Choosing Your Pizza Style
Start with the crust you love most, because a thin, blistered Neapolitan pie eats very differently from a thick, crispy-edged pan pizza. Then think about where your day will take you, since these spots spread across Belltown, Fremont, Ballard, Phinney Ridge, West Seattle, the University District and the streets near downtown. Browse a guide to Seattle neighborhoods to pair your pizza stop with an afternoon of wandering.
Wood-Fired and Neapolitan Pies
Serious Pie
Settle into this Belltown spot from restaurateur Tom Douglas, where pizzas bake in a wood-fired oven that reaches 600 degrees. Toppings lean on local mushrooms and vegetables alongside artisan cheeses and cured meats. Order the signature pie topped with crimini and oyster mushrooms plus truffle cheese, and let the warm lighting set the mood for a relaxed dinner downtown.
Lupo
Antique chandeliers and marble cafe tables fill this Fremont bistro, which turns out Neapolitan-style pizzas in a setting made for couples planning a romantic evening out. Look for the Burrata Soppressata, where tomato and basil meet hot honey and Calabrian chiles for a sweet and spicy finish.
Deep-Dish, Detroit and Pan Pizza
Moto
Head to West Seattle for Moto, a takeout-only shop with just a few picnic tables outside. Its rectangular deep-dish pies are inventive enough that devoted pizza lovers sometimes order weeks in advance. Try the Crab pie, a showcase of Pacific Northwest flavor made with local Dungeness crab, lemon, thyme, dill and a mix of cheeses, and save room for soft-serve ice cream before you go.
Windy City Pie
Chicago transplants and deep-dish devotees make the trip to this Phinney Ridge shop for heavy pizzas with a sweet crust and cheese that browns along the edges. Bring an appetite for the Sweet Pete, which stacks house sausage, candied bacon, pineapple and hot giardiniera over red sauce and mozzarella.
Kōbo at Redhook Brewlab
Grab a beer and a creative pie at this pizza counter inside Redhook Brewlab on East Pike Street, run by Seattle-born chef Shota Nakajima, known from Iron Chef and nominated for a James Beard award. His crusty Detroit-style pies draw on his years cooking in Osaka, Japan, and mochiko flour gives the dough a gentle sweetness. Go for the Hot Neighbor, with fried chicken from his nearby restaurant, Taku, plus koji hot sauce, Jack cheese and cilantro.
New York-Inspired Neighborhood Pizza
Ballard Pizza Co
Stroll Ballard Avenue to this spot from the well-known Ethan Stowell Restaurants group, which takes its cues from New York pizza. Brick walls, timber rafters and wooden benches give the room a casual, easygoing feel. Order the popular Carbonara, with egg, speck, garlic confit, garlic oil and mozzarella, for a laid-back neighborhood meal.
Vegan and Gluten-Free Pizza
Pi Vegan Pizzeria
Slide into a deep wooden booth at this simple, cheerful pizzeria on Roosevelt Way NE, close to the University of Washington campus. It is said to be the oldest vegan pizza restaurant in the country. Students and plant-based eaters alike come for pies like the Buffalo Chick'n, finished with white garlic sauce and ranch.
Razzi's Pizzeria
Razzi's on Howell Street is known for its gluten-free and vegan pizzas, yet it also serves traditional crusts and plenty of meat-heavy options, which makes it handy for groups with mixed diets. It stays open late near downtown hotels and Capitol Hill nightlife, so stop in after an evening out. Try the gluten-free W.O.W., topped with pesto, artichoke hearts, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and mozzarella.
Building Your Day Around Pizza
Several of these spots make easy anchors for a day out. Serious Pie and Razzi's sit close to downtown, while Lupo, Ballard Pizza Co and Windy City Pie fit neatly into a north end wander. Moto rewards a trip to West Seattle, and a takeout pie pairs nicely with time in one of the city's Seattle parks. To fill the hours around your meal, browse our roundup of things to do in Seattle or plan a route past well-known Seattle landmarks.
Menus, hours and ordering policies can change, so check each business's own website for current details before you go.
