If there’s one thing Dublin does right, it’s a piece of pi.
There are many things the Dubs get wrong, seagull birth control, rubbish collection, planning permission for hotels. But through the years, pizza is something that we now truly excel at.
Across the city, there are some exemplary examples of everything from the classic Neapolitan pi to the wood-fired sourdough, topped with anything you could dream of. We’ve lifted the lid on many a pizza in our day and sampled everything from the 3am slice to the starched linen tablecloth affair. It doesn’t matter which side of the pi chart you land on, Dublin has got the goods.
Without further delay, here are the 10 of the best pizza spots to check out in Dublin:
10. Dublin Pizza Company
Locations: Glasthule & Aungier Street
Dublin Pizza Company just know what they’re doing when it comes to pizza – it’s that simple. The company started after a trip to Naples that involved learning the art of pizza making, before returning to Ireland to put these new skills to the test. DPC then built a polytunnel (yes, you read that right) in order to achieve the freshest ingredients possible.
In the few years it has been running, it frequently passes the lips of Dubliners who are giving their recommendations for the best pizza, and if that’s not an indication of excellence, I’m not sure what is.
Go for? A takeaway pizza for a night on the couch
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9. Bonobo / Kodiak
Locations: Smithfield, Dublin 7 & Rathmines, Dublin 6
Sister restaurants Bonobo and Kodiak team up to provide super fresh pizzas on both sides of the Liffey.
Bonobo in Smithfield has a roasted rosemary sprinkled pizza with potato chunks, pancetta, mozzarella, parmesan and lashings of black pep that has us converted to the white-base way of life.
Kodiak hasn’t even been open a year but has already comfortably settled into being a favourite pizza spot on the Dublin south side. They have 12-inch pizzas available, with classics such as Margherita and pepperoni, to slightly more niche offerings like their truffle and orange zest pie.
Go for? White-base pizza that pulls it off
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8. Da Mimmo
Location: North Dock, Dublin 3
This Dublin 3 location has been serving up food for 60 years, although it was originally a chipper, opening in the 60s. Then in 2010 it became an authentic Italian to reflect the family’s roots and has been operating this way ever since.
Da Mimmo’s pizzas are authentically wood-fired and their prices are quite reasonable by Dublin standards, especially considering the hefty portion sizes. Booking is essential given the limited space, but this gives the restaurant a cosy and lively atmosphere to accompany your pizza, and the service is always speedy.
Go for? Casual Italian dining.
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7. Fired Up
Locations: Goatstown, Dublin 14, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, and soon-to-be in Donnybrook, Dublin 4
One of the great success stories from lockdown, Fired Up started flipping pizzas at The Goat Pub in 2020 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. Neapolitan in style these doughs can’t be rushed, taking 72 hours to rest before being lashed into the wood fire to become crisp on the outside and pillowy inside. They never skimp on the toppings, opting for the very freshest of ingredients, they also go all in on their dips offering a whopping nine- my personal fave is garlic mayo but if you want to dip your pizza in ketchup who am I to judge?
Fired Up have some deece vegetarian offerings including plant-based chorizo – which absolutely hits the spot!
Go for? Quality pizza on the move
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6. Bambino
Location: Stephen Street Lower, Dublin 2
We’ll always welcome a new pizza-by-the-slice spot to Dublin’s fair city with open arms, and when the quality is as exceptional as it is at Bambino’s, even more so. I’m a fiend for a bitta sweetness on a pizza, be it derived from a drizzling of honey or pineapple (don’t @ me), and the trademark hot honey from this Dublin 2 joint crosses my mind daily.
The ideal quick feed during a day of shopping, lunchtime on your office days – there’s no wrong time, really. Bambino is a hyped-up spot in Dublin that deserves every bit of it, and more.
Go for? The hip slice
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5. Little Forest
Location: Blackrock
The sister restaurant of Forest Avenue, Little Forest is constantly switching up its pizza menu. Something to note is that they don’t always have vegan or veggie options on their menu, and their online menu is only a sample. However, if you eat anything and everything, Little Forest is bound to be a winner.
For groups of six or over, you can only avail of their five-course set menu, which could for example include sourdough, olives, coppa, pesce fritto, crab bruschetta, burrata, and a 12-inch pizza to share between two people, all for €39pp.
Go for? A cheers to the freakin’ weekend meal
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4. BoCo
Locations: Bolton Street, Dublin 1 and Clontarf, Dublin 3
BoCo has fourteen different kinds of pizza at their Dublin 1 location, and they don’t shy away from weird and wonderful combinations, with their #7 coming with black pudding and dark chocolate (chocolate on a pizza – now we’ve seen it all).
BoCo cooks their pizzas in a French oven, not an Italian one, and uses Slovakian dough that has a bit of a tang to it, setting it apart from other pizzerias.
They also have both a veggie and vegan option, as well as loads of sides and a great dessert selection.
Go for? Wacky pizza combinations
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4. BoCo
Locations: Bolton Street, Dublin 1 and Clontarf, Dublin 3
BoCo has fourteen different kinds of pizza at their Dublin 1 location, and they don’t shy away from weird and wonderful combinations, with their #7 coming with black pudding and dark chocolate (chocolate on a pizza – now we’ve seen it all).
BoCo cooks their pizzas in a French oven, not an Italian one, and uses Slovakian dough that has a bit of a tang to it, setting it apart from other pizzerias.
They also have both a veggie and vegan option, as well as loads of sides and a great dessert selection.
Go for? Wacky pizza combinations
3. Rascals
Location: Inchicore, Dublin 8
While Rascals is known as a top Dublin brewery, they also know how to put together a great pizza. From their creative names (The Spud Wiser, The Garden of Eatin’) to a varied range of toppings, an evening at Rascals with one of their beers in hand and one of their pizzas in front of you, it’s a recipe for a good time.
This year, Rascals has really snuck up on us as one of the best places to go for a pizza and a beer in Dublin, with the relaxed ambience to accompany your meal. Think of that scene in Miss Congeniality where they sneak out – without the neon paint and rave of course.
Go for? Pizza and beer vibes
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2. Coke Lane Pizza
Locations: Meath Street and Rialto, Dublin 8
I fell for Coke Lane Pizza like all good romances, swiftly with a high level of obsession and intensity. Since those halcyon Summer days, my love has deepened and developed over time.
Neapolitan in style, the crust is where Coke Lane excels; they leave the toppings on the sparser end of things so as to let the crust speak for itself. The one criticism I have for the pies is that they are definitely on the smaller end of things – but listen they are the only ones to ever ace a Hawaiian so in my book they can do no wrong.
Go for? Lemon aioli – just trust us
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1. Little Richard’s
Location: Skerries
If you find yourself in Skerries on one of these fine (rainy) summer days, Little Richard’s will sort you out with some grub. They use a traditional wood-fired pizza oven, which was handmade in Italy before being shipped to Skerries, and the result is a slightly smoky crust and perfectly crisped-up toppings.
The key to a perfect pizza is the freshness of the ingredients, and Little Richard’s makes sure to source their ingredients locally in order to achieve this.
Go for? A post seaside walk pi
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Hey, if it’s just recently been voted one of the top pizzas in Europe, it’s bound to have made this list.
Did your favourite miss out? Let us know on [email protected]
