Best Pizza in Melbourne 2026: The Definitive Rankings
Updated 16 March 2026 | 12 places tested | Liam Murphy reporting
Right. Let’s get into it. Every year someone publishes a “best pizza in Melbourne” list that reads like it was written by someone who’s never actually eaten pizza in Melbourne. The same ten places, the same tired descriptions, the same “you can’t go wrong” cop-out. You can absolutely go wrong. I’ve eaten at all twelve of these places in the last six weeks — some twice, because I’m thorough and also because I have no self-control — and I’m here to tell you exactly where your money is best spent.
Melbourne’s pizza scene in 2026 is genuinely world-class. Not in the way tourism boards use that phrase — I mean you can get a Neapolitan margherita here that would hold its own on Via Toledo, and five minutes away you can get a Detroit-style slab that would make a Detroiter weep. The range is absurd. The quality floor has risen dramatically. And the price ceiling? Well, that’s gone up too. We’ll talk about that.
I’ve ranked these by overall experience, not just the pizza. Because you don’t eat pizza in a vacuum (unless you’re having a particularly rough Tuesday). Service, atmosphere, value, drinks, and yes — the pie itself.
Let’s go.
1. Capitano — Carlton
Style: New York–inspired, wood-fired Price: $24–$38 for mains Address: 222 Lygon Street, Carlton
Capitano has been the benchmark for years and 2026 hasn’t changed that. The Lygon Street institution walks a tightrope between Italian tradition and New York attitude, and the result is something neither city could produce on its own. The pepperoni — cupped, charred, pooling with chilli oil — is the pizza equivalent of a knockout punch in the first round. You know you’re done for.
The dough is the star here. Fermented for 72 hours, it’s got that sourdough tang that separates serious pizzerias from the rest. The base is thin but structural — no flopping, no regret. The fennel sausage number with broccoli rabe and chilli is the order regulars make without looking at the menu.
Drinks list leans heavily into Italian natural wine and a tight selection of cocktails that actually complement the food. The negroni is made properly. That shouldn’t be remarkable, but it is.
Insider tip: Go on a Monday or Tuesday when there’s no wait. Friday and Saturday you’re looking at 45 minutes minimum. Park on Drummond Street, not Lygon — same distance, infinitely less stress.
2. 400 Gradi — Brunswick
Style: Traditional Neapolitan Price: $18–$32 for mains Address: 99 Symonds Street, Brunswick
Johnny Di Francesco’s baby, and the place that put Melbourne on the international pizza map after he won the World Pizza Championships in Naples. Let that sink down — a bloke from Brunswick beat every pizzaiolo in Naples at making Neapolitan pizza. In Naples.
The margherita here is the test. If a pizzeria can’t nail a margherita, everything else is just hiding behind toppings. 400 Gradi’s version is textbook: San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte, fresh basil, a leopard-spotted cornicione that puffs and chars in all the right places. The dough is 24-hour fermented and you can taste the time.
The Diavola brings the heat with ’nduja and calabrian chilli — proper Italian spicy, not the “we added sriracha” kind. For something different, the truffle pizza with mushroom and fior di latte is rich but not ridiculous.
The Brunswick location is the original and still the best. The Sydney Road strip has changed a lot around it, but 400 Gradi hasn’t needed to.
Price check: A margherita is $18. You will not find better pizza for that price in this city.
3. Supermaxi — Windsor
Style: Roman-inspired, al taglio and whole pies Price: $16–$28 for mains Address: 322 Chapel Street, Windsor
Supermaxi is doing something nobody else in Melbourne is doing, and doing it extremely well. Roman-style pizza al taglio — the thick, airy, focaccia-adjacent rectangles you buy by weight — is their thing. The crust is the product of a 72-hour fermentation and high hydration dough that results in a crumb structure closer to great sourdough bread than what you’d call traditional pizza.
The potato and rosemary slice is criminally good. Thinly sliced Desiree potatoes, a whisper of rosemary, good olive oil, salt flakes. It sounds simple because it is — and because the dough does all the heavy lifting. The mortadella and pistachio is another winner, and the seasonal rotations keep things interesting.
They do round pies too, but honestly, the al taglio is where the magic is. Grab three different slices, sit at the bench out front, and watch Chapel Street roll past. It’s one of the best cheap eats in the inner south-east.
The move: Go at 11:30am when the first trays come out. By 2pm the best slices are gone.
4. DOC Pizza & Mozzarella Bar — Carlton
Style: Southern Italian, Neapolitan-leaning Price: $20–$36 for mains Address: 295 Drummond Street, Carlton
DOC has been quietly consistent since 2003, which in Melbourne restaurant years is roughly 140 years. The Drummond Street location feels like you’ve wandered into someone’s well-appointed Italian kitchen — timber, warm light, the smell of woodfire hitting you at the door.
The pizza here leans more traditional than some of the competition. The base is softer, wetter — true Neapolitan style with the soupy centre that demands you fold and eat with your hands, knife-and-fork people be damned. The bufalina with fresh buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, and basil is the move.
What separates DOC from the pack is the cheese program. This is the mozzarella bar, after all. The burrata is flown in from Puglia (yes, really) and it arrives at your table trembling like it knows what’s about to happen to it. Order it alongside your pizza. The staff know their stuff and will guide you without being pushy.
Budget reality check: You can do a pizza and a glass of wine for under $45 per person. In 2026 Carlton, that’s practically a steal.
5. Baby Pizza — Armadale
Style: Contemporary Italian, wood-fired Price: $26–$42 for mains Address: 1030 High Street, Armadale
Baby Pizza is the pizza arm of the Lucas Restaurants group, and it has the polish you’d expect from that pedigree without tipping into corporate sterility. The High Street Armadale location is tight, buzzy, and has that “I’m doing well and I’d like everyone to know it” energy that Armadale does better than anywhere else in Melbourne.
The pizza is excellent. The base is thin, crispy, with a sourdough tang that feels properly developed. The mortadella pizza with truffle and stracciatella is the signature, and it delivers. The toppings are generous but controlled — this isn’t a pizzeria that buries the dough under a mountain of stuff.
The drinks list is where Baby excels. Proper cocktails, a wine list that doesn’t treat Italian wine as an afterthought, and Aperol spritzes that aren’t just orange-coloured vodka. It’s a date spot more than a family spot, and it knows it.
Fair warning: The prices reflect the suburb. A pizza here will run you $28–$36, and with drinks you’re looking at $60–$80 per head. The food justifies it, but go in with eyes open.
6. Pizza Farro — South Melbourne
Style: Organic, wholegrain, health-conscious Neapolitan Price: $18–$28 for mains Address: 221 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne
Pizza Farro is the pizza place that shouldn’t work. Wholegrain spelt flour dough, organic toppings, a health-conscious angle that in theory should produce the kind of cardboard pizza that makes you question your life choices. In practice, it produces some of the most interesting dough in Melbourne.
The spelt flour gives the base a nutty, slightly sweet character that pairs brilliantly with simpler toppings. The marinara — tomato, garlic, oregano, olive oil, no cheese — is revelatory here because the dough actually has flavour on its own. The wild mushroom with truffle and pecorino is the heavier option, and it works.
The South Melbourne location near the market means weekend brunch traffic is huge. Go on a weeknight instead, when the pace slows down and you can actually taste what you’re eating.
Who it’s for: If you’re gluten-sensitive (not celiac — the flour is still wheat-based but lower gluten) or you want pizza that doesn’t make you feel like you need a nap afterwards, this is your spot.
7. Capitano — CBD (Hardware Lane)
Style: New York–inspired, wood-fired Price: $26–$40 for mains Address: Hardware Lane, Melbourne CBD
Yes, Capitano appears twice. The CBD location is a different beast from the Carlton original — louder, faster, more corporate energy. But the pizza is identical in quality, and for CBD workers or anyone in the city proper, it’s the best option within walking distance of the CBD grid.
The menu mirrors Carlton with seasonal additions. The rigatoni with ’nduja ragu is a strong move if you want to mix it up. The calzone — folded, stuffed, and blistered — is criminally underrated and almost nobody orders it. You should.
The room itself has that hardware-lane-meets-New-York-industrial thing happening. Exposed brick, low lighting, a bar that fills up fast after 6pm on weekdays with the after-work crowd.
Getting there: Tram to Stop 8 on Bourke Street, then a two-minute walk down Hardware Lane. If you’re driving, forget about it — the Wilson parking on Hardware Lane is $35 for two hours and you’ll spend most of that time wondering if your car will still have its catalytic converter.
8. Tonda — Cremorne
Style: Contemporary Japanese-Italian fusion pizza Price: $22–$34 for mains Address: 260 Church Street, Richmond/Cremorne
Tonda is the wildcard. Japanese-Italian pizza fusion sounds like something that would end badly, but chef Takashi Omiya makes it work through restraint rather than gimmickry. The nori and bonito pizza with a white base, shiso, and yuzu is the kind of thing that shouldn’t exist but absolutely should.
The base is thin and cracker-crisp — more Roman than Neapolitan — with a texture that stands up to the umami-heavy toppings. The miso butter corn pizza sounds bizarre and tastes revelatory. It’s sweet, savoury, smoky, and you’ll eat the entire thing before your dining companion gets back from the bathroom.
The Cremorne location is industrial-chic in the way that part of Richmond does so well. Former warehouse space, high ceilings, a bar area that attracts the after-work tech crowd from the surrounding offices.
Pair it with: Tonda is walking distance from our guide to Richmond’s best late-night eats, so plan accordingly if you’re making a night of it.
9. +39 — CBD
Style: Roman-inspired, thin crust Price: $20–$32 for mains Address: 395 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD
The name +39 is the international dialling code for Italy, and the food backs up the branding. Tucked into Little Bourke Street’s restaurant row, +39 does Roman-style pizza with a thin, almost cracker-like base that’s a world away from the Neapolitan puffy-crust school.
The prosciutto e rucola is the standard order — San Daniele prosciutto, rocket, shaved parmesan, good olive oil — and it’s done with the kind of precision that makes you realise how badly most places handle these simple ingredients. The capricciosa is loaded without being heavy: ham, mushrooms, artichokes, olives, mozzarella, all in balance.
The wine list is predominantly Italian (obviously) and priced fairly for CBD standards. A glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo runs $14, which is frankly criminal in this part of town.
The honest take: The room is small, the tables are close together, and the noise level on a Friday night makes conversation a contact sport. If you’re after a quiet romantic dinner, look elsewhere. If you want genuinely good Roman pizza in the CBD with a wine list that makes sense, +39 delivers.
10. Ladro — Fitzroy
Style: Neapolitan, organic Price: $20–$34 for mains Address: 224 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy
Ladro on Gertrude Street has been doing the organic Neapolitan thing since before it was fashionable, and the consistency is remarkable. The dough uses organic Tipo 00 flour, 24-hour fermentation, and a proper wood-fired oven that runs hot enough to blister the cornicione without incinerating it.
The funghi with porcini, truffle oil, and mozzarella is the signature, and it’s a goodun. But honestly, the simplest pizzas here — the marinara, the margherita — are where Ladro shines. When the ingredients are this good and the dough is this well-made, complexity is optional.
The Gertrude Street location has outdoor seating that’s perfect for Melbourne’s temperate months and a cosy interior for the rest. The neighbourhood is Fitzroy at its most walkable — you’re a block from the best bars on Gertrude Street if you want to extend the evening.
Value note: Ladro does a lunch special on weekdays — a pizza and soft drink for $22. That’s proper value in Fitzroy, where a sandwich can run you $18.
11. Iddhi — Collingwood
Style: Experimental, seasonal, wood-fired Price: $22–$36 for mains Address: 326 Smith Street, Collingwood
Iddhi is the new entry on this list and the one that generated the most argument on the MELBZ team. It’s not traditional. It’s not trying to be. The Smith Street spot does seasonal, ingredient-driven pizzas that change weekly based on what’s good at the market. Last month it was peach and ’nduja with a honey drizzle. This week it’s roasted pumpkin with sage, brown butter, and smoked scamorza.
The dough is a long-fermented sourdough with a chewy, blistered base that holds up to the heavier toppings. The room is small — 30 seats maximum — with an open kitchen where you can watch the pizza being assembled. The team is young, keen, and clearly having a good time, which translates to better service.
It’s not cheap. A pizza here averages $28, and with a drink you’re at $45. But for the quality of ingredients and the creativity on display, it’s justified. Iddhi is the kind of place that makes you excited about where Melbourne pizza is heading, not where it’s been.
12. 400 Gradi — South Melbourne
Style: Traditional Neapolitan Price: $18–$32 for mains Address: 159 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
I’m giving 400 Gradi a second spot because the South Melbourne location deserves its own mention. While the Brunswick original gets the glory, the Clarendon Street outpost has a more relaxed feel, shorter waits, and the same world-class pizza. The oven is identical. The dough recipe is identical. The pizzaiolos are trained to the same standard.
The South Melbourne Market is a block away, which makes this the perfect post-market lunch. Grab a margherita, a Peroni, sit outside, and pretend you’re on Via dei Tribunali. Except the weather’s probably better. Or worse. It’s Melbourne — could go either way.
What We Skipped and Why
Every “best pizza” list has omissions, and people get angry about them. Here’s our honesty corner:
Union Pizza (North Melbourne) — Was on the long list. The New York-style slices are good, not great. The base lacks the fermentation depth that the best NYC-style places in Melbourne are now achieving. Worth a visit if you’re in the area, but not top-12 material in 2026.
DOC Prahran — Same ownership as the Carlton original, but the execution isn’t consistent. We’ve had two excellent visits and one mediocre one. The Carlton location is the reliable pick.
Parmiana (Brunswick) — Doing interesting Sicilian-influenced pies, but the menu leans too heavily into fusion for a definitive ranking. Good for adventurous eaters, not for a city-wide best-of.
Anyone doing takeaway/delivery only — We excluded delivery-focused operations from this ranking because you can’t judge atmosphere, service, or the pizza-as-experience on a doorstep. That’s a separate list, and we’re writing it.
The MELBZ Verdict
Melbourne’s pizza scene in 2026 is stronger than it’s ever been. The gap between “good” and “great” has narrowed, which means even the lower-ranked spots on this list would top a ranking in most other Australian cities. The dough quality across the board has improved — long fermentation is now the norm, not the exception. The ingredients are better. The ovens are hotter.
The flip side? Prices have crept up. A $40 pizza-and-drinks night that was a splurge in 2023 is now standard. If you’re watching the budget, 400 Gradi’s $18 margherita and Pizza Farro’s lunch deal are your best bets for eating well without wincing at the card statement.
🗳️ YOUR TURN: Vote for Melbourne’s Most Overrated Pizza
We know you have opinions. We know they’re strong. Tell us:
Which Melbourne pizza place does everyone rave about but you think is just… fine?
Cast your vote below and we’ll publish the full results next week.
🔥 FIGHT US: Is New York Pizza Better Than Neapolitan?
The MELBZ team is split. Liam says Neapolitan, always. Priya says New York style has more personality. Marcus thinks Detroit is the real answer and we’re all cowards.
Where do you stand? Drop your take and the reasoning. No “both are good” cop-outs. Pick a side. Fight us in the comments.
📍 THE MOVE: Pair Your Pizza Night
Your pizza ranking is only half the plan. The other half is what happens after. Check our guide to Melbourne’s best late-night eats for post-pizza dessert and drinks, or see what’s happening this week on our Friday Night Guide to build a full evening around your pizza pick.
If you’re in Carlton for Capitano or DOC, you’re two blocks from the best bars on Lygon Street. If you’re in Fitzroy for Ladro, Gertrude Street is your oyster (or, more accurately, your natural wine bar).
React to This Article
Did we get it right? Did we miss your favourite? Let us know:
🍕 Got it right — You agree with most of the list 😤 Absolute rubbish — We missed your spot and you’re furious 🤔 Interesting but… — Good list, wrong order 🏆 New list needed — You want a specific style ranked (NYC, Detroit, Roman, etc.)
Updated 16 March 2026 | 12 places tested | Liam Murphy reporting
Liam Murphy is MELBZ’s Italian Food Editor. He’s been eating his way through Melbourne’s Italian restaurants since 2016 and still hasn’t found a decent cannoli outside of Carlton. Follow him @liammurphymelbz