When people think of food in Boston, it’s hard not to picture creamy clam clam chowder and rich lobster rolls. However, alongside the fresh seafood scene, Boston’s presence has been growing in another food category: pizza.
In recent years, Boston’s pizza scene has grown from something people didn’t think twice about to a competitor that can now hold its own against New York and New Haven pizza spots. From century-old brick-oven institutions in the North End to craft pizzerias pushing the boundaries of fermentation and technique, the city now offers a remarkable range of styles and quality.
Whether you're a purist who wants a no-frills slice or a curious eater looking for something more adventurous, Boston has a pie for you.
This classic pizza style is arguably the most popular in Boston's current scene. The category is broad, and it encompasses everything from traditional Neapolitan to the canotto (or "inflatable boat") style, which features a dramatically puffed, airy crust. What unites this variety of pizzas is the type of oven they are cooked in.
Cooking at temperatures that can exceed 800 degrees, a wood-fired oven produces a fast bake, a charred and blistered crust, and a depth of flavor you simply can't replicate with a conventional range.
Roman style pizza is a relatively newer arrival to Boston, but it's quickly gaining traction and new fans. Differing from “classic” pizza styles, Roman style pizza is typically rectangular, sold by weight or by the slice, and is defined by a long, slow fermentation process. The dough is usually made with very high hydration and fermented for 48 to 72 hours, which produces a crust that is simultaneously light and airy on the inside and crispy and caramelized on the bottom.
New York style pizza is a fan favorite for a reason. It’s large, cheesy, and easy to eat on the go. This style can be recognized by its thin, chewy-yet-crispy crust that folds perfectly down the middle for a delicious, gooey bite.
Sauce-to-cheese ratios are bold, and the best versions here rival anything you'd find closer to its namesake city. While Boston may not have invented this style, there are a handful of spots around the city that have mastered it.
As Boston’s pizza scene has grown, wood-fired pizza has become the city’s signature style. In this city, wood-fired pizza ranges from old-school Italian-American to more craft, chef-driven spots.
It’s the style that has generated the most excitement in the city over the past decade, and the options listed below represent some of the very best. While there are plenty of places to find a good wood-fired pizza slice, these five restaurants are leading the charge.
Posto is a perennial favorite among Boston pizza lovers (and for good reason). The restaurant's wood-fired oven exceeds 850 degrees and cranks out beautifully charred pizzas with top-tier ingredients.
From Italian-imported San Marzano tomatoes to fiore di latte mozzarella that’s made fresh in-house every single day, the level of craft that Posto possesses shows in every bite. Posto regularly appears in the shortlist of Boston's best pizza, and it earns every mention.
No guide to Boston pizza is complete without Regina Pizzeria. The original North End location has been producing brick-oven pizza since 1926, and their century of practice shows. If you go, we recommend the original North End branch.
Although there may be a line around the building, take it as a good sign that you’re about to try a pizza worth waiting for. There is a reason people have been making the pilgrimage for a hundred years.
Stoked began as a food truck (one bold enough to mount a wood-burning oven onto the back of a vehicle) before growing into a beloved brick-and-mortar in Brookline's Washington Square. Co-founders Scott Riebling and Toirm Miller have built a neighborhood pizzeria with real soul.
The philosophy here is to do the classics as well as they possibly can, using quality ingredients that are delivered weekly to ensure maximum freshness. Stoked also has options for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-sensitive dietary preferences, making this an inclusive spot for all pizza lovers.
Area Four helped put Cambridge's Technology Square on the culinary map, and its sourdough-based pies remain among the most distinctive in the Boston area. The restaurant uses a sourdough culture that the kitchen has kept alive for over a decade, and it shows in the flavor.
The crust is complex, slightly tangy, and the pizza itself gets a spectacular char from the high-heat wood-fired oven. This is a spot for pizza lovers who are looking for both craft and character in their next slice.
Si Cara is another standout pizza spot in Boston. The Cambridge original (which has a newer South Boston outpost) serves canotto-style pizza, which is a variation of Neapolitan that takes its name from the Italian word for "inflatable boat." This name is a nod to the dramatically puffed, fluffy ring of crust that surrounds each pizza.
The dough starts with a higher-than-usual hydration ratio and ferments for two full days with a house sourdough starter, producing a crust that is pillowy and light yet substantial. Si Cara gets creative with the toppings, which can range from leek kimchi to smoked mozzarella. Si Cara blends the craft of fine dining with the informality of a neighborhood pizza bar, making this a unique dining experience.
This pizza is characterized by its texture. Its crispy crust makes it feel substantial, yet light at the same time. For the best Roman pizza, toppings are layered with intention. Roman pizza is at its best when eaten within minutes of coming out of the oven so that the bottom crackles under your fingers and the interior is still cloud-soft.
While this pizza is still making its mark on the city, these three spots have already established themselves as go-to destinations.
Mortadella Head in Somerville is a neighborhood institution known for its Roman pizza and oversized subs. The name says it all: this is a place that takes its cured meats seriously, and the pizza here is the real deal.
It’s proper Roman-style, meaning it’s baked in rectangular slabs with a crust that crackles at the bottom while staying airy within. This is a great spot to visit if you’re looking to try a newer style of pizza, or if you’re looking for a sub to supplement your slice.
Gary's Pizza is a bit of a surprise. It’s a fast, casual Roman pizza concept from the team behind the Boston fine-dining institutions of Mistral, Ostra, and Sorellina. Chef Jamie Mammano (whose middle name is Gary) realized there was a lack of true Roman-style pizza in Boston and decided to fix the problem.
As a result, Gary’s Pizza is now a takeout-and-delivery spot in the South End that brings genuine fine-dining technique to a $6-a-slice format. The dough is slow-fermented for maximum flavor, resulting in that signature crispy, airy Roman pizza crust. Toppings at this spot rotate seasonally, accompanied by permanent classics like margherita and spicy soppressata. Pro tip: make sure to leave room for dessert!
Located in East Boston, Florenza is what Roman pizza looks like when done right. Every pizza is made with 100% imported Italian flour, sea salt, and extra virgin olive oil (aka no bleached flour and no additives). The dough is made with extremely high hydration and undergoes a multi-day slow fermentation, resulting in a crust that is exceptionally digestible, flavorful, and texturally complex.
The meats come directly from two of Italy's most respected salumi producers, and the espresso is roasted locally with care. Florenza also serves handcrafted paninis, artisan coffee drinks, gelato, and Italian-inspired cocktails, making it a full destination rather than just a pizza stop.
New York-style pizza doesn't need much of an introduction. It's one of the most universally loved pizza formats in the country, and Boston has some excellent versions that nail the formula without trying to reinvent it. When only a wide, foldable slice will do, these three spots deliver.
Tucked away in Boston's historic North End, Ernesto's is a slice joint in the truest sense. There’s no frills and no fuss, just excellent pizza. For over twenty years, the restaurant has offered a wide variety of slices, the value of which is hard to beat. What gets rung up as one slice is actually two generously sized pieces.
The slices served here hit that ideal New York sweet spot, meaning they’re thin enough to fold, have a perfectly chewy consistency, and are topped with the perfect amount of sauce and cheese. It sits right on the Freedom Trail, making it an easy stop during a walk through the neighborhood. With so many different flavors to offer, we won’t blame you for ordering a variety and giving a few of them a try.
Florina brings a more elevated take on the New York slice to the Boston area, combining Italian-American tradition with a modern flair. The menu goes well beyond pizza, offering a broad selection of panini, pasta, and specialty pizzas that make it genuinely difficult to decide what to order.
The pizzas lean classic but are made with care, featuring quality ingredients and a crust that hits that ideal New York balance of thin, crispy, and just chewy enough. With its diverse, delicious menu, this award-winning spot is a favorite amongst locals and visitors alike.
Joe's Pizza is a New York institution that has made its way to Boston, making it a must-visit spot for those looking to have some authentic New York pizza in Boston. The approach is simple, yet unbeatable. They serve pizza by the slice with thin, foldable crusts, a well-balanced sauce, and quality cheese.
There's a reason this name has endured for decades in one of the most competitive pizza cities in the world. When you want a New York slice done right, the way it's been done for decades, Joe's delivers every time.
Boston's pizza scene has never been more exciting or more diverse. Whether you're drawn to the charred drama of a wood-fired pizza, the crispy-yet-airy architecture of a Roman rectangle, or the foldable comfort of a classic New York slice, the city has a spot that will win you over. Start anywhere on this list and you'll be in good hands. The only thing you’ll need to enjoy any of these pizzas is a big appetite.
Now that you've found your new favorite pizza spot, imagine not having to leave work to enjoy it.
With Fooda Popups, we are able to bring local restaurants to the workplace so employees can have the lunch options they want without worrying about getting back on time. By rotating through a fresh lineup of options every day, we help make sure the question of "what's for lunch" is always worth asking.
Office Lunch Delivery with Fooda is another great way to keep your employees fed while getting local restaurants into the office. Unlike large catering orders, Fooda Delivery brings exactly what employees want, ensuring there’s no abundance of leftover food to deal with. All meals get delivered at the same time, making it easy for employees to enjoy their lunches together.
Over 70% of Fooda's restaurant partners are independent local businesses, which means using Fooda is a great way to keep supporting the kind of neighborhood spots that make Boston's food scene worth bragging about.
For office managers, the platform handles ordering, headcounts, and subsidies all in one place. This helps prevent running a daily lunch program from turning into a part-time job.
If you want to bring the best of Boston to the office, reach out to us here to learn more about Fooda!
This depends on the spot you’re visiting. Spots that sell pizza by the slice like Ernesto's are walk-in only by nature. Sit-down restaurants like Posto and Si Cara are popular enough that a reservation on weekends is strongly recommended, especially for larger groups.
Expect to pay $6-8 for a slice at a quality spot, and anywhere from $18-30 for a whole pizza depending on the restaurant and toppings. To get a more accurate idea of how much your meal of pizza will cost, it’s best to check the menu at the specific location you’re planning on visiting.
The North End is the historic heart of Boston pizza, anchored by Regina Pizzeria and Ernesto's. Other neighborhoods to keep an eye on are Cambridge and the South End, with plenty of other local restaurants having other spots in both locations.
