After you’ve strolled through Jack London Square, admired the murals in Uptown, and browsed the Temescal farmers’ market, turn your attention to Oakland’s pizza scene. This city is blessed. Whether you’re craving a Neapolitan masterpiece, a slice from a legendary pizzeria, or a creative wood-fired pie in a bustling neighborhood spot.
Red Boy Pizza Redwood Road
$ | (510) 531-3330 | WEBSITE
So much about Red Boy is about substance. Pesto bases destined for comfort food lovers. Amazing spinach salads served in generous, satisfying bowls. Garlic bread that’s a simple pleasure Instagram post waiting to happen. But for a meal at this pizza spot that’s about substance, quality, and genuinely worth the price, you should grab a booth with a slice in one hand and the unmissable fabulous bread in the other.
Namaste Pizza
$$ | (510) 601-1100 | WEBSITE
Namaste Pizza is somewhere you’ll want to become a regular. If only to sit beside the group of 20-somethings who gather at this Indian-inspired pizza spot, as they chat, and call out towards the counter, gesturing for more garlic sauce and butter chicken pizza. In the evening, drop by for a half and half pizza, a bowl of comforting, reasonably priced Spicy Bread, and a couple of beers.
You won’t be eating Oakland’s best pizza by any means, but Namaste Pizza replicates the joy of discovering a unique fusion spot with good vibes.
Citizen Pizza
$$ | WEBSITE
Everything about Citizen Pizza feels special. You approach through a bustling food-stand setup, via a wonderfully efficient buzzer system, before getting into the simple, focused space. It takes you somewhere special—a compact, artisanal spot that could fit a family of pizza enthusiasts. The straightforward counter is covered in flour dust and the entire place feels like it’s solely lit by the glow of the pizza oven.
The Neapolitan-style pies are perfect enough, and the Margherita is always a delight, but in this gorgeous space, what’s on your plate truly matters—the thin, crispy crust, the standout vegan pepperoni, the wonderful flavor that makes you want to savor every last bite of offerings like the sausage pie or shishito peppers.
Pizza Guys
$$ | (510) 533-2222 | WEBSITE
Pizza Guys manages to be a top-notch neighborhood pizza joint, family-friendly dining spot, and value destination all rolled into one. Swing by for lunch for their $15 lunch special: a personal pizza and a soda, or two slices and a salad. Come evening, pull up a booth and share a large pepperoni pizza and garlic knots under the warm glow of string lights.
Mountain Mike’s Pizza
$ | (510) 268-8226 | WEBSITE
We don’t use this word lightly, but whoever first perfected the pepperoni pizza was a genius. A champion of crispy crust. A messiah of melted cheese. And if you’re looking for proper pizza in Oakland, Mountain Mike’s is a great bet. This isn’t the kind of sad slice shop that’ll leave you questioning exactly how many hours, minutes, and seconds there are until your next meal.
This is a place for classic pepperoni with those perfect mini curly pepperonis and piles of fresh ingredients (ask for lots and lots of that balanced sauce) inside a family-friendly space.
June’s Pizza
$$ | (415) 930-0502 | WEBSITE
June’s Pizza is a fun, friendly spot with great music and a curated space that serves some of the best pizza in town. It isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it. Just know that this place features a wood-burning oven that makes excellent pizza dough. It’s wonderfully chill, which helps explain why customers are so eagerly awaiting its return after the 2021 closure.
Everything is prepared with care in that oven, and you’ll savor a fresh, delicious margherita pizza with grated cheese on top while the very friendly staff chats with guests and keeps the atmosphere lively.
Pizza City
$$ | (510) 533-8000 | WEBSITE
Pizza City, Oakland’s hidden pizza gem, takes the city’s casual dining scene and asks, ‘is that all you’ve got?’. In fact, you’ll be hard pressed to find somewhere more consistently delicious or serving better pizza than this tucked-away spot. Just know that you can get down and cheesy with a perfect crust, generous toppings, and that recommended Hawaiian-style pizza, plus a side of understanding and polite service for luck, and get a bill that’s smaller than you expected it to be.
And although you can sometimes find parking, Pizza City is generally a restaurant you need to be strategic with. Basically, you need to navigate.
Marzano
$$ | (510) 479-1448 | WEBSITE
At Marzano, a slice of their excellent pizza is essential. It’s there to hold the fresh, flavorful toppings, it’s there to soak up the sauce from your pasta dish, and then it’s still there to satisfy when you’re craving something hot and satisfying. Coming to this Italian restaurant is like entering the home of someone who loves hosting big gatherings, lives for Friday night celebrations, and is into good music—in a lively, fun way that makes everyone feel welcome.
Cybelle’s Pizza Montclair
$ | (510) 339-9408 | WEBSITE
Cybelle’s Pizza is a cozy and nostalgic spot serving solid pies you could happily eat for days. Think, standout pepperoni or fresh mushroom pizza, slices from a medium pie, and simple, delicious flavors. Larger pizzas, like the family-sized large, are perfect for quick takeout or casual meals at home. This pizza shop is friendly—old-fashioned soda machine, metered parking outside, views of the efficient staff—but it has a lot of heart as well as flavor.
Sliver Pizzeria
$ | (510) 842-3674 | WEBSITE
Eating at Sliver Pizzeria feels like being inside a very cozy neighborhood spot during lunch rush. Sunlight streams through the windows onto the booth seating, gelato bar glistens with colorful scoops, and you get the sense that a well-loved kitchen has been working hard for hours—like crispy, thin-crust pizza with excellent cheese, loaded waffle fries with just the right seasoning, and fresh salads made on the spot with sharp cheese.
The Oakland joint sticks to the tried and true pizza formula of the popular Pizza of the Day with lovely bits. While the menu isn’t overly inventive, the experience feels very satisfying.
Carbona Pizza
$ | (510) 866-2634 | WEBSITE
Five or ten years back, you might’ve been content with a basic pepperoni slice from a corner joint in Oakland. These days, you’ll likely struggle deciding between the Thick Pepperoni or the Thick Mahalo for your dinner. This city has evolved from a pizza desert to a pie paradise. Evenings should begin at Carbona Pizza. It’s one of the top pizza spots in the area, and definitely worth a trip for their crispy crusts and fresh-ingredient pies.
Despite occasional hiccups, they consistently deliver tasty pizzas and convenient pickup options.
Mama’s Boy
$ | (510) 400-5404 | WEBSITE
The steady, cheerful buzz that fills this Oakland pizza spot—of friends laughing, slices being pulled from trays, and the satisfying crunch of thin crust—is one of pure and simple satisfaction. There’s an overall quality that’s tasted in every perfect bite of the Burrata slice, and from every shareable piece of the daily special. Come for a quick casual date or to split a hearty pie with a friend.
Fist of Flour Doughjo
$$ | (510) 531-6367 | WEBSITE
Fist of Flour Doughjo was one of the first to bring mobile wood-fired pizza to East Oakland, and still today, their consistently delicious pies will take you on a flavor journey, combining quality toppings—like roasted garlic bits and fresh basil—with the bubbly, thin crust they’ve perfected. The pizza spot feels like you’re at a casual gathering with your friends—the friends who can appreciate a well-made pie without pretense. Come to Fist of Flour Doughjo with those people.
Owner James adds to the vibe with his personable demeanor and that fun ‘pizza crack’ seasoning, making each visit feel like catching up over something genuinely good. The Classico and Salciccia e Funghi are standouts, ready in about 15 minutes, and while it’s not fancy, it’s the kind of place where the pizza is just smackin’ and worth returning for.
Amazona’s Pizza
$ | (510) 625-1233 | WEBSITE
At some point—between grabbing a $3 lunch slice and watching your New York style pizza emerge fresh from the oven—you’ll think, ‘yes this place gets it’. Amazona’s Pizza is an Oakland-via-New York joint, full of clean classy booths, comfortable family-friendly seating, and a dangerously inviting all-day pizza counter. We’d recommend getting the cheese pizza, a plate of buffalo chicken wings, and maybe a Caesar salad on your table as well.
Dimond Slice Pizza
$ | (510) 842-8773 | WEBSITE
Dimond Slice Pizza is one of our top-rated spots for a reason. This is an all-day, all-night, and all seasons pizza joint and sanctuary. Set aside the evening, settle into the casual dining area and fill up on vegetarian pizza with that fantastic slightly spicy green sauce, the dairy-free potato and corn creation, and a couple of fresh seasonal specials.
On weekdays you’ll find regulars, as well as the generous and humorous staff, using the welcoming space as a place for community, laughter, and soothing slices doused in that signature sauce. Join them.
