Cutting the ribbon on Pizza Week 2014, we asked born and bred Vancouverite, Eagranie Yuh, amateur dough-slinger and author of The Chocolate Tasting Kit to create an ultimate guide to pizza in the city. [Photo via Robyn Hanson] While Vancouver might not have a pizza style of note (read: Chicago, Naples), that hasn't stopped us from spawning all sorts of pizza joints, from late-night saviours to fine-dining panache. We present—in no particular order—the ultimate Vancouver Pizza map. Got a suggestion for a spot you think deserves to be added? Drop us a line or leave a comment or you can try our 100% confidential Tipline
When you’ve been in business for 40 years, you must be doing something right. North Vancouverites know this as a cozy spot for pizza and pasta. Open for dinner only.
Step into Nook and you’ll be welcomed like an old friend. This is down-home cooking from the heart, and while the pastas are excellent, it’s the pizzas that have people raving. That, and Nook’s unabashed love of pork.
Okay, this is pizza in air quotes, but it’s hard to dispute the deliciousness of Guu’s “pizza.” Oddly enough, there are two: the naan bread pizza topped with baby scallops and mayo, and the okonomiyaki, a cabbage-based pancake originating from Osaka. Irasshaimase!
CinCin falls into the “fine dining” category, but you don’t have to be a rock star to eat here. Sidle up to the bar, order a wood-fired pizza and splurge on a carafe from the restaurant’s leather-bound wine tome.
Upscale room, upscale pizza. There’s plain old margherita, or you can fancy up with beef carpaccio, shaved mushroom, arugula and Parmesan. But let’s be honest: the black truffle and fontina option wins every time.
The name says it all. When the party’s done and you don’t want to go home yet, Goldies is there for you with pizza and more beer. Open until 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Steps off Granville Street and open late, this is the destination for a hot slice after the bars close—but you can also get whole pizzas and delivery, much to the delight of tower dwellers nearby.
At The Parlour, you can even have pizza for breakfast—eggs benny pizza, anyone? It has the swagger of Yaletown, right down to the #swag pizza (yes, that’s a hashtag). On weekends, be prepared for a mixture of diners and clubbers.
Vancouver’s loaded with Neapolitan-style pizza these days, and we can credit Nicli with kicking off the trend. It’s Italian in some ways (it’s the first pizzeria in the city certified by the Vera Pizza Napoletana) and Vancouver in all the rest (local, seasonal ingredients).
Eating here means getting cozy with your neighbours—and eating early. Farina opens at 5:00 pm and serves until the dough runs out, which is every night. They toss some of today’s dough into tomorrow’s rise, resulting in pizza that’s gaining in depth and complexity. Think it’s good now? Try it in a couple of years.
It’s hard to beat Campagnolo’s pizza and beer deal: Monday through Saturday after 9:30 pm, it’s just $15. Bump that up to 8:30 pm on Sundays. If you like certainty, choose from the seasonal options on the menu; if you like surprises, opt for the fiducia—Italian for trust, that’s what you’ll place in the chefs. You won’t be disappointed.
Don’t miss the panzerotto: a half-moon, stuffed pizza that’s deep-fried to golden perfection. Even better, Dijo’s is open until 3:00 am and delivers as far afield as New Westminster and West Vancouver.
Opened in 1986 and still run by the original owners, Viva Sue is refreshingly old-school. With a fat crust, swathed in cheese and loaded with toppings, this is seriously hefty pizza.
Via Tevere is a local’s secret, the sort of place you take visitors if they’ve been very good houseguests. Tucked away on a quiet, residential corner just off Commercial Drive, it doesn’t take reservations—nor does it need to. Its loyal customers are more than happy to wait for a table.
Commercial Drive is dotted with Italian restaurants, but the best of the bunch—as far as pizza is concerned—is Lombardo’s. Yes, it’s inside Il Mercato, a grungy mall that’s seen better days, but its unlikely location just makes the food taste that much better.
It all started with the Commercial Drive location: pizzas under heat lamps, a steady stream of customers at all hours and a few plastic lawn chairs out front. Now there are four locations for your late-night (or is that early-morning?) pizza cravings. For extra-crazy dreams, try the ground beef and blue cheese.
The intersection of Fraser and East Broadway may not be the perkiest in the city, but that’s part of Barbarella’s charm. Insider tips: Don’t miss the Brussels sprouts option when it’s available, and avoid the soggier-sounding pizzas. Bonus points for the cheap and cheerful, pizza-friendly wine list.
Who serves wood-fired pizza from a food truck? A few seasons ago, PazzaRella did, and this year, Community Pizzeria has stepped into the void. Follow these kids on Twitter (@communitypizza) for their next destination. Hint: they tend to camp outside beer tasting rooms like Brassneck Brewery and 33 Acres.
In the window hangs a neon sign that simply reads BEER, and inside it feels more like a classic diner than a pizza place. But the pizza’s good, the vibe chill and the clientele easy on the eyes.
This family-friendly spot opened in 2006, before local, sustainable and seasonal were buzzwords. Today, they’re best known for the farmers’ market special, which changes several times each week. Gluten-free and sprouted grain crusts offer alternatives for diners with wheat or gluten issues.
This Kerrisdale institution has been serving Greek food and pizza for decades, and they know what they’re doing. The room is dark, the food traditional, the pizza old-school. Dine in and revel as your pie arrives on an elevated silver (okay, shiny) platter.
Moki’s has been doing thin-crust pizza since 1966, valiantly surviving the stuffed-crusted craze, the so-greasy-you-can-see-your-face-in-it trend and everything in between. This humble joint has fueled countless pizza parties, weeknight dinners and late-night studying binges—not to mention generations of teenagers up to no good.
Pie R Squared is legendary among UBC students and alumni for its baked potato pizza—the vegetarian version comes with banana peppers, the meat version with bacon and sour cream and a spicy meat version adds chili sauce. Beware the divebombing seagulls outside; they show no mercy.
Steveston may be synonymous with fish and chips, but if you’re craving something else, there’s Steveston Pizza Company. Enjoy the fun menu (order by colour, element or locale), sophisticated combinations and friendly service.
When you’ve been in business for 40 years, you must be doing something right. North Vancouverites know this as a cozy spot for pizza and pasta. Open for dinner only.
Step into Nook and you’ll be welcomed like an old friend. This is down-home cooking from the heart, and while the pastas are excellent, it’s the pizzas that have people raving. That, and Nook’s unabashed love of pork.
Okay, this is pizza in air quotes, but it’s hard to dispute the deliciousness of Guu’s “pizza.” Oddly enough, there are two: the naan bread pizza topped with baby scallops and mayo, and the okonomiyaki, a cabbage-based pancake originating from Osaka. Irasshaimase!
CinCin falls into the “fine dining” category, but you don’t have to be a rock star to eat here. Sidle up to the bar, order a wood-fired pizza and splurge on a carafe from the restaurant’s leather-bound wine tome.
Upscale room, upscale pizza. There’s plain old margherita, or you can fancy up with beef carpaccio, shaved mushroom, arugula and Parmesan. But let’s be honest: the black truffle and fontina option wins every time.
The name says it all. When the party’s done and you don’t want to go home yet, Goldies is there for you with pizza and more beer. Open until 2:00 am on Friday and Saturday nights.
Steps off Granville Street and open late, this is the destination for a hot slice after the bars close—but you can also get whole pizzas and delivery, much to the delight of tower dwellers nearby.
At The Parlour, you can even have pizza for breakfast—eggs benny pizza, anyone? It has the swagger of Yaletown, right down to the #swag pizza (yes, that’s a hashtag). On weekends, be prepared for a mixture of diners and clubbers.
Vancouver’s loaded with Neapolitan-style pizza these days, and we can credit Nicli with kicking off the trend. It’s Italian in some ways (it’s the first pizzeria in the city certified by the Vera Pizza Napoletana) and Vancouver in all the rest (local, seasonal ingredients).
Eating here means getting cozy with your neighbours—and eating early. Farina opens at 5:00 pm and serves until the dough runs out, which is every night. They toss some of today’s dough into tomorrow’s rise, resulting in pizza that’s gaining in depth and complexity. Think it’s good now? Try it in a couple of years.
It’s hard to beat Campagnolo’s pizza and beer deal: Monday through Saturday after 9:30 pm, it’s just $15. Bump that up to 8:30 pm on Sundays. If you like certainty, choose from the seasonal options on the menu; if you like surprises, opt for the fiducia—Italian for trust, that’s what you’ll place in the chefs. You won’t be disappointed.
Don’t miss the panzerotto: a half-moon, stuffed pizza that’s deep-fried to golden perfection. Even better, Dijo’s is open until 3:00 am and delivers as far afield as New Westminster and West Vancouver.
Opened in 1986 and still run by the original owners, Viva Sue is refreshingly old-school. With a fat crust, swathed in cheese and loaded with toppings, this is seriously hefty pizza.
Via Tevere is a local’s secret, the sort of place you take visitors if they’ve been very good houseguests. Tucked away on a quiet, residential corner just off Commercial Drive, it doesn’t take reservations—nor does it need to. Its loyal customers are more than happy to wait for a table.
Commercial Drive is dotted with Italian restaurants, but the best of the bunch—as far as pizza is concerned—is Lombardo’s. Yes, it’s inside Il Mercato, a grungy mall that’s seen better days, but its unlikely location just makes the food taste that much better.
It all started with the Commercial Drive location: pizzas under heat lamps, a steady stream of customers at all hours and a few plastic lawn chairs out front. Now there are four locations for your late-night (or is that early-morning?) pizza cravings. For extra-crazy dreams, try the ground beef and blue cheese.
The intersection of Fraser and East Broadway may not be the perkiest in the city, but that’s part of Barbarella’s charm. Insider tips: Don’t miss the Brussels sprouts option when it’s available, and avoid the soggier-sounding pizzas. Bonus points for the cheap and cheerful, pizza-friendly wine list.
Who serves wood-fired pizza from a food truck? A few seasons ago, PazzaRella did, and this year, Community Pizzeria has stepped into the void. Follow these kids on Twitter (@communitypizza) for their next destination. Hint: they tend to camp outside beer tasting rooms like Brassneck Brewery and 33 Acres.
In the window hangs a neon sign that simply reads BEER, and inside it feels more like a classic diner than a pizza place. But the pizza’s good, the vibe chill and the clientele easy on the eyes.
This family-friendly spot opened in 2006, before local, sustainable and seasonal were buzzwords. Today, they’re best known for the farmers’ market special, which changes several times each week. Gluten-free and sprouted grain crusts offer alternatives for diners with wheat or gluten issues.
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