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.
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.
A Calgary success story, Bow Tie Pizza has four locations, giving this independent take-out business great coverage of the entire city. As self-declared pizza nerds, the Bow Tie team specializes in the elusive not-too-thin but not-too-thick slow-rise crust, baking everything in an ultra-hot stone deck oven for perfectly crisp pizzas. They top their pizzas with fresh produce, local hand-sliced meats, and a two-cheese blend to create classic topping combinations and specialty pies like the Mother of Dragons (for those who like to get spicy) and the Greek-inspired Beard of Zeus.
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 started as a brewery pop-up fuelled by then-amateur pizza maker Mike Lange’s lifelong fascination with the great pizzas of the U.S., particularly New York-style pies. The demand for Noble Pie’s foldable pizza, topped with authentic cupping pepperoni, hot honey, and other simple but mighty ingredients was so overwhelming that Lange and his partner Leslie Lamont eventually opened a full-scale pizzeria. Lange approaches his pizza with the utmost seriousness — to him it’s both a science and an art — but with its retro styling and thoughtful wine list, Noble Pie is also a whole lot of fun.
This cool pizzeria started life as a pop-up in restaurants all over town before launching into a more consistent takeout business in the pizza-heavy days of 2020 and gaining popularity as one of the first pizza places in the city to offer a dill pickle-topped pie. Nowadays Pizzaface has its own dine-in spot on 17th Avenue SW, serving up thin-ish crust pizzas like the Tony’s Classic Roni (named after co-founder Tony Migliarese, who also owns the also very popular D.O.P. restaurant), the aforementioned Mike’s Pickle with crunchy pickles and garlic cream, and other savoury delights, topped with potato, artichoke, caramelized onions and other high-end ingredients.
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 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.
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.
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.
Location: 1147 Kensington Crescent NW
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.
One of Calgary’s most beloved neighbourhood pizzerias, Tops was founded over 50 years ago by Greek immigrant George Tsoulamanis, who came to this country with a dream and a vision of ultra-thick and cheesy pizza. Today the second generations of Tsoulamanises operate this friendly little restaurant, still serving formidable Greek-style pizzas — though thin-crust is now available for more modest appetites — along with other old-school entrées, pastas, sandwiches, and cocktails, all with a generous side of hospitality.
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.
Location: 618 17 Ave SW
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.
