Manchester is home to a number of pizza restaurants but we’ve scoured the city and beyond to find the best bases. From puffed-up sourdough pizzas to deep-pan pizza pies, here’s our list of the must-visit pizza joints in Greater Manchester.
1. Crazy Pedro’s
Part pizza joint, part bar, Crazy Pedro’s brings us the best of both worlds with its legendary lunch deal – two slices and a soft drink for £6 – with the option to pay a quid extra for a beer. The dough is made fresh every day and topped with a host of weird and wonderful things, from the classic to the downright bizarre (look out for sweet Baby Cheesus at Christmas). 55-57 Bridge Street, M33BQ | 1 Short Street, Northern Quarter, M4 1AA.
2. Rudy’s Pizza
Rudy’s promises a relaxed restaurant environment and delicious pizzas made by passionate pizzaiolos intent on following the traditions and artistry of pizza from Naples, which explains why their pizza is so damn good! With two restaurants in the city already, they have recently opened up shop in Chorlton – looks like they’re heading for Manc domination! Rudy’s are happy to accommodate walk-ins, but do book online to avoid disappointment. 9 Cotton Street, Ancoats, Manchester, M4 5BF| Petersfield House, Peter St, Manchester, M2 5QJ | 577 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, M21 8AJ.
3. PLY
Standing for ‘Pizza Loves You’, PLY uses a mirror-tiled, woodfired oven to cook up Neapolitan, sourdough pizzas and offers excellent choices for veggies, vegans and carnivores alike. AND, if you’ve got space, a Nutella pizza for dessert. PLY’s rustic, industrial-inspired interior makes for a super chilled experience, with DJs on at the weekends for a pizza-to-boogie type scenario, and to accompany pizza and good times they serve a regularly refreshed range of craft beer, wine and twists on classic cocktails. 26 Lever St, Manchester, M1 1DW.
4. American Pies
Brainchild of Brewski Bar in Chorlton, American Pies specialises in Chicago-style deep dish pizza pies, with unique concoctions littering the menu, including ‘doughritos‘ – a garlic bread/pizza burrito fusion. Think deep-fried wonders and creations you could never have dreamed of – American Pies will ensure you try something new that you’ll never forget. Unit 1, 58 W Mosley St, Manchester, M2 3HZ.
5. Honest Crust
Based in the gorgeous Mackie Mayor with a branch at Altrincham Market, Honest Crust‘s mission is a simple one: to make really good sourdough pizza. A mission it has, in our opinion, definitely accomplished. Altrincham Market, 26 Market St, Altrincham, WA14 1SA | Mackie Mayor, Smithfield Market Hall, 1 Eagle St, Manchester, M4 5BU.
6. Double Zero
Chorlton once again proves that it can rival the Manchester city centre when it comes to top quality gastronomic pizza choice with Double Zero. This bring your own booze pizzeria prides itself on authenticity. From the dough, which is made on-site daily using only four ingredients, to the wood-fired oven brought in from Naples, and offers freshly made gluten-free pizza and garlic bread. Just make sure you ring up 24 hours before so they can prepare the dough. 368 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton, M21 8AZ.
7. Proove
The spot that frequently causes arguments around which place really is the best pizza restaurant in Manchester, Proove Pizza serves up incredible Neapolitan pizza that’s soft, doughy and lathered in fresh tomato sauce. With a lunch special, £10.90 for a pizza, side, and drink, and a plethora of vegan options, Proove can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of dietary requirements or time constraints. 160 Burton Rd, West Didsbury, Manchester, M20 1LH.
8. Noi Quattro
Meaning ‘the four of us’, Noi Quattro brings Italian family values and that homely kitchen style to our wonderful city, making it a great place to grab dinner. Beyond traditional Italian antipasti, Noi Quattro bring the taste of Italy to Manchester with their ‘Cuoppo’, a cone-shaped paper that holds a mixture of delicacies including potato croquettes, vegetables, courgette flowers, mozzarella bocconcini, and fluffy balls of dough called zeppoline, all cut and fried in a light and easily digestible batter. Noi Quattro provides truly authentic Italian cuisine, and is a joy to tuck into here in Manchester. 120 High St, Manchester, M4 1HQ.
9. Ciaooo
Ciaooo serves up the best crust in town. It’s doughy, fluffy and bloomin’ delicious. Oh, and their cheese game is ridiculously strong. Ciaooo is a must-try if you’re a fan of piled-high toppings, and provides a lovely, intimate atmosphere, as though you were in Naples with no cares in the world, eating pizza and sipping an Aperol spritz. 62-64 Swan St, Manchester, M4 5JU.
10. Salvi’s
The home of Italian food here in Manchester, Salvi’s is a family-run establishment that knows good grub. Their pizzas are delicious, and there’s a whole lot of traditional beauties to try out, with bases such as pumpkin, tomato and pesto. 19 John Dalton St, Manchester M2 6FW
11. Nell’s Pizza
Nell’s Pizza has made quite the impact since arriving in Manchester in 2020, and is still feeding Mancs three years later. The pizza is proper New York-style, the slices are bigger than your head, and the flavours are unbelievable. You can get yourself a gigantic slice at Common in the Northern Quarter, and at Kampus. 39-41 Edge St, Manchester M4 1HW
12. Corner Slice
One of the best things to come out of 2020, Corner Slice MCR brought Detroit-style pizza to town – and if you’re not familiar, it’s the perfect antidote to lockdown. Deep pan with a focaccia-like thickness to it, the Italian-American pizzas come loaded with toppings such as pepperoni, N’duja, and prosciutto. Corner Slice MCR, 141 Lord Ln, Failsworth, M35 0QH.
13. Four Side Vegan Pizza
Providing pizza fans with a brand new vegan concept, Four Side Vegan Pizza serves up Detroit-style pizzas with deep bases, plant-based cheese and vegan toppings such as N’duja, pepperoni, and even tofu egg. Pizzas are customisable, too, so you can enjoy your favourite flavours however you choose. 16-20 Turner Street, Manchester, M4 1DZ.
14. Tre Ciccio
With outlets in Altrincham and Ramsbottom, Tre Ciccio brings Italian charm to the outskirts of Manchester, providing a cosy, authentic experience in an accessible, local environment. The pizzerias offer vegan menus, on top of their main menu comprising of all the classics, as well as some welcome surprises – think toppings of Spicy Calabrian sausage and Burrata, always on a base of San Marzano tomato. 4a Moss Lane, Altrincham, WA14 1BA | 16 – 18 Market Place, Ramsbottom, Bury, BL0 9HT.
15. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
Sitting pretty on Manchester’s boujee King Street, L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele occupies the former site of an Edwardian Baroque bank, meaning the lofty interiors boast beautiful architecture and design. From Pizza Fritta to Siciliana, L’Antica offer a lovingly curated menu of Italian inspired cuisine, making it the proper way – inspired by the ‘Torre Annunziata’ masters who were professionals in the preparation and kneading of pizza dough, as well as the cooking of pizza. 53 King Street, Manchester, M2 4LQ.
Also published on Medium.