Where to find the greatest pizza in Miami

What is it? Unlike the rest of New York in Miami at any given time, this Sunset Harbour outpost of the famed Brooklyn-based pizza shop is not a snowbird. Find it in Miami year-round.

Why go? Where most places sell only slices, Lucali is one of the few restaurants to sell NY-style pizza as a big, cheesy pie. Go with friends and order a plain cheese to share. The thin-crust pizza doesn’t need much else, save for extra fresh basil, which you can ask for free of charge.

What is it? Proof that there’s nothing Norman Van Aken can’t do deliciously. At Time Out Market Miami, the James Beard Award winner turns his talents towards pizza. The result is Beach Pie, his first-ever stand-alone pizza place. Expect thin-crust pizzas topped with ingredients you won’t find on any other pie in town.

Why go? For that one-of-a-kind Van Aken creativity. Toppings include Taleggio, vegan cashew cheese and “drunken figs,” which are macerated for hours in port wine.

What is it? This family-owned pizza joint has been doling out square-cut pies since 1955.

Why go? Fans of extra-crispy dough will love Frankie’s half-baked option that lets you finish off your pizza at home. You’ll have to pick it up (the shop still only partners with a handful of third-party delivery services within close range) but you’ll be rewarded with a free slice to go. Yep, every pick-up order comes with a free slice.

What is it? This O.G. of Miami’s brick-oven pizza game is housed in a historical MiMo-era building designed by celebrated modernist architect Robert Law Weed.

Why go? Andiamo is one of Miami’s most unique pizza restaurants thanks to a mostly outdoor dining area that features picnic tables and projection screens, where flicks and sports games are regularly shown.

What is it? This Brickell restaurant sells traditional Neapolitan pizza baked to order in a shiny, wood-fired oven.

Why go? You’re a purist who loves real-deal pizza from Naples. Stanzione 87, previously certified by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana, ships its ingredients straight from Italy and makes its delicious, hand-pulled mozzarella in-house. Delivery is available but strongly discouraged—pizza boxes are no friend to a freshly baked thin-crust pie.

What is it? This tiny pizza window in the back patio at Gramps makes one of the best New York-style pizza in Miami.

Why go? The best decision you’ll make after too many of Gramps’ famous Moscow Mules is a slice from Pizza Tropical. The second? Ordering it topped with sliced mushrooms (they don’t do the canned kind) and fresh basil.

What is it? This chef-driven Italian spot is owned by Klime Kovaceski and his wife Anita. It’s more than a pizza shop, where you can just as easily feast on a slice of pepperoni, tender meatball the size of your head or a heaping bowl of pasta.

Why go? When you tire of wispy pies, try this one: Crust’s crust strikes the ideal balance between thin and crispy and soft and doughy. The thicker base (available as a gluten-free alternative) allows for more toppings; build your own from a list or choose a specialty pie like the bbq chicken or meat layered pizza.

What is it? This Italian pizzeria in Coconut Grove pays tribute to owner Maurizio Farinelli's grandmother and her eponymous pizzeria in Bologna.

Why go? Like most popular restaurants in the neighborhood, Farinelli offers the opportunity to dine outdoors. Take a seat in the shady courtyard and cue up the prosecco, fresh-baked focaccia and any of Farinelli’s signature pizzas—which are cooked in a copper-coated, wood-burning oven that heats up to a fiery 800°F.

What is it? James Beard Award-winning Michael Schwartz’s local pizza chain serves up gourmet-style pies, fresh salads and crave-worthy snacks—from polenta fries and meatballs to chicken wings.

Why go? Even the standard pepperoni gets the chef treatment at Harry’s, featuring chili oil, fontina and arugula instead of the usual meat-and-mozzarella combo. After the Margherita, your options of toppings run the gamut from rock shrimp to short rib to slow-roasted pork.

What is it? Tucked away in Miami’s historic Upper Eastside neighborhood, Ironside Pizza whips up thin-crust, wood-fired pizza and a variety of other classic Italian dishes.

Why go? The industrial space and indoor/outdoor seating make for a cool vibe. Plus, there’s Ironside’s ever-popular BYOB policy, which the restaurant offers at no extra charge despite having a sizeable wine list of its own.

What is it? One of those places locals go absolutely bonkers over. Steve’s isn’t for everyone but it’s got a fierce cult following. It’s a neighborhood joint and as reliable as they come. Until just about 3am every night, you can bet Steve’s has a thick slice with some generous toppings waiting for you.

Why go? Because you’re hungry. If you can finish an entire Steve’s Special (ground beef, onion, green peppers, mushrooms, sausage, pepperoni and anchovies) you’re a hero.

What is it? The classic Margherita from this tiny pizza joint inside a South Beach office building made so much noise it launched Mister-01’s mini-chain of restaurants.

Why go? Whether it’s from SoBe, Brickell and now Wynwood, which touts pizza-making classes, Mister-01’s Italian pies are all made with imported dough. For an epicurean take on America’s favorite stuffed-crust, try Mister-01 Star Luca—a star-shaped pizza with folded points that are filled with San Marzano sauce, ricotta, Calabrese salami and fresh basil.

What is it? No Miami pizza roundup would be complete without a nod to Cuban pizza. Tio Colo’s isn’t the original purveyor but this Hialeah restaurant has perfected the formula—doughy with crispy edges and oozing with mozzarella and Gouda cheese.

Why go? Cuban pizza resembles Detroit-style deep dish, made with a dense dough that’s left out to rise and plump longer. The thick crust is the perfect vehicle for picadillo, sweet plantains and other Latin toppings you’d only find on a pie conceived in Havana.

What is it? Following a four-year hiatus, the landmark pizza joint—a Miami fixture since 1970—reopened across the street from its original location just next door to the University of Miami.

Why go? Nostalgia, but also good-tasting cheap pizza. Miami’s Best delivers on its name, serving simple, New York-style slices and oversize hand-tossed pies. In case you’re wondering, the new location uses the same ingredients and features the original oven.

What is it? NYC’s favorite drunk food is now South Beach’s. Find Artichoke’s pizza window inside Ricky’s, the neon-lit bar known for its arcade games and extended daily happy hour.

Why go? Unlike New York, this Artichoke has plenty of tables and chairs for your late-night feasting. First-timers tend to go for the spot’s namesake slice—artichoke hearts, spinach, cream sauce—but regulars know to stick to the Sicilian, a twice-baked square slice that’s lighter and crispier.

What is it? The Miami outpost of this Florence pizzeria serves up authentic Neapolitan pies, which are made fresh to order and baked crispy in the open kitchen’s large brick oven.

Why go? ‘O Munaciello is one of the restaurants in the city to offer carbon-style pizza that’s made with a charcoal-infused dough, which supposedly aids in digestion. Slightly charred and packed with flavor, this pizza tastes good and is easier on the stomach than others.

What is it? Small and cramped, Pizza Rustica’s standing-room-only space doesn’t deter hungry night owls from refueling on Tuscan-style pizzas. This spot opens early and stays open late.

Why go? Square slices of thin crust, deep dish and a smattering of other pizza styles, which you’ll find topped both simply and extravagantly—from meatball to rosemary potato and goat cheese. One slice is a meal. Watching your carbs? Mind your diet with the $8 build-your-own salad, which comes with a generous sample of the slice du jour.

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