Where to Eat Pizza When All Your Friends Are Doing Italian Summer and FOMO Levels Are High
From chewy Neapolitan rounds to two-metre-long feasts, these are the best pizzas in the city.
Where to Eat Pizza When All Your Friends Are Doing Italian Summer and FOMO Levels Are High
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From chewy Neapolitan rounds to two-metre-long feasts, these are the best pizzas in the city.
Winter — with its plummeting temperatures and early nights — has arrived, casting a bit of a damper on the everyday. But not everyone's suffering. We all have that mate who has somehow managed to wrangle a vacation to some sunshine-y corner of Europe and is living it up while you're over here piling on extra layers of outerwear.
If you're at the stage where looking at yet another pic of a beautiful meal on your mate's 'I'm-in-Italy' Instagram is going to drive you round the bend, it's time to take matters into your own hands. How, you ask? With a quick visit to one of the city's impeccable Italian spots that dish up pizza so good, it easily rivals the original.
To steer you in the right direction, we've partnered with American Express to round up the city's top pizza joints — ranging from the understated to the extravagant. Plus, these pizzerias all accept American Express so you can stock up on points to use towards your future European vacay at the same time. Throw in a glass (or two, or three) of Italian vino and that FOMO will evaporate in record time.
Got yourself in another dining situation and need some guidance? Whatever it is, we know a place. Visit The Shortlist and we'll sort you out.
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At Rosso Antico, the pared back space — white tiles, exposed brick walls and low lighting — reflects the simple menu. It’s the kind of place where the focus is on exceptional Italian food and wine with zero unnecessary fuss. The quality of a good pizza lies predominantly in its base — and the bases at Rosso Antico are incredible. They have that perfect crispy, chewy balance only Italians seem to be able to produce, and the toppings that amply adorn those bases are equally great. The Norma, with generous caramelised slivers of roasted eggplant, tangy sauce, islands of salted ricotta and a generous amount of fior di latte, is particularly excellent. It’s the kind of pizza that’s so authentically Italian, you’ll be hard-pressed to remember you’re still in Sydney.
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At this casually chic neighbourhood joint, it’s all about simple Italian food paired with friendly service and great booze. The decor here is simple, yet stunning — with a terrazzo bar, painted brick walls and blonde timber tables and chairs. But the real hero here is the sizeable exposed kitchen and matte white-clad wood-fire pizza oven, encased by a gorgeous pale mint panel. And this pizza oven churns out some absolute delights — charred, soft bases topped with sparse high-quality ingredients. The Funghi, with fior di latte, stracchino cheese, forest mushrooms and pork sausage, manages to be big on flavour without being too rich. Finish the night off with a Fernet Branca and tiramisu so authentic you’ll have to pinch yourself to remember you’re still in Sydney.
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It’s easy to devour an entire pizza to yourself here — and unashamedly so. While there are other things on the menu, the pizza is so good it’ll sabotage your ability to try anything else. Housed in a former cannery, Da Mario inhabits a large and open space — possibly selected to house the big red oven. Toppings are minimal yet deliciously paramount. Take, for example, the gorgonzola con radicchio or the full-flavoured Calabrese with salami, mozzarella and olives. Traditionalists will love the margherita, while calzone fans should opt for the Salame, oozing with soft ricotta, melted mozzarella and black pepper. Whatever you choose, it’s all stupidly delicious. If Sydney’s got pizza this good, who really needs that trip to Italy?
Image: Kitti Smallbone
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Dining at Via Napoli can be a little hectic. It’s perpetually bustling and waiters buzz around in a frenzy trying to serve everyone in good time. But there’s a reason it’s always so busy: the pizza here is absolutely stellar. This award-winning spot is all about keeping with tradition, with pliable bases that are carefully kneaded by hand and cooked in a domed oven for no more than 90 seconds. With almost pizza twenty options to choose from, it’s understandable to feel a little overwhelmed. But believe us when we say, it’s all but impossible to go wrong here. In a group? Order the ridiculously impressive one- or two-metre pizzas. These concoctions are as delicious as the smaller versions and infinitely more Instagrammable.
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With its sunny courtyard and olive colour palette, Marta Osteria feels like a perfect little slice of Rome. The menu here is both refined and full of personality, and while there’s a lot to choose from, it’s doing incredible things with the pizza here. The crusts at Marta Osteria are made using pinza dough, a Roman Empire-era technique that results in a light, digestible base. We’re head over heels for the De’ Fiori, with buffalo mozzarella, zucchini flowers, and anchovies, and the Salaria, with its fior di latte, ricotta, and lemon zest toppings. On the drinks-side of things, indulge your Italian vacay fantasies with spritzes or wines poured from Carnevale’s bespoke ceramic decanters.
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At Queen Margherita of Savoy, the magic is in the dough prep that results in a base that’s thin, the right amount of chewy, and delicately flavoursome. Certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, this place is as authentically Italian as it gets. Here, the toppings are minimal so as not to distract from those perfect bases. Think eggplant ragu and basil — as in the Siciliana — or leg ham, artichokes, and mushroom atop the capricciosa. The impeccable pizzas are well-complemented by the cosy, timber-accented surrounds that feel a lot like the kind of place you’d find in a charming Roman alleyway.
As you drink and dine with your American Express, reap all the sweet rewards of being a Card Member. Explore the many ways American Express has your back here.
