A good pizza can be reason enough to cross the city, but each place on our list offers a different outing: a garden lunch, a meal near the park, slices shared with friends or dinner beside the lake. We have selected nine Bucharest addresses and the dishes worth starting with.
1. Unico Vero
At 8 Strada Viitorului, Unico Vero has the feel of a family Italian restaurant, with an open kitchen and a garden tucked behind the house. Tables among plants, shade and a little distance from the busy street make a long lunch appealing. Indoors, you can watch the cooks at work, with seating on the ground and upper floors.
Start with the buffalo mozzarella Margherita. For stronger flavours, Tartufata combines pecorino, truffle purée and walnuts, while Siciliana pairs anchovies with capers. The pizza named after the restaurant has mozzarella, gorgonzola, rocket and fresh tomatoes, a good choice if you enjoy the contrast between pungent cheese and slightly bitter leaves. Antipasti, homemade pasta and tiramisu allow for a longer meal, although the pizza alone justifies a visit.
2. Boiler @ The Yuppies
Boiler at 6 Strada Ceasornicului suits an unhurried day around Herăstrău. You can begin with speciality coffee and stay for lunch; the terrace and wine list also work for a meeting that continues into the evening. A broad menu is useful when everyone at the table wants something different.
The pizzas have a thin, 32-centimetre base. Fresh Stuff adds fresh tomatoes, rocket and basil sauce to fior di latte mozzarella, making it a good choice for fresh toppings. Mortadella e Pistacchio is richer, with provolone, Parmesan and pistachios. Zuchinetta is worth considering for its less usual combination of courgette, dill, feta and gorgonzola. A vegan option with artichokes, mushrooms, peppers, courgette and olives has enough variety to be a choice in its own right.
3. Casa di David
At Casa di David, pizza comes with the prospect of a meal beside Lake Herăstrău. The elegant restaurant at 7–9 Șoseaua Nordului suits dinner for two or a meeting where you want to enjoy both the setting and the food. The pizza section deserves attention even if fish, risotto or pasta initially catch your eye.
The combination of morels, black truffles and Gouda is one of its distinctive choices, with mushrooms and cheese creating a deeper flavour than a more familiar recipe. Another option features jamón ibérico de pata negra, artichokes and olives. There is a simpler buffalo mozzarella and basil Margherita, while artichokes, cherry tomatoes, peppers, olives and pine nuts offer a meat-free alternative. Diavola, with spicy chorizo and chilli, completes the selection for those who prefer a stronger kick.
4. Pizzamania
At Pizzamania, at 8 Strada Grigore Alexandrescu, sourdough is the foundation of the menu. Recipes are numbered, encouraging you to choose by ingredients. Pizza ONE, with San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, basil and Parmesan, is a useful starting point for judging the base in a simple combination.
The higher numbers introduce less familiar pairings. FOUR combines courgette, asparagus and Stilton; TEN brings together smoked pancetta, quail eggs, pecorino and pepper. SEVEN features lightly smoked salmon gravlax, salmon roe and chives, deliberately moving beyond the classic Italian repertoire. A vegan pizza comes with vegetables and a tomato, garlic and basil emulsion. For two people, sharing a simple pizza and a more unusual recipe is a good way to explore the menu.
5. Buoni e Bravi
Buoni e Bravi changes how you choose pizza: look at the trays, select pieces with different toppings and share according to appetite. This is pizza al taglio, served in rectangular portions, a format that suits a lunch break or a stop while crossing town. You can try several combinations without ordering a whole pizza of each.
The menu reaches well beyond Margherita and Diavola. Porchetta appears with gorgonzola, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes, while another version pairs fresh tuna with black sesame and shallots. Vegetable lovers can choose roasted sweet potato, courgette, aubergine, peppers, hummus and mint. At 6 Piața Sfântul Ștefan, a strongly flavoured slice and a vegetable one make a good first order. See what has just come out of the oven, too.
6. Babàmia Pizzabar
Babàmia, at 67 Calea Dorobanți, gives you plenty of reasons to bring friends and order for the table. Its Roman-style pizzas are round and 33 centimetres across, alongside arancini, burratina, pasta and panuozzo. Begin with a shared starter, then try two or three different pizzas.
Diavoletta pairs ventricina salami with chilli jam for a sweet and spicy combination. Mortadella Drop has basil pesto, stracciatella and pistachios, while Black Truffle centres on truffle paste, fior di latte, provolone and Grana Padano. Margherita OG and the ham-and-mushroom Prosciutto al Bosco are more familiar choices. Pistachio tiramisu carries one of the pizza flavours into dessert without making the meal complicated.
7. Pizzeria Geniale
At 21–25 Strada Zăgazului, Geniale offers two styles worth distinguishing before you order. The contemporary version uses dough with 80% hydration for an airy structure, while pizza a ruota di carro is larger and thinner. Start by deciding how much of each mouthful you want the crust to occupy.
Toppings range from guanciale and Italian cheeses to octopus or candied orange. Giulia combines guanciale, provola, artichokes and pesto. Culatta adds taleggio, walnuts and candied orange to cured pork, while Penelopa features octopus, tomatoes and stracciatella. On a first visit, try a Margherita con Bufala alongside one of these combinations. Arancini Carbonara, with guanciale and Grana Padano cream, make a shared starter if you have the appetite for a longer meal.
8. Pizzeria Volare
Volare has the appeal of a neighbourhood Italian restaurant where a family or group can find something to agree on. Pizza is baked in a wood-fired oven, with classic, Neapolitan and special recipes. Pasta, soups and fish dishes offer alternatives for your companions, and the play area is a practical benefit for parents.
Start with the Neapolitan section. Margherita Buffala centres on buffalo mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil. Funghi Porcini Buffala adds porcini sautéed in butter and garlic, with a choice of tomato or cream base. Mortadella e Burrata is richer, with pistachios and sun-dried tomatoes. Eating in also has the obvious advantage of keeping the journey from oven to plate short.
9. Fomizza
Fomizza, at 20 Bulevardul Ion Mihalache, is worth considering when you are near Piața Victoriei and want a change from your usual two or three pizzas. The menu separates classic and contemporary recipes and offers 28- or 32-centimetre sizes. Dough proved for 48 hours forms the basis of several dishes.
La Morte Sua is one of the most distinctive choices: roasted brown mushrooms, smoked pancetta, cherry tomatoes, truffle oil and pecorino cream over San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte. Carbonara transfers the combination of pancetta, egg yolk, pecorino and pepper to pizza. These are substantial options to share with someone who has chosen a Margherita or Prosciutto Funghi. The link with Atelierul de Tarte is also reflected in the desserts: a slice of tart offers an alternative to the usual tiramisu.
