12 of Paris' Mouthwatering Pizza Places

Mamma Primi is the third pizzeria of the Big Mamma chain Paris, founded and run by young entrepreneurs Tigrane Seydoux and Victor Lugger. The trendy art deco interior and large terrace provide the perfect setting to enjoy the wood-fired oven pizzas and vast drinks menu. Try the classic Mammargherita DOP or, if you’re looking for some spice, tuck into the Santo Piccante with tomatoes, smoked mozzarella, ‘nduja, raddichio and spinach.

The shout-out to Brooklyn with its exposed brick and white tiling décor makes Faggio right at home in its cool South Pigalle (SoPi) location. It was founded by Fabien Lombardi, the man behind other well-known Pigalle hotspots like L’Entrée des Artistes. On the menu is a good balance between classic pizzas like regina and margherita, and more modern options like the Vulcano or Trevigiana (fior di latte cheese, French blue cheese, buffalo mozzarella, toasted hazelnuts and radicchio).

The restaurant’s owners, Pierre Jancou and Arnaud Lacombe, make clear that they are passionate about two things: pizza and its birthplace, Naples. If you had any doubts about the authenticity of Da Graziella as a true Neapolitan pizzeria, these will surely be assuaged when you try the signature pizza fritta. Try a fried Amatrice pizza with bufala ricotta, pork cheek, basil and olive oil, or the Mastu Graziella with pecorino, mint and anchovies. If you have any room left, the deep-fried chocolate pizza is a must.

Grazie has become as well-known for the pizza as its far-reaching and adventurous range of cocktails like the Vie en Rose, the wasabi Bloody Mary and the basil and honey martini. As for the menu, the ingredients are 100% Italian-sourced and make for some excellent antipasti and pizzas like the Babbini (tomato, mozzarella and spicy sausage), the cheesy Gusto and the Pizza chic with rosemary-infused lardo meat. This loft-style pizza bar, which claims to be somewhere and something between New York and Milan, makes for a great night out.

Popine was founded in 2016 by Naples-born and raised pizzaiolo Gennaro Nasti, who has since opened another gourmet pizzeria nearby, Bijou. Nasti’s menu seeks to reflect what he deems is “a culture that’s open to change” and the variety of original and modern pizzas at Popine certainly achieves this mix. All the ingredients, from the corbarino tomatoes to the EVOO, are organic and sourced directly from Italy. For a flavor of south Italy, try the Casernata with smoked sausage, provola cheese and rapini.

Papacionu is the best non-Italian pizzeria in the city, no contest. It was opened by Christophe Alin who has tried to recreate the restaurant run by his mother in his home city of Ajaccio, Corsica. The restaurant is famous for its “pizzaionados” – thin-based, semi-circular pizzas. Some favorites include the Spuntinetta made with pancetta, Corscian tome cheese, balsamic cream and fig, as well as the Burrata with anchovies and mozzarella. Like the pizzas, the drinks menu is faithful to the restaurant’s Corsican heritage, with a good variety of wines and beers from the island.

Marzo is part of the same family of restaurants established by Julien Cohen (like Grazie, above). The décor – tiled bar, marble tables, trendy lighting and large wooden beams – remains similar to his other pizzerias and the food at Marzo is equally delicious. The Formaggi is an Italian cheese platter on dough and the Ortollana with eggplant, zucchini and peppers is an excellent vegetarian option. The dessert choices are equally delicious and at times the perfect segue to the bar, like the Sgroppino lemon, prosecco, and vodka sorbet.

The minimalist wooden design of Louie Louie might make you feel like you’re in Scandinavia but the Italian pizzas are as good as any you’ll find in the city or, for that matter, Italy. You can be guaranteed quality as the ingredients are sourced and brought in from Italy. If you’re in the neighborhood, try one of the 16 pizzas on offer, like the Rest in Pizz with smoked scamorza cheese and ham, the ricotta and basil calzone or one of the two varieties of margherita.

Pizzeria Dei Cioppi is a very reasonably-priced stop on the tour of Italian restaurants in the city and is located near Bastille. The pizzeria is owned by the Milanese-Sicilian couple Fabirizio Ferrara and Federica Mancioppi, the same people behind the now closed Caffè dei Cioppi bistro/trattoria. As well as dinner, this restaurant is great for a lighter lunch option with a decent slice, dessert and water for €10 ($12). The Calabrese and Vegetariana go perfectly with one of the many Italian beers on offer.

Tripletta was opened in 2016 and is perhaps a nod to the 2003 animation film The Triplets of Belville about the French mafia. It is the latest in a string of restaurants in the 20th arrondissement like Popine that are making this neighborhood somewhat of a pizza hub. The menu is split into cream, tomato, classic and calzone pizzas with all the ingredients bearing the DOP (Denominazione di origine protetta) label. The pizzas range from classics to modern twists including the house Tripletta with green chillis.

Daroco is definitely in contention for the title of the chicest pizzeria in Paris. The two-floored restaurant opened in one of Jean Paul Gaultier’s former boutiques and the owners, Alexandre Giesbert and Julien Ross, have kept Gaultier’s iconic marine theme going with waiters in blue and white striped uniforms. Some popular favorites are the Pugliese (aubergine caviar, cherry tomato, and mozzarella) and the spicy Fririelli e Salsiccia. You’re also guaranteed a great cocktail since one of the most influential bartenders in France, Nico de Soto, was behind the menu.

Organic Italian flour, fresh seasonal produce, creative menu choices and simple, elegant décor make Iovine’s a great place for lunch and dinner. The restaurant, located next to the Palais Royal, was opened in 2015 by Naples-born Nicola Iovine – who like some other natives in the city are succeeding in developing exciting new recipes from the classics they grew up with and know so well. One of the unique pizzas on offer is the 2 pieu 2 which combines two French cheeses and two Italian.