The best places in Europe to eat pizza... except Italy

Dean Martin may have compared pizza pies to “amore”, but for this travel journalist, few dishes quite rival a good slice. Although I’m a huge fan of Sicilian-style pizza, I’ve dined on delicious ones outside of Italy, too.

Naturally, Italy will always wear the crown of the world’s pizza capital, but what does the rest of Europe have to offer? Pizza lovers need look no further than the 2026 Top Pizza Europa awards, which chronicles the 60 best pizzerias across Europe outside of Italy.

According to the guide’s curators, Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro, and Albert Sapere, the European pizza scene shows no signs of slowing down. Reflecting that, the 2026 edition has expanded the ranking.

“For the tenth edition we decided to raise the list to 60 positions in the ranking,” they said. “A European guide which boasts 200 pizzerias across the continent, distributed across 35 different countries, represents an enormous amount of research carried out by our inspectors, whom we sincerely thank.”

Ready for a slice of the action? Here’s where Europe’s best pizzas are being served and the destinations that feature most on the 2026 ranking.

The upper crust: Which pizzeria is No.1?

In the overall ranking of 200 pizzerias, the 2026 guide is dominated by Spain with 29 pizzerias listed, followed by France with 24 then England with 22. The country’s capitals were also the most popular, with 17 in Paris, 15 in London and nine in Madrid – showing that pizza isn’t just confined to Italy.

Napoli on the Road, a pizzeria in London’s Soho, takes the number one spot for a third consecutive year. Founded by Michele Pascarella, the concept began with a three-wheel truck kitted with a wood-fired oven, bringing pizza to London’s streets and farmers’ markets.

From humble beginnings, Pascarella’s brainchild now has three locations in London. According to the guide, Napoli on the Road’s pizza dough sets it apart, and the consistency remains throughout all branches.

“The dough is one of the most successful elements: light, airy, and designed to support often original but never excessive toppings,” the guide said. “The locations in Chiswick, Richmond, and Soho confirm the same approach, offering a curated, lively, and recognisable experience.”

For the continent’s second best pizzeria, we head to Spain for Baldoria. Located in the Golden Mile neighborhood of Madrid, this pizza spot, which translates to a big celebration, pays homage to traditional Italian cuisine using ingredients imported from there.

On the menu are an array of appetisers, pizzas, pastas, secondit piattis and desserts to choose from, including Tiradito alla Puttansca, a dish of cured sea bream paired with an olive coulis, capers and onions, to start, followed by its classic Neapolitan margherita pizza.

Beyond the dining table, the curators hail the vibrant decor, quick and attentive service and live music offerings for a top dining-out experience.

Taking the bronze award for the 2026 guide is IMperfetto, a pizzeria located in Puteaux, in the western suburbs of Paris, France. Away from the capital, the cozy eatery only seats a few diners indoors and serves up Neapolitan delights with fresh ingredients, distinct flavours and overall balance.

The guide’s curators recommend IMperfetto’s Margherita Pop, made with mellow provolone, pepper and 60-month aged Parmesan – described as “intense and well-constructed”.

The top 20 pizzerias in Europa 2026

Napoli on the Road – London, England
Baldoria – Madrid, Spain
IMperfetto – Puteaux, France
50 Kalò – London, England
Sartoria Panatieri – Barcelona, Spain
Pizza Zulu – Fürth, Germany
nNea – Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sapori Italiani U Taliana – Bratislava, Slovakia
Forno d’Oro – Lisbon, Portugal
Via Toledo – Vienna, Austria
Fratelli Figurato – Madrid, Spain
Surt – Copenhagen, Denmark
Stile Napoletano – Chester, England
Oura – Santiago de Compostela, Spain
La Piola Pizza – Brussels, Belgium
Demaio – Bilbao, Spain
Balmesina – Barcelona, Spain
Zielona Górka – Pabianice, Poland
Matto Napoletano – Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia
Franko’s Pizza & Bar – Zagreb, Croatia

The top 20 pizzerias in the Top Pizza Europa 2026 list will now automatically qualify for the 100 Best Pizzerias in the World ranking, which will be announced on 15 September 2026 at the Teatro Mercadante in Naples, Italy.

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