Best Pizza in Ottawa

Ottawa's pizza scene has evolved dramatically over the past decade. Neapolitan arrived around 2015, creative craft pizza exploded in 2020, and NY-style gained serious momentum. Today the city offers world-class examples of virtually every style. Here are 5 pizzerias worth knowing.

1. Farinella — The Neapolitan One

Farinella is Ottawa's destination for authentic Neapolitan pizza. Run by siblings Nina and Cesare Agostini, the restaurant opened in 2019 and quickly became a local favourite.

The signature move is pizza by the meter — order as much as you want, measured on a long wooden board. The dough is hand-stretched daily, the mozzarella is fresh, and the gelato is made in-house.

What to order: Margherita, pizza al metro, pistachio gelato.

Good to know: Mon-Fri 8am-10pm, Sat 8am-11pm. Closed Sundays. Three locations including Little Italy and Kanata.

Neighbourhood: Little Italy / Rochester Street

2. Heartbreakers — The New York One

Heartbreakers brings authentic New York-style pizza to Ottawa. The crust is thin, foldable, and perfectly charred. They use organic stone-milled flour and fresh local ingredients.

The natural wine list is thoughtfully curated. One of the few spots open until 2am on weekends — late-night pizza done right.

What to order: Classic slice, pepperoni, a bottle of natural wine to go.

Good to know: Phone lines open at 2:30pm for same-day orders. Late nights Fri-Sat. Two locations.

Neighbourhood: Parkdale / Wellington West

3. Pizza Nerds — The Creative One

Pizza Nerds hit the scene in 2020 and built a cult following with creative, globally-influenced toppings and multi-day fermented dough. The pizzas are named after Ottawa streets — Maclaren, Lyon, Arlington.

They take pizza seriously without taking themselves too seriously. Vegan cheese and gluten-free crust available.

What to order: The Maclaren, seasonal specials, whatever's new.

Good to know: Two locations (Centretown and Sunnyside). Delivery available.

Neighbourhood: Centretown (Bank Street)

4. Anthony's Pizza — The Wood-Fired One

Anthony's is Ottawa's original Pizza Napoletana. The pizza is baked in a hand-built stone oven, fired by local hardwoods. Old world techniques, no shortcuts.

Featured on Food Network's Top 12 Pizzerias Across Canada, Anthony's has been a Wellington West institution for years.

What to order: Margherita DOC, Diavola, daily special.

Good to know: Sun-Wed 11:30am-9pm, Thu-Sat until 10pm. Reservations on OpenTable.

Neighbourhood: Wellington West / Hintonburg

5. Colonnade Pizza — The Ottawa Classic

Colonnade Pizza is an institution. Established in 1967, it's the standard-bearer for Ottawa-style pizza — thin crust, diverse toppings, no-frills.

Generations of Ottawa families have grown up with Colonnade. Five locations now serve the city, but downtown Metcalfe Street remains the flagship.

What to order: The Colonnade Special, pepperoni, half & half.

Good to know: Daily 11am-9pm. Delivery from all locations.

Neighbourhood: Downtown (Metcalfe Street)

The Quick Comparison

Pizzeria	Style	Best For	Price
Farinella	Neapolitan	Authentic Italian, gelato	$$
Heartbreakers	New York	Late-night slices, natural wine	$$
Pizza Nerds	Creative	Unique toppings, vegan options	$$
Anthony's Pizza	Wood-Fired	Classic Napoletana, date night	$$
Colonnade Pizza	Ottawa Classic	Family dinner, nostalgia	$$

Pizza Styles in Ottawa

Neapolitan — Soft, charred, minimal toppings. Farinella, Anthony's.
New York — Thin, foldable, by the slice. Heartbreakers.
Ottawa-Style — Thin crust, diverse toppings, local classic. Colonnade.
Creative — Chef-driven, seasonal, interesting combos. Pizza Nerds.

Tips

For a date night — Anthony's or Farinella. Book ahead.
For late-night — Heartbreakers is open until 2am on weekends.
For groups — Pizza Nerds Centretown can accommodate large parties.
For families — Colonnade has five locations and delivery.
For something different — Pizza Nerds rotates creative specials regularly.
For gelato too — Farinella makes it in-house.

FAQ

What is the best pizza in Ottawa?

Top pizzerias include Farinella (authentic Neapolitan with pizza by the meter), Heartbreakers (New York-style slices open until 2am), Pizza Nerds (creative toppings, multi-day fermented dough), Anthony's Pizza (wood-fired Napoletana, Food Network featured), and Colonnade Pizza (Ottawa classic since 1967).

Where can I find Neapolitan pizza in Ottawa?

Farinella on Rochester Street in Little Italy serves authentic Neapolitan pizza. Run by siblings Nina and Cesare Agostini, they offer pizza by the meter and make gelato in-house. Three locations including Little Italy and Kanata. Anthony's Pizza in Wellington West also serves traditional Pizza Napoletana cooked in a hand-built stone oven.

Where can I get late-night pizza in Ottawa?

Heartbreakers on Parkdale Avenue is open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, serving authentic New York-style slices with thin, foldable, perfectly charred crust. Phone lines open at 2:30pm for same-day orders. Two locations available.

What is Ottawa's oldest pizzeria?

Colonnade Pizza has been an Ottawa institution since 1967. It's the standard-bearer for Ottawa-style pizza with thin crust and diverse toppings. The downtown Metcalfe Street location remains the flagship, with five locations now serving the city.

Where can I find vegan pizza in Ottawa?

Pizza Nerds offers vegan cheese and gluten-free crust options. They have two locations in Centretown (Bank Street) and Sunnyside, featuring creative, globally-influenced toppings on multi-day fermented dough.