On Tuesday the 10th, the results of one of the most eagerly awaited awards in the world of gastronomy, the 50 Top Pizza, came out. Despite the name, the list features the 100 best pizzerias in the world.
The 2024 ranking includes four São Paulo establishments: Leggera Pizza Napoletana, QT Pizza Bar, A Pizza da Mooca and Unica Pizzeria. Of these, only the last was not part of last year’s selection of the best pizzerias in the world, but the positions have changed. So, check out São Paulo’s new podium.
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The world’s best pizzerias in São Paulo
Leggera Pizza Napoletana in 11th place
The big surprise of the night was the comeback of Leggera Pizza Napoletana which, last year, was in 100th place and moved up to 11th. On the same night, the restaurant also received the ‘Mammafiore Award 2024 made in Italy’, part of the 50 Top Pizza.
Last year, it was voted the Best Pizzeria in Latin America. In other words, it’s a place that has been racking up awards throughout its history.
After all, Leggera opened in 2013 and serves typical Neapolitan pizzas. The individual pizzas open by hand and baked in a wood-fired oven with a temperature of 450 degrees have a light dough, natural fermentation and are produced with a blend of Italian flours and tomatoes with a designation of origin from the Mount Vesuvius region in Campania in Naples. In addition, their preparation follows the Napoletana technique recognized as intangible heritage by UNESCO.
Where: Rua Diana, 80 – Perdizes | Rua Capitão Pinto Ferreira, 248 – Jardins
QT Pizza Bar in 38th place
Known for its original creations, the QT Pizza Bar continues to rise in the 50 Top Pizza. After all, for the second year in a row, the São Paulo pizzeria has jumped positions rising from 51st place to 38th. Despite Leggera’s advance, which resulted in it losing the position of best artisan pizzeria in Brazil, the house doesn’t seem to be worried. That’s because founder Matheus Ramos has secured the ‘Pizzaiolo of the Year’ award. In a note, he celebrates:
I receive these awards of Pizzaiolo of the Year and 38th best artisan pizzeria in the world with great joy! Since we opened QT Pizza Bar in 2019, we have invested a lot of time, dedication and willpower to always deliver the best possible dough and toppings, always studying new combinations. It’s very gratifying to see this effort translated into yet another award of this level, the third in almost five years of operation.”
Opened on the eve of the pandemic, QT Pizza Bar offers one-size-fits-all pizzas, made in the Neapolitan style, with naturally fermented dough – they mature for around 48 hours – elastic, high on the edges and thin in the center, and toppings with carefully selected ingredients.
Where: Alameda Ministro Rocha Azevedo, 1096 – Cerqueira César
A Pizza da Mooca in 53rd place
For the third year running, A pizza da Mooca took part in the most important award in the world of pizza. This time, the celebration is even greater, as the restaurant has gone from 85th place to 53rd. In a statement, chef Fellipe Zanuto celebrates and recalls the trajectory:
For us, it’s very important and very good. We’re on the list of the best pizzerias in the world for the third time in a row. When we started in 2011, only we made Neapolitan pizza and now we see the market growing more and more.”
Where: Rua da Mooca,1747 – Mooca | Rua João Moura, 529 – Pinheiros
Unica Pizzeria in 87th place
This year’s newcomer, already featured in last year’s list of the best pizzerias in Latin America. It was therefore to be expected – and celebrated – for entering the main 50 Top Pizza awards.
According to the ranking, “it’s a spectacle to watch the pizzaiolos dance around the electric oven produced in Italy”. In addition, the Italian awards also point out that customers can expect a soft pizza, with a slightly crunchy crust and filled with lots of fresh produce.
Where: Rua Gabriele D’Annunzio, 1254 – Campo Belo
50 Top Pizza around the world
New York’s Una Pizza Napoletana took the podium in 2024. Italy’s 10 Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria and I Masanielli – Francesco Martucci and shared second place in the 50 Top Pizza World; and The Pizza Bar on 38th, in Tokyo, secured third place[/trackLink].
In addition, there are pizzerias from London and Barcelona. The full list can be found on the official website of the “Oscars of Pizza”, but we’ve listed the top 10 below:
1. Una Pizza Napoletana – New York, USA
2. Diego Vitagliano Pizzeria – Naples, Italy
2. I Masanielli – Francesco Martucci – Caserta, Italy
3. The Pizza Bar on 38th – Tokyo, Japan
4. Confine – Milan, Italy
5. Napoli on the Road – London, England
6. Tony’s Pizza Napoletana – San Francisco, USA
7. I Tigli – San Bonifacio, Italy
8. Sartoria Panatieri – Barcelona, Spain
9. 50 Kalò – Naples, Italy
10. Your Pizza Illuminati – Rome, Italy