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Melbourne’s best woodfired pizza: the definitive guide
It’s official: These are Melbourne’s 35 best woodfired pizzerias, plus where to find the city’s best gluten-free and vegan options.
When Melbourne met pizza, it was love at first slice.
The saucy relationship began in 1961, when Salvatore Della Bruna opened Melbourne’s first pizza restaurant, Toto’s Pizza House, on Lygon Street in Carlton. Since then, the city’s obsession with the scrumptious Italian staple has continued to deepen, with pizza consistently ranking among the state’s most-ordered fast foods.
From woodfired and stone baked to deep dish, cheesy crust and calzones, we’ve never met a style of pizza we didn’t like. So, to help you narrow down your search, we’ve scoured the city to find the most authentic (not to mention delicious), Neapolitan-style slices.
From Footscray to Frankston, Brunswick to Bentleigh, these are the city’s best wood-fired pizzerias, plus where the find Melbourne’s best gluten-free and vegan options.
+39 Pizzeria
362 Little Bourke St, Melbourne
Rustic timber tables bookended with red and black bentwood chairs beckon you to this Little Bourke Street stalwart, where everything from the menu to its moniker pays homage to the mother country (+39 is the international calling code for Italy). Their wagyu pizza – topped with fior di latte, rocket, wagyu bresaola, stracciatella and lemon – is a must eat.
S.P.Q.R.
26 Liverpool St, Melbourne
A relaxed Neapolitan-inspired pizzeria with a custom wood-fired oven and street art vibes? What’s not to love. S.P.Q.R’s sourdough is fermented for 24 hours to give the bases that extra tang and help achieve peak crispiness. Don’t miss the Salsiccia which comes scattered with pork and fennel sausage, for di latte, roasted grape and pecorino.
Da Guido 365
365 Little Collins St, Melbourne
For a taste of Italy without the passport stamp, make a beeline for Da Guido, the Melbourne outpost of famous Venetian restaurant, Da Guido’s. If you’re a sucker for a prawn pizza, the Scampi di Mare option at this cosy Little Collins establishment is one of the best.
Ombra Salumi Bar
76 Bourke St, Melbourne
From the Godfather of Italian cuisine in Melbourne, Guy Grossi, comes this laid-back Italian salumi and snack bar. Grab a table upstairs in front of the wall of ceiling-to-floor glass, order a zucchini flower, anchovy and taleggio pizza and wash it down with a glass of chinotto. Heaven.
Dom’s Social Club
301 Swanston St, Melbourne
What’s better than a pizza bar? A pizza and Lambrusco bar. Set over three storeys, Dom’s Social Club is dishing up daring wood-fired delights (think mortadella pizza with thyme and fermented honey) and a seriously cool wine list that name drops all the best Italian varietals.
Get a slice of the 400 Gradi's most awarded pizza in you. Image: Supplied.
400 Gradi
99 Lygon St, Brunswick East (multiple locations)
There are pizza restaurants and then there’s 400 Gradi. Helmed by award-winning pizzaiolo Johhny Di Francesco, the eatery is one of the country’s most accoladed pizza restaurants, claiming the title of ‘Best Pizzeria in Oceania’ at the 50 Top Pizza awards in Naples for three years running. Gradi's pizza-making philosophy is guided by the rules of the Associazone Verace Pizza Napoletana (AVPN), or True Neapolitan Pizza Association, with di Francesco the first Australian to be inducted into the society. So coveted is di Francesco's dough recipe that only two people (excluding Johnny) know how to make it. Try the Margherita Verace - awarded the world's best pizza in 2014, or the Nutella calzone. Perfetto.
DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar
295 Drummond St, Carlton (multiple locations)
If cult pizzerias were a thing, DOC’s original Carlton outpost would be at the top of the list. DOC, which opened its doors in 2007, is often heralded as the godfather of woodfired pizza in Melbourne and, once you wrap your tastebuds around its signature brand of sliced perfection, you’ll understand why.
Woodstock Pizzicheria
72 Napier St, Essendon
This is not your average Italian pizzeria. Woodstock’s Roman-style recipes have been handed down through three generations of pizza makers. The family’s deep love for the art of pizza shows, with Woodstock’s current PM (pizza master, that is) consistently ranking among the top 10 in the world.
Takeaway Pizza
535 High St, Preston
If you’re totally addicted to base, the thin-crust, American-style slices of Preston’s Takeaway Pizza will not disappoint. The bustling pizza parlour is all about scrumptious pizzas washed down with superb cocktails. The mushroom pizza is a fan favourite.
Farm Vigano
10 Bushmans Way, South Morang
Escape to Tuscany at Farm Vigano, previously the home of iconic Melbourne restaurateur Mario Vigano (of Mario’s in Exhibition Street). The heritage-listed property is now home to a bustling Italian restaurant. Stop in for woodfired pizza on the terrace and stay for a game of bocce in the orchard.
Go nuts for the nutella pizza at 3 Grains. Image: Supplied.
3 Grains Pizza
68 Stevedore St, Williamstown
It’s the combination of wheat, spelt and rye flours fermented for three days that makes these pizzas not only taste amazing but also the perfect combination of crispy and light. These artisan, Roman-style ‘pizzas al taglio’ are made in the traditional rectangular shape. Don't miss the dessert pizza.
Harley & Rose
572 Barkly St, West Footscray
Warm hospitality and tasty pizzas are the name of the game at this unpretentious neighbourhood eatery with a less-is-more approach. We can’t get enough of the pippis pizza with parsley, lemon and cream: simple, yet stunning.
Teddy Picker
5/116 Watton St, Werribee
If you like your pizza sassy, you’ll love the feisty woodfired finds at Teddy Picker; the lively Werribee eatery putting a tantalising spin on the old classics. The Cracker Jack pizza is, well, a cracker. It comes topped with pork belly, Thai basil, pickled chilli and a little crackling. Traditional, no. Delicious, yes.
Pier 71 Bar e Cucina
71 Pier St, Altona
Enjoy a pizza at this vibrant Altona trattoria-come-mercato, where you can also stock up on your favourite gourmet Italian foodstuffs, pantry essentials and wine. Try the spicy calzone (a folded pizza) with stretchy mozzarella, hot salami, ricotta, basil and chilli oil.
Pizza d’Asporto
2-6 Ballarat St, Yarraville (multiple locations)
You’ll want to wear loose-fitting clothing when dining at Yarraville’s Pizza d’Asporto. The pizzeria prides itself on making authentic, thin-based pizzas, topped with the freshest and highest-quality ingredients. Try the potato pizza with mozzarella, potato, taleggio, caramelised leek and rosemary.
Baby knows where the pizza party is at. Image: Supplied.
Baby Pizza
631-633 Church St, Richmond
From the dream team behind Chin Chin, Hawker Hall and Grill Americano is south-side homeslice, Baby Pizza. The Lucas Group’s casual neighbourhood diner is slinging a solid list of authentic pizzas as well as a few original creations. Carbonara pizza, anyone?
Pizza Republica
668 Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills
Sure, the pizza at this Surrey Hills institution is delicious, but it’s the doughnuts that get the people going. If you like your slices on the experimental side, try the HSP pizza (marinated chicken, lamb, BBQ, yoghurt and chilli sauce) and be sure to grab a box of classic sugar-dusted Italian doughtnuts.
Mulino Woodfire Pizzeria
125 Thompsons Rd, Bulleen
If pizza made from organic, stone-milled flour that’s free from preservatives and bleaching sounds like your kind of deal, you’ll be all about that base at Mulino Woodfire Pizzeria. The pork belly pizza (fior di latte, slow-cooked pork belly, wilted chickory, pecorino, lemon) is an absolute gem.
La Lupa Romana
2/11 Leith Rd, Montrose
This hidden gem at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges has been slapping the [pizza] base for a decade. The simple, seasonal menu highlights the best quality local and imported ingredients allowing them to dish up rustic yet refined flavours that remain true to the authentic Italian style.
Zero95 Pizza
4 Doncaster Rd, Doncaster East (multiple locations)
Zero95 Pizza was founded by four Italian boys with a shared love of food, family and culture. Named after the area code for the small, coastal Sicilian village from which their nonnas originated, the lively pizzeria is a celebration of la dolce vita, with their pizzas made the same way nonna used to.
It's not a stretch to say Freddy's has some of the best dough in town. Image: Supplied.
Freddy’s
78 Chapel St, Windsor
When the menu includes a pizza named after an Oasis song, you know you’re in for a good time. What’s The Story Salvatore – loaded with San Marzano tomatoes, prosciutto, mascarpone, rucola and parmigiana – is an absolute banger. As is the rest of the friendly eatery’s food and drink offering.
A25 Pizzeria
720 Chapel St, South Yarra
A neon sign saying ‘Pizza is Sexy’ welcomes you to A25 Pizzeria. And they’re right: pizza is sexy at this authentic South Yarra establishment, which is Coeliac Australia accredited for its gluten-free pizzas. The Sexy Truffle and Prawn Star pizzas live up to the hype. They also make a mean garlic focaccia.
Pizza Strada & Bar
3a/46-64 Outlook Dr, Dandenong North
If you’re going to do something, you may as well do it right. That’s the philosophy behind this Dandenong North pizzeria where pizza – and only pizza – is on the menu. A top-secret 48-hour dough recipe makes the base, which is then layered with the finest traditional pizza toppers.
Da Giuseppe
189 Centre Rd, Bentleigh
As far as pizzerias go, Da Giuseppe is about as traditional as they get. The simple décor matches the menu, where classic Italian flavours are the focus. Pull up a table in the intimate back bar and order an Isabella pizza (fior di latte, eggplant, tomato, basil, chilli) and a lychee martini. Buon appetito.
Meat Flour Wine
248 Boundary Rd, Braeside
Inspired by meals shared around the family table is this bustling Braeside diner. The family-run restaurant prides itself on quality food and generous hospitality, an ethos that has seen it garner a loyal fan base. Try the prosciutto pizza – you won’t regret it.
Flour Child is the official supplier of Pinsa Romana in Melbourne. Image: Supplied.
Flour Child
Level 1, 77 Acland Street St Kilda
Move over Naples, Pinsa Romana is the new kid on the pizza block, and St Kilda’s funky Flour Child eatery is serving up some of the best. This Roman-style pizza uses a unique blend of flours (soy, rice and 00 wheat), extended proving time and hand-stretching to create a crispy-yet-fluffy dough.
Teo’s Pizza & Bar
6 Railway Parade, Highett
The longer a dough ferments, the better it tastes. That’s the secret behind the deliciousness that is Teo’s Pizza & Bar (formerly Matteo’s Pizza Parlour). Here, tables are dressed in chequered red and white cloths, so grab a pepperoni pizza and a spritz and revel in the homey, little Italy vibes.
Hello Bello
179 Bluff Rd, Black Rock
With a herringbone-tiled floor, exposed brick walls and a concrete bar, Hello Bello is upping the bayside pizza ante with a thoroughly modern menu that puts a new spin on the old classic. The uber chic pizzeria’s contemporary offering also has a strong vegan representation.
Figo Pizza
73 Brighton Rd, Elwood
For a mouth-watering menu with a modern twist, head to Figo Pizza. The Elwood hot spot offers a delectable array of same-same-but-different tastes. The Diego Armando – mozzarella, sausage, chilli and garlic broccoli rabe, roasted potatoes and oregano – is next level.
Cucina Dolce
426 Nepean Hwy, Chelsea
Blink and you might miss this award-winning Chelsea eatery. From the Margherita to the Mexican, the coastal charmer’s menu features a medley of classic and contemporary flavours, made using the freshest local ingredients.
Green Acre in Brunswick lives up to its name. Image: Supplied.
Green Acre
328 Victoria Street, Brunswick
If you’ve been hunting for the sustainable, vegan and gluten-free friendly pizzeria of your dreams, we’ve found it. Brunswick’s Green Acre is slinging some of the state’s most delicious discs while also doing their bit for the planet. Even the restaurant was almost entirely made from recycled materials.
11 Inch Pizza
7A/353 Little Collins St, Melbourne
The pizza masters at 11 Inch want you to enjoy your pizza. That’s why they’ve done their best to curate a menu that caters to everyone’s tastes – and dietary requirements. As well as vegetarian, vegan and lactose-free options, the pizzeria has perfected its own gluten-free dough.
Miss Kneady
124 James St, Templestowe
All you knead is a big appetite at this Templestowe go-to. The popular pizzeria specialises in catering for gluten intolerances and plant-based diets, while still drawing inspiration from Italy’s regional traditions. Visit Monday to Thursday for all-you-can-eat pizza.
The Station House
66 Main St, Gembrook
There’s a reason this Gembrook gem was voted Reader’s Choice Winner in the Australian Good Food Guide’s 2019 awards. Housed in a charming white weatherboard cottage, opposite the historic Puffing Billy railway, and with a strong gluten-free and vegan offering, it’s a feast for all the senses.
Back Alley Sally’s
4 Yewers Street, Footscray
You’ll wannabe devouring all the pizzas at Back Alley Sally’s, a nostalgic Footscray eatery inspired by 90s pop supergroup the Spice Girls. The bases are vegan by default and the menu features plenty of bangers, including the Zig Ah Zig Ah, Viva Forever, Baby Slice, Posh Slice and Scary Slice.
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