The Best Pizza in Boston

Located in a quaint spot between Harvard and Porter Squares in Cambridge, Giulia is a chef-owned regional Italian restaurant featuring casual dining and classic eats. It is the first restaurant of award-winning Chef Michael Paliarini, who also heads up Benedetto at the Charles Hotel in Harvard Square. Giulia quickly gained national acclaim for its awesomely authentic Italian food, including pizza, creative antipasti dishes, and unique pasta bowls. Pizza lovers have to try the Sardinian flatbread with basil pesto, pine nuts, garlic and parmigiano.

For excellent Italian food in a cozy, casual environment, check out MIDA. This South End neighborhood restaurant is a local favorite and the menu features simple ingredients and traditional Italian recipes. The menu focuses on a variety of regions all over Italy and diners can sample a range of flavors through the course of a meal. You can find different items on the menu depending on what ingredients are available, but foodies can always count on their amazing antipasti selections, heaping bowls of pastas and occasional seasonal pizzas.

Sulmona was the name of an Ancient city in the province of L’Aquila in Abruzzo. Located in Kendall Square, they feature a warm and vibrant atmosphere that makes for the perfect place to enjoy this rustic Northern Italian cuisine. The menu features a wide array of foods, including roasted meats, arancini, salumi, polenta, pasta, and, of course, fresh, hand-made pizza. Pair your meal with a local brew, signature cocktail or glass of wine from the extensive menu. You can’t go wrong with any of their Pizzettes, but regulars rave about the Funghi with Wild Mushrooms and the Carne with Sunday Meat Sauce and sweet Italian sausage.

Serafina is a casual yet elegant Italian eatery that has multiple locations around the country. It’s a popular place for couples, families and groups of friends to dine and guests love the warm, welcoming environment. This Back Bay outpost on Newbury Street has the perfect location for both tourists out exploring the city and neighborhood locals on their way home from work. They feature a traditional take on Italian cuisine and maintain a focus on the food and where it comes from. Try one of their authentic Italian pizzas, like the Napoletana, the Di Vittorio or the Margherita.

Toscano, located in Harvard Square in Cambridge, is just a stone’s throw from Harvard’s walls and in the epicenter of all the neighborhood action. This is the second outpost of the Modern Tuscan restaurant to appear in the city and foodies think it has some of the best pizza in Boston. The interior is bright and inviting and the menu features all kinds of Tuscan favorites, including handmade pastas, housemade sausages and delicious pizzas. Try the Margherita or the Speck pizza, made with smoked prosciutto, tomato, fresh mozzarella and arugula.

Toscano’s second location in Boston is on Charles Street, nestled among the antique shops, boutiques and cafes in Beacon Hill. It’s a neighborhood staple and locals love it for the delicious Italian cuisine and fresh, homemade pizzas. The interior is cozy and luxurious and evokes the feeling of dining out in Tuscany. The menu features a number of of Tuscan favorites, including handmade pastas, housemade sausages and delicious pizzas. Try the Salsiccia or the Verdure Pizza, a combination of Portobello mushrooms, zucchini, red pepper, onion, tomato and fresh mozzarella.

Viale, conveniently located on Mass Ave in Cambridge, is a casual Italian spot that is a neighborhood favorite in Central Square. It’s a laid-back restaurant with an upscale appeal and the menu focuses on the flavors of Italy and New England. They feature fresh pastas and plenty of delicious antipasti and other treats from their wood-burning grill. The lively bar atmosphere makes it a great place to meet friends for a glass of wine, original craft cocktails or artisan brewed beers. Try one of their famous wood grilled flatbreads, like the Pistachio Pesto with ricotta, balsamic and caramelized onions.

Figs by Todd English serves not only some of the best pizza in Boston, but also some of the most unique! Diners say it is most likely like no other pizza you’ve ever had. Their pies have a large, free-form shape, never a perfect circle like traditional pizza. The crust is super crisp and thin, which the kitchen achieves by cooking it for a very short time at a high temperature. They have pizzas to suit any tastes, but some of the most popular are the traditional Oliver’s Pizza and The Spicy Chicken Sausage with housemade sausage, herbed ricotta, balsamic onions and a light tomato sauce.

Located on the third floor of the famous Eataly Boston, Terra is a cozy and unique restaurant inspired by the elements of earth and fire. The intimate dining room highlights the gorgeous wood-burning Italian grill and the atmosphere is warm and festive. Order a glass of rare wine, a barrel-aged beer or an herb-infused cocktail before you start your meal. Chef Dan Bazzinotti focuses on cooking over an open flame to achieve the wonderful flavor and playfulness of the dishes. Pizza lovers should try the Bruschette offerings, such as the Ricotta, with whipped Calabro ricotta, grilled melon, mint and Aceto Villa Manodori Balsamico.

Mare is the Italian word for ‘sea’ and that’s what this restaurant keeps at the focus of its menu. It is one of Boston’s most acclaimed seafood restaurants, and finds a way to spice up seafood dishes in completely unique ways. Pizza lovers adore the Thin Crust PIzzetta di Mare, served with a topping of shrimp, scallop, calamari, fresh tomatine and parsley. The menu also features Maine Peekytoe crabcake, Grilled stuffed calamari and an extensive list of wine and cocktails to pair with your meal.

Gran Gusto, located on Sherman Street in Cambridge, prides themselves on serving the best quality food at a great price. They make everything in-house, starting with fresh, basic ingredients and over 80% of their products come from Italy. This includes olive oil, flour, truffles, specialty cheese, bufala mozzarella, ice cream and more. Plus they have a large selection of affordable wines, hand-selected by a wine expert and paired perfectly with your dish. Try one of their house specialty pizzas, like the Quattro Stagione, the Caprese, or the Salsiccia E Friarielli.

For delectable pizza in an elegant environment, head to Nebo Cucina and Enoteca at the Boston Seaport. It’s an upscale restaurant featuring recipes from the Puglia region on Italy. The menu features a wide variety of traditional Italian dishes, including antipasti and bruschetta, and their famous Neapolitan pizza made entirely on premise. Locals love the Mare pizza with shrimp, lemon butter, parsley, garlic, EVOO and mozzarella. And they have a full bar featuring a great wine selection and cocktails to pair with your pizza.

Waypoint is the second Cambridge restaurant of Chef Michael Scelfo of Alden and Harlow. Located right in the gateway of Harvard Square, the name of the restaurant means a plot point on a map. Clearly Chef Scelfo is mapping out his culinary journey and this is the next stop for diners in the Boston area. You might be tempted by one of the pasta dishes, like the Lobster Cacio e Pepe. But regulars swear that they have some of the best pizza in Boston!