The Complete Guide To Italian Pizza In Berlin

Joey’s may have cornered the market for desperate pizza lovers with a hangover, but their’s are by no means the only pizzas on offer in Berlin. In part owing to the huge Italian population in Berlin, there are some truly excellent pizzerias for those hungry Berliners looking for something authentic. Here we list the best pizzas in town.

Zola

Zola markets itself as a classic Neapolitan pizzeria, and there are enough references to ‘wood-fired ovens’ to justify the claim. Hidden in a Kreuzberg backyard, the restaurant is a cozy affair with a relatively short menu of classic Naples-style pizzas. The pizza here is thin crusted, crispy and comes with a satisfyingly droopy tip, a sure sign of a proper Italian pizza. Toppings come in the classic Italian variety too: think buffalo mozzarella and spicy Italian salsiccia. A little pricey but it turns out that paying a little extra is worth it for classic Italian pizza goodness.

Zola, Paul-Lincke-Ufer 39-40, Berlin, Germany, +49 1512 9483753

Standard

Restaurant, Italian

Having made a name for itself as the home of classic Italian pizza, Prenzlauer Berg’s Standard is something of an anomaly for Italian pizza in Berlin. The team at Standard promises proper Italian fare, but the base is too thick and doughy to qualify against the exacting standards of good Napoli-standard pizza. This coupled with the heretical behavior that sees potatoes and other strange toppings sneaking their way onto the menu means that Standard cannot be really counted as ‘real’ Italian pizza. That said, the food is delicious, but authenticity hunters should look elsewhere.

Stranero

Still a relative unknown, in no small part because of its unglamorous location in Wedding, Stranero offers properly authentic Neapolitan pizza at reasonable prices. Stranero’s pizza is just the right side of burnt, with a singed crust and classic Italian toppings. The menu is reliable and short, with traditional pizzas only (don’t expect pineapple here). Stranero is also home to some of the cheapest and most drinkable house wine around, making it the ideal spot for pizza and drinking. An affordable and delicious night out.

Pane e Vino

Not strictly a pizzeria, Pane e Vino is more of a grown-up restaurant. The menu encompasses pizza and pasta. The pasta is pretty good, but it’s the pizza that concerns us here and it is very good indeed. Made in front of you by Belle Paese‘s finest kitchen staff, the pizza is an excellent blend of a slightly-thicker-than-allowed-in-Naples base and authentic toppings. Another Prenzlauer Berg special, Pane e Vino, on the doorstop of Eberswalder U-Bahn, is a sophisticated choice for pizza lovers in Berlin.

Pane e Vino, Kastanienallee 2, Berlin, Germany, +49 1747 228374

Il Casalinga Popolare

An established Berliner could be forgiven for doubting the usefulness of this list because of some glaring omissions. Fear not, the big names in Berlin pizzerias all fall under the umbrella of Il Casalinga Popolare, the group in charge of I Due Forni, Il Ritrovo and Il Casolare, perhaps the three best pizzerias in town. In Kreuzberg, Prenzlauer Berg and Friedrichshain, these are the best of the best. Sadly, their popularity means that these places are regularly packed to the rafters (especially Il Casolare in the summer), so a reservation is recommended. Regardless, this is hands down the best classic Italian pizza in Berlin.

Il Casalinga Popolare pizzerias in Berlin, Germany