The 10 Best Pizza Restaurants in Cape Town

Few topics are as controversial as where to find the best pizza in town, but who doesn’t revel in a bit of controversy every so often? The seductively chewy puffy-crusted Neapolitan-style variety, with easily identifiable leopard-spot blisters, has taken the city by storm in the last few years, but there are still advocates of deliciously thin and crispy Roman-style pizza. And when it comes to toppings, are you an Italophile purist or do you enjoy the irreverent creativity of the non-traditional approach? We’ve rounded up our favourites of all pizza persuasions throughout the city.

Pizza Connection

You won’t find pineapple on any of the pizzas at this down-to-earth pizza parlour on Roodebloem Road in Woodstock, which is as it should be! In the former home of Pesce Azzurro (IYKYK), Pizza Connection has not strayed from the ethos of its predecessor, which is excellent ingredients prepared in a simple, authentic way. Owner Enrico Di Giambattista explains: “The old problem with pizza outside of Italy is the perception that it is all about the quantity of toppings on a random base, when in fact a good pizza is a marriage: a balance between a flavourful, well-fermented dough of your favourite kind (Neapolitan, Romana, Baciata, Padellino, Focaccia, etc) and toppings – you don’t just throw everything on there.” As for those toppings, Enrico ensures that only the freshest and best ingredients are used, from the tomato, fior di latte and fabulous burrata to the Parma ham, artichokes and mushrooms. They also make two different pizza doughs, so you can choose between puffy-crusted Neapolitan or thin and crispy Roman-style pizza bases. The interiors are down to earth, almost rustic – brick walls, brown-paper placemats, wooden tables. But, you’re not here for the decor; the star of the show is the pizza, come si deve, just as it should be. In fact, Gambero Rosso International named Pizza Connection a Top Italian Restaurant in Cape Town in 2023.
Insider tip Make sure to book or get there in good time, because once they’ve finished their dough for the day, that’s it until the next batch is ready. No compromises.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 072 194 2581
Where to find it 113 Roodebloem Road, Woodstock
Book through DinePlan

Pizza Shed

When it comes to toppings, Neapolitan purists generally keep theirs to a bare minimum; not  Pizza Shed. Owner James Williams has taken a more laissez-faire approach with his Canotto style of pizza (featuring an even puffier crust): keeping it “authentic” and also “offering all the toppings”. Great news for flavour fiends, as you get the option of adding top-notch ingredients onto your pizza – from Grana Padano to fior di latte cheeses, San Marzano tomatoes and classic pepperoni and Nduja (spicy pork sausage). The pizzas are utterly (and consistently) delicious – with just the right amount of chew, crunch and leopard print! The pizza dough itself is 48-hours proved (it makes a big difference to the end result), cooked in a wood-fired oven, and then flung into grateful hands. The Bree Street branch is tiny, just a few tables indoors, but has plenty of pavement space for alfresco pizza parties.
Good to know The Bree Street branch doesn’t take bookings, so simply walk in when you’re hungry. The original Pizza Shed in Observatory has a rooftop bar with mountain views.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Contact details 071 342 5681
Where to find it 231 Bree Street, Cape Town

Lievita

Hidden away in Green Point in a leafy spot beside the Padel courts, Lievita has quickly made a name for authentic Neapolitan pizzas that emerge sizzling from its Fazzone oven, brought in from Napoli. Chef Andrea Giromini is the maestro behind the pizzas here (his Cafe 28 in Sandton made his name for Italian cuisine done right) and he uses only the best imported Italian ingredients for a wide variety of gourmet pizzas with that perfectly blistered crust. We love the fichi e crudo (parma ham, figs, walnuts and honey) or the simplicity of  la vera Napoletana (just with tomato, fior di latte mozzarella, mature parmesan and basil). Sit on the enclosed patio looking out at the mountain, or get cosy inside.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Contact details 021 300 1514
Where to find it 1 Marina Road, Green Point, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Pizza Warehouse at Yard

Irreverent, slightly subversive and combining industrial vibes (brick walls and bench tables) with living room decor (lots of hanging lampshades and plants) Eugene Smith’s Pizza Warehouse sits alongside The Dogs Bollocks at Yard in a light industrial backwater of Gardens. Known for its brutally honest waitrons (no silver service here) and excellent pizzas with four different slow-ferment dough styles, it’s unpretentious, a bit rowdy and a total vibe. Go for puffy-crusted Neapolitan, thick-crust Romano (both with fior di latte mozzarella), or go American with the crispy, super thin California or the huge 45cm, medium-thin chewy crust New Yorker (with grated mozzarella). And there’s no judgement for wanting pineapple on your pizza… the Hawaiian is after all a contemporary American classic.
Good to know Booking is essential.
You can also find an outpost of Pizza Warehouse at the Time Out Market at the V&A Waterfront.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 10am – 10pm
Contact details 083 440 7843  (WhatsApp), yardct@gmail.com
Where to find it 6 Roodehek Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Novo

Taking over the neighbourhood pizza joint (it used to be Bruegels) with the mission of making it the southern suburbs go-to spot for good pizza and great SA wine, is how 2024 started for Ammy and Arno Steijn. The DIY refurb is relaxed and unpretentious; the wine fridge stocked with a thoughtful collection of local vintages; and puffy-edged pizzas are crisping up fast. We love the sound of the Fellini (fennel sausage and caramelised red onion) and the Bianco Ariela (feta, red onion, pistachio, honey and rocket). There’s a short selection of aperitivi snacks (think caponata, pork polpette and garlic pizza) to precede your pizza, or just to nibble on with a glass of excellent vino.
Opening times Monday –  Saturday, 5pm – close
Contact 082 211 7489 (WhatsApp), novopizzawine@gmail.com
Where to find it 99 Durban Road, Little Mowbray, Cape Town

I Love the Dough

Pretty in pink neon light with quirky signage, I Love the Dough does pizza (and cocktails) with a Bree Street buzz (and a DJ spinning hip hop and RnB beats). The pizza is puffy-crusted Neapolitan in style with a short menu of unfussy toppings identified simply by number, and no-one’s judging you if you want to add extra pineapple or streaky bacon. We love Number 2 (mozzarella, mushrooms, roast garlic, truffle oil and parmesan) and Number 6 (simply mozzarella, artichokes, olives and parmesan). Sit outside on the pavement for a Bree Street café society vibe or linger late into the evening dipping into the shared jug cocktails (the slushie machines here are loaded with tequila, an essential ingredient in several of the jugs).
Opening times Monday –  Saturday, 12.30pm – 10pm
Sunday, 2pm – 9pm
Contact 072 145 9988, bree@ilovethedough.co.za
Where to find it 101 Bree Street, Cape Town
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Ferdinando’s

A colourful and eclectic stalwart of the Observatory community, Ferdinando’s has been cooking up a storm of Italian-with-a-twist pizzas here since 2015. Founders Diego Milesi and his late partner, artist Kiki Bisogno, started off with a secret home pizzeria in their De Waterkant apartment, before demand got so great that the secret spilled out. Now Diego continues the quirky supper-club, home-from-home vibe, firing up a riot of crispy Neapolitan-style pizzas, with both authentic Italian topping combinations and creative combos named after the friends that invented them. Diego’s legendary tiramisu is another reason to visit.
Good to know It’s pet-friendly. Ferdinando is the name of the canine co-founder!
Opening times Sunday – Thursday, 12pm – 9pm
Friday –  Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 084 771 0485
Where to find it 205 Lower Main Road, Observatory, Cape Town

Pizza Vesuvio

Since they took over the much-loved Northern Suburbs pizzeria in 2023, the new owners have retained the Italian family vibe and the old family recipes in the making of its pasta and pizza bases, which are wood-fired (of course). Warm and rustic, the roof’s exposed skeleton, facebrick accents, reclaimed furniture, walled display cases of bric-à-brac and long tables conjure a sense of life in Italy. The menu includes traditional antipasti and platters made using top-quality ingredients sourced from local Italian producers, and the pizzas are Neapolitan-style with puffy, slightly blistered edges. We recommend the Bianca Neve (mozzarella, smoked provola, blue cheese, wild mushrooms, rocket, basil, olive oil and pancetta).
Good to know There’s a new Pizza Vesuvio branch in the innercity (opened in 2024 at 2 Long Street), convenient when pizza cravings hit for a workday lunch or a takeaway.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 914 1414 (WhatsApp), Info@pizzavesuviocpt.co.za
Where to find it Waterfront and Fountain Roads, Bellville Park, Bellville, Cape Town

Ristorante Posticino

A stalwart of the Sea Point block for over a quarter of a century, Posticino is popular with locals for its menu of mouth-watering Italian fare including the crispy thin-crust pizzas. Established by childhood friends Enrico De Siena and Gioacchino Gasparre, the casual trattoria has an easygoing, family-friendly atmosphere and in summer, the road-facing terrace gets packed out. In winter take refuge in the cosy, dimly-lit interior decorated with murals, for comfort food classics of satisfying pastas and the classic Roman-style thin-crust pizzas.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12.30pm – 10pm
Contact 021 439 4014/3974, posticino@mweb.co.za
Where to find it Albany Mews, 323 Main Road, Sea Point, Cape Town

Satori

A Deep South pizza go-to for locals and visitors alike, Satori’s no-frills trattoria atmosphere comes with a seasoning  of Kalk Bay boho vibes, and a menu serving up consistently tasty and hearty Italian meals. Wood-fired, crispy thin-based pizzas are the order of the day (and they do them really well, with a varied assortment of delicious toppings), but they also have excellent seafood and pasta dishes. Leave space for the tiramisu – it’s buonissimo!
Insider tip Call in your order and do a drive-by collection for pizza to eat on the Kalk Bay harbour wall.
Time Monday – Sunday, 11am – 9.30pm
Contact 021 788 1123
Where to find it 76 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

Which are your favourites? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

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