Pizza is a dish that originated in Italy but has become a beloved favorite around the world. While Italy is known for its delicious pizzas, a recent study found that the city with the most world-class pizzerias is actually New York, not Rome. However, Rome still takes the crown for the best pizzas in Europe. Other major European cities are also known for serving excellent pizza, with cities like London, Paris, Madrid, Copenhagen, Brussels, and Moscow all having top-rated pizzerias.
According to a study by Chef’s Pencil, London has been home to 16 top-rated pizzerias in recent years, surpassing Paris, which has had 14. Napoli on the Road in Chiswick, west London, was ranked fifth on the Top 50 Pizza list 2024, making it Europe’s best pizzeria outside of Italy. In Italy, Naples’ Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria is ranked as the second-best in the world and the best pizza in Europe. Madrid and Copenhagen have each had six elite pizzerias over the last six years, putting them in joint third place on the global rankings.
The study also analyzed pizza-related online searches to determine which city has the deepest love for pizza. Philadelphia emerged as the city with the highest number of relevant Google searches related to pizza, closely followed by Naples and Turin. The large Italian community in Philadelphia has played a role in sustaining its top position as the city most obsessed with pizza. While New York was recognized as serving the best pizza in the world, Una Pizza Napoletana, the top-ranked pizzeria, sticks to traditional Italian recipes, drawing on the dish’s origins.
Surprisingly, Tokyo is on equal footing with Naples and Rome for elite pizzerias and surpasses cities like Milan, Florence, and Chicago. This is not due to a large population of Italian immigrants or a long tradition of pizza baking, but rather a newfound passion for Italian food supercharged by Japan’s dedication to perfecting a craft. This highlights the global appeal of pizza and how it has evolved beyond its Italian roots to be appreciated and celebrated in cities around the world. Whether you’re in Europe, the United States, or Asia, there is no shortage of delicious pizzas to enjoy.
