The Best Pizza Parlours in Leeds Serving Piping Hot Slices!
Nobody knows who really invented pizza; some would say it’s Rafaelle Esposito with his Neapolitan pie, while others reckon it goes back to ancient civilisations slapping toppings on their flatbread. Only one thing is clear: whoever created it deserves a knighthood.
Seriously, can you resist a wood-fired sourdough base finished with fresh herbs, gooey cheese, and artisanal meat? Not us here in All Right Leeds.
We low-key also blame the city for that. Sure, it’s not Naples or Chicago, but the pizza joints here have more than just fire in their ovens, especially the spots below.
Franco Manca
– From francomancapizza
Address: 1 Trinity St
Contact Details: 0113 403 3713
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 11:30 am to 9 pm
- Thu – 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 10:30 pm
- Sun – 11:30 am to 9:30 pm
Since Franco Manca opened its doors in 2008, I’ve been experiencing Napoli without ever budging from Leeds. Their slow-rising sourdough, topped only with seasonal bits, is enough for me.
Specifically, I’m obsessed with their OG margherita, a more loaded take on the classic. This pick has sweet Piennolo tomatoes crowning a base slathered in buffalo mozzarella and virgin oil.
A close second is the Chorizo, which you can take dry or semi-dry. Overall, it’s smoky, tangy, and spiced, thanks to its cured iberico paired with mozzarella and tomatoes.
Tip: Get better deals by joining their loyalty program.
Tapped
– From tappedleeds
Address: Trinity Leeds, 51 Boar Ln
Contact Details: 0113 244 1953
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 12 pm to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 12 am
- Sun – 12 pm to 11 pm
Stone-baked slices and craft beer are a match to die for, and Tapped knows that all too well.
On the pizza end, the American-inspired brewpub is slinging beauties made of proper Italian flour. Meat Feast is our regular pick, and you’d get why after a bite of the salami-, prosciutto-, and pepperoni-piled number.
Plant-based diners, meanwhile, often go for the Vegetarian. Its pomodoro sauce brings in sweetness, while the mushrooms and jalapenos add an earthy-fiery side.
Tip: There’s an often unannounced dress code. Call to avoid hassles.
Ecco Pizzeria
– From sam_eatsout
Address: 93 Otley Rd, Headingley
Contact Details: 0113 278 2828
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 5 pm to 10:30 pm
- Sat to Sun – 12 pm to 10:30 pm
Tradition is baked right into Ecco Pizzeria’s catalogue of legit Neapolitan slices (and their beloved gelato). As a bonus, they roll out the house-made offerings, fermented for at least 48 hours, in a woodsy and uncluttered space.
They have lots of options too, but generally, you can expect a soft, elastic base with San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella that’s ever-fresh. You can then jazz things up with simple and locally sourced ingredients, such as ham, seafood, artichokes, mushrooms, and more.
Tip: VIPs get pros like free pizza a month and discounts.
Grumpy’s
– From grumpysleeds
Address: Sunnybank Mills, 2 Old Combing, Farsley
Contact Details: 0113 345 2525
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 12 pm to 10 pm
Dishing out wood-fired pizza in Sunnybank Mills, Grumpy’s is where we rock up for casual get-togethers and authentic slices.
Most of what they plate up is simplicity done best. For instance, Marge (their pizza names are taken from alleged grumpy actresses/actors) is a vegetarian-friendly ensemble of tomato sauce and mozzarella layered over a gluten-free base.
Of course, some have more to offer, primarily Andrew. It has the most ingredients on the resto’s list, though the dominant taste can be summed as Mediterranean-savoury with herby, fishy, and spicy hints.
Tip: Behaved dogs can get in, but make sure to phone the staff first.
Pizza Freak
– From foodbattles44
Address: 372 Kirkstall Rd, Burley
Contact Details: 0113 824 5977
Operating Hours: Tue to Sun – 12 pm to 10 pm
Pizza Freak’s New York- and Detroit-style pizza impressed even our purists.
Talking NY pizza, your options are thin-crusted, slightly charred portions inspired by The Sopranos. Baby Bing (Margherita) is unsurprisingly the best-seller, but we normally go for the ‘kickier’ Stugots for its bold Italian sausages, pepperoni, and pecorino romano.
If we had to pick, though, the cheesier, red and white discs from Detroit are the must-haves. Red Top with cheddar and pecorino romano handles our vegetarians, while Trailer Swift’s BBQ pulled pork trimmings take care of the meat lovers.
Tip: They often roll out cheap slices from 4 pm to 6 pm.
Pizza Pilgrims
– From pizzapilgrims
Address: 16 Boar Ln
Contact Details: 0113 340 4767
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 11:30 am to 10 pm
- Thu to Sat – 11:30 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 11:30 am to 9 pm
You know that Pizza Pilgrims don’t mess around when its owners, Thom and James, flew to the Old Country to learn how to prepare pizza the way the Italians intended.
That’s quite clear from the Smoky Aubergine Parmigiana we ordered. Pecorino Romano balanced the mild earthiness with its sharper, nutty tones, and there were the distinct notes of garlicky oil and smoked mozzarella tying every aspect together.
Tip: Consider enrolling your kiddos in their pizza masterclasses.
CULTO
– From cultoitalian
Address: 97 Stainbeck Rd, Meanwood
Contact Details: 0113 345 4434
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 5 pm to 9:30 pm
- Fri – 5 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
CULTO’s accolades, including their 21st Pizzaiuolo World Championship win in Naples, were more than enough to get us sampling their claimed ‘ancient art of Neapolitan Pizzaiuolo.’ Those stone-baked slices were right on the money.
It only got better when we paid extra for the black, vegetable charcoal bases. Staples such as Margherita and Diavola Piccante came out with a crisper bite and delicate earthiness.
Tip: Learn about the latest drops by following them on Instagram.
Dough Boys
– From doughboysleeds
Address: 1A Cross Belgrave St
Contact Details: 0113 234 6160
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Wed – 12 pm to 11:30 pm
- Thu – 12 pm to 12:30 am
- Fri to Sat -12 pm to 1:30 am
- Sun – 11 am to 11:30 pm
What’s a Leeds pizza roundup without Dough Boys getting some props? For us, Belgrave Music Hall wouldn’t be the same without these slingers of hand-stretched, pay-by-the-slice pizza.
Oh, and ‘pizza’ here means wild takes (in name and execution) on the ageless fave. Take, for instance, What’s the Quack, which throws together mock duck, hoisin sauce, toasted sesame, and pickled cucumber, resulting in a vegan bite that’s far from ordinary.
Tip: Half-price slices are sold from Sundays to Thursdays (until 7 pm) and Fridays to Saturdays (until 5 pm).
Pizza Loco
– From pizzaloco
Address: The Meanwood Tavern, 607 Meanwood Rd, Meanwood
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Fri – 4 pm to 10 pm
- Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 8 pm
Pizza Loco couldn’t care less about Napoli’s stringent rulebooks. As they say, their neo-Neapolitan offerings are for the Leeds crowd.
That’s reflected by one of their best-selling dishes: panouzzi. Based on the Campania sandwich, this bite features pizza dough abundant in mortadella, ham, aromatics, and all sorts of dressings and cheeses, such as hot honey and provolone.
The same creativity extends to their ‘traditional’ 12” pizza. Just give their Boozy Boar a shot and see what you think of spiced-up boar salami coated in gin tomato sauce and Parmesan.
Tip: Opt for a weekday visit for a quieter time.
Bella Italia
– From bellaitaliarestaurants
Address: 145 Briggate
Contact Details: 0113 518 7085
Operating Hours: Daily – 11:30 am to 10 pm
Those not into bonkers pizza creations can count on Bella Italia. You see, this family-friendly Italian spot has a catalogue that’s heavy on the light and airy staples.
The sweeter bit is that students can nab discounted prices from Sundays to Thursdays. It’s usually 30%, which means you can indulge in Margherita or pepperoni without spending nearly £20.
Tip: Every Wednesday, kids eat for a quid!
Poco
– From pocosicilian
Address: 24 Otley Rd, Headingley
Operating Hours: Daily – 10 am to 6 pm
Poco brought authentic Sicilian street food (street food leeds) to Leeds, so it’s our go-to joint for a feed dense in arancini, cannoli, and of course, pizza.
Regarding the latter, it’s all straightforward and affordable. On our last trip, £5.20 got us well-sized rectangular cuts of Margherita and salami pizza.
We had their fried calzone as well. It’s a quid more, but a folded pizza stuffed with ‘nduja or Italian sausages was well worth it.
Tip: Order online if you’re not in the mood to get up.
Trattoria Il Forno
– From trattoriailforno
Address: 85 Town St, Horsforth
Contact Details: 0113 345 0150
Operating Hours:
- Tue to Sat – 12 pm to 10 pm
- Sun – 12 pm to 9 pm
One of the first clues you’re near Trattoria II Fomo is when you catch a salivating aroma of wood-fired pizza straight from the oven.
The menu leans on classics…loads of them. Funghi, pepperoni, or a combination of the two are all available in lone wolf and family sizes, topping out at 20”.
Getting the £14.95 to £15.95 calzones isn’t a shabby deal either. Ingredients-wise, they’re typically more loaded than the pizza options.
Tip: Your order’s toppings can be personalised. Just pay an extra £1.35 or £2.25.
Pizza Punks
– From pizzapunksofficial
Address: The Pinnacle, 37 Bond St
Contact Details: 0113 511 2777
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 10 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11 am to 11 pm
- Sun – 11 am to 10 pm
Pizza Punk is every bit as punk as it claims to be. Their entire schtick is that diners can build their own pizza, which is oddly more non-conformist than the joint’s hard rock playlist.
That said, you’ll get some support. Diners are handed out Caputo flour-based sourdough, fermented for at least two whole days.
Once that’s sorted, you can sauce up your pizza however you fancy, with BBQ, tomato, and crème fraîche as the selections. As for the toppings, well, that’s the hard part, given there are 20-plus greens and protein bits to choose from.
Tip: They’re huge on sales, so always be on the lookout for deals.
Water Lane Boathouse
– From waterlaneboathouse
Address: Canal Wharf, Holbeck
Contact Details: 0113 246 0985
Operating Hours:
- Mon to Thu – 11 am to 11 pm
- Fri to Sat – 11:30 am to 12 am
To us, a breather is all about stuffing our gob with pizza at the by-the-canal Water Lane Boathouse.
The menu here is Neapolitan, old-school, and seasonal, which is hard to fault, especially for those who grew up with their nonnas. The haunt is also within the Leeds station and is roomy enough for board games or prosecco with the gang.
Better yet, even your skintiest mate probably wouldn’t talk smack about the prices. Their Margherita is only £9.95, while the more ‘upscale’ picks such as Diavola and ‘Nduja max out at £12.95.
Tip: There’s a 50% discount on all pizzas every Sunday (from 5 pm to 8 pm).