Bellissimo! The Best Pizza in Leeds

If you’re looking for the most incredible pizza in Leeds, this is the list for you. From traditional toppings to the weird and wonderful, they’re all here…

Pizza is a firm favourite with everyone from adults to toddlers, and Leeds is blessed with brilliant pizzerias to sample the Italian staple. The range of choice is huge – you can feast on traditional thin crust to go, sit down to cram in a calzone or enjoy a feast of deep-pan delights. There’s something for everyone, with flavours both familiar and a little bit out there. Here’s where to grab a slice that’s more than nice…

Dough Boys

Dough Boys are in a brilliant location. Nip into Belgrave Music Hall and it’s pretty much the first thing you see, ideally placed for a pre-session slice. They’ve built up a reputation as one of the best pizza spots in Leeds, serving up a range of innovative flavours alongside tried-and-trusted classics. You can order by the slice or pie, with modern classics such as Salami of Darkness with its combo of Salsiccia picante, salami Napoli and house-pickled chillis, or the vegan genius of What’s the Quack? Feel free to garnish your slice with something from the condiment station – garlic oil, Parmesan and Hot Bstrd sauce are all on offer.

Dough Boys, Belgrave Music Hall, 1-1A Cross Belgrave Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 8JP.

Rudy’s Pizza

Rudy’s Pizza is the place to go if you’re in the mood for a fault-free Neapolitan. This is where you’ll get that perfect thin crust with beautifully bubbled edges, ideal for chewing on. It’s close to the station, making it a popular choice for both the start and end of a good night out in Leeds. Top choices from the tempting menu include the Calabrese, with ‘nduja sausage adding a spicy kick. Margherita comes in both traditional and buffalo mozzarella options, while vegans can go for the Marinara or try one of the rotating vegan specials. It’s also dog-friendly, so you can give your pooch some under-table pizza!

Rudy’s, 2 New Station Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5DL.

Pizza Punks

Want a pizza you can make entirely your own? Course you do! You can head to Pizza Punks for a slice of pie inspired by the punk movement itself. Oh yes, that means they’re giving you the freedom to fulfil all your cheesy, doughy dreams, just as you like it. Artichoke, jalapeños, mushrooms and olives? Chuck ‘em all on, it’s unlimited! And it’s not just the veggies either – pepperoni, ham, sausage and Punk specials like beef shin ragu are all included in every creation. Vegan? There’s more than a little something for you too, like vegan mozzarella and BBQ pulled jackfruit.

Pizza Punks, 37 Bond Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5BQ.

Franco Manca


The key to the what makes Franco Manca one of the best places to eat pizza in Leeds is the dough. It’s made on site every day, a slow-rising sourdough that makes even the most basic pizza here a delight. After a few years of offering just seven options – focussing on quality, not quantity – they’ve finally added an eighth. Pizza No. 8 is topped with a Genovese Neapolitan ragu made from 8-hour slow cooked beef and pork, combined with organic tomato, mozzarella and basil. There are vegan and gluten-free options on the menu, while you can plunge your crust into stilton, ‘nduja or Scotch bonnet dips.

Franco Manca, 1 Trinity Street, Trinity Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6AP.

Culto

There are no reservations needed to dine at Culto, which is a good job as otherwise you’d be waiting ages to grab a table – the pizza is that good. They do great antipasti and pasta dishes, but it’s the stuff that goes by the slice you’re really there for. Set your spice levels to 11 with their Diavola, featuring hot sausage, ham and fresh chillies. The Funghi e Tartufo mixes the earthy notes of mushroom with black truffle. For something completely different, go for the Pizza Nera crust, a black pizza base made using vegetable charcoal. It’s supposed to help get rid of post-pizza bloating!

Culto, 97 Stainbeck Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS7 2PR.

Lievitoo

You can get a taste of Rome without leaving Leeds at Lievitoo. It may well be the city’s best-kept secret, serving up authentic Roman pizzas, from the fresh dough to the toppings and even the cooking methods. This family-owned restaurant has been passed down the generations and feels like it belongs on a street in much warmer climes, and the pizza itself will transport you directly to Italia – it’s the dolce vita! As tradition goes, there are two different pizza bases – red and white, both extra saucy and topped with everything from salt-cured anchovies to baked Parma ham. Buon appetito!

Lievitoo, 168 Woodhouse Lane, Woodhouse, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9HB.

Pizza Fella

Pizza Fella graduated from street food gods (they used to sling slices from a converted Citroen van) to the one of the best spots for pizza in Leeds at their Vicar Lane home. Its a fuss-free place with no airs and graces – they just concentrate on delivering nigh-on-perfect pizza time after time. The true test of any pizzeria is their Margherita, and the one here is faultless – even better it’s £5 for a whole pie from midday to 5pm Tuesday to Friday. Fancy something different? Try a white base such as the Salsicce e Friarelli, a combo of sausage, friarelli (an Italian vegetable) and gorgeous smoked provola cheese.

Pizza Fella, 114-116 Vicar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7NL.

Ecco Pizzeria

Ecco Pizzeria has been a reliable home for authentic Neapolitan pizza in Headingley for what feels like forever – and the quality is still sky high. They had their pizza oven built and shipped over from Refrattari Reggello in Tuscany, ensuring that you get only the best wood-fired deliciousness adorning your plate. The menu is a beauty, covering all the classics but also taking detours around the world for some more experimental flavour. The Kuala Lumpur has satay chicken with sweetcorn, mange tout and toasted sesame seeds, while the Lombardini is a masterpiece of caramelised leeks, artichokes and no cheese!

Ecco Pizzeria, 93 Otley Road, Headingley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 3PS.

Trattoria Il Forno

This Horsforth favourite serves some of the most spectacular Italian food in Leeds, with showstopping pizzas that range from 12″ all the way up to 20″. They manage to cover all of the bases with a classics section, a dedicated vegetarian offering, five different calzones and a set of specials that runs to over 20 different pizzas. You’re spoiled for choice. The Calzone Salmone feels like a fresh-take on the folded pizza, the salmon mixed with cherry tomatoes, chives, dill, spinach and lemon juice for a Mediterranean taste sensation. Got hungry nippers? The Chicken Pesto pizza is a great choice.

Trattoria Il Forno, 85 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS18 5BP.

Grumpy’s

Some of the best pizza places in Leeds are out in the suburbs, and Grumpy’s has made a real name for itself out at Farsley’s Sunny Bank Mills. Run by a pair of sisters, this family affair boasts a wood-fired oven where perfectly crafted pizzas get a big blast of heat until the crust blisters into mouthwatering perfection. Warm up with dough balls or the spicy anchovy toast before getting your mitts on the David with its mix of mozzarella, goat’s cheese, beetroot pesto and spinach, The vegetarian Makoa is a true original – the tomato sauce has more than a hint of rose harissa sauce for a North African flavour-bomb.

Grumpy’s, 2 Old Combing, Paradise Street, Farsley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS28 5UJ.

Pizza Loco

You might have seen the brilliant Pizza Loco locomotive at food events across Leeds and Yorkshire, but you can get a taste of the wood-fired pies they serve up at their Oakwood base too. All aboard for Neapolitan creations with perfect bases and superbly sourced toppings including the essential San Marzano tomatoes. In the mood for pun-heavy pizza? The Jean Paul Goatier is crowned with goat’s cheese, thyme and lemon zest, the charcuterie special is a Pat Butcher and the Rick & Morty is a white pizza with mortadella and whipped ricotta. The only difficulty is which one to choo-choo-choose.

Pizza Loco, 484 Roundhay Road, Oakwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2HU.

Sela Bar

What better balm for the ears than the soothing combination of the words ‘Bar’ and ‘Pizzeria’. Pairing pizza with a beer or cocktail is what we’re here on earth for, and Sela Bar don’t fob you off with any old slice. Venture down to their wonderful basement and you’re in for a hand-pulled, stone-baked treat – even more so on Wednesdays when you get a whole pizza and house pint for £10. There’s a handful of veggie options, as well as spicy staples such as the Diavola or Chorizo choices. Want to try something new? The Sesame melds baby spinach with caramelised onion, cheese and an unusual sesame crust.

Sela Bar, 20 New Briggate, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 6NU.

Poco

The very first Sicilian street food spot in Leeds, Poco still has them queueing up outside the door on Kirkstall Road. Take your place in line and you’ll get ever-closer to the sensational scents of freshly prepared delights such as arancini and, more importantly, pizza. They specialise in pizza al taglio, served in squares or rectangles and with an airier base rather than the usual thin crust. The beauty of this approach is that, if you’ve got the appetite, you can try a couple of different flavours. The Margherita never lets you down, while other rotating toppings may include delights like lamb, salami or ricotta and spinach.

Poco, 360 Kirkstall Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2HQ.

Wood Fire Dine

Another food truck that has put down roots, Wood Fire Dine is the work of Mark Baber, who carried away the coveted crown of Pizza Chef of the Year in 2019. The award was a testament to his innovation, starting out with classic Neapolitan-style dough before branching out by adding both a gluten-free dough and then a New York-style base. Try the Verdura, covered with their own tomato sauce and fior di latte, dressed with roasted peppers, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes. If you want to get your jaw around a 14″ New York pizza, try The Big Aky, a heady mix of pepperoni, chicken, ham and BBQ sauce.

Wood Fire Dine Artisan Pizzeria, 34-36 Commercial Street, Rothwell, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS26 0AW.

Well Oiled

Taking residence inside one of Leeds’ cosiest pubs, The Meanwood Tavern, Well Oiled is the place to go for the best Detroit-style pizza in Leeds, served fresh out of the oven – perfect with a pint of beer or something soft. The focaccia dough is double-proved for 48 hours then baked in proper rectangular steel pans, true to tradition. Grab a slice or two (or three!) topped with artisan produce, from chipotle-spiced maple and roasted peppers to Calabrian pepperoni cups and Puglian burrata. The cherry on the cake is the ‘frico’ crust for a delightfully crunchy bite. It doesn’t get much better than this.

Well Oiled, The Meanwood Tavern, 607 Meanwood Road, Meanwood, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 4HQ.

Tapped

The joy of Tapped is that you get the best of both worlds – craft beer and pizza that more than holds its own against many a sit-down restaurant. If you plan on making your way through the bar’s seemingly countless taps, you’ll need something to line your stomach and the pizzas here are definitely up to the job. They add a bit of beer to the dough, the perfect foil for the Tikka Pollo which combines two of the country’s adopted favourites – pizza and chicken tikka. Want to spice it up? The Roba Calda will jolt your tastebuds awake with ‘nduja sausage, chillies and jalapeños. Better cool it down with another beer!

Tapped, Trinity Leeds, 51 Boar Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 5EL.

Pizza Freak

Lovers of the classic NYC pizza slice rejoice! Pizza Freak is packing ‘em in. You can grab slices to eat in or take away out of their Kirkstall Road home. They make everything in-house, and they’ve well and truly got it all, so every pizza fiend will leave full and happy. Win win! Will you try their rectangular crusty delights or the Detroit-style deep pies first? Or how about both? Yonkers comes smothered in rich tomato sauce and topped with creamy mozzarella and Salsiccia sausage, while the Duchess of Bay Ridge is loaded with ham hock that’s cooked in Leeds’ own Kirkstall Brewery Virtuous IPA.

Pizza Freak, 372 Kirkstall Road, Burley, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS4 2HQ.

Rustica

Rustica, in its own very unpretentious way, serves up some of the best pizza that Leeds has to offer. It has fed and delighted many a student from its Blenheim Terrace basement, with handmade dough created fresh daily. While they do an exemplary Margherita, they’re far from purist when it comes to what they chuck on top of their slices. Take the Thai Delight, for example, chicken drizzled with sweet chilli sauce and speckled with coriander, or the Asian Sensation with its Tandoori chicken. They do hot, they do seafood, they do the lot. Heck, they even do a Nutella calzone!

Rustica, 30 Blenheim Terrace, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 9HD.

Water Lane Boathouse

When Water Lane Boathouse was getting ready to open, they did everything possible to make sure they got their pizza exactly right. Research trips led to their Small Victories oven being made by Stefano Ferrara in Naples before being shipped over to Leeds. The effort clearly paid off – this is some serious pizza. Grab a drink and gaze out onto the water as you scoff an authentic Marinara that tastes like some marvellous discovery from a Neapolitan backstreet. The Prosciutto e Rucola is a potent combination of prosciutto crudo and rocket, while the roasted pepper, onion and spinach is a vegan’s dream.

Water Lane Boathouse, Canal Wharf, Water Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5PS.

Flying Pizza

Well into its sixth decade, Street Lane’s venerable Flying Pizza is still packing them into its lovely Roundhay dining room. Grab a coveted table on the covered terrace – the roof retracts on warm summer nights – and order up pizza that still tastes as good as it always did. It’s an uncomplicated selection, letting the Neapolitan flour, mozzarella and perfect tomatoes do the talking. The Pizza Burrata is rich and creamy, the San Carlo a surefire marriage of parma ham with rocket and buffalo mozzarella. The Calzone Pollo is not to be sniffed at either, chicken elevated with garlic, spinach and oozing cheese.

Flying Pizza, 60 Street Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 2DQ.