Mancuians love four things: football, music, pubs, and pizza. There’s something about a good pizza that just does really well in this foodie city – we can’t get enough of it. From high-end pizzerias to trendy pop-ups, the pizza scene in Manchester goes far beyond the humble oven pizza. It’s serious business, with wood-fired ovens, tomatoes flown in from Napoli, and only the freshest dough. The best way to eat pizza is with friends, so grab your pals and go in search of the best pizza in Manchester. Here are seven pizza joints that will not disappoint.
Best pizzas in Manchester
How do these rankings work?
1. Lucky Mama’s
Get your Roman pizza fix at Lucky Mama’s in Chorlton. The ultra-fresh, square pizzas are crispy, saucy, juicy, cheesy, and perfectly cooked. Lucky Mama’s was a pop-up born out of lockdown, so we love to see them thriving with a brick-and-mortar shop. A VERY pink one at that – the shop itself is all pink and good vibes. Fancy a bit of pizza and pasta? Their Veneto-style pasta is also ridiculously good. Finish it all off with a cannoli and that’s an evening well spent.
2. Honest Crust at Mackie Mayor
You might not expect to find one of the best pizzas in Manchester in a food hall, but Honest Crust aims to surprise. There’s a lot to try out in Mackie Mayor, but put these bubbly sourdough pizzas at the top of your list. They only use the freshest ingredients, and their toppings will make it hard to choose just one. But if in doubt, order the margherita – their one is particularly special. Their city centre location is Macke Mayor, but you can also find them in Altrincham and Macclesfield.
3. Double Zero Neapolitan Pizza
Indulge of some of the best Neapolitan pizzas around at Double Zero. The Chorlton spot is not to be missed, if not for its crispy, bubbly, saucy pizzas, then for its BYOB status. Any place that offers BYOB sounds pretty good to us. It’s the perfect place to gather a group of pals, have a few drinks, and tuck into ridiculously good pizza. It’s laid-back with minimum fuss but maximum satisfaction.
4. Nell’s Pizza
Manchester really has something for every kind of pizza lover, from Detroit to Neopolitan, but if you’re looking for a classic New York pizza, run to Nell’s Pizza. Luckily, they have locations across the city, so you probably won’t have to run fair. You’ll find them in Chorlton pub The Beagle, the new Kampus food hall, and Common in the Northern Quarter. The pizzas here are ridiculously moreish with crispy crusts and floppy bases – fold them up and eat them proper NYC-style. They come by the slice if you want to try out a few (the Greens is a must-try), or you can grab them in 14″ or a whopping 22″. Not only are the pizzas beyond delicious, they also do great dips – hot honey, ranch, and more.
5. Ciaooo
Ciaoo couldn’t possibly be more classical in their Italian roots, using a traditional stone bake oven and blending the ingredients for the freshest toppings, including tomatoes sourced from Napoli. They churn the pizzas out in no time, taking less than 90 seconds to cook; the big spongey doughy crusts are an absolute joy. They also put on excellent lunch deals, and with two stores to try from, you’re never far from the best lunch break going. And if you want something really special, try their cheddar jalapeno cheesy garlic bread. You won’t find many crusts bigger and bubblier than this outside of Naples, so enjoy it!
6. Croma
Croma started in the heart of Manchester way back in 2000 and since then has rolled out to Chorlton, Prestwich and Didsbury. Their pizzas are thinner than most, so are perfect for folding in half and they go nicely with their lovely imaginative toppings that keep all their loyal customers coming back. Keep an eye out for their deals during the week and at lunchtime.
7. Ramona
Serving up delectable Detroit-style pizzas, Romana is a favourite newcomer to the Manchester pizza scene. The setting itself it stunning, all strung-up fairy lights, campfires, and rustic decor, but it’s the pizza that has people coming back over and over again. The pizzas are served by the slice, and they don’t come cheap, but they often do deals and discounts. And if you do pay full price, we guarantee the juicy, messy, and indulgent focaccia pizza is worth it. It’s not just margherita pizzas they specialise in, they also whip up a fantastic margarita. Think: spicy margs, fruity margs, classic margs – the lot. Try their tater tots, too.
