Restaurants

Vancouver’s Best New Pizza

Can't get enough pizza? Vancouver's pie scene is exploding with delicious options

By Catherine RBarr /

Credit: Pizza Fabrika 

Vancouver’s pizza scene keeps on growing, and we won’t stop lining up for the perfect slice

Crispy, chewy, perfectly-blistered pizza with high-quality toppings ranging from classic to West Coast-inspired to downright imaginative. A decade ago, you’d be hard pressed to find such a thing in Vancouver. Now – thank goodness – it’s a different story. 

In the past few years, another group of top-notch pizzerias have graced our streets. Click over to see the best of the lot. 



Credit: Pizza Fabrika

Bella Gelateria Yaletown

After mastering the art of gelato – owner James Coleridge was awarded 2014 International Gelato Master of the Year – Bella Gelateria has added a new challenge at their just-opened Yaletown location: authentic Neapolitan pizza. The bright, modern space has 80 seats (38 inside, 42 on the patio), is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, and serves a dozen different pizzas, ranging from $10 to $20, like the Siciliana, $16, with eggplant, fresh basil, fior di latte (fresh mozzarella), and 36-month-aged parmigiano-reggiano. Make your pizza gluten-free for an extra $4. Takeout available, no reservations.

Location: 1089 Marinaside Crescent



Credit: Pizzeria Bufala

Pizzeria Bufala

The owners of Gastown’s Wildebeest, Josh Pape and James Iranzad, opened Pizzeria Bufala early this summer to the delight of Kerrisdale residents. The 55-seat space serves Neapolitan-style pizzas, ranging from $13 to $19, like the classic Margherita ($14) and originals like the Oxtail and Kale ($19), using many locally sourced ingredients. Former Bartender of the Year Pape has also created a great little cocktail menu. No reservations.

Location: 5395 West Boulevard



Credit: Nook (Kitsilano)

Nook (Kitsilano)

Just one block south of Kits Beach, Nook’s second location (the Denman location has been a West End-favourite since 2009) has already cultivated a friendly neighbourhood feel and a legion of fast fans for their thin-crust, chewy pizzas with toppings like Prosciutto with arugula and roast garlic ($20) and Anchovy with olives and chilies ($16). There are 65 seats for dining in and a takeaway counter for a picnic on the beach. No reservations.

Location: 1525 Yew Street



Credit: Pizza Fabrika

Pizza Fabrika

The West End’s newest pizza joint is brought to you by the former owners of Davie Street’s La Brasserie, brothers Stephen and Michael Wiese. Pizza Fabrika, a 36-seat “non-conformist pizzeria inspired by a working factory,” opened this June and is churning out 12-inch sourdough pizzas like the Margherita Fabrika with yellow and orange tomatoes ($15) and the Chorizo ($16) with fresh jalapeños and Fabrika’s special cheese blend of Canadian Mozzarella and Danish Fontina. Pizza Fabrika offers takeout but no reservations.

Location: 1680 Robson Street



Credit: Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria

Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria

A life-changing pizza moment in Naples in 2005 inspired owners Justin Lussier, Jason Allard and Christian Bullock to launch Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, with locations in Ontario, Alberta and B.C. – and most recently, their Commercial Drive location, in 2012. Pizzas range in price from $12 to $15.25 and include authentic Neapolitan pizza like the Abruzzo, $14.75, with Italian sausage, red onions, mushrooms and smoked mozzarella, and “New World Pizza” like the Spicy Thai, $14.75, with peanut sauce, chicken, carrots, bean sprouts and cilantro. The restaurant has 100 seats (70 inside, 25 on the patio) and reservations are available, as is takeout.

Location: 1380 Commercial Drive



Credit: Pizza Fabrika

The Parlour

Yaletown’s swanky pizza place, The Parlour, which opened in 2012, is unapologetically un-Neapolitan. Owners Paul Rivas (formerly at La Bodega) and brothers Chris Holland and Sean Holland (both formerly at Cactus Club) have developed their own proprietary dough recipe to create the perfect chew for specialties like the Goldmember, with caramelized onion, mushroom, Yukon Gold potato, truffle oil, and Gruyere, and the Yaletown, with albacore tuna, red and green onion, avocado, cilantro and spicy aioli. All pizzas are $18, and gluten-free versions are available for an extra $4. The Parlour has 125 seats (137 inside, 22 on the patio), takes reservations and offers takeout plus delivery.

Location: 1011 Hamilton Street

 



Credit: Don’t Argue Pizzeria 

Don’t Argue Pizzeria

Husband and wife team Nathaniel Geary and Anna de Courcy opened Don’t Argue Pizzeria in August 2013 after Geary studied American-style pizza at the International School of Pizza in San Francisco. Slide into one of 40 seats (31 inside, 9 on the patio), or get takeout, for New York-style pies like the Potato Mash with mascarpone and roasted garlic ($15 for 12”, $28 for 18”) and Salami Mushroom Rocket ($17 for 12-inches, $30 for 18-inches). Also available by the slice. Reservations available for groups of eight or more. 

Location: 3240 Main Street