Being a historically working-class East Coast city with a large Italian American population, Philadelphia undoubtedly has great pizza. Regional specialties, such as tomato pie and the pizzaz (American cheese, sliced tomatoes, and banana peppers), coexist alongside wood-fired Neapolitan pies and Roman al taglio. This map is a collection of Philly’s staples when it comes to all variations of cheese on sauce on bread.
The Best Pizza in Philly
Where to find naturally leavened Neapolitan pizza, thin-crust classics, and iconic thick-cut square tomato pies with no cheese
The Best Pizza in Philly
Where to find naturally leavened Neapolitan pizza, thin-crust classics, and iconic thick-cut square tomato pies with no cheese
Being a historically working-class East Coast city with a large Italian American population, Philadelphia undoubtedly has great pizza. Regional specialties, such as tomato pie and the pizzaz (American cheese, sliced tomatoes, and banana peppers), coexist alongside wood-fired Neapolitan pies and Roman al taglio. This map is a collection of Philly’s staples when it comes to all variations of cheese on sauce on bread.
Down North Pizza
This Strawberry Mansion pizza spot began as a weekend pop-up with an admirable mission: Down North employs formerly incarcerated individuals at a fair wage, offering culinary training and educational resources. With executive chef Michael Carter at the helm, the shop’s crispy Detroit-style pizza and wings are nothing short of a hit. Order pickup online or get there at noon if you want a taste.
Pizza Richmond
Pizza Richmond is the second venture from the owners of Pizza Shackamaxon. It’s slightly larger, with space to sit and eat, either by the slice or a giant pizza pie, off paper plates. Their signatures are a savory-leaning tomato sauce, crisp crusts without being cardboard-y, and white pies with whole cloves of garlic piled on ricotta. You might have to wait, but it’ll be worth it.
Tacconelli's
Tacconelli’s super-thin pies are an undisputed classic. The brick oven, revamped in the ’90s, has been roaring since the ’20s. Founder Giovanni Tacconelli originally built it for bread before turning to the tomato pie business. The Port Richmond pizzeria has over 100 seats, but they strongly recommend calling ahead to reserve your pie. Bring cash — and beer or wine.
Pizzeria Beddia
By now, you’ve probably heard of Philly favorite Pizzeria Beddia, so in short, the pizza is great. It’s on the crispier side and in a larger format than most dine-in places that happen to also serve natural wine. Try creative pies with spicy arrabbiata sauce, Calabrian cream, or Sicilian anchovies. The takeout holds up exceptionally well, but eating on the covered patio is great if you like to people-watch, Fishtown-style. You can make reservations online.
Pizza Shackamaxon
The ultimate Philly spot to grab an incredible slice, Pizza Shackamaxon is unapologetic in its straight-up, no-fuss approach to serving inventive options that are just as unpredictable as they are tasty. For example, where else can one order a slice of pizza that’s topped with roasted peaches, corn, tarragon, with basil cream? There’s also pie with English peas atop lemon-garlic-thyme cream.
Pizzata Pizzeria
Co-owners Davide Labruno, who worked at his family’s pizza restaurant in Naples, and Vinny Gallagher take their craft seriously — these New York-style pies are sourdough fermented, wood-fired, and hit with high-quality toppings like burrata and spicy salami. Their Fitler Square location does slices and pies for takeout, while their East Passyunk spot is much larger, with space for big groups and a full bar. Both are excellent.
Sally
Sally is the requisite wood-fired pizza, natural wine, and seasonal vegetables restaurant of Fitler Square. The pies are made with a sourdough crust and sized for two-ish people, with a nice char and generous toppings. The offerings shift seasonally, but you’ll always find a red and a white pie, as well as an array of modernized classics, like pesto-topped pies, comte, and caramelized onions.
Paulie Gee’s Soul City Slice Shop
Paulie Gee’s Soul City Slice Shop is so good that even Philadelphians have gotten on board with this Washington Square West export of a famous New York business. White-and-black-tiled floors, wood paneling, and a vinyl ’70s soundtrack set the scene for a nostalgic place to play pool and eat pizza until 2 a.m. on the weekends. The Freddy Prinze, a Sicilian pie that inverts the standard sauce-then-cheese math on a sesame-seed bottom, is a perfect order, and the shop sells several round pies and vegan varieties, too.
Angelo's Pizzeria
Angelo’s Pizzeria on South 9th Street has some hard-and-fast rules: cash only, takeout only, and preorders only by phone. It’s open from Wednesday to Sunday from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. (or until everything sells out), and you’ll usually find a long line. Chewy, sour crust complements cheesy layers, vibrant tomato sauce, and basil. Still hungry? Angelo’s is known just as much for its hoagies and cheesesteaks on fresh-baked bread as its pizza. The company has recently expanded to other locations with takeout and delivery, but the original on 9th Street is still the best.
Square Pie
Square Pie’s dining room feels like a throwback, with red checkered tablecloths and a small open kitchen. With their reliable classic and square pies, plus Caesar salad and spaghetti and meatballs, it’s a mainstay of the neighborhood for takeout, family pizza night, and casual date nights.
Square Pie
CJ & D’s Trenton Tomato Pies
East Passyunk Avenue has a gem of a hidden pizza spot that’s arguably one of the best in the city. Inside Cartesian Brewing, crispy hot pies served up Trenton-style are the talk of the town — and with their love of fresh local ingredients, it’s not hard to see why.
Dough Head Pizza
Dough Head’s location near two of Philly’s most famous (and touristy) cheesesteak spots might indicate that they, too, are aiming at the late-night audience (a respectable game). But their pies are made with a ton of care, with sourdough and fresh ingredients — much more than drunk food. They do classics like cheese and pepperoni, but their specialty pies are also excellent. Try the Cougar, topped with provolone, Cosmopolitan sauce, pepperoni, sweet pickled jalapeño, and pecorino Romano.
San Lucas Pizzeria
This nationally renowned South Philly pizzeria is unforgettable in its approach, style, and taste. They’re particularly known for Mexican pizzas, classic pies topped with ingredients inspired by Mexican cuisine, like jalapeños, chorizo, cilantro, lime, and more.
Sarcone’s Bakery
For more than 90 years, Sarcone’s has attracted both locals and visitors for their fantastic bread. That same bread makes a great base for pizza, specifically a classic Philly tomato pie. It’s a chewier, standard pie with a thick layer of red gravy that will satiate any pizza craving for even the pickiest eaters.
Circles and Squares
The square pan pizza from Circles and Squares lies somewhere between New York style and Detroit. Whether you opt for tomato pie, standard cheese, a white pie, or the wild-card Buffalo chicken variation, they’re all topped with freshly grated Pecorino Romano.
