinnamon roll-like shape and uncoils to reveal a perfect medley of pizza dough, mortadella, ricotta, and pistachio pesto. Save room for 12-inch Napoletano or 24-inch Metro pies, all fired for a crisp and lovely texture.

Available for Reservations

Rosario's Pizzeria

Point Breeze

Despite the plethora of Italian food all around us, it can be tough to find a classic pizza spot that can be your go-to delivery option without breaking the bank or ordering days in advance. One of the best options to diffuse this problem is Rosario’s, a South Philly staple that simultaneously boasts a delicious menu of Mexican-American fare. When it comes to pizza, though, you can opt for “classic” toppings or mingle the two cuisines for one of Rosario’s famous Mexican-style pizzas, of which there are no less than 12 varieties.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Pizzeria Stella

Head House Square

Stephen Starr is basically a household name in Philly, so it’s no wonder his pizza joint is a local favorite. Pizzeria Stella is a cozy retreat for Neapolitan-style pies and other delectables coming from the wood-fired oven, and arancini, marinated olives, and crab bucatini help round out elevated-yet-comforting offerings.

Available for Reservations

Sally

Fitler Square

Sourdough wood-fired pizza is the star at Sally, which also features a great shop for natural wine that makes for a great parting gift with dinner. The menu stays fresh but always beautifully simple, featuring pies like the Mushroom & Egg with roasted garlic or the Clam & Leek finished with lemon. Enjoy it all with a side of house ricotta, oysters, and other seasonal sides.
How to book: Reservations via Tock; walk-ins also available

Santucci’s upside-down pie definitely isn’t for everyone, but if you’re an advocate of the red, look no further. Take in the satisfying crunch of the thick crust as you find all the mozzarella bubbling beneath the sauce. It’s a Philly staple everyone should try at least once, but the menu has plenty else to offer too.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

This made-to-order, fast-casual pizza shop creates surprisingly superb personal pies that can go crust-to-crust against some of the city’s ritzier options. It doesn’t hurt that the cheese and dough are made in-house daily, or that the toppings include everything from Italian sausage to chipotle corn to truffle oil. Snap also has a collection of shops outside Philly, too.
How to book: Walk-in

Marielle Mondon is a writer from Philadelphia. Follow her @MarielleMondon on Twitter and Instagram.