Sometimes you just need pizza. During a recent trip to the Philippines I found myself less than enamored with the local cuisine. After a quick flight from Cebu to El Nido on AirSWIFT Airlines we landed hungry and decided only Pizza would hit the spot. We weren’t expecting much from the small town but were blown away by Trattoria Altrove. It got me to thinking about where the world’s best pizzas can be found. Outside of Italy of course! I put the call out to my fellow bloggers to nominate their favourite pizza and I chose the top 15 for this post. Read on for all the details …

 

1. Trattoria Altrove – El Nido, Philippines

As soon as we dumped our bags at El Nido One Suite where we stayed we made a beeline for Trattoria Altrove El Nido. We couldn’t get in on the first night and left vowing to return. They don’t take bookings so on the second attempt we arrived early and joined the queue. After removing our shoes and climbing the spiral staircase we were seated in a dimly lit dining room. The pizzas are made in traditional Neapolitan style in a wood fired oven using imported ingredients. There is a decent range and they are happy to accommodate off menu requests like our request to add parmesan cheese to our pepperoni pizza. It was divine. So good that we returned three times while we were in Palawan.

 

 

READ MORE ON EL NIDO:

Everything You Need to know about El Nido Ferries

El Nido Tour A: Miniloc Lagoons & More

Getting to El Nido On Airswift Airlines

 

 

2. Winnies Gourmet Pizza Bar – Queenstown, New Zealand

Dining at Winnies was a happy accident. The restaurant we had indented to visit had a massive wait and we weren’t that committed so we wandered to nearby Winnies Queenstown. I’m sure glad we did. Winnies Queenstown pushes the boundaries with their innovative menu and I guarantee there are varieties on the menu that you won’t find anywhere else. After much deliberation, I decided on the Zucha which was a delightful mix of pumpkin, feta and almonds. The pizza was perfectly cooked and charred to perfection. If you find yourself in the Adventure Capital Of The World, make sure you head to Winnies for your pizza fix.

 

 

READ MORE ON NEW ZEALAND:

Hotel Montreal: A Christchurch Luxury Hotel

Amazing Short Mount Cook Walks

Te Puia: Gushing Geysers & Māori Culture

 

 

And now over to my fellow bloggers for their top recommendations …

 

 

3. Street Pizza and The Wine Houzz – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Entering an arcade from the busy street, we took the stairs up to Street Pizza and The Wine Houzz Chiang Mai. From the moment you enter the restaurant you can’t help but be charmed by the fairy lit antique trishaw and the colonial style arched windows and doorways that lead out onto the veranda. We have been coming to Street Pizza Chiang Mai for a while and always choose our favourites the zingy Diavola pizza which is topped with pepperoni, jalapeno and black olives and the healthy Veggie pizza, topped with aubergine, green peppers, onion and black olives, both are scrumptious. On our last visit to Street Pizza Chiang Mai we wanted to try something different so we chose the BBQ Chicken pizza which is topped with lashings of smoked chicken, bell pepper, onion, pineapple and drizzled with BBQ sauce. It’s a taste combination that never disappoints. The BBQ Chicken cost $US10 for a 12-inch thin crust pizza. For an exotic Asian twist, the Kimchi Bacon pizza topped with bacon, kimchi (Korean fermented vegetables) and sesame seeds, gives a taste of Asian fusion. The saltiness of the bacon and touch of fire from the chilli added an interesting flavour mix that was surprisingly good and it didn’t break the bank at $US10.50 for a 12-inch thin crust pizza. Street Pizza Chiang Mai has a great atmosphere and is popular with tourists and locals alike. It fills up quickly so it’s advisable to book. Street Pizza Chiang Mai is located close to the Night Markets on Tha Phae Road in Chiang Mai Thailand.

Alan & Rosalind @ Frequent Traveller

 

 

READ MORE ON THAILAND:

One Day In Bangkok

Everything You Need To Know Before Visiting Phuket

Where to Eat in Koh Phi Phi

 

 

4. Don Chendo – Playa del Carmen, Mexico

You will not find Don Chendo Playa Del Carmen on the busy, tourist filled 5^th Ave with the hundreds of other restaurants in Playa del Carmen. Which may be part of the reason we love it so much. This small, cozy, Italian restaurant on Avenida 30 was opened in 2013 by a chef from NYC. He moved to Playa and wanted to share his traditional Italian recipes with the community. Russell (his name is actually not Don Chendo) grew up in an old Italian neighborhood and honed his cooking skills with old Italian grandmothers so you know you’re in for a treat. Although he’s from NYC, his specialty is deep dish Chicago style pizza and it is beyond delicious! His secret is using the freshest ingredients and either making everything from scratch himself or hand picking local suppliers. He purchases green tomatoes and ripens them at home to ensure they are at their peak when making the sauce. In his words “Tomatoes should taste like summer for me to use them in my recipes.” The sausage is custom made for him to his exact specifications and on the Margarita pizza he uses both shredded and fresh sliced mozzarella and the freshest basil leaves. His ultimate goal is to serve meals at Don Chendo Playa Del Carmen that taste like your grandmother home cooked them for you…assuming your grandmother was Italian and a great cook.

Sarah @ Live, Dream, Discover

 

 

5. Island Plantation Hotel – Bocas del Tora, Panama

One of the best pizzas we’ve ever had was at the Island Plantation hotel in Bocas del Toro in Panama. The hotel’s restaurant is famous in the area for their pizza. They have their own outdoor wood fired oven, which produces some of the finest thin crust pizzas. They also have a variety of other seafood dishes on the menu, along with salads and pasta dishes. But the pizzas are what they’re most famous for. The pizzas cost around $10 each and are huge! We absolutely loved it because they’re well cooked, with a variety of delicious toppings that you can customize. But the main bonus is the location – a freshly made pizza on the remote Bluff Beach in Bocas del Toro is just divine. They also have a beautiful outdoor pool to hangout at.

Stefan & Sebastien @Nomadic Boys

 

 

6. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, USA

Tony’s Pizza Napoletana in North Beach District, San Francisco has the world’s best pizza outside of Italy because it’s home to the Margherita pizza ($23), which won the “best pizza” award in the World Pizza Cup in Naples Italy in 2007. Only 73 of the award winning pizzas are made each day and they are fresh, juicy, and satisfying. The restaurant also offers pizzas prepared in 6 different varieties (Classic American, Classic Italian, Pizza Romana, New York Style, Napoletana, and Californian). Don’t forget to ask for their own bottled chili oil which is available for purchase. We love it, we make it a point to go to the restaurant every time we run out. You can eat all of this inside the cozy restaurant, or sit outside eating with a view of the Washington Square and Saints Peter and Paul Church – where famous pictures from Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio’s wedding were taken and featured in movies like Dirty Harry and the Dead Pool.

Emily @ Henry and Andrew’s Guide

 

 

7. Dusty Knuckle Pizza – Cardiff, Wales

Named as one of the UK’s top 10 pizzerias by The Guardian and top three ‘pop up to permanent’ by The Sunday Times in 2017, Dusty Knuckle Pizza took the Cardiff street food scene by storm when they launched as a pop-up pizzeria only a few years ago. In 2016, they opened a permanent shop at Crafty Devil Brewing Co’s Cellar Shop and Bar in Cardiff and within just six weeks, they outgrew the space and moved to an even bigger premises at the nearby PrintHaus. Freshly made to order, the pizzas are baked in a homemade wood-fired pizza oven and a range of toppings are available, all of which draw upon locally sourced ingredients wherever possible. As a self-confessed goats cheese addict, I am extremely fond of ‘The Smokey Goat’ – an indulgent combination of San Marzano tomato, goats cheese and Inner City pickle festive relish (£9). Pair it with some buttered sauerkraut and pear (£3.50) or a beetroot and blood orange salad (£5) for a flavoursome feast.

Kacie @ The Rare Welsh Bit

 

 

8. Made in Sud – St Paul’s Bay, Malta

I found the most amazing pizza on Facebook and it led me to “Made in Sud”, a tiny pizzeria in St Paul’s Bay, Malta.  There’s a glorious blue and white tiled pizza oven that takes pride of place in this busy Italian eatery. The menu features salads, antipasti, pasta dishes and of course pizza. I couldn’t see the pizza I wanted so I had showed them the Facebook photo. Ah, our waitress said with a smile, yes, that’s not on our menu, it’s a special pizza made in honour of a friend, Giovanni called the San Giovanni. It’s a traditional Italian pizza, with a tomato base, mozzarella, Italian ham, sweet, fresh cherry tomatoes and crushed pistachios.  The piece de la resistance a huge ball of Burrata de Andria in the centre. I thought I’d died and gone to heaven. When the check came, it turned out I had. Two glorious pizzas and two beers =  25 euros.

Sarah @ A Social Nomad

 

 

9. Narona – Cape Town, South Africa

After two months of overland travel from Kenya to South Africa, we were thrilled to be in Cape Town to take advantage of everything the city had to offer. After checking into our Airbnb, we asked our host to suggest a dinner spot for us. Without hesitation he recommended Narona, which happened to be right across the street. We order two pizzas, a Margherita and a Spicy Sausage (approximately 75 Rand each) plus a couple of local microbrews to sip while we waited. Narona also offers a good selection of salads and pasta dishes. Our pizzas arrived and we knew we were in for something awesome as the pizza comes out as one big piece. You can cut it yourself or tear pieces off as you eat. Both pizzas were phenomenal and we could taste the freshness of the ingredients used. Narona has cool industrial vibe and we happily ate there two more times during our time in Cape Town.

Matt & Alana @ Great Big Globe

 

 

10. Pizzeria Via Mercanti – Toronto, Canada

Pizzeria Via Mercanti in the Kensington Market Toronto has been voted the “Best Pizza in Toronto” and the people are not wrong.  We had the Pizza Mercanti double layer pizza and it was literally a slice of pizza heaven. The first layer has sausage and cheese including mozzarella and ricotta, which they make in house. The base pizza contains hot sopressata, ricotta, prosciutto cotto and mushrooms. This is then topped with margherita pizza. It is a holy union and puts cardboard pizza to shame. And it’s also only CAD$20! 80 per cent of the ingredients are imported from Italy, including canned peeled tomatoes and Caputo “00” flour from the owner’s hometown. Also imported from Italy are the pizziaolos and the head chef along with the custom-made wood burning pizza oven. As you sit there you can almost imagine you are in Italy. The sounds and the scent of basil and rosemary lingering in the air transport you there. The menu contains many Italian favourites from Arancini to pasta dishes to gelato all of which are made fresh in the restaurant.

Faith @ XYU and Beyond

 

 

11. Zachery’s Pizza – Noosa, Australia

Located both along Hastings Street Noosa and along Gympie Terrace in Noosaville, Zachary’s is one of our favourite places to eat in Noosa.  These guys claim to make the best pizza on the Sunshine Coast and I must say I agree! Zachary’s have a huge range of traditional gourmet pizzas with over 30 pizzas to choose from.  I have tried a few, but I think my favourite would have to be the Sicilian, with gorgonzola cheese, olives, chorizo sausage and sun-dried tomatoes.  Pizzas start at $16 for a small and $18 for a large. Other menu items include pastas, salads, breads, dip and a simple kids menu.  They provide gluten free and vegetarian options as well. I just love Zachary’s pizza for its tasty pizzas, but more than that I love the location and the super friendly efficient service we receive every single time.

Melissa @ Thrifty Family Travels

READ MORE ON THE SUNSHINE COAST:

Fabulous Cheap Eats On The Sunshine Coast

Novotel Twin Waters Sunshine Coast

17 of the Best Sunshine Coast Markets

Sunshine Coast Long Weekend Itinerary

 

 

12. 4P’s Pizza – Hanoi, Vietnam

“Delivering Wow.  Sharing happiness.”  The mission statement of 4P’s Pizza is enough to bring you to the restaurant and the fresh, local ingredients used to create delicious pizzas will keep you coming back.  Vietnamese food is arguably one of the best cuisines in Southeast Asia, if not globally. Even with all the amazing local meal choices, I am always searching for a good slice of pizza. 4P’s Pizza takes the care and quality of Vietnamese cooking and inserts it into their Italian dishes. A highlight of their menu is the Burrata Parma Ham Margherita. They make their own home made Burrata cheeses which are so fresh! If you can’t get to Hanoi check out 4P’s farm to table food in Ho Chi Minh or Da Nang.

Abbie @ Speck On The Globe

 

 

13. Villa Paradiso – Oslo, Norway

A lot of food chains claim to have the best pizza in town but nothing compares to the taste of authentic Italian pizza by Villa Paradiso. Located in the busy streets of Grunnerløkka, this hidden gem is worth the wait (which happens when you forget to book a table in advance). We were lucky enough to get a table right away on a Sunday night and boy it was jam-packed. The restaurant serves Caprese for breakfast, Italian salads for lunch and pizzas all day. There were lots of choices on the menu. Prices range from USD$12 to USD$22 which is great because we were backpacking through Norway on a budget. Since it was our scheduled cheat day, we opted for 2 pizzas to share; Cappricciosa and Marinara. The first bite of the pizza is always a make or break for us. Villa Paradiso exceeded all our expectations. The thin crust was topped with gooey cheese and tasty toppings. The unmatched smoky flavor of the pizza was a huge plus and two pizzas only set us back USD$34. On top of the best pizza in Oslo, Villa Paradiso also has a great atmosphere and friendly staff.

Pierre @ Anything Under Our Stars

 

 

14. Saraya Art Cafe – Goa, India

Most people would not associate India with great pizza. However, Saraya Art Cafe in Goa changes that. Located along the main road connecting the city of Panjim to the popular beaches in North Goa, this place is difficult to miss. The pizzas are only served at dinner and are the restaurant’s biggest draw. The Saraya Special Pizza which is topped with caramelized onions, spinach, cherry tomatoes, herbed mushrooms, feta cheese, mozzarella cheese and their special secret sauce is said to be the most popular. The unique pizzas at Saraya Art Cafe are made using organically grown vegetables and attract loyal customers who return on regular basis. Leave room for a vegan ice cream for dessert and make sure you check out the beautiful art gallery and ecostay while you are there. Average cost is Rs.400 per person (including a pizza and a beverage).

Tamshuk @ Tamz Explores

 

 

15. Au Petit Bois Vert – Strasbourg, France

We are from New York City and one thing we know is pizza. That said, one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had didn’t come from my hometown. It was in Strasbourg in the Alsace Region of France. To be more specific, the best flammkuchen we have ever had was in Au Petit Bois Vert in the historic center of Strasbourg. Akin to what we New Yorkers call a Sicilian pie, it’s square. However, this is where the resemblances stops. This pie is thin crust and rather than red sauce variety the base is covered bechamel. Toppings such as onions and bacon are offered but you won’t find heavy laden cheese on top. It’s usually a very light goats cheese or even a crème fraîche. We loved it because it was just different enough and satisfied just like the old standard. Starting at €8 a pie, it can’t be beaten. Order a good bottle of Gruner with it and you’ll find yourself wanting another. It’s that good. Take it from New Yorkers that know their pizza.

Brenda @ Dish Our Town

 

 

16. Pizza Phan Luang – Luang Prabang, Laos

If you find yourself in Luang Prabang, the ancient capital of Laos, you will appreciate our Worlds best pizza recommendation. Especially if you’ve been travelling extensively around South East Asia and are in desperate need of some hearty, comforting, and familiar food. Pizza Phan Luang, located across the delicate bamboo bridge, serves some of the best stone-baked pizzas outside of Italy. Although not the cheapest place for budget travellers, the freshly made pizzas topped with high quality ingredients such as anchovies, shipped to Luang Prabang all the way from Italy, are worth the splurge. Pizzas here start at around USD$7. Charlie especially loved the creamy Pizza Carbonara stuffed with mushrooms, ham, and cheese, yum! We loved the friendly vibe, simplicity and the fact that the pizzas here are made fresh every evening. As you can imagine, it was hard to resist the temptation, so we enjoyed the cheesie slices paired with BeerLao on several occasions.

Charlie & Kristina @ Map Trotting

 

 

Which of these world’s best pizzas can you imagine yourself eating? Or do you have a recommendation of your own? I’d love to hear you thoughts in the comments below.

 

 

Until Next Time …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin “World’s Best Pizzas” for later!

 

 

Disclosure Statement: This post is not sponsored. I paid for my meal at Altrove Trattoria in full. The information I have provided in this article is based on my own personal experiences and has not been influenced in any way by the brand(s) featured. The contributions provided by my fellow bloggers have been accepted in good faith with the expectation that they comply with the Terms & Conditions of this Website. This post contains affiliate links which if clicked may earn me a small commission on purchases at no extra cost to you.