(Image by Bocca)
Cape Town
Hail Pizza, CBD
We’ve featured these newbies recently, because they are a serving up some real fine pizzas. They have combined the traditional American style with the Italian. Pizzas are crisp and thin at the centre with a slightly thicker crust.
Bocca and Burrata, Cbd and Woodstock
These two Italian eateries are under the same ownership and both serve their signature Neopolitan pizzas. The pizzas have a smaller diameter, and are cooked for around a minute in an extremely hot wood-fired oven. The dough remains soft and stringy, with a charred bubbly exterior. The classic margarita is always a win.
Nonna Lina, Gardens
A city bowl favourite serving up thin crispy pizzas, with classic Italian toppings. The cosy restaurant soaks up it’s warmth from the pizza oven, where you can see them flowing in and out and getting sliced up. Try the Parma pizza or they also do a brilliant calzone.
(Image by Nonna Lina)
La Frasca, Gardens
La Frasca is a tiny neighbourhood, family-run Italian restaurant, that serves specialty dishes and incredible pizza. They have a daily changing specials board which features dishes like the home-cured ham calzone and the pork belly and artichoke pizza. The unique pizza concoctions are always stacked with an abundance of toppings.
Big Route, Green Point
Big Route serves sensational gourmet pizzas in a modern Italian way. The pizzas are a little more rustic not following the perfectly round formula. The bases are super crispy with bubbles in the dough, and always wearing a generous amount of toppings. Try the Luna piena of bacon, spinach, feta and onions.
Carlyles, Vredehoek
This is where the locals flock, whether it’s for a beer, a lengthy sit-down dinner or a quick pizza. They offer a great pizza delivery service if you’re in the area, or you can collect you pizza from the little take-away hatch next to the main restaurant. Otherwise enjoy a laid-back dinner at the restaurant which offers lovely outdoor seating. Try the Thai chicken pizza.
Bacini‘s, Gardens
Bacini’s has stood the test of time, sitting proudly at the top of Kloof Street since 1994.The ristorante and pizzeria, has an authentic look and feel with Italian football memorabilia and family photos scattered on the walls. The pizzas are always faultless, made on thin crispy bases.
Postincino’s, Sea Point and Hout Bay
The original Sea Point restaurant is over 15 years old, and has regulars streaming in every week. It’s owned by two old friends who are driven by the sheer passion for their restaurant and the people it serves. The pizzas are without a doubt one of the best in town, with ultra thin large crispy bases.
Borusso’s, Kenilworth
This is a Southern Suburbs in institution, and a go-to pizza for so many in the area. They rose to fame with their ultra thin and crispy pizzas, and the restaurant’s warm and intimate setting. Try the Porcopeppa or the Deluxe!
Joburg
’86 Public, Braamfontein
86 Public epitomises the modern, trendy pizzeria with clean, industrial-style decor, and high-rise windows looking out onto Melle Street. You can sit inside or outside with your crispy, large wood-fried pizza soaking up the area’s buzzing atmosphere. These pizzas are not to be missed! Try one of their signature pizzas like the butternut, sweet corn, zucchini, basil pesto, sour cream and rosemary.
(Image by ’86 Public)
Piza e Vino, various branches
Piza e Vino prides themselves on good quality fresh ingredients, and authentic methods in preparing their food. Their pizzas are highly regarded with a mixture of classic and innovative topping combos. They thrive on simplicity, focusing on good food and consistency for their customers.
(Image by Piza e Vino)
Moda Ristorante, Craighall Park
Moda is a very rustic and down-to-earth pizzeria, and they also specialise in homemade risotto and pasta. The owners are extremely passionate about traditional Italian food, which is why everything is made from scratch with high quality ingredients. The crispy, thin-based pizzas are made with classic ingredients we know and love like porcini mushrooms, Parma ham, Italian pork sausage, artichokes and more. Read our review here.
Café Del Sol Botanico, Bryanston
Botanico is one of 4 Café Del Sol restaurants. This restaurant group really know how it’s done with incredible Italian food from simple to fine-dining. Botanico serve both pizza bianco and traditional tomato base. You can also get the pizetta size at a reduced price. Try the parma ham, truffle and rocket pizza or the Italian fennel sausage, chili and fennel seeds.
Café Picobella Trattoria, Melville
Picobella is a lovely Italian restaurant in Melville’s busy dining hub. The restaurant is filled with character with arched walkways, red and white gingham and a quaint courtyard outside. The pizzas are superb and also offer gluten-free or wheat-free options. You can also sit on the veranda and watch Melville go by.
(Image by Picobella)
Durban
La Casa Nostra, Umdloti
This is one of Durban’s finest restaurants with food that never fails on quality and authentic Italian flavours. The pizzas have a unique light and flakey dough, with a selection of traditional Italian toppings. Rest assured there won’t be a take-away box, they’re too good. Also don’t forget nonna’s homemade Tiramisu!
(Image by La Casa Nostra)
Lupa Osteria, Hillcrest, Westville and Durban North
Lupa is a lovely neighbourhood Osteria, offering it’s customers a relaxed, homey environment to enjoy real Italian cooking. The contemporary restaurants, serve doughy wood-fired pizzas made from imported Italian flour. Try the potato, creamed leeks, garlic and feta pizza.
(Image by Lupa Osteria)
La Bella, Berea
La Bella is a really popular Durban hangout with a great pub, and cosy dining area, which spills outside beside Berea park. The food and drinks are reasonably priced and they have a wide variety of pizzas, which are made right before you. They also deliver if you’re less than 5km away.
Spiga D’oro, Durban North
Spiga has made a name for itself over the last 30 years with their restaurant on Florida Road. Their newer addition in Durban North has the advantage of serving wood-fired pizzas (Florida uses gas). They also have a huge outdoor area for Durban’s warm climate, and often have a live band.
Al Firenze, La Lucia
One of the best Italian joints in Durban with a vibrant atmosphere, in the leafy suburb of La Lucia. The restaurant’s charm and energy is felt before you’ve even walked through the door, with it’s lovely open plan design that spills outside. The pizzas aren’t shy with the cheese and toppings, and arrive at the table bubbling hot out the oven.
(Image by Al Firenze)
The Mad Italian, Durban North
This restaurant has a lot of love attached to it. The family-run business, welcomes families and friends in the neighbourhood to share good, hearty Italian food that is made with the utmost passion. A father-son duo opened this humble, and intimate pizza joint in 2006. Clad in red and white gingham, The Mad Italians serve up some of the best pizzas in Durban.
Pretoria
Capeesh?, Brooklyn
Cappeesh? is a well established Pretoriastaple, providing an elegant Italian experience. The restaurant is filled with charm and sophistication, and serves authentic Italian pizzas like the regina, the bolagnia and the Capeesh? of Gorganzola and spinach.
Toni’s Fully Furnished Pizza Co., Rietfontein and Menlo Park
Toni’s offers a comfy, unpretentious setting for the whole family. Both restaurants use colour to create a fun, quirky interior, that gives the restaurant a playful, vibrant attitude. Pizzas are cooked in the signature multi-coloured pizza oven, and are always crispy, thin-based, and offer a huge variety of toppings from strawberries to lamb to artichokes. They also come in either a pizette size, or large.
(Image by Toni’s)
Pizzeria Milan, Mulder’s Mile
The names says it all, Pizzeria Milan, is Italian through and through. The restaurant is run by the owners and is a family business, with much care and passion. Large thin crust, pizzas are served on wooden boards with a generous amount of toppings.
Alfie’s Pizzeria, Hazelwood
Alfie’s is a really popular pizzeria and restaurant with a great deck outside and a constant lively and vibey atmosphere. The pizzas are world class merging the perfect combination of doughy and crispy. Toppings are traditional with buffalo mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, zucchini and more. They also do outstanding calzone.
(Image by Alfie’s)
Port Elizabeth
Elephant Walk, Colleen Glen
Elephant’s Walk lends itself to a great family day out. The restaurant and pub are nestled beautifully among trees and surrounding greenery. It’s a peaceful setting and a perfect place for children to play. The artisan pizzas are widely popular due to their large crispy base and exciting toppings.
Charlie’s Pizza and Pasta, Summerstrand
Charlie’s is a modern café with a focus on the Italian staples: pizza and pasta. The pizzas are made using slow fermented dough, making sure the dough is light and crispy and full of flavour. The ingredients are locally sourced, by trusted suppliers, ensuring a high standard of quality always. They are open throughout the day and have a lovely balcony with an exquisite view of the sea.
(Image by Charlie’s)
Il Tricolore, Walmer
Il Tricolore is a no-fuss Italian ristorante with a focus on good honest food. The ingredients are imported from Italy, so that food is prepared the Italian way, while fresh produce remains locally sourced. Pizza preparation follows the same Italian quality control, using stone ground flour and fresh, creamy Fior di latte.
Left someone out? Comment below with your favourite wood-fired pizza joint.