The 13 best pizza places in Brisbane right now

When it comes to pizza royalty, head chef and co-owner of Elementi, Stefano Spataro, wears the crown. Not only was he awarded the title of best pizza chef from Australia at the 2024 World Pizza Championship held in Italy, but he also ranked 45th in the most ambitious ‘Pizza Classica’ category, 29th in Napoletan style and 18th in gluten-free pizza-making. You can try these award-winning slices for yourself at Elementi, a favourite among Paddington pizza lovers since 2021. Five staple rossa and four bianca bases are on offer here, but it’s in the seasonal sfizio (on a whim) menu where the fun really begins. Think stuffed calzones, crispy piadsa (folded pizza), seasonal pizza paninis and fried pizza focaccias. It's an unadulterated sensory overload of pizza and pizza-adjacent options, and we can only look forward to more marvellous creations fusing influences from the owners’ Brazilian, Colombian and Sicilian roots.

Order the: ‘Calzone’ – fillings change with the seasons

Tartufo is the gold standard of traditional Naples-style pizza in Brisneyland and one of only two pizzerias in Queensland to boast membership to the ‘True Neapolitan Pizza Association’. Needless to say, they take pizza very seriously, and you will be seriously impressed before even tasting a slice; just watching the chefs in the open kitchen expertly tossing dough is enough to get you salivating. Trust the name and go for the Tartufo with prosciutto, porcini mushroom purée, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan and mozzarella – plus the stand-out pork sausage and truffle paste stuffed crust.

Order the: ‘Pizza Tartufo’ – tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, porcini mushroom puree, cherry tomatoes, shaved parmesan, basil and extra virgin olive oil with pork sausage and truffle paste encased in the crust

Heads up: you’ll want to bring a big crowd to this pizza party – because more mouths mean more meals to pick and poke at. We know this is supposed to be a best pizza round-up, but we can’t start without shouting out Prova’s infamous 100-layer lasagna. Featuring crispy sheets of pasta stuffed with beef ragu and mozzarella, it’s the next best thing to their highly ‘grammable antipasto board with hanging meats and cheeses. Now, onto the pizza. Prova’s toppings lean towards the traditional, with classics like Margherita, salami, pepperoni and garlic prawn. But the standout is the pistachio cream and Italian sausage number. Prova also fires up a ripper Nutella pizza pocket and Mickey Mouse-shaped pizzas for the little ones.

Order the: ‘Pistachio’ – pistachio cream, mozzarella, Italian sausage and pistachio

Is the pizza best in the west? La Lupa makes a strong case. Tucked away a street back from the Brisbane River in West End, this Roman-style pizzeria and natural wine cellar serves up crisp and light crust pizzas made from organic stone-milled Tipo One flour imported from Italy. You’ll find a handful of traditional rosse and bianche pizzas, alongside a weekly special and three signature long-fermented pizzas, including a vego option with eggplant, goat cheese, honey and mint; a mortadella number with pistachio cream and burrata; and a prosciutto pizza with fresh persimmon and ricotta. 

Order the: ‘Pizza parmigiana’ – tomato, mozzarella, eggplant and parmesan

This glam little Italian pizzeria and wine bar is a rising star in Brisbane’s pizza scene. Every pizza is a labour of love, hand-made from a six-year-old wholemeal sourdough starter and fermented over 48 hours. There’s only one place to start your meal, and that’s with the Mortadella pizza bread, featuring a heavenly combo of stracciatella and pistachio crumble. Follow it up with classics like Margherita and Diavola, or specials like the veg-friendly broccoli base Verde or the truffle cream base Tartufata with prosciutto and slow-cooked onion.

Order the: ‘Schiacciata mortadella’ – pizza bread, stracciatella, pistachio mortadella and pistachio crumble

You might recognise owners Luca and Mike as the dynamic duos behind Pizzantica – Australia’s first mobile pizza oven, which the pair operated out of a vintage Volkswagen Kombi. After building up a loyal following, they decided to set up a permanent trattoria on the outskirts of Wilston village. Antica, meaning ‘ancient’ in Italian, is a nod to their traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas. Start by sharing the pizza fritta (fried pizza bread) or focaccia with locally made salumi, before diving into mains. Quattro formaggi, napoletana, calabrese, capricciosa, diavola – you name it, they serve it. We suggest coming hungry and ordering the whopping one-metre ‘Antica Signature’, featuring half tomato, burrata, balsamic pearls and basil, and half seasonal fruits, goat's cheese, manuka honey and mozzarella. Bellissimo! 

Order the: ‘Antica Signature’ – detailed above

A leafy outdoor terrace, relaxed and mellow ambience, and founder Paolo Biscaro’s now famous traditional-style woodfired pizzas: it’s a recipe for a great night and a belt loosening or two. Beccofino is the older and more established sibling restaurant of Julius (see below), the younger, hip pizzeria in South Brisbane. But don’t be fooled into thinking Beccofino is over the hill or too old school to be relevant; it's one of Brisbane's Italian restaurant stalwarts for very good reason. A combination of fresh ingredients, inventive specials, friendly and efficient service, authentic Italian energy and consistent quality is what sets Beccofino apart. Bookings can be hard to come by due to its popularity, but the walk-in experience is worth the wait — even if you have to pitch a tent and camp out for that pancetta or mortadella pizza.

Order the: ‘Number one’ – tomato, fior di latte, basil and thinly sliced prosciutto

Pizza fit for a Roman ruler is what you’ll find at Julius, the hip younger sibling of Brisbane’s Beccofino restaurant and pizzeria. Its beating heart is a custom-made Stefano Ferrara woodfired oven from Naples, which pumps out a creative yet classic range of both rosse (Napoli sauce base) and bianche (white base) pies. We suggest ordering one of each, leaving lots of stomach space for the Patate e Pancetta with potatoes, pancetta, mozzarella, scamorza and rosemary.

Order the: ‘Patate e porchetta - mozzarella, scamorza, porchetta, roasted potatoes, rosemary and parmesan

Tanya Colonna established Sugo It in the trendy heart of Bulimba after drawing inspiration from the pizzeria in her father’s hometown of Termoli on the Adriatic coast of Italy. Not bound by the rules of staunch Neapolitan or Roma pizza traditionalists, Sugo It features some truly wild and wonderful non-conventional topping combinations, including confit duck and caramelised pear or roasted pumpkin with pine nuts and balsamic glaze. While still catering to the classics, Colonna has cemented Sugo It as an innovator of Italian cuisine, and the alfresco set-up adjoins its award-winning gelateria, making for a perfect dessert to chase any of the immaculate pizza creations.

Order the: Anatra – confit duck, mozzarella, caramelised pear, parmesan and rocket

Tiny but mighty, Spread is tucked away in Camp Hill and is the alter-ego of Brisbane's favourite purveyors of platters and grazing boxes Say Cheese. As to be expected, the cheese experts have brought a lot to the table when it comes to their small but impactful pizza menu. Primarily rosa (red) bases, the range features delightfully playful toppings, such as spiced eggplant, mint and sultanas; and prawns with pancetta and chilli oil. For the savoury-inclined, the hero vegetarian option (the Ortolana) features baked potato and zucchini; but for the sweet tooths the true pièce de résistance (or should we say pizza de résistance) is found on the dessert menu in the form of chocolate, strawberries and crispy meringue pizza… hand me my bib!

Order the: Ortolana – pomodoro base, mozzarella, baked potato, mushroom, zucchini, red onion, basil, oregano and garlic oil

With three locations (northside, southside and city), it’s clear that Brisbanians love Corbett and Claude’s chic yet rustic approach to homestyle Italian cuisine. The original restaurant and namesake, located at the Corbett Chambers building on Elizabeth Street, features an open bar and kitchen and an inviting, non-pretentious brand of hospitality that feels both refreshing and warm. Pizzas range from classic to experimental, and in case you fancy enjoying an argument alongside your meal, there’s even a smoked ham and pineapple pizza to help divide your table from the onset (camp pineapple will reign supreme!). In case the pineapple didn’t spark enough controversy at your table, the signature ‘cigar pizza’ will surely spark World War III. Appearing to be a love child of a calzone and a kebab, the cigar pizza (a rolled pizza) delivers the same luscious condiments and crust of a pizza via an alternative delivery system to your mouth, and it works on many levels. 

Order the: ‘The Man Eater’ – rolled pizza filled with napoletana sauce, mozzarella, Italian sausage, smoked ham, spicy pepperoni, caramelised onion and barbecue sauce

After years of being a solely Gold Coast institution, Gemelli’s stylish and cheeky flair is proving a hit, as evident in menu options such as the ‘griffiti’ or the ‘che stupido pizza’. Founders and namesakes the Carney brothers are twins (Gemelli in Italian) and are as proud of their Italian heritage as can be, participating in annual sauce and salami-making traditions and bringing that charming sense of warm Italian hospitality to the James Street precinct. Several of their pizzas boast bold and exotic ingredients, like 24-month prosciutto di parma and dried figs (drool!). After devouring a scrumptious range of contemporary Italian cuisine, it’s customary to relax next door at Bar Tano, the adjoining bar. Featuring a gorgeous marble fit-out, it’s an intimate and sleek experience dripping with Italian charisma.

Order the: Che Stupido – fior di latte, leg ham, mild salami, fennel pork and chilli sausage

Forget six-inch or footlong subs, at Arrivederci you can order your pizza by the metre. Metric and soccer fans alike love the family atmosphere on Park Road lovingly provided by the Silverstri family for more than 35 years. The restaurant was voted Brisbane's best pizza by the local paper for two years running, and you’ll likely agree after experiencing their Sicilian-style rectangular pan pizza and famous hospitality. You might see some soccer royalty here, as Brisbane Roar players are frequently spotted doing a post-training carb load. Vegan foodies can also enjoy an extensive vegan pizza selection, as well as fortnightly Tuesday vegan nights, where all plant-based mains are only $15.

Order the: ‘Arrivederci special’ – tomato base, cheese, bacon, salami, parmesan and basil pesto