Industry Insider: Vancouver’s Best Pizza

Dig in with these comforting pizza recommendations from Vancouver’s top chefs and restaurateurs

If you love pizza then Vancouver offers up a joyful exploration with everything from super-thin certified Verace Pizza Napoletana to rectangular thick-crust Detroit-style and absolutely everything in-between. We asked some of the city’s chef and bartender pizza enthusiasts where they go when they’re craving a slice—or whole pie!—of the good stuff.

1. Amelie Amelie Nguyen, Co-founder, Anh and Chi

Nicli Antica Pizzeria“I am obsessed with pizza, especially in our city where you can find a good one in nearly every neighbourhood. One year, long before COVID-19, I even set out to discover who had the best pizza in town. Coming in first place for me, is Nicli Antica Pizzeria in Gastown, which introduced certified Verace Napoletana pizza to our city. I searched high and low, and Nicili had the best crust… full stop! It was fun to order off their secret menu. I’ll have to give their North Van location a try soon.

The next place that won my heart was Di Beppe. They have perfected the most simple recipe: Margherita with fior di latte. It arrives steaming hot; a perfect balance of crisp, tart and creamy fior di latte! 

Finally, serving only plant-based pizza, Grano Pizzeria, is my go-to, and I am in love with their Tartufo, a roasted garlic base pizza with roasted garlic purée, olive oil, cashew mozzarella, criminology mushrooms, truffle pate and parsley. Pair it with their Caesar salad.”

2. Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson, Published on Main, Bar Susu

Instagram/partypizzaworldwide“First thing that comes to mind is Pizza Party Worldwide, when we have had collaboration dinners at Published. We brought it in for a staff meal, and it was such a hit! We went for the Detroit-style, it’s so sturdy! Love the pepperoni, but you can’t go wrong with any of the toppings. It’s all mega.The dough is incredible, and the amount of cheese baked in is next-level. They have just the right amount of topping, and everything is so delicious. We only really needed two slices each, it’s so filling and satisfying, and it was so rad to have some slices left over after the event.”

3. JS Dupuis, Tableau, Homer Street Cafe and Bar

Instagram/capoandspritz“First on my list is Capo and the Spritz at the edge of Yaletown. They make a great pizza, their dough is delicious, there’s some great ‘leopard prints’ (the mark of a great pizza!) on the bottom and they have an excellent ‘bite and chew’. My go-to at Capo is always the Rebel. It’s called the Rebel because there’s pineapple on it—the world’s most controversial pizza topping— and by far one of the most delicious! Next is AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza in Mount Pleasant; a great neighbourhood pizza joint that’s always fun to go to. Over there, I always choose between the Spicy Red Vesuvio with chili flakes to give it just the right amount of kick and make you sweat from your eyebrows, or the Detroit-style Ted Top Thor! This thick, square pizza comes with spicy sausage, meatballs and ricotta. It’s amazing and very filling.”

4. Andrea Carlson, Burdock and Co., Harvest

Facebook/Pizza Garden“I’m fairly loyal to our local joint Pizza Garden on Main Street. I love their thin crusts and high-quality toppings. I’ll pick fiore di latte, mushrooms, parm, proscuitto or the fennel sausage and olives. If not Pizza Garden, then our neighbourhood’s longest-running to-go pizza place is Zachary’s. Leo makes a crispy, olive oil-laden thick crust pizza. We get the vegetarian and it always feels like a decadent treat.”

5. Doug Stephen, Co-owner of DL Chicken Shack, Downlow Burgers, Vennie’s Sub Shop, and The Drive Canteen

Facebook/Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana“My partner and I have been going to Via Tevere for years; the entire team there has always been incredibly hospitable, showing us a great time while effortlessly making everyone who walks through the door feel like family. Hands down our favourite pizza is the Prosciutto e Rucola, but make sure to save room for the Rucola con Limone Salad and the Graffecon Nutella dessert!”