As a bastion of Italian cuisine, the humble pizza’s hearty constitution never fails to delight both the eyes and the stomach. While there are many establishments serving up laudable renditions of arguably the greatest gift Italy ever gave the world (followed closely by pasta, Peroni and gelato), we’ve rounded up a few of our favourites.
Ooh-Fa
Location: Mount Eden
Despite opening a few years ago, you’d still be hard-pressed to find a table at this Dominion Road outpost — a testament to its divine offering. Here, the wood-fired oven is the method of cooking for most dishes, including a range of utterly mouth-watering pizzas. Ideal for sharing, but the perfect size to keep to yourself too, our favourites are the tomato, garlic and oregano (with added stracciatella, of course), and the lardo with mozzarella, parmesan, honey and black pepper. And be sure not to look past the famed woodfired carrots, served with ricotta and pistachios. We’d eat this all day if we could.
Pizza Monkey
Location: Grey Lynn
From its cute fit-out to its vast and varied pizza toppings, and pizzas that can be bought by the slice, Pizza Monkey is the perfect place to pop into to satisfy any and all pizza cravings. Located in Ponsonby’s newest hospitality precinct, Rose Alley (surrounded by a variety of other food and drink vendors) this pizzeria is a newcomer that is well worth trying out.
Andiamo
Location: Herne Bay
This Jervois Road stalwart is one venue that offers consistently wonderful food, from its pastas to its meatballs, and everything in between. It has been said that you can tell the talents of a pizza chef by their take on a margherita, and Andiamo is no exception. Its pizzette, with Clevedon buffalo mozzarella, Neapolitan tomato sauce and fresh basil is an inspired take on the classic — and is the perfect size to devour in one sitting.
Lilian
Location: Grey Lynn
This perennially busy Grey Lynn osteria always draws a crowd for its delicious food and beverage offerings. Its delightfully doughy pizzas are a large part of this appeal. We love the signature prosciutto and grape pizza with parmesan and thyme, as well as the unusual but delicious potato option, served with caramelised onion cream and mozzarella.
Squisito Trattoria
Location: Herne Bay
While we’d always recommend dining in at the new Jervois Road trattoria, can we just say the addition of the takeaway pizza window to this busy neighbourhood has been a godsend. Squisito’s woodfired manuka pizza is easily one of the best in the City, with topping options that run the gamut from tried-and-true classics (Margherita, Prosciutto, Capricciosa) to more unexpected takes. Here, the Gamberi is a must-try, featuring garlic prawns, chilli, courgette and San Marzano tomato.
Toni’s Pizzeria
Location: Pinehill
Traditional, authentic and fresh are three words we would use to describe Toni’s Italian Pizzeria in Pinehill. Offering simple but satiating pizzas that any native Italian would be proud of (including toppings like hot salami, jalapeño and fresh garlic, and hot salami, ham, sausage, blue cheese, bacon, onion and garlic, as well as a selection made especially for kids) this delicious spot is easy, uncomplicated and hits the spot every single time.
Spiga
Location: Remuera
This relatively new Italian eatery has all the makings of a future classic. And while its menu offers share plates, moreish pasta and an impressive line-up of wine, the pizzas are what draw us back time and time again. Authentically made to boast that perfectly chewy base, each pizza here is made with great care and attention. For our part, we can never go past the Funghi. Topped with Ora’s Farm mushrooms and truffle caviar, it’s divine, sumptuous and perfect for sharing.
Bivacco
Location: Viaduct Harbour
Since opening with great aplomb in 2022, Bivacco has become a go-to destination for a delicious long Italian lunch. Here, the pizzas here are unparalleled, and are made even more perfect when enjoyed overlooking the sparkling waters of Viaduct Harbour with one of Bivacco’s delicious cocktails in hand. And while you really can’t beat the Margherita here, those craving something more lavish will find it in the goats cheese pizza, adorned with pear, vincotto, fennel cream and rocket. Perfection.
Abruzzo
Location: Birkenhead
Head over the Harbour Bridge to discover a hidden venue that is so under the radar, you know it’s bound to be brilliant. Here, the woodfire pizza menu is endless, offering an abundance of seasonal ingredients and traditional flavours. If you find yourself torn between options, rally a crew and try the Four Seasons, the Funghi, and a four cheese calzone to share for the ideal Italian indulgence.
Farina
Location: Ponsonby
Ponsonby Road favourite, Farina, has been an enduring go-to since it opened in 2014, and while its menu of pasta dishes and ‘secondi’ like Gamberoni offers a bevy of delicious bites, it’s the pizza we’re highlighting this time. Whether you dine in or takeaway, Farina’s Napoletana pizzas are all utterly delicious and offer a diverse array of toppings to satisfy any kind of craving.
Gloria’s
Location: Commercial Bay
Led by masterful Chef Nick Landsman, Gloria’s modus operandi has always been taking the easy lunchtime experience to bold new heights. With a focus on slow food made fast, Landsman’s commitment to quality and convenience shines through in every delectable bite, particularly when it comes to the eatery’s pizza al taglio, made with the utmost care and attention to flavour and finish. Our pick? Four cheese and mushroom — with gorgonzola, goats cheese, mozzarella and parmesan pairing with mushroom and a tangy green sauce.
Umu
Location: Kingsland
This eatery’s sourdough pizzas hit the spot every time, and we recommend enjoying them on-site for ultimate freshness. Petite enough to eat a whole one to yourself (although, we recommend sharing so as to try more than one iteration) Umu’s exceptional, fermented dough and beautifully fresh ingredients will ensure you don’t feel too full afterwards (certainly an added bonus).
Somm
Location: Princes Wharf
Somm’s Sunday pizza offering is a delicious way to round out the week with friends or family. Every Sunday, the cellar door serves its moreish pizzas in a two-for-one deal, making a relaxed afternoon here all the more appealing. Somm’s mouthwatering pizzas are made with 72-hour poolish dough (a technique that delivers a lighter and more airy texture and a soft but structured crust) and boast toppings that include a simple pomodoro with garlic, fior di latte and basil, an indulgent raclette option, finished with ‘nduja, honey and rosemary, one with flavoursome palermo peppers, eggplant and mozzarella, and a mortadella option with zuni pickle.
Bar Non Solo
Location: Britomart
As the sister spot to Parnell stalwart, Non Solo Pizza, of course Britomart’s Bar Non Solo boasts a superior offering of pizza, perfect to share over drinks and conversation with friends. From classics like the margarita and the spicy salami (topped with tomato and fior di latte) to more unique offerings like the Gamberoni (with roasted capsicum, garlic prawns, ‘Nduja, fresh tomato and feta), there is a gourmet pizza here to suit every taste.
Elmo’s
Location: Ponsonby
If you have a sizeable group to cater for and pizza’s are the go, look no further than Ponsonby Road eatery Elmo’s. There’s something for just about everyone on its menu of woodfired pizzas although a few certainly stand out. The Discovery of Honey pizza is a bit of a showstopper, featuring an amalgamation of four cheeses topped with spiced honey and crispy sage, as is the Truffle Shuffle, boasting a white base of taleggio béchamel and topped with mozzarella, wild mushrooms, black truffle cream, pancetta and chives.
Prego
Location: Ponsonby
One of Auckland’s most beloved Italian stalwarts has long been known for serving some of the best pizza in town. Here, Prego’s hearty selection has something for any craving, although one we can virtually never look past is the Bianca with truffle mushrooms, white mozzarella, ham, rocket and Grana Padano.
Epolito’s
Location: Grey Lynn
Merging traditional Italian flavours with New York’s signature thin-crust pies, the pizza at this Grey Lynn local demonstrates what beauty can be born when cultures collide. The Eastside (artichoke, lemon and parmesan) and On Madison (black olive, roasted garlic and feta) are two of our favourites, though any flavour here is guaranteed to please.
Non Solo Pizza
Location: Parnell
A neighbourhood favourite for 25 years, Non Solo Pizza welcomes all with open arms — and nothing says ‘welcome back’ like one of its delicious pizzas. Personally, we love the Nerrano, with marinated zucchini, chilli, basil and whipped stracciatella, as well as the more classic Spicy Salami with tomato, fior di latte and salami. Both topped with lots of fresh basil, of course.
Dante’s
Location: Ponsonby, Takapuna & Eastridge
Helmed by the talented Enis Bacova (who recently took home third place at the prestigious Caputo Cup in Naples — the world’s most renowned pizza championship) Dante’s has long been cemented as one of Auckland’s best pizza spots, and it has the global recognition to prove it. In fact, Dante’s was also recently given the seventh spot on the ’50 Top Pizza’ list of the best pizzerias in the Asia Pacific region for 2023. Pretty impressive. Serving up traditional Neapolitan pizza that combines a meticulously crafted, Italian sourdough base, with a light, chewy crust, San Marzano tomatoes and a range of mouthwatering toppings, Dante’s has been stamped by Italy’s prestigious Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), and has become so renowned that you really can’t call yourself a pizza connoisseur until you’ve tried the offering here.
Toto Pizza
Location: Auckland CBD
When the occasion calls for a metre-long pizza (and more do than you would think), there’s no one else we would turn to but the doughy dab hands, known fondly as Toto’s. Whether you go for a half-and-half or a full metre of one flavour, you can dine-in at the Hardinge St premises or take the big box away. We like the never-fail Boscaiola, with truffle and mushroom, or the Parma, with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, parmesan and basil.
That’s Amore
Location: Auckland CBD
Boasting one of the most extensive (and delicious) pizza menus in the CBD, That’s Amore brings a dose of Italian flavour to Courthouse Lane. You might have trouble choosing a flavour, but you’ll have no trouble eating these moreish and approachable pizzas.
The Master and Margarita
Location: Grey Lynn
Chef Ivan Janic specialises in perfectly wood-fired, Roman-style pizza at his Surrey Crescent spot The Master and Margarita. Thinner and wider in diameter than their Neapolitan counterparts, these 15-inch sourdough beauties have a pillowy crust without being super doughy, which lends a welcome lightness to the classic treat. As far as toppings go, there is a comprehensive array on offer here, but we love the current winter special of rosemary roasted potato pizza with gorgonzola, goats cheese, caramelised onion jam and mozzarella. Delicious.
Di Vino Bistro
Location: Parnell
The generous selection on offer at this Parnell favourite can make for a difficult dining decision. But with no bad choices on the inclusive menu, there’s really no going wrong. In our humble opinion, the Napoli hits the mark, every time.
