Philadelphia has more good pizza than most people realize. It’s not a city known for one signature style, which is probably why people here care more about where the pizza’s coming from than what it’s supposed to be. That’s part of what makes it interesting—no two places do it the same way, and no one seems to agree on who’s doing it best.
So, today, we’ll look at a handful of pizzerias that highlight the City of Brotherly Love’s passion for a slice.
Let’s get our pie on, shall we?
Down North Pizza
Where: 2804 W Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19132
We’re starting off with a gem: Down North. It has drawn attention for its mission—offering jobs and training to formerly incarcerated people—but the pizza is second to none, hence why it’s sitting first on our list.
The menu sticks to Detroit-style pies: square, thick, with a crisp bottom and all the toppings you could want. Options change, but my personal favorites are the pepperoni with kale and banana peppers – or their version of buffalo chicken made with blue cheese and a tangy house sauce.
The shop started as a weekend pop-up and now runs full-time out of Strawberry Mansion. There’s no dine-in or delivery, so plan on picking up. Lines build fast, especially around lunch, and once they sell out, that’s it for the day.
But I can’t forget to say that the wings and hand-cut fries are worth grabbing if they’re available, and the shakes deserve a mention.
Honestly, this is probably the best pizza Philadelphia has when it comes to Detroit-style pies. So, if that’s your thing, this place should be one of your first stops.
Pizza Richmond
Where: 3136 Richmond Street, Philadelphia, PA 19134
You likely already know that pizza in Philadelphia keeps growing, but this one’s already standing out. Pizza Richmond opened in early 2024 in Port Richmond from the same crew behind Pizza Shackamaxon and Sally. It’s a casual space with counter service, a few tables, and just enough room to sit down and eat off a paper plate.
They serve big, thin pies—16 or 20 inches—and you can order whole or by the slice. The red pie leans savory, and the white comes stacked with garlic cloves and a serious amount of ricotta. There’s a vegan pie, too, and it’s one of the better ones in Philly.
Plus, you can grab a salad, maybe a soft serve, but, of course, everyone’s here for the pizza.
Don’t expect to come here without a wait—but once you’ve been, it makes sense.
Santucci’s
Where: 6164 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128 (plus multiple locations)
Santucci’s has been a Philly staple for decades, and their square pies are a big part of what people mean when they talk about the best pizza in Philly. The crust is thick and soft, baked in a pan, with cheese laid down first and sauce on top.
There are multiple locations—Ridge Ave, North Broad, the Italian Market, and more—and regulars will tell you which one to go to, like it’s a personality trait.
Undoubtedly, the classic square pie is the go-to, and if you want to add toppings, the sausage or pepperoni is your best bet. Oh, and the pie holds heat better than most, so takeout won’t be a problem—but it’s always better straight out of the oven, as I’m sure you’d agree.
Pizzeria Beddia
Where: 1313 N Lee St, Philadelphia, PA 19125
At this point, Beddia is unavoidable in any Philly pizza conversation. It went from a two-person takeout shop with a line around the block to a full restaurant in Fishtown—reservations, a wine list, a patio, all of it. It sounds like it could be overhyped, but the pizza is to die for.
The pies are on the bigger side, and the crust has the ideal level of crunch. When we’re talking about recommendations, the pie with Calabrian cream is incredible, and the arrabbiata is solid, too. Although, their classic pizza topped with oregano might just be their most popular.
If you’re going with a group, you can book the Hoagie Room for a private omakase-style tasting of hoagies and pizza—or do the Pizza Party setup, which includes small plates, salads, and soft serve for the table.
Pizzata Pizzeria
Where: 240 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (plus East Passyunk)
There are a fair few contenders for the best pizza in Philly, but not many places pull it off this well at two different locations.
Pizzata does wood-fired sourdough pies with a New York-style crust, and the Calabrese is the crowd favorite for good reason: spicy salami, burrata, long hots, hot honey. They also do slices, and the plain one holds its own, which says a lot.
The Fitler Square shop is tight and mostly built for takeout or grabbing a slice, whereas the East Passyunk spot has more space and a full bar, so it’s better if you’re meeting up or sticking around.
Dough Head Pizza
Where: 833 Wharton St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Philadelphia pizza probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you’re walking between Pat’s and Geno’s—but Dough Head is worth stopping for. The crust is sourdough, the pies are fired thin, and the ingredients are noticeably fresh.
As their best pizza goes, the Cougar’s a clear contender: pepperoni, soppressata, provolone, Pecorino Romano, and their own cosmopolitan sauce. There’s also a square BBQ pie with smoked mozz, pulled chicken, bacon, and red onion.
They’re open late and clearly paying attention to what’s going out the door, so this is a Philly pizza joint you can’t miss.
Pitruco
Where: 3401 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (plus the truck around town)
The best Philly pizza doesn’t always need a storefront—and Pitruco figured that out years ago.
They started with a truck and a wood-fired oven, and for a while, that was all they needed. Now they’ve got a spot inside Franklin’s Table in University City, but nothing’s changed about how they do pizza.
The pies are Neapolitan-ish—soft, thin, and charred. In terms of my recommendations, the spicy garlic is the go-to: tomato, provolone, mozzarella, garlic, and chilies. Plus, their seasonal pies are also incredible, especially the one with lamb sausage or asparagus pesto.
The truck still runs around the city, and the pizza doesn’t miss, no matter where it’s coming from.
Pizza in Philly: Where to Go When You Want It Done Right
As we can see, Philly doesn’t follow one style of pizza. What matters is who’s making it and whether it’s worth going back for. This list isn’t trying to cover the whole city. It’s just pointing you to the places that are doing it well—and doing it consistently.
It doesn’t matter if you’re after a square pie, a plain slice, or something in between; all the stops we covered today do it right.
Now that you know the best places for a slice in the city, where will you go first?
Bonus: The City of Brotherly Love is home to some of the best food in America, and you can see that for yourself by going to one of the best restaurants in Philadelphia.
