What in the world is better than a delicious, freshly made, piping hot, cheesy, oozy, fully loaded pizza? In our opinion, there's quite simply nothing like it. Thankfully, there's a range of venues in Cardiff serving up this awesome food of the gods, ready for your delectation and delight.
From thin and crispy
Pull up a pew in Dusty Knuckle's trendy Canton courtyard, and sink your teeth into one of these epic pizzas (in fact, The Times newspaper recently said that these were some of the best in the UK). Here, the focus is on great produce and letting the ingredients speak for themselves - be sure to try their signature Blas Y Mor - San Marzano Tomato, Fior Di Latte, Charcutier Ltd Bacon Lardons, Penclawdd Cockles, Laverbread & Samphire. Wash it down with a pint of Pipes vegan craft beer – it's a pretty perfect pairing!
The Dough Thrower throw dough. Pizza dough, to be more specific. If we're really going into detail, they throw dough made with finest grade Tipo 00 flour from Naples, mineral salts from the Himalayas, premium, award-winning olive oils from Spain, and then sweetened with a touch of honey. This dough then ferments for 96 whole hours, allowing the flavours to marinate and creating a seriously tasty crust, which is then loaded up with a heavenly host of delectable toppings. You gotta try it.
I giardini di sorrento - translated to ‘The Gardens of Sorrento’- is unsurprisingly influenced by the sights and sounds of the Sorrento peninsula, resulting in pizza infused with coastal flavours and hearty tradition (it faces the Bay of Naples, which is ground zero for pizza). And did we mention they picked up a bunch of awards recently? The best Italian restaurant in Wales, Start-up Business of the Year, and the Hospitality Awards Best Family Restaurant. So, award-winning and authentic? Sign us up.
Pizza Slang: Mushrooms are also referred to as ‘screamers’ in the pizza biz, due to the sound they make when making contact with a hot surface.
Marco from La Vita uses only authentic Italian and locally-sourced ingredients to create handmade pizzas that are bursting with character. Some of our favourite options include the Romana (buffalo mozzarella, cooked ham, mushrooms and basil), the Salsiccia (buffalo mozzarella, Italian sausage, mushrooms, and parmesan), and the Parmigiana (V) (mozzarella, aubergine, parmesan and fresh basil, marinated glaze). There's also a bloody banging margherita if you fancy keeping things traditional – sometimes simple is best, after all.
You’ll have to make your way towards Roath Park to indulge yourself at Anatoni’s Pizzeria, but we promise it’ll be worth the trip. Originally opened back in 2013 in Lakeside before moving to its current Roath location, Anatoni’s claimed the title for the first ever Neapolitan pizzeria in Wales, which is a cool thing to boast about, but only if you back it up with the goods. Thankfully, a full five years later, Anatoni’s still screams quality - backed by traditional ingredients authentic to Italy (mainly because that’s where they source them).
Pizza Slang: ‘Cheese Pull’ refers to the string of cheese that connects the pizza to the recently liberated slice that’s currently heading towards your mouth.
This unassuming little restaurant might not look like all that from the outside, but inside, a whole world of gastronomical pleasure awaits you and your tastebuds. Tuck into one of Calabrisella's legendary, premium 14" thin and crispy pizzas and you'll find out out what all the fuss is about. The crème de la crème are the house specialities, topped with a heavenly host of luxurious toppings – these are our absolute favourites.
Ffwrnes began its unconventional journey back in 2014, in a three-wheeled van that became known for churning out some amazing, crowd-pleasing pizzas. Inspired by traditional Neapolitan pizza, Ffwrnes feature toppings gathered from a variety of Welsh producers. They make their pizzas in their van-based wood firing ovens, to deliver that rustic and authentic pizza taste to their adoring customers.
Read more about Ffwrnes Pizza @ Cardiff Market (City Centre)
This snug Café Citta is a popular slice of Italian heaven in Cardiff and the perfect spot for an authentic Italian pizza. Here, in this tiny restaurant, the chefs hand-make and then cook the pizzas in a woodfired oven that's visible to diners from their open kitchen. Expect tantalising smells of garlic, basil and rosemary wafting over you as you wait - it's making our mouths water just thinking about it!
Before you head to this Cardiff institution (it was founded back in 1983!), it’s worth heading over to their website to check out their ‘Famous Faces at Giovanni’s’ section, which features the likes of Paul McKenna, Dean Gaffney, and Wriggle favourite, Dean Gaffney. Once you’ve successfully located your jaw, go grab the Pizza Di Mare, which is topped with Atlantic prawns, mussels, clams, and squid. Yum!
Pizza Slang: ‘Wet Mutz’ apparently refers to fresh mozzarella, but we don’t feel comfortable saying it loud.
Porro's seasonal menus feature locally sourced products from as many independent and local suppliers as possible. Typical pizza fare includes the ‘Porro Pizza’, a thin and crispy veggie pizza with braised leeks, rosemary and parmesan that tastes as fresh and summery as it sounds. On a lovely summer’s day make sure you check out the fab outdoor dining area in their Wellfield road venue, it’s a proper little sun trap.
Read more about Porro (Llandaff)
The Brass Beetle has stolen a pizza our heart; it could be because of the dark wooden tables and brass detailing which juxtaposes against the regal green walls. It could be because of the large open kitchen which allows you to watch the simmering glow of the wood fire oven whilst you sip on a cocktail. Or it could be the super special 12" pizza combinations; sweet chorizo drizzled in hot honey, cockles, and pancetta to name but a few. While the hot sun lasts, there's nothing better than settling into their beer garden for a few cocktails alongside your slice of nice.
Read more about The Brass Beetle (Whitchurch Road)
Looking for traditional Neapolitan pizza in Cardiff? Well, look no further. The team at award-winning Da MARA certainly know how to impress. With seasonal Italian dishes and specially selected wines to suit, Da MARA is an Italian food lover's dream. With colourful artsy interiors, you will be transported from the streets of Cardiff to the Bay of Naples with their culinary delights. Owner Mark brings his extensive knowledge of fine food and wine to Da MARA, and with 30 years of hospitality experience, the results are fairly stunning.
Pizza Pronto is where you'll find oval flatbread-style pizzas with intriguing toppings. Their attitude is refreshing: feed you well, feed you at a sensible price. Owner Kev Hallborg: 'We care about the food we serve, how we affect our environment and our customers. They are essentially our owners.' With a track record of supporting laudable charities – the Huggard Centre tackles homelessness – this is more than just another pizza joint. Keep an eye out for 'Berlusconi Soup', pizza topped with samphire and cherry tomatoes and brie with onion jam, among frequently rotating specials.
Look, the name sort of makes this restaurant seem like a tourist trap ready to happen, but we implore you to look past the title and give their pizzas a go. Located opposite the St John The Baptist City Parish Church - the Real Italian Pizza Co cook their pizzas in a wood-fired pizza imported from Italy - providing thin and crispy slices of beauty. They’re also pretty reasonably priced given their size and taste. Go forth and digest!
Pizza Etiquette: Instead of some slang, we’re hitting you with a PSA - don’t call pizza ‘za. The world is already a dark place without that sort of tomfoolery.
Read more about The Real Italian Pizza Company (City Centre)
A beautiful cafe by day and a bustling bistro by night, this is one dreamy destination. During the daytime, head there for a leisurely brunch and watch the hustle and bustle of Pontcanna pass you buy as you sit down and unwind. As the lights dim, the vibe changes completely, and hand stretched artisan pizzas grace the menu. All Welsh ingredients, inventive topping combos and a great crust - these are some properly lush pizzas. Perfect for an intimate date or a get together with your best mates, Brava is one of Pontcanna's real gems.
Flour'd Up started life as a bit of fun and a second hand pizza trailer. After an unexpectedly popular first stint around the streets of South Wales in Spring 2016, things went from strength to strength, with the team upgrading their pizza oven and moving into cetnral Cardiff. With regular slots around the capital and Barry, Flour'd Up have quickly cemented their reputation as one of Wales' best loved places to grab a pizza – and all that without a permanent home! The team have backed up their place in our hearts and minds with a suite of impressive nominations and awards, too, including finalists as 'best pizza' at the Welsh Italian Awards, and finalists in the 'best streetfood' category at the Welsh Food Awards. Keep your eyes on Flour'd Up's social media pages for all the info on where they'll be popping up!
