Being an Italian in Austria, I hear this question quite a lot:
so… where can you find the best pizza in Graz?
Everybody
And even though I have not tried every single pizza on offer in Graz, I do have strong opinions on where to go. After 20 years living in Italy, I have developed a taste for good pizza, but that does not mean that I never eat the cheap, frozen stuff. However, I know that I can taste the difference when I eat a good pizza.
What makes a good pizza?
The ingredients are what make or break a pizza. The dough should be thin but the crust crunchy. The tomato sauce should be fresh and sweet. The cheese on top should be mozzarella and NOT pizza cheese.
Here are the places in Graz where I found exactly (or close to) what I am looking for. Ordered from most to least favourite.
Pizzaiolo
Pizzaiolo is hands-down my favourite pizzeria in Graz. They started a couple of years ago with a restaurant in Dietrichsteinplatz, but have recently opened a second one in Karmeliterplatz, which I have yet to try.
Besides the delicious Neapolitan pizza, what I love about this place is that it feels so Italian when I’m there. Waiters and cooks are Italian and even most of the customers are speaking Italian to each other.
My favourite pizza here is the Suprema DOP, with buffalo mozzarella, smoked ham, cherry tomatoes and rucola.
San Pietro
The Ristorante San Pietro is also owned and run by Italians. This is in my opinion one of the best Italian restaurants in Graz, not only for the pizza but for the rest of the menu as well.
They sell a special type of pizza, pinsa, typical of the Roman region. The base of pinsa is usually crunchy, whilst pizza is more doughy. You can buy also a large one (called focaccia here) to share.
My favourite pinsas here are the Saporita, the Calabrese and the Quattro Formaggi.
Pizzata
Pizzata is a small little pizzeria near Jakominiplatz and I love this place because it reminds me of the places where I used to go to in Italy to get takeaway pizza.
They specialise in food from Liguria, do mainly takeaway but have a couple of tables in the back. The owners are from Genova and are super nice. They also have vegan options!
Va Piano
There are two Va Pianos in Graz and my favourite one is the one in Murpark, because it is close enough to my home for a Sunday pizza. It is a chain restaurant and I am not sure if it is owned by Italians, but they do know their stuff.
I recommend the calzone here, it is wonderful! The service is also pretty fast and the quality of the food too!
What are your favourite pizza places in Graz? Can you recommend somewhere I haven’t tried out yet?
