Pizza is one of the most beloved foods on the planet, but depending on where you travel, you’ll find vastly different takes on this classic dish. From crispy, thin-crust pies in Italy to deep-dish masterpieces in Chicago, every region puts its own spin on pizza. If you’re a traveler who loves discovering new flavors, here’s your guide to pizza styles around the world and where to find them.
🇮🇹 Italy – The Birthplace of Pizza
Neapolitan Pizza (Naples)
🍕 What makes it special?
- Soft, chewy crust with a slightly charred edge
- Made with San Marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and olive oil
- Baked in a wood-fired oven for 90 seconds at ultra-high temperatures
📍 Where to try it: L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele (Naples)
Roman Pizza (Rome)
🍕 What makes it special?
- Pizza al taglio: Rectangular slices, sold by weight, with crispy, airy crusts
- Pizza tonda: A thin, crunchy, round pizza baked in an electric oven
📍 Where to try it: Bonci Pizzarium (Rome)
🇺🇸 United States – Big Slices & Bold Flavors
New York-Style Pizza
🍕 What makes it special?
- Large, foldable slices with a crispy-yet-chewy thin crust
- Simple toppings: tomato sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni are classics
- Best enjoyed with a paper plate on a busy street
📍 Where to try it: Joe’s Pizza (New York City)
Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza
🍕 What makes it special?
- A thick, buttery crust that rises up like a pie
- Layers of cheese, toppings, and chunky tomato sauce
- Takes up to 45 minutes to bake due to its deep, hearty layers
📍 Where to try it: Lou Malnati’s (Chicago)
Detroit-Style Pizza
🍕 What makes it special?
- A rectangular, thick, crispy, and airy crust
- Cheese caramelizes on the edges for a crunchy bite
- Sauce is often ladled on top, not underneath the cheese
📍 Where to try it: Buddy’s Pizza (Detroit)
🇦🇷 Argentina – Fugazzeta: The Cheese Lover’s Dream
🍕 What makes it special?
- Extra-thick, spongy crust, covered in piles of cheese and caramelized onions
- Often served with green olives or oregano for extra flavor
- Popular with a side of fainá, a chickpea flatbread
📍 Where to try it: El Cuartito (Buenos Aires)
🇹🇷 Turkey – Lahmacun: The Turkish Flatbread
🍕 What makes it special?
- Thin, crispy dough topped with minced lamb or beef, tomatoes, and spices
- Often rolled up with fresh herbs and lemon juice before eating
- A light, snackable alternative to heavier pizzas
📍 Where to try it: Halil Lahmacun (Istanbul)
🇯🇵 Japan – Okonomiyaki: The Savory Pancake-Pizza Hybrid
🍕 What makes it special?
- A thick, savory pancake loaded with cabbage, pork, seafood, or cheese
- Drizzled with sweet okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, and seaweed flakes
- Cooked on a griddle and eaten fresh off the hotplate
📍 Where to try it: Mizuno (Osaka)
🇫🇷 France – Tarte Flambée: Alsace’s Pizza Alternative
🍕 What makes it special?
- Thin, crispy flatbread topped with crème fraîche, onions, and bacon
- Has a light, smoky flavor from baking in a wood-fired oven
- A perfect pairing with a glass of Alsace white wine
📍 Where to try it: Flamme & Co (Strasbourg)
🇧🇷 Brazil – Pizza Paulistana: The São Paulo Favorite
🍕 What makes it special?
- Thin-crust pizza with a huge variety of unique toppings
- Cream cheese (catupiry) is a common topping
- Often eaten with a knife and fork instead of hands
📍 Where to try it: Bráz Pizzaria (São Paulo)
🇸🇪 Sweden – Kebab Pizza: A Late-Night Classic
🍕 What makes it special?
- Thin-crust pizza topped with slices of döner kebab meat, garlic sauce, and lettuce
- A mix of Italian and Middle Eastern flavors
- A popular post-night-out meal
📍 Where to try it: Kebab Pizza House (Stockholm)
🇦🇺 Australia – The Barbecue Meat Lover’s Pizza
🍕 What makes it special?
- A classic BBQ sauce base instead of tomato sauce
- Loaded with pepperoni, bacon, ham, and sausage
- Sometimes topped with pineapple for a sweet contrast
📍 Where to try it: Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar (Sydney)
🌍 Final Slice: A World of Pizza Awaits!
No matter where you travel, there’s always a new style of pizza waiting to be discovered. From Naples to New York, Buenos Aires to Tokyo, each country brings its own culture, ingredients, and techniques to the table.
🍕 Which pizza style would you try first?