Pizza can be a very controversial topic. We all have our preferences when it comes to crust thickness, crispiness, the type and distribution of toppings and where the cheese is layered in relation to the sauce. Pizza is personal, but whether you’re looking for a family pizza night or a sophisticated meal, restaurants on this list are bound to suit your pizza fancy when you’re looking for a slice in Calgary.
Calgary’s Best Pizza
Pizza Party
Calgary’s Best Pizza
Azzurri Pizzeria
A little bit off the beaten path, Azzurri Pizzeria isn’t fancy but their pizza is a favourite amongst those looking for a tasty Italian-style pie. Owned and operated by the Ricioppo family, the restaurant makes Napoletana thin-crust pizza, with hand-stretched dough and traditional toppings.
Cibo
Cibo
This casual Italian restaurant is a go-to for families. Cibo offers a modern but unpretentious ambiance and fun Italian fare. Both locations are lively, completely kid friendly, and able to accommodate large groups. There are more than 10 thin-crust pizzas on the menu, letting you choose anything from a simple margarita-style with basil, cheese and tomato sauce to more exotic toppings like smoked eggplant, house made sausage or lamb meatballs.
Double Zero Pizza
Double Zero Pizza
Another thin-crust place, Double Zero Pizza has the added convenience of being located in CF Chinook Centre but it is a far cry from typical mall food. The hand-rolled pizza dough is made daily with imported 00 flour then left to ferment for four days, making for a very light and airy crust that is then stacked with high quality Italian ingredients. All of the topping combinations are delicious, but the cult favourite among locals has got to be the mortadella pizza, topped with pistachio, basil and mascarpone cheese.
Noble Pie
A permanent pop-up located in Eighty-Eight Brewing Company, Noble Pie is only open Thursdays through Sundays and once Mike the Pizza Guy runs out of dough, he closes down shop. Despite that caveat, this super-authentic New York-style pizza is worth seeking out, thanks to its ultra-thin crust, Ezzo pepperoni and other carefully considered toppings. As a bonus, while you wait for your pie, you can enjoy a pint of one of Eighty-Eight’s excellent beers.
Pizza Brew at Minhas Microbrewery (Photo credit: @feedingthefoodie on Instagram)
Pizza Brew at Minhas Microbrewery
Pizza and beer go hand-in-hand and Pizza Brew at Minhas Brewery offers a range of red and blonde pizzas on your choice of regular, whole wheat or gluten-free crusts. The pizzas, naturally, go perfectly with one of Minas’ many varieties of beer — ask your server for pairing suggestions.
Posto Pizzeria and Bar
Posto Pizzeria and Bar is right next door to its big sister, Bonterra Trattoria, which serves more upscale Italian fare. This casual chic pizza and wine bar consistently makes some of Calgary’s most delicious pizza, thanks to its airy thin crust and luscious toppings. The runaway favourite amongst Calgary food lovers is the gorgonzola, fig, potato, radicchio and rosemary pizza. If you’ve never had potato on a pizza before, you’re in for a treat, but everything on the menu offers a beautiful harmony of flavours.
POW Pizza
Calgary’s destination for Detroit-style pizza, POW Pizza is a little walk-in shop that serves incredibly thick rectangular focaccia-style pizzas loaded up with brick cheese and both standard and decidedly untraditional toppings, with a dollop of sauce on top. The thick dough means these made-to-order pizzas take a while to cook, so be sure to call ahead or be prepared to spend some time relaxing in the outdoor sitting area in front of the shop.
Pulcinella
The first restaurant in Canada to receive official certification from the Napoletana pizza authorities in Italy, Pulcinella serves thin-crust pizzas that are meant to be eaten with a knife and fork, just like they do in Naples. Proprietor Domenic Tudda grew up working in his parents’ restaurant, the legendary Stromboli Inn, which was in the same Kensington location where Pulcinella sits today, so he knows his pizza. Tudda also serves pasta and Italian antipasti and makes his own in-house gelato.
PZA Parlour
Run by another member of the Tudda family, Tony Nicastro, PZA Parlour is a big family friendly dining room on McLeod Trail. The pizza is a little bit thicker than Napoletana-style pizza, but thinner and crispier than Greek-style. The toppings are mostly made up of traditional Italian meats and cheeses and are meant to be shared by the whole family.
Spiros Pizza
You can’t talk about pizza in Calgary without mentioning Greek-style pizza, by far the most ubiquitous style of pizza in the city until thin-crust took over in the mid-‘00s. Spiros Pizza is a Calgary classic, serving up thick cheese-laden slices topped with pepperoni, ham, mushrooms and other classic pizza toppings.
UNA Pizza + Wine
UNA Pizza + Wine
Calgary’s original date night pizza restaurant, UNA Pizza + Wine introduced the city to sophisticated thin-crust pizzas, best consumed with a nice glass of wine. UNA puts its emphasis on pizzas topped with tasty combinations of prosciutto, hard Italian cheese and San Marzano tomato sauce. Dining in this bustling little restaurant is a great pleasure, but if you need a quick fix (the restaurant doesn’t take reservations and there is often a wait), pop into UNA Takeaway next door and get a pie to go.
Without Papers
Without Papers
This Inglewood pizza place makes from-scratch thin-crust pizzas, most usually topped with rich Italian meats and other luxurious ingredients. Without Papers is also a fun and casual place to hang out, open late on Friday and Saturday nights, you can often catch movies being projected onto the walls.
And these are just a few of Calgary’s best spots. There’s always a pizzeria lurking around the corner, and as long as the pie is hot and topped with your favourites, you’re likely in for a great meal on the go.
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