Seriously, what’s not to love about pizza? It’s quick and easy (especially if you order a delivery), full of fabulous flavours and arguably tastes even better cold the next day should you have been unable to scoff that 20-incher in one hit.
Riyadh is abundant with great pizza joints that will satisfy even the most discerning of fans. Thin crust, deep pan or pie – whichever is your weapon of choice, Riyadh’s pizza places have all the bases covered. They’ll even let you enter that age-old debate over whether pineapple should ever be used as a topping. Check out the best pizza places in Riyadh right here. Buon appetito!
Blanca Pizza
While some pizzas are designed for you to grab and go, Blanca Pizza is worth taking your time over. Not only do these look sophisticated, but they come at an affordable price from SAR42. While there are the classics, the more indulgent offerings range from seafood (with mussels, shrimp, olive slices) and truffle (with truffle sauce, buffalo and mushroom).
Open Sun-Thu 1pm-1am, Fri-Sat 1pm-2am, Prince Abdulaziz Ibn Musaid Ibn Jalawi St, As Sulimaniyah, instagram.com/blanca_forno
Blaze Pizza
Founded in Pasadena, Blaze Pizza maybe a California based franchise, but it serves some of the best pizza in Riyadh. Since you can build your own pizza and customise it just the way you like, it makes for a fun meal out. Blaze also accommodates all dietary requirements, as they have gluten-free crusts and vegan cheese. So there should be nothing stopping you from getting a taste of these slices.
Open daily 10am-1am, Prince Abdulaziz Ibn Musaid Ibn Jalawi St, As Sulimaniyah, 12234, (011 520 0492).
Harry’s Pizza
Harry’s Pizza is all about authenticity, as it even has an Italian chef in the back. They are at the top of the game with their Neapolitan style pizzas, which cover classics from four-cheese to Margherita. The signature Harry’s is a vegan fave, as it comes with parmesan, mozzarella and buffalo cheese, as well as basil and oregano.
Open daily 12pm-1am. King Abdullah Rd, Al Raed, instagram.com/harryspizza_ksa (920 004 682).
Finzione da Pizza
Taking the traditional pizza practices of native Neapolitans and bringing it to the Saudi capital could have proved a challenge, but the team have pulled it off perfectly, serving some of the best pizza in Riyadh. Native Italian speakers would be put off by the name of this place (‘finzione’ translates variously as ‘a sham’, ‘deceitfulness’ or ‘pretence’) but we presume its owners were trying to say their chefs are full of ‘invention’. There are also plenty of veggie options, while for the carnivores the tacchino e tartufo creation (fresh buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce, pesto, olive oil, turkey and homemade truffle sauce) is a must-try.
Open Sat-Tue 12.30pm-midnight, Wed-Fri 1.30pm-1am. Anas Ibn Malik Road, Al Malqa, instagram.com/finzionedapizza (053 077 9480).
Forti Pizza
If you are more likely to grab your phone before your pizza, then you may be in for some competition at this restaurant. These pizzas are oh-so photogenic. With the exposed brickwork and low-lit lighting, it has a relaxed ambience and a great spot to gather with mates. While the truffle and polo pizzas are pretty special.
Opens daily 1.30pm-1am, King Fahd Road, (050 296 6845)
L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
What this place has tons of is rustic charm, from plants hanging like chandeliers to wicker baskets like lampshades. The mismatched plates and chairs give it a homely feel, while the food comes with a stamp of approval from the locals, as it’s popular with Saudis who want a taste of Italy. The thin based pizzas include the classics as well as tartufo, burrata and bresaola. All the while, it’s all about simplicity and using fresh rather than an abundance of ingredients.
Open daily 1pm-midnight, U Walk Prince Turki Ibn Abdulaziz Al Awwal Rd, King Saud University, (055 463 4487).
La Rustica
Proudly calling itself ‘the best pizzeria in Riyadh’, La Rustica certainly has a reputation to live up to. Opened at the start of 2016, La Rustica was one of the first places to offer authentic Napoletana pizza. Five years on and it still sticks to its principles of living by the unwritten laws of the Naples maestros. When a joint puts its name to a pizza, you know it essentially lives and dies by it. For those of you with extravagant tastes, the fungi, truffle and fior pizza (with fresh fior de latte mozzarella, porcini, mushroom, truffle paste, garlic and truffle oil) is worth pushing the boat out all the way to Naples for.
Open daily 2pm-12:30am, 48 Wadi Al Artawi St, Al Olaya, larustica.sa (055 325 2521).
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Margherita
Food historians among you will be well versed in the fact Naples makes UNESCO worthy pizzas on the list of ‘intangible cultural heritage’. Lovingly reproduced on a daily basis, these sensational slices of doughy goodness rank among the best pizzas in Riyadh. Born in Beirut in 2008, the menu includes the Margherita (obviously), Saltimbocca (mozzarella, smoked scamorza cheese and smoked beef) and Bianca Al Salmone (a white pizza with smoked salmon, mozzarella, parmesan, cherry tomatoes and rocket). Until we came here, we never knew Margherita was Italian for ‘daisy’ (thanks, faithful waiter). And these beauties are all as fresh as one.
Open daily noon-1am. Veranda Plaza, Northern Ring Rd, Al Ghadir, pizzeriamargherita.com/ (011 810 7811).
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Pizza Al Taglio
There are few pleasures we enjoy more than a good film and a great pizza. Pizza Al Taglio, meaning ‘pizza by the slice’, is VOX Cinemas’ version of the ultimate yum-com. Munch your way through the latest smash with a happy tummy full of Pizza Al Taglio and you’ll be putting it up for a best supporting actor award. The caprino (mozzarella, artichokes, black olives, sun-dried tomatoes and goat’s cheese topped with baby greens and a balsamic reduction) and the diavola (mozzarella, sautéed mixed mushrooms, beef salami and fresh red chilli) are worthy of any Oscars night.
Opening times vary. Locations including VOX Cinemas, The Roof, Northern Ring Branch Road, Al Aqiq, Riyadh, pizzaaltagliomena.com (600 599 905).
Pizza Roma
After hitting the books at the King Fahad National Library, your appetite will surely be sated by Pizza Roma, which serves some of the best pizza in Riyadh. Each chapter of its menu reads like a timeless classic and while soups and pasta might offer a happy ending, it should be the pizza choices that prove your heroic protagonist. For the veg-lovers among you, the pizza ortolana with its courgette, aubergine and sweet pepper is an absolute must. And your meat-eating fellow characters will revel in the pizza bresaola (mozzarella, watercress, parmesan and, you guessed it, some perfectly aged bresaola).
Open daily 12.30pm-11.30pm. King Fahad National Library, Al Olaya, romagroupsa.com (011 810 9526).
Pizzaratti
When a pizza place chooses a name that sounds like a play on paparazzi, you know that it thinks its creations are worthy of the spotlight. These large servings made with high-quality ingredients are snapped up by locals and on social media. So order the popular margarita or chicken pizza and find out what all the fuss is about.
Open daily 12.30pm-3.30pm. King Fahad National Library, Al Olaya, romagroupsa.com (011 810 9526).
Turnstone Pizza
Bringing classic, Sicilian-inspired creations to Saudi Arabia for the past four years, Turnstone Pizza has really captured our attention, as it serves some of the best pizza in town. Making the best use of its stone oven (hence the name), we’re hugely enamoured by the likes of the piancas chicken (grilled bird with a smoked cheese mix, garlic and thyme) and the eponymous turnstone (pepperoni, ground beef, grilled cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, topped with basil pesto). However, the star-shaped pizzas (including the calorific Polpta) are the ones that leave a twinkle in our eyes.
Open daily noon-1am. Various locations including Dareen Center, Al Ihsa Ar Rabwah, Riyadh, turnstonepizza.com (920 025 502).
Yellow Cab
This is one of the very few joints in Riyadh that delivers its customers an exact replica of a pizza slice you’d find on the streets of New York. Everything in the restaurant is, as you probably guessed by the name, taxi themed and inspired by the infamous yellow cabs that run in New York. With new toppings like roasted shrimp and garlic, it is one of the best pizza places in Riyadh.
Open daily 10am-midnight, Khurais Rd, Ar Rawdah, Exit 13, instagram.com/yellowcabksa (920 018 518).
