11 Best Pizza in Edinburgh (2026)
The 11 best pizza places in Edinburgh, from a world-ranked slice bar to tiny neighbourhood Neapolitan joints. Covers Old Town, Leith, Marchmont, and beyond.
Best Pizza in Edinburgh
Edinburgh’s pizza scene has quietly become one of the best in Scotland. Ten years ago you were stuck with chain restaurants and soggy takeaway boxes. Now the city has proper Neapolitan pizzerias with imported Italian flour and 500-degree ovens, a world-ranked New York slice bar, and wood-fired street food operations that started in converted vans and graduated to permanent sites. The competition is real, and the quality keeps climbing.
What makes Edinburgh’s pizza landscape interesting is the range. You can eat a perfectly charred margherita for five pounds from a van near the Meadows, or sit down on George Street with a glass of wine and a 48-hour proved dough that would pass muster in Naples. The best pizza in Edinburgh right now comes from places that take the craft seriously but don’t take themselves too seriously. No white tablecloths. No reservations at most of them. Just good dough, good toppings, and ovens running properly hot.
The places below are spread across the city, from the Old Town to Morningside to Dalry Road. A few are within walking distance of each other near the Meadows, which makes for a decent pizza crawl if you’re committed. If you only have time for one, start with Civerinos or Locale and work from there.
1. Civerinos
TimeOut ranked Civerinos the 7th best pizza in the world in 2025. That’s a bold claim, and the queues suggest people believe it. The original Hunter Square location, just off the Royal Mile near the Tron Kirk, is where you want to eat. The style is New York-inspired: big, foldable slices with coal-fired bases, chewy crusts, and a sweet-but-tangy marinara that reviewers keep coming back to. The toppings are more considered than your typical slice joint. This is not quick and greasy New York pizza; it is closer to something that sits between Naples and Brooklyn with a Scottish accent.
The garlic dough balls are fluffy and worth ordering alongside. Civerinos also has locations on Forrest Road near the Meadows and in Stockbridge, but the Hunter Square original has the best atmosphere and consistency. Service can be genuinely slow on Saturday evenings, and at least one reviewer reported pizza arriving cold during a particularly busy shift. Go on a Tuesday or Wednesday and the experience is significantly better. Prices are reasonable; you are not paying a premium for the world ranking.
Civerinos
- Ranked 7th best pizza in the world by TimeOut Magazine in 2025
- New York-style slices with coal-fired bases and tangy marinara sauce
- Multiple locations across Edinburgh including Forrest Road and Stockbridge
The Hunter Square original is the best location. Go midweek to avoid long weekend waits.
"Civerinos earned a spot on TimeOut's 19 best pizzas in the world in 2025, praised for chewy crusts, coal-fired bases, sweet-but-tangy marinara, and carefully curated toppings. Service can be inconsistent on busy weekends."
2. Locale Neapolitan Pizza
A perfect 5.0 on Google, which for a pizza restaurant in Edinburgh is almost unheard of. Locale sits on Marchmont Road, in the heart of the student neighbourhood south of the Meadows, and everything about it feels like a passion project. The owner is hands-on, the staff (Georgie in particular gets mentioned a lot) are genuinely warm, and the pizza is textbook Neapolitan: light, pillowy dough that does not sit heavy, a thin charred base, and toppings that taste like they were flown in that morning.
The Salsiccia e Friarielli is the one to order if you want something beyond margherita. The vegetarian options are better than at most pizzerias; reviewers have called them some of the best vegetarian pizza they have ever had, which is high praise for a small Marchmont operation. There are student discounts, which keeps the neighbourhood loyal. The only downside is space. It is not a large restaurant, and you might wait during peak hours on Friday and Saturday. But the pizza is worth the wait, and the prices are honest.
Locale Neapolitan Pizza
- Perfect 5.0 Google rating with passionate owner and friendly staff
- Authentic Neapolitan pizza with light, airy dough that does not sit heavy
- Great student discounts in a lively neighbourhood spot
Ask about student discounts. Try the Salsiccia e Friarielli.
3. Paesano Pizza
Paesano built a cult following in Glasgow over ten years before finally crossing the M8 to Edinburgh in late 2025. The George Street location is a cavernous 160-cover dining hall with communal tables, dangling lights, and an industrial aesthetic that somehow works. The menu is simple: ten pizzas, all Neapolitan, all made with 48-hour slow-proved dough and topped with San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella imported from Italy. Pizzas start at eight pounds.
It is walk-in only, which means queues on Friday and Saturday evenings that can stretch out the door and down the street. The atmosphere inside is loud and energetic; this is not a quiet dinner spot. The pizza itself is the draw. The dough is light, slightly charred at the edges, and has that particular chewiness that comes from proper fermentation. Some Edinburgh diners have already called it the new benchmark for affordable Neapolitan pizza in the city centre. The hype is real, but so is the product. If you have been to Paesano in Glasgow, you know exactly what to expect.
Paesano Pizza
- Cult Glasgow favourite that opened on George Street in late 2025
- 48-hour slow-proved dough with San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella
- Pizzas from eight pounds in a stylish 160-cover dining hall
Walk-ins only. Arrive before noon or after 2pm to skip the queue.
"Paesano brought its cult Neapolitan pizza from Glasgow to Edinburgh's George Street in late 2025. Walk-in only, 160 covers, ten pizza options with 48-hour proved dough and imported Italian ingredients. Already the most hyped pizza spot in the New Town."
4. Wanderers Kneaded Pizza
This is the one the locals love. Wanderers Kneaded started as a wood-fired pizza van parked near the Meadows, the kind of operation where you order through a hatch and eat on a park bench. They have since moved to a more permanent setup on Little King Street, but the spirit is the same: proper wood-fired pizza at prices that make the Neapolitan sit-down restaurants look expensive. The lunchtime margherita deal is around five pounds, which for the quality of dough they are producing is absurd.
The Gorgonzola and spicy sausage pizza is the popular choice, but honestly the simpler options are where the quality of the base shines through. The dough is light and crispy with a good char from the wood fire. The staff are friendly and chatty, there is a loyalty card, and the overall experience feels like supporting a small business that genuinely cares about pizza. A Scotsman review praised them as some of Edinburgh’s best pizzas, which for a former street food van is a serious achievement. They operate Friday to Sunday, so plan accordingly.
Wanderers Kneaded Pizza
- Award-winning wood-fired pizzas from a converted street food van
- Affordable prices with a lunchtime margherita deal at five pounds
- Unique toppings like Gorgonzola and spicy sausage on light, crispy dough
Visit from Friday to Sunday for their full selection. The lunchtime margherita deal is around five pounds.
"Wanderers Kneaded started as a pizza van near the Meadows and has won multiple street food awards. Light, crispy wood-fired dough with unique toppings at very affordable prices. Friendly staff and a loyalty card programme."
5. Pizzeria 1926
Named after the year SSC Napoli was founded, which tells you everything about where the owner’s heart is. Rosario Sartore, who is Neapolitan, opened Pizzeria 1926 on Dalry Road in 2016 (he also runs Locanda de Gusti, the Italian restaurant directly across the street). The dining room is festooned with Napoli football memorabilia, the atmosphere is spit-and-sawdust casual, and the pizza is authentically Neapolitan in a way that only someone from Naples can pull off. The Natan 3 and Maradona toppings are the popular orders. The huge calamari appetiser is surprisingly good.
Some reviews mention that the dough can be inconsistent, with occasional reports of heavy or undercooked bases. The Scotsman gave it 7/10 for ambiance and 8/10 for food, which feels about right. On a good night, this is top-three pizza in Edinburgh. On an off night, it is still solid. The location is a five-minute walk from Haymarket station, making it easy to reach if you are coming from the airport or the west side of town. Look for itison coupons; they regularly run meal deals that bring the price down further.
Pizzeria 1926
- Authentic Neapolitan-style pizza from an Italian family originally from Naples
- Named after the year Napoli football club was founded, with club memorabilia on the walls
- Five-minute walk from Haymarket station, easy to reach
Look for an itison coupon for a meal deal. The Natan 3 and Maradona toppings are popular choices.
"Pizzeria 1926 has brought authentic Naples pizza to Dalry Road since 2016. Run by Rosario Sartore (who also owns Locanda de Gusti across the road). The Scotsman gave it 8/10 for food. Neapolitan dough, imported ingredients, and a casual neighbourhood vibe."
6. Pizza Geeks
The decor is comic books, video games, and movie posters. The pizza names are things like “Braveheart” and “Millennium.” And for every featured pizza they sell, Pizza Geeks donates one to homeless and disadvantaged people in Edinburgh through their Pizza for the People initiative. It is a gimmick that could easily feel hollow, but the pizza is good enough and the social mission is genuine enough that it works.
The Braveheart Pizza is the one everyone orders first. The bases are solid, the toppings are creative without being silly, and the prices are low enough that you could eat here twice in a week without guilt. Some recent reviews have flagged inconsistency with toppings and occasional slow service, particularly when they run out of ingredients for certain pizzas. But the highs are high, and the comic-book-wallpaper atmosphere is fun in a way that most pizza restaurants are not even attempting. It sits on Dalry Road, a short walk from Pizzeria 1926, which means you could do a back-to-back comparison if you were so inclined.
Pizza Geeks
- Independent pizzeria with a comic book, video game, and movie theme
- Pizza for the People initiative donates pizzas to homeless and disadvantaged people
- Creative menu with options like the Braveheart and Millennium pizzas
Try the Braveheart Pizza. For every featured pizza sold, they donate one to the homeless.
"Pizza Geeks on Dalry Road is an independent pizzeria with geeky decor and a social mission. Their Pizza for the People initiative donates to the homeless. The Braveheart Pizza and Millennium Pizza are popular, though some recent reviews note inconsistency with toppings."
7. Pizza Posto
Over 3,000 Google reviews and still holding a 4.6 average. Pizza Posto on Nicolson Street in Newington is a workhorse: open daily, reasonably priced, and consistently turning out Neapolitan pizzas from a wood-fired clay oven in a rustic, no-fuss setting. The dough is “fabulously light and airy” according to the consensus, and the staff are friendly in the way that keeps regulars coming back.
The menu is compact: classic Neapolitan options like marinara, margherita, salsiccia, and friarielli, plus a few salads and starters. No reinvention, no gimmicks, just solid execution. People typically spend about 60 to 90 minutes here, which tells you it is not a rushed experience despite the casual setting. It is a good default pizza when you are in the Southside and do not want to overthink it. Not the most exciting pizza on this list, but probably the most reliable.
Pizza Posto
- Casual Neapolitan pizzeria with a wood-fired clay oven
- Fabulously light and airy dough with fresh ingredients
- Affordable prices and super friendly staff in a rustic Newington setting
The marinara and margherita are the best tests of a Neapolitan pizzeria. Start simple.
"Pizza Posto is a casual Neapolitan pizzeria on Nicolson Street with a wood-fired clay oven, simple menu, and friendly staff. Over 3,000 Google reviews praise the light dough and fresh ingredients at fair prices."
8. Cold Town House
This is the view pizza. Cold Town House occupies a converted 1884 church in the Grassmarket, directly below Edinburgh Castle, and the rooftop terrace is one of the best outdoor drinking spots in the city. But the pizza is the reason it makes this list. The first-floor Pizza and Prosecco Bar has a custom-built stone-fired oven visible through floor-to-ceiling windows, and the toppings are named after Edinburgh neighbourhoods. The haggis pizza is the Edinburgh-specific option that tourists love and locals are divided on.
The on-site microbrewery means the Cold Town beers on tap are genuinely fresh. National Pizza Awards Finalist in 2021, which gives you a baseline for quality. The honest assessment: the pizza is good but not the best on this list, and during busy periods the kitchen can struggle with consistency. One reviewer noted undermelted cheese and watery sauce on a bad night. On a good night, though, you are eating decent Neapolitan pizza while looking at Edinburgh Castle with a pint brewed in the same building. That is a hard experience to replicate elsewhere.
Cold Town House
- Neapolitan pizza with Edinburgh Castle views from the rooftop terrace
- On-site microbrewery with Cold Town craft beers on tap
- National Pizza Awards Finalist 2021 with creative toppings named after Edinburgh neighbourhoods
Head straight to the rooftop for castle views. The haggis pizza is the Edinburgh-specific option.
"Cold Town House is a four-tier venue in a converted 1884 church in the Grassmarket, with a first-floor pizza bar, rooftop terrace with castle views, and on-site microbrewery. National Pizza Awards Finalist. Pizza quality can be inconsistent during busy periods."
9. Matto Pizza
Out in Morningside, which is a good 30 minutes south of the Old Town on foot but worth the trip if you are staying in the southern suburbs. Matto Pizza’s 44-seater restaurant has a large outdoor terrace that catches the evening sun in summer, and the pizza is proper Neapolitan with thin dough and creative toppings that go beyond the standard menu. The salami, mushroom, and cheese combination gets specific praise from recent reviewers.
The atmosphere skews younger and more relaxed than the city centre spots. They used to run Matto Mondays with deals, though that promotion has reportedly ended, so check their social media before planning around it. Service reviews are mixed: most people have a great time, but there have been enough reports of inconsistent or distracted service to mention it. The pizza itself is reliably good. If you are exploring Morningside (which has excellent independent shops and cafes; see our best cafes guide for more), Matto is the lunch or dinner stop.
Matto Pizza
- Neapolitan pizza with thin dough, excellent salami, and quality cheese
- Large outdoor terrace for warm evenings in Morningside
- Creative pizza options beyond the usual Neapolitan standards
Matto Mondays used to offer deals but check their socials for current promotions.
"Matto Pizza's Morningside location has a 44-seater restaurant and large outdoor terrace. Authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas with thin dough and creative toppings. Service can be inconsistent, but the pizza quality is generally praised."
10. Salerno Pizza
The St James Quarter is not where you would expect to find good pizza. Shopping centre restaurants are usually afterthoughts. But Salerno, on the 4th floor of the development, does a decent job with Neapolitan-style pizza made from 24-hour proved dough and cooked at 500 degrees in about 90 seconds. The setting is modern and bright, the menu includes solid vegan and gluten-free options, and the prices are fair for a city centre shopping centre location.
It is not going to win any awards for atmosphere. You are eating in a shopping centre, and no amount of interior design fully disguises that. But the pizza quality itself, particularly the mozzarella and sauce, is better than it needs to be. The Tripadvisor reviews are a mixed bag: plenty of five-star raves alongside occasional complaints about temperature and topping inconsistency. A useful option if you are shopping in St James Quarter or staying at one of the nearby hotels, rather than a destination worth crossing the city for.
Salerno Pizza
- Neapolitan pizza with 24-hour proved dough cooked in a 500-degree oven
- Located on the 4th floor of St James Quarter with modern setting
- Strong vegan and gluten-free menu alongside traditional options
Good vegan and gluten-free pizza options. The 500-degree oven cooks pizzas in about 90 seconds.
"Salerno Pizza on the 4th floor of St James Quarter serves Neapolitan-style pizzas with 24-hour proved dough and traditional Italian ingredients. Good vegan and gluten-free options. Mixed reviews on consistency but generally positive for the pizza quality."
11. Dough Pizza
Rose Street is Edinburgh’s lane of restaurants and pubs running parallel to Princes Street, and Dough is one of the better options along it. Open until midnight most nights, which makes it one of the few decent late-night pizza options in central Edinburgh. The location is convenient if you are staying in the New Town or have just come from a show at the Assembly Rooms or Traverse Theatre.
The pizza is good without being exceptional. It fills a gap rather than setting a standard. But with a 4.6 Google rating across 780 reviews, the consistency is there. If you need pizza after 10pm in central Edinburgh, Dough is probably your best bet. It opens at 2pm on weekdays, so it is not a lunch option, but it works well for an early evening meal before a night out or a late-night bite when everything else has closed.
Dough Pizza
- Central Rose Street location between Princes Street and George Street
- Good for a casual pizza and drinks in the New Town
- Open until midnight on most nights
Open from 2pm most days, making it a solid late-afternoon or evening option.
"Dough Pizza on Rose Street is a casual New Town pizza spot open until midnight. Central location makes it convenient for tourists and locals. Over 780 Google reviews with a 4.6 average."
How to Plan Your Pizza Day in Edinburgh
Best overall pizza crawl: Start at Paesano on George Street for the hype, walk south through the Meadows to Locale in Marchmont for the neighbourhood favourite, and loop back via Wanderers Kneaded for a cheap slice. Three distinct styles in one afternoon.
Dalry Road double: Pizzeria 1926 and Pizza Geeks are on the same street, about a five-minute walk apart. Do one for lunch and the other for dinner, or split a pizza at each if you are feeling ambitious.
City centre convenience: Civerinos on Hunter Square, Paesano on George Street, Dough on Rose Street, and Salerno in St James Quarter are all within 15 minutes of each other on foot. Good options if you are sightseeing and want pizza without going far.
For the view: Cold Town House in the Grassmarket. The pizza is the excuse; the castle view from the rooftop is the reason.
For more Edinburgh food recommendations, see our best restaurants guide for the full range of dining, or cheap eats if you are watching the budget. Our best bars guide covers where to drink after the pizza.
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