If you usually think of pizza as take-out food to enjoy with a glass of beer or other favorite drink, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that! But, gourmet pizzas elevate the taste buds, which then make you crave a glass of red wine, followed by a delicious Tiramisu or a creamy pistachio gelato to complete that truly authentic Italian experience.
Since the late 1800s, when Italian immigrants arrived in this country, America has been obsessed with this classic cheesy dish. As a culture, we have been raised on pizza parties and pizza date nights. The base, sauce, cheese, and toppings are all key ingredients that we’ve grown to love. But the chefs who prepare them, add their unique flair and flavor to give them their personal spin.
Finding the best pizza places in West Palm Beach has been a difficult task. From Neapolitan pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven—or what Italians call, “forno a legna”—to New York style to Sicilian style and Chicago deep-dish to tavern-style pizza, the list is endless. For now, here is a short list—in alphabetical order—of the best pizza in West Palm Beach.
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Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza
Lunch | Dinner
1900 Okeechobee Blvd | acfp.com
Considered to be one of the best pizza chain restaurants, Anthony’s serves charred-crust pies, chicken wings, subs, and other small Italian plates in a modern setting that features giant TV sets, and a full open bar.
At Anthony’s, all pizzas are cooked in a coal oven that reaches an intensely high temperature and builds a large flame on a large bed of coals. This allows the pizzas to be cooked in a matter of minutes with a nice charred flavor.
Recommendation: A classic pie that all pizza lovers would enjoy —The Square Margherita. This take on the typical Neapolitan, using Italian plum tomato sauce, mozzarella, Pecorino Romano, and basil is incredibly tasty.
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City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill
Brunch | Lunch | Dinner
700 S. Rosemary Avenue | citycellarwpb.com
This was the first restaurant to open at The Square, [previously known own as CityPlace, Rosemary Square]. City Cellar is open for brunch, lunch, or dinner, and it’s got pizza on top of each of those menus. It is a large, bustling, and active restaurant that has a plethora of delicious dishes to choose from. One of the main draws here is the extensive wine menu that features over one-thousand wines, so you won’t have a problem pairing your gourmet pizza with one of them! With a menu that covers all tastes—delicious hearth-baked pizza, dry-aged steaks, fresh pasta, and seafood—City Cellar is one of the city’s landmark eateries.
Recommendation: If you want something bolder, try the Capri. This pizza comes topped with mission fig, goat cheese, mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, and balsamic agrodolce. What makes this pizza especially so good is the figs they use, which pair so beautifully with the salty and savory flavors of the cheese and prosciutto. Also, the balsamic agrodolce perfectly adds a well-balanced sweet and sour flavor to the pizza.
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City Pizza Italian Cuisine
Lunch | Dinner
632 Hibiscus St. | citypizzawpb.com
City Pizza—as locals call it—is one of the first restaurants that opened in The Square, the hub of entertainment in downtown West Palm Beach. It’s been here for 20 years and has become a very popular Italian eatery in town.
At City Pizza, you’ll find delicious pizza, nice people, and friendly chitchat overheard from the small tables around the room. The unassuming atmosphere of this restaurant is contagious. And the food? A real treat! The restaurant features a large menu with all types of fan-favorite Italian classics: pasta, calzones, stromboli, and decadent desserts. But the main draw is the pizzas. From New York-style to BBQ to Vegan options, City Pizza offers great pies in a cozy space where you can hang out with friends.
Recommendation: The Meat Lover’s Pizza or the Veggie Lover’s Pizza. Either one of them is a real treat you can’t deny! Both of them come loaded with your favorite toppings: tomato sauce, pepperoni, sausage, meatball, ham & bacon (Meat Lover’s) or tomato sauce, tomatoes, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, and black olives (Veggie Lover’s).
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Cucina Pizza by Design
Lunch | Dinner
1855 Palm Beach Lakes Blvd B 09 | cucinapizza.com
This pizza place has revolutionized customized pizza-making in the Palm Beaches. Cucina Pizza by Design is located at Palm Beach Outlets, a modern, high-ceilinged, looking-cozy space with a natural decor.
This is the only gourmet pizza restaurant in West Palm Beach where patrons can customize their pizza from A to Z. Beyond the mouth-watering signature chef’s pizzas on the menu, you can choose the dough (classic, whole wheat, gluten-free, cauliflower), the sauce (from classic marinara to vegan to their own house-made style), and any topping out of a long variety of options. The pizzas are cooked to perfection in three to four minutes and brought to your table. The restaurant also features vegan and gluten-free pizza, along with other popular Italian favorites (pasta, strombolis, calzones, salads, and Italian subs) in case you want something more than a pizza.
Recommendation: The variety of chef’s hand-crafted pizzas here is enough to make you try a different pizza every day. The Pollo e Pera pizza is a delicious 12″ pizza (16″ also available) that includes chicken, Alfredo sauce, gorgonzola, mozzarella cheese, pear, and truffle oil.
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Elisabetta’s Ristorante & Pizzeria
Lunch | Dinner
185 Banyan Blvd | elisabettas.com/wpb
When you think of Italy, you think of a picturesque waterfront, boats passing by as you take a delicious, hearty bite of a classic cheese pizza. Elisabetta’s is located on the prime corner of Banyan and Flagler Drive overlooking the downtown waterfront. You can’t get a more authentic Italian feel than that. The restaurant even has an outdoor pizza oven, a vintage gelato cart, and a bocce ball court. It is the way dining al fresco was meant to be. Chef Lisabet Summa has mastered the sourdough she uses to create her pizzas, with a menu that includes different variations of Rosso and Bianca pizzas. And here, wine with pizza is… well, just the way this pairing was meant to be. For your enjoyment, Elisabetta’s carries a lengthy wine menu of all sorts and regions of Italy.
Recommendation: The Arugula e Peppadew Peppers pizza. You can add some prosciutto for the ultimate flavor. Fior di latte cheese is sweeter and less fatty than mozzarella. The peppery taste of the arugulas and sweet piquanté peppers won’t take away from the main event–cheese and crust, but this combination gives a satisfying and zingy addition to the pizza. It comes with all the characteristics of a real Neapolitan pizza, a super-thin base with a crispy but light and airy crust with dough that puffs up around the sides. Put simply, every pizza on Elisabetta’s menu has my stamp of Bravo!
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Grato
Dinner | Brunch
1901 South Dixie Highway | Gratowpb.com
Grato is a superb Italian restaurant known for its hybrid dining concept that includes a variety of wood-fired pies, housemade pasta, and other delicious Italian fares. The restaurant, usually packed with locals and tourists looking for one of West Palm Beach’s most exciting dining destinations along Dixie Hwy, offers diners an interesting and tasty dining experience.
The interior decor portrays a modern, classic vibe with framed images and a colorful mural painted by Elmo, one of West Palm Beach’s most talented artists.
Some of Grato’s most popular pies are a creation of owner Chef Clay Conley, who traveled the globe as celebrity Chef Todd English’s culinary director. But in general, all the pizza creations here are nothing but extraordinary.
Recommendation: Diavola is a real delight. Chef Conley has given this pizza, named for its spicy notes, a very distinctive twist using smoked mozzarella, ‘nduja, pepperoni, peppers, onions, hot honey. This pizza pairs very well with a Californian Starmont, Carneros 2018, or a Sauvignon Blanc Craggy Range, Martinborough NZ 2017, both on the restaurant’s wine menu.
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Lynora’s Italian Restaurant
Brunch | Lunch | Dinner
207 Clematis St | lynoras.com
Lynora’s is a very popular pizzeria in downtown West Palm Beach. It has the old-world Italian flavor and ambiance that you love and fall for. This windowless-room restaurant is pleasantly comfortable and cozy, and the outdoor sitting view of the downtown area is all you dream of for a pleasant meal. Besides, you will be warmly greeted, like an old friend.
Most of that fantastic synergy comes from Chef Maria Abbenante, the matriarch of this growing family business. Chef Maria’s culinary passion and touch are on every dish, especially on their tasty gourmet pizzas. The pizza here is cooked in a wood-fired oven. The result is a very thin and crisp crust.
Everything on Lynora’s menu is delicious. From the Antipasti [appetizers], house-made pasta, entrees to their exquisite desserts, you’ll be treating yourselves to very good Italian food in West Palm Beach.
Recommendation: Lynora’s most popular pie is the Margherita, which is topped with fresh mozzarella, extra olive oil, and basil to finish. But if you like to experiment with your pizza, why not add other favorite toppings to try to make a perfect meal with fresh ingredients like prosciutto, shaved parmesan, and arugula.
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Sirgae’s Wood Fire Pizza
Lunch | Dinner
437 Northwood Rd | sirgaeswoodfirepizza.com
This casual pizza restaurant is located in the Bohemian neighborhood of Northwood Village to the north of West Palm Beach. They offer house-made, wood-fired specialty pizzas and have outdoor patio dining that enhances the socially unconventional artistic vibe of this side of the city.
Sirgae’s wood-fired pizza isn’t just tastier than other kinds of pizza; it’s also very healthy. Their wood-burning oven cooks the pizza super-fast and you can taste with every bite how the toppings hold onto their natural nutrients. Of course, there are other delish options you can enjoy besides pizza: wood-fired wings, baked dishes like ravioli, wraps, panini, Stromboli, calzone, and salads.
Recommendation: The Pepperoni Saison is a delicious pie loaded with the commonly cured dry sausage topping and is spiced up with hot honey for a delightful taste.
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