This month in food: the pizza edition

For our latest instalment of ‘this month in food’ we have @PizzaDiariesLondon talking us through exactly where to find London’s best pizzas to suit every possible hankering.

Take our word for it, a pizza ‘model’ (an excel with a detailed assessment criteria) has even been used to judge the pizzas by!

Bravi Ragazzi

FOR LONDON’S BEST PIZZA  

Image: @PizzaDiariesLondon

Not only is Bravi Ragazzi regarded as London’s best pizza, but they actually also serve one of London’s best tiramisus – according to Jessie Ware.

Yes, you will have to venture into the depths of Streatham for this, but it is every bit worth it. According to @PizzaDiariesLondon, it’s the best pizza she’s had in London so far; whilst by no means has every single pizza been tried, it would be hard to imagine better. Their pizza is a great size featuring excellent toppings – in particular, the smoked mozzarella is not to be missed.

It’s also recently been refurbed and has some pretty cute interiors for when dining in is a thing again. If he’s there, ask the Head Chef @vicenzodenicolo for something off menu, we were most recently suggested a great little Nduja number. 

WHAT TO EAT?

Pizza

O’Primmo Ammore – tomato sauce, smoked provola cheese, parmesan, black pepper, fresh basil EVO oil.

Price: £10

Dessert

Pistachio Tiramisu

Price: £5.95 

Lockdown update: Due to their small size, Bravi is currently only open for takeaway and collection. More information is best found on their Instagram page @braviragazzipizzeria.

Location:

2A Sunnyhill Road, SW16 2UH, Streatham

Nearest station:

Streatham Station

Opening hours:

Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday 5.00 pm- 11.00pm

Sunday 12.30pm - 9.00pm

Theo’s

FOR THE BEST TOMATO SAUCE

Image: @PizzaDiariesLondon

Now it might seem like we are being a little bit South London biased here, but the pizza model has no weighting towards location, promise. There are two branches of Theos, one in Elephant and Castle and the other in Camberwell. The Elephant and Castle is a favourite as it regularly features a smoked mozzarella pizza.

This aside, having had many a post-work or post-gym pizza pitstops here, it can safely be said they’ve all been excellent. Their tomato sauce stands out as extremely high-quality. The Elephant and Castle branch is relatively new and has sleek interiors, or the garden in Camberwell will have you feeling very cool sipping a Campari Spritz outside in the summer. Either way you won’t be disappointed.

WHAT TO EAT?

Starter

Arancini – tomatoes, mozzarella + parmesan (a classic, but only have these if you are really hungry as they are huge)

Price: £5

Pizza

Margherita – tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil.

Price: £8.5

Drink

Campari Spritz

Price: £7

Lockdown update: Both branches are now open for dine-in and takeaway. We’ve seen many people having pizza picnics on the pavement outside the Camberwell branch on warm Friday evenings throughout lockdown! More information can be found on their website here.

Location:

17-18, Elephant & Castle,

London SE1 6TH

2 Grove Lane, Camberwell

London SE5 8SY

Nearest station:

Elephant & Castle Station, East Dulwich Station

Opening hours:

Camberwell:

Tuesday – Thursday Noon – 10.30pm,

Friday and Saturday Noon – 11.00pm, Sunday Noon – 10.00pm

Elephant and Castle:

Tuesday – Thursday Noon– 10.00pm, Friday and Saturday Noon – 10.30pm,

Sunday Noon– 10.00pm

Purezza

FOR TOP-NOTCH VEGAN PIZZA

Image: MTotoe

We visited the Camden branch fully excited to try a purely vegan pizza offering, having no idea this would eventually end up in our top 5 London pizzerias. They have cosy wooden interiors and the friendly staff talked us through the menu on a particularly ravenous Sunday afternoon.

In true teenage-trip-to-pizza-express-with-your-family-style, we got stuck into some dough balls and of course, pizza. Purezza has spent over two years crafting their own mozzarella from brown rice, which believe it or not really doesn’t have you feeling as if you are missing out on the real deal. The hemp flour base was wheaty and tasted like truly wholesome food. Whether you’re vegan or not, take our word for it and try a Purezza pizza.

What to Eat?

Starter

Dough Balls - Three cheesy bites, made with sourdough and oozing with homemade stringy melty cheese.

Price: £4.45

Pizza

The One With The Truffle - Black truffle base with mozzarella, wood smoked tofu, mixed wild forest mushrooms and finished with micro herbs.

 Price: £13.95

The One and Only, Parmigiana Party - Red tomato base with smoked mozzarella, aubergine parmigiana, crumbled sausages, topped with a dusting of nutritional yeast.

 Price: £12.95

Lockdown update: As of a week ago, they are open for dine in and found on Deliveroo. More info on their website here.

Location:

45-47 Parkway, Camden Town, London NW1 7PN

Nearest station:

Camden Town Station

Opening hours:

Sunday – Thursday Noon – 11.00pm,

Friday and Saturday Noon – 11.00pm

Zia Lucia

FOR CHARCOAL BASE PIZZAS

Image: @PizzaDiariesLondon

It’s not just charcoal base that sells Zia Lucia, as a result of some strong Instagram marketing, it has been on the radar for a while. Luckily we managed to get an (albeit quite soulless) dine-in, just before we went into lockdown for some truly excellent toppings (yes please to truffle honey on pizza) and just proper old school Italian pizzeria vibes.

They have branches dotted around London so you shouldn’t have to trek too far for your Instagram shot. Each menu varies and we’ve even heard rumours of a fantastic mortadella and buratta pizza in the Kensington Olympia branch.

WHAT TO EAT?

Pizza

Spicy Burrata - tomato, mozzarella, fresh burrata, spianata spicy salami

Price: £11.95

Arianna – mozzarella, spicy sausage, taleggio goats cheese, pecorino cheese, truffle

Price: £11.90 

Lockdown update: Aldgate East branch is open for dine-in, Boxpark Wembley, Hammersmith and Islington are open for takeaway/delivery. More info on their website here.

Location:

Boxpark Wembley: Olympic Way, Boxpark Wembley, Unit 11, HA9 ONU  

Hammersmith: 61 Blythe Rd, London, W14 OHP

Islington: 157 Holloway Rd, London, N7 8LX

Aldgate East: Unit 1a, 12 Piazza Walk, London E1 8ZH

Opening hours:

Monday - Sunday 11.30am - 10.30pm

ASAP Pizza

FOR A REALLY HIGH-END PIZZA

Image: MTotoe

The opening of this outlet from the people behind the excellent Flor, in Borough Market coincided nicely with the initial easing of lockdown. With haste, we headed down to Borough Market on a Friday evening, had a couple of pints outside a pub (yaaas) and ordered two of ASAP Pizza’s finest produce to eat by the river.

This is a real foodie’s pizza with toppings you probably have to google to know what they are. If you’re looking to recreate a post-work summer drinks vibe, head to Borough Market for some beers outside the Globe pub and (before you’ve had too many), soak it up with a few ASAP Pizzas.

WHAT TO EAT?

Pizza

Thanks Shallot - Grilled spring onions, mozzarella, ricotta, green garlic, wild marjoram

Price: £14 

Marg & Rita - Tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, spenwood

Price: £14 

Lockdown update: Serving pizza now, takeaway only with outside seating. More info on their website here.

Location:

Borough Market: 1 Bedale St, SE1 9AL London

Nearest station:

London Bridge Station

Opening hours:

Wednesday to Saturday 5.00pm – 10.00pm with outside seating,

Sunday 1.00pm – 10.00pm

Words by Olivia Samuels