The 15 Best Pizza Restaurants in Cape Town

Few topics are as controversial as what restaurants serve 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 past few years, but there are still advocates of deliciously thin and crispy Roman-style pizza. Cape Town is also now discovering the joys of rectangular pizza al taglio… 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 Shed

When it comes to toppings, Neapolitan purists generally keep theirs to a bare minimum; not  Pizza Shed. James Williams and Tando Bavuma have taken a more laissez-faire approach with their 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, 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 the wide pavement is the place for buzzy alfresco pizza parties and there’s a hidden courtyard at the back.
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 is moving to a new location in August 2026.
And the newest one – in St James – is a stone’s throw from the famous tidal pool.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Contact 071 342 5681
Where to find it 231 Bree Street, Cape Town

Pizza Connection

You won’t find pineapple on any of the pizzas at this down-to-earth pizza parlour on Roodebloem Road in Woodstock. Pizza Connection maintains the purist Italian ethos: 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).
Good to know 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.
They also make their own artisanal gelato, in a small, seasonally-changing selection of flavours.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 072 194 2581
Where to find it 113 Roodebloem Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
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Lello’s Trattoria

A famiglia affair, siblings Chiara and Danilo Turilli combine the flavours of their Italian heritage with a devotion to local and artisanal produce at their trattoria-cum-deli, named after their grandfather, Raffaello. Their new Sea Point spot reminds us of Roman tavola caldas with a display counter of several different tray-baked thick-based pizze al taglio (by the slice). Ask for whatever size slice you want (or get smaller pieces of several) and pay by weight. Authentic, excellent quality ingredients make for difficult choices: with a crisp exterior and airy crumb, we loved the melanzane and the artichoke, but were also tempted by the porchetta and potato topped slices. Focaccia panini are another option (porchetta or mortadella are the perfect fillings here) and there’s a menu of trattoria dishes, fresh homemade pastas and the like (plus cocktails) that take you through to the evening. And a coffee counter serving espresso and cappuccino (proper Italian coffee options only!) with cornetti and other pastries. They are already expanding their kitchen to accommodate everything being made in-house, including the fresh mascarpone for the truly superb tiramisu.
Good to know The covered seating area is shared with next-door neighbours, Delicious Fish, Frankie Fenner Meat Merchants and De Vrije Burger, an ideal solution when everyone has different food cravings. No bookings.
Opening times Tuesday – Saturday, 8.30am – 9pm
Sunday, 8.30am – 2pm
Contact 060 795 9071, lellosdeli@gmail.com
Where to find it 7 Penarth Road, Three Anchor Bay, Sea Point, Cape Town

Novo Pizza and Wine Bar

Since opening in 2024, Novo has quickly grown into exactly the sort of neighbourhood pizza joint everyone wishes to have down the road. Ammy and Arno Steijn have created a relaxed and unpretentious vibe focussing on the essentials: excellent puffy-edged Neapolitan-style pizzas and an intriguing winelist that goes beyond the basics. The pizzas feature unusual combinations, such as the show-stopping Fellini (fennel sausage and caramelised red onion), the Bianco Ariela (feta, red onion, pistachio, honey and rocket) and the Rebel (with a whole burrata and prosciutto), and there are crowd-pleasing classics too. Look on the chalkboard for the latest in small-batch vintages and natural wines from boutique makers; there’s always something new by the glass to inspire an impromptu tasting. There are kids pizzette, aperitivi snacks (think caponata, pork polpette and garlic pizza) to precede your pizza, and an affogato, a Dom Pedro or a chocolate brownie to finish.
Opening times Monday –  Saturday, 5pm – 11pm
Contact 082 211 7489 (WhatsApp), novopizzawine@gmail.com
Where to find it 99 Durban Road, Little Mowbray, Cape Town

Lievita

Hidden away in Green Point on the upper floor of a spacious heritage building, Lievita has 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 upstairs patio looking out at the mountain, or grab a table inside where raw brick walls and wood floors have a timeless appeal.
Good to know A second Lievita recently opened in the Winelands at Stellenbosch Square.
Opening times Monday – Friday, 5pm – 9.30pm
Saturday + Sunday, 12pm – 9.30pm
Contact 021 300 1514
Where to find it 1 Marina Road, Green Point, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Ariel Modern Italian

At the buzzing heart of Sea Point’s Regent Road, you’ll find Ariel Modern Italian. An enticing, rosy-hued space where Naples meets New York, it’s the perfect place to wind down the day – whether it’s negronis with a bite on the side at the bar, or a fabulous meal with someone special at one of the booth tables. A short selection of Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizzas with pillowy crusts and generous toppings is just one of the options on the menu (we like the simplicity of the siciliana with anchovy garlic and olives, but if you’re a pepperoni fan go for the double pepperoni which is covered crust to crust). Then there are antipasti to share over a cocktail, pastas, wagyu burgers and mains such as a chicken piccata. Finish off with desserts such as a luscious Cremino, tiramisu or a classic NY-baked cheesecake and an espresso rumtini.
Good to know No children under 12 from 6pm.
Opening times Monday – Thursday, 6pm – 10pm
Friday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 023 3643, info@nonamehg.com
Where to find it 90 Regent Road, Sea Point, Cape Town
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Bacini’s Pizzeria & Deli

A longstanding neighbourhood favourite at the top of Kloof Street that has been in the Napoli family for more than 30 years, Bacini’s smacks of a Mediterranean holiday! Or rather a Roman holiday, with the traditional Roman thin-crust pizzas taking centre stage, and a buzzy atmosphere filling up tables fast in the evenings. Liam Tomlin is a regular and goes for their margherita pizza or the Baggio (salami, green pepper and onion). The menu riffs between classic Italian toppings, such as the Regina and the Four Seasons, and non-traditional South African faves – the Materazzi includes salami, peppadew, feta and avocado and there’s a Zola with bacon and banana. Sit out on the enclosed front verandah for al fresco vibes and Lion’s Head views.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9am – 11pm
Contact 021 423 6668, nelson@bacini.co.za
Where to find it 177 Kloof Street, Gardens, Cape Town
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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. It’s cosy and welcoming inside with chalkboard specials and an evening buzz, and in summer there are a few pavement tables under the long arched portico. 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.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 11am – 9.30pm
Contact 021 788 1123
Where to find it 76 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town

Limoncello

Under the shade of ancient milkwood trees, with ocean and mountain views, Limoncello is the Noordhoek reinvention of Luca and Cecilia Castiglione’s original southern Italian ristorante in Gardens, which was sorely missed when it closed in 2012. When they re-opened here in 2019, they kept the spirit of the original eatery – its neighbourhood family feel and delicious food from Luca’s native Naples – adding a breezy Noordhoek vibe (a tree grows inside the light-filled dining room). The excellent and authentic wood-fired, thin-based, puffy-crusted pizzas have made Limoncello the first South African restaurant to be admitted into the prestigious Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napolitani. Try the Piero with a ricotta-stuffed crust, or the Nonno Salvatore with ricotta, mortadella and pistachio pesto. You might also be tempted by the pastas, or fish caught that day by a local fisherman, which you’ll find featured on the chalkboard special menu. Don’t leave without enjoying a shot of Luca’s homemade limoncello!
Opening times Tuesday – Thursday, 5pm – 10pm
Friday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 071 114 8947, limoncellonoordhoek@gmail.com
Where to find it Corner Beach Road & Pine Street, Noordhoek, Cape Town
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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 Dog’s Bollocks at Yard in a light industrial backwater of Gardens. Known for its outspoken waitrons, unique service and excellent pizzas with four different slow-ferment dough styles, it’s unpretentious 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 Bookings are accepted only for groups of four or more people.
You can also enjoy their pizzas at Yard Pizza, their sister restaurant at the Time Out Market at the V&A Waterfront.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 7am – 10pm
Contact 083 440 7843, yardct@gmail.com
Where to find it 6 Roodehek Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Nonna Lina

Famous for its delicious thin-crust pizzas, this cosy ristorante pizzeria has been popular with locals and Labia cinema-goers since it opened in November 2003. Named for owner Antonello Scamuzzi’s beloved nonna, the menu is inspired by her authentic Sardinian home-cooking and traditional Italian recipes. There’s a welcoming, informal family feel here, both indoors by the wood-fired pizza oven and outdoors in the courtyard and terrace. In keeping with the Sardinian family vibes, try the Nonna Lina or the Sarda, which both add the piquancy of pecorino cheese to the mix. Or the Godfather with its rosa tomatoes, prawns and chilli oil. If you can resist the pizzas (it’s hard), you’ll discover an array of dishes (including handmade pasta) showcasing more vibrant Sardinian flavours and a wide variety of Italian favourites, with homemade tiramisu or ricotta cheesecake for dessert.
Opening times Monday, 5pm – 10.30pm
Tuesday – Thursday, 12pm – 10pm
Friday, Saturday + Sunday, 12pm – 10.15pm
Contact 021 424 4966, info@nonnalina.com
Where to find it 64 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town

Aegir Project

Chilled vibes by the sea and under the milkwoods in Noordhoek, the Aegir Project Brewery and Taproom serves delicious, more-posh-than-pub food, a creative array of hand-stretched Neapolitan-style pizzas, and some of the craftiest beers on the peninsula. Founded by Rory Lancellas, his wife Carey and their dog Aegir in 2015, this small independent brewery produces a range of natural and additive-free ales, pilsners, lagers and stouts, the perfect pairing to a pizza. Try the Nduja with Richard Bosman spicy pork, the Salami Honey Pot with hot honey and ricotta, or the Yaki Broccoli with cremezola, tenderstem broccoli and a miso yaki glaze. And there’s a vegan Jamaican Jerk Sensation with butternut and jerk sauce-marinaded jackfruit, vegan aioli and chilli oil.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 9am – 11pm
Contact 066 587 9324
Where to find it 65 Beach Road, Noordhoek, Cape Town
Book through DinePlan

Basilico

A cypress tree at the door conjures Tuscan hillsides at this popular pizzeria in the middle of Newlands Village, while the views from the covered upstairs terrace are of Table Mountain and the trees of the leafy suburb. Two spacious floors inside allow for convivial gatherings over thin-crust pizzas with generous toppings, plus pastas and hearty meat dishes. Beyond the more traditional pizza toppings, the gourmet section gets creative: slow-roast lamb, feta and mint; springbok carpaccio, avo and rocket; bacon, blue cheese and pear, so there is plenty to set your tastebuds aglow.
Good to know Gluten-free pizza bases (and pasta) are available.
Opening times Monday – Sunday, 12pm – 10pm
Contact 021 683 5989, anthony@basilico.co.za, talita@basilico.co.za
Where to find it 32 Kildare Road, Newlands, Cape Town

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 2012. 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 a long and varied menu of both authentic Italian topping combinations and creative combos named after the friends who inspired them. And as they say, it’s topped with laughter, love and aioli (which comes with the homemade breadsticks). 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 the traditional Neapolitan-style with puffy, slightly blistered edges. We recommend the Bianca Neve (mozzarella, smoked provola, blue cheese, wild mushrooms, rocket and pancetta) or the timeless simplicity of the Napoletana with a tomato base, buffalo mozzarella and basil.
Opening times Monday – Saturday, 12pm – 9pm
Contact 021 914 1414, 062 684 1811 (WhatsApp), info@pizzavesuviocpt.co.za
Where to find it Canal Edge Walkway, Tygervalley Waterfront, Tygervalley, Cape Town
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