Top 5 Pizza Spots in Brighton

Brighton is famed for its rock and fish & chips, but would you think of it as the hub of authentic Italian pizza? You will now, because Culture Calling’s dishing up our Top 5 pizza spots to be found in our favourite city by the sea. Here they come!

A close-up shot of a pizza baking inside a traditional brick wood-fired oven. The interior of the oven glows with the orange light of burning embers and flames, which are visible on the left side. The pizza has various toppings and is partially cooked.

Donatello

Street view of a charming Italian restaurant with red shutters and flowers on the windowsills. People are seated at outdoor tables under a striped awning with Donatello written on it. Italian flags and colorful bunting decorate the building.
RestaurantsBrighton.co.uk

1-3 Brighton Place, Brighton BN1 1HJ

Chow down on a slice from one of Brighton’s culinary success stories; when Sardinian-born Pietro Addis bought Donatello (first called Pinocchio), the building was close to derelict. Now it has expanded across three sites and pioneered al fresco dining in Brighton - all thanks to tip-top Italian food. If you fancy a pizza, you can pick between their 21 different topping options, all made from fresh ingredients.

Plus, if one course just isn’t enough, pizzas are a staple of their set menu (top tip: their tiramisu is really something special!)


Pizzaface

Five different pizzas with various toppings are arranged in a circle on a wooden surface. Toppings include vegetables, pepperoni, and cheese. Fresh peppers and a small bottle of hot sauce are placed among the pizzas, adding color and a rustic feel to the scene.
UberEats.com

3 locations in Hove, Kempton and Worthing; click here for more information

“It’s hard to find a good pizza. But a good pizza isn’t hard to do.”

This has been the mantra at Pizzaface since its birth in 2009, and it has paid off - Pizzaface won Best Pizza in the UK at the 2019  Casual Dining Magazine Pizza Awards. Now it’s one of Brighton’s most talked-about pizza spots, equiped with fresh veg, the best quality meat and top-notch Sardinian ‘oo’ flour.

They have 3 locations throughout the Brighton area, and with vegan and gluten-free (spelt base) options added to the menu, you have no reason not to get all up in Pizzaface - especially since they’ve recently teamed up with Boho Gelato to scoop up some game-changing ice creams and sorbets!


Pizza VIP

A lively Italian deli with various breads, pasta, and cheeses displayed. Pizzas are showcased under hanging lights. Strings of garlic, chili peppers, and dried herbs hang from the ceiling. There is a rustic, cozy atmosphere with a poster of a woman in the background.
PizzaVIP.co.uk

3 locations in central Brighton, Saltdean and Shelter Hall; click here for more information

The VIP stands for Very Italian Pizza - this family-run business was established in Naples all the way back in 1845, and is still delivering the goods five generations later! Their homemade sourdough recipe, traditional wood-burning technique, and high quality ingredients sourced from their farm in Naples (where they’ve produced dairy products for over 100 years) serve as the ultimate triple-threat in the hearts of Brighton and Saltdean.

Not feeling like straight-up, traditional pizza? Worry not, as there’s something for the vegetarians, vegans, those who go gluten-free, plus those who only want to stock up on some Italian cheese, pasta, tomatoes, wine and salami.


Fatto a Mano

A lively outdoor patio of Fatto a Mano Pizzeria with blue and white striped awnings. Customers are seated at tables, enjoying meals and conversations. The interior is visible, showing more diners and staff members. The atmosphere appears warm and bustling.
FattoAManoPizza.com

3 locations in North Laine, Preston Circus and Church Road; click here for more information

What’s in a name?

Everything.

No, it doesn’t translate to “fat man”, but simply “made by hand”. Fatto a Mano’s famously soft and pillowy pies are achieved through their handmade dough being proved on site for 24 hours to ensure lightness and digestibility, making it one of the most sought-after slices outside of Naples.


Al Duomo

A table set for a meal with two pizzas, each topped with fresh basil, tomatoes, red onions, black olives, and artichokes. A bowl of mixed olives, a glass of red drink with an orange slice, and a lime and mint drink are nearby along with red napkins and utensils.
RestaurantsBrighton.co.uk

 7 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton BN1 1EE

Al Duomo has been in business since 1979 and, just like the Pavilion, the city’s longest serving Italian restaurant is a Brighton institution (it was actually named after the famous dome over the India Entrance to the Royal Pavilion Gardens). 

The original restaurant featured Brighton’s first wood-fired pizza oven, and they still cook their pizzas using this traditional method today under the new management of head chef Ercole Cappai, operating from an expanded kitchen - this place remains the place to go for some of the best pizza in Brighton. All of their stonebaked, wood-fired sourdough pizzas can be made with vegan ‘mozzarella’ style cheese, and there are plenty of gluten-free options too. 

Think a simple sauce over freshlyly made ingredients - the authentic Italian way.