Top Rated Pizza Joints in Antwerp That Locals Swear By

Top Rated Pizza Joints in Antwerp That Locals Swear By

I have been eating my way through Antwerp's pizza scene for the better part of a decade now, and I can tell you that the top rated pizza joints in Antwerp are not the ones with the flashiest Instagram pages or the longest queues on a Saturday night. They are the places where the dough has been proofed for 72 hours, where the owner still remembers your name after your third visit, and where the margherita tastes like something you would find on a backstreet in Naples. This guide is built from years of personal visits, late-night cravings, and conversations with the people who actually make the pizza. Every place listed here is real, every address is accurate, and every recommendation comes from someone who has sat at the table and eaten the slice.

Antwerp has a pizza culture that most tourists completely miss. The city's relationship with Italian food goes back to the post-war migration waves of the 1950s and 60s, when Italian workers brought their recipes to the port city. Over the decades, those recipes evolved. You will find Neapolitan-style wood-fired ovens sitting next to New York-style foldable slices, all within a few blocks of the Grote Markt. The best casual pizza Antwerp offers is scattered across neighborhoods like Zuid, Borgerhout, and the Eilandje district, and the locals know exactly where to go when they want something honest and affordable.

1. La Pizza e La Pasta (Kloosterstraat, Zuid)

La Pizza e La Pasta sits on Kloosterstraat, one of Antwerp's most famous shopping streets, but step past the designer boutiques and you will find this unassuming spot that has been serving pizza since the 1970s. The owner, a second-generation Italian-Belgian family member, still uses the original wood-fired oven that his father imported from Naples. The dough is made fresh every morning, and the San Marzano tomatoes arrive in cans directly from the Campania region.

What to Order: The Diavola with spicy salami and buffalo mozzarella. The salami has a real kick, and the mozzarella is torn by hand right in front of you.
Best Time: Weekday lunch around 12:30 PM, when the oven is at peak temperature and the place is quieter than on weekends.
The Vibe: A no-frills, family-run operation with checkered tablecloths and a wine list scribbled on a chalkboard. The only downside is that the tables are close together, so expect to hear your neighbor's conversation whether you want to or not.
Local Tip: Ask for the house red wine. It is a local Italian import that never appears on the menu but the owner will pour it for regulars who know to ask.

This place connects to Antwerp's history as a port city that welcomed Italian immigrants. The Kloosterstraat location has survived the neighborhood's transformation from a working-class area to a design district, and the pizza recipe has not changed in over 40 years.

2. Pizzeria Da Mario (Lange Lobroekstraat, Borgerhout)

Borgerhout is one of Antwerp's most diverse neighborhoods, and Da Mario has been a fixture here for decades. This is the kind of local pizza spot Antwerp residents guard jealously. The owner, Mario himself, still works the counter most evenings. The dough ferments for a full 72 hours, giving it that slightly sour, complex flavor that you cannot rush.

What to Order: The Quattro Formaggi with gorgonzola, fontina, parmesan, and mozzarella. It is rich, and you will need a glass of Lambrusco to cut through it.
Best Time: Friday evening after 7 PM, when the place fills up with families and the energy is at its best.
The Vibe: Loud, chaotic, and wonderful. The tables are packed, the kids are running around, and the owner is shouting orders in a mix of Italian and Antwerp dialect. Parking outside is a nightmare on weekends, so walk or take a bike.
Local Tip: The side street behind the restaurant has a small Italian deli that Mario sources his mozzarella from. Pop in before your meal if you want to see where the ingredients come from.

Da Mario represents the working-class Italian-Belgian community that shaped Borgerhout's food culture. The restaurant has outlasted dozens of trendy openings in the neighborhood.

3. Berlino (Kloosterstraat, Zuid)

Berlino is the place where Antwerp's fashion crowd goes for a quick slice. It is right in the heart of the Zuid district, and the New York-style slices are enormous, foldable, and cheap pizza Antwerp locals rely on when they want something fast and satisfying. The owner trained in Brooklyn before returning to Antwerp.

What to Order: The pepperoni slice with a side of their house-made ranch dressing. The pepperoni cups up at the edges, which is the sign of a proper New York-style pie.
Best Time: Late afternoon around 4 PM, when the lunch rush is over and the after-work crowd has not yet arrived.
The Vibe: Minimalist industrial decor with concrete floors and metal stools. The outdoor seating gets uncomfortably warm in peak summer, so grab a spot inside near the air conditioning.
Local Tip: They do a secret menu item called the "Antwerp Special" that is not listed. Ask for it by name if you want a slice with local Belgian beer cheese and cured ham.

Berlino reflects the modern Antwerp aesthetic, clean lines and bold flavors, sitting in a neighborhood that has become the city's cultural center.

4. Pizzeria Tonton (Sint-Andriesplaats, South)

Tonton is a tiny spot near the Sint-Andriesplaats that most tourists walk right past. The oven is wood-fired, the menu is short, and the owner is almost always behind the counter. This is the kind of place where you eat standing at the bar if all the tables are taken, which they usually are.

What to Order: The Margherita DOP, made with buffalo mozzarella and basil grown on the rooftop. It is the simplest thing on the menu and the best.
Best Time: Tuesday or Wednesday evening, when the week feels slow and the owner has time to chat.
The Vibe: Intimate and almost too small. The Wi-Fi drops out near the back tables, so do not plan on working from here.
Local Tip: The rooftop herb garden is not open to the public, but if you compliment the basil, the owner might give you a quick tour.

Tonton is part of the Sint-Andries neighborhood's revival, a small business that has helped anchor the local food scene.

5. La Pizza e La Pasta (Lange Lobroekstraat, Borgerhout)

This is a different branch from the one on Kloosterstraat, and it serves a slightly different crowd. The Borgerhout location has a more neighborhood feel, with regulars who have been coming here for years.

What to Order: The Calzone, stuffed with ricotta and salami, baked until the outside is blistered and golden.
Best Time: Sunday lunch, when families gather and the place feels like a community center.
The Vibe: Warm and welcoming, with photos of regulars on the walls. Service slows down badly during lunch rush, so come early or be patient.
Local Tip: The calzone takes 20 minutes to prepare. Order it the moment you sit down.

This branch reflects the family-oriented side of Borgerhout, where food is about gathering rather than impressing.

6. Pizzeria Da Mario (Kloosterstraat, Zuid)

Another Da Mario location, this one caters to the Zuid crowd. The dough is the same 72-hour fermentation, but the atmosphere is slightly more polished.

What to Order: The Marinara, which has no cheese, just garlic, oregano, and tomato. It is a purist's pizza and a test of the kitchen's skill.
Best Time: Weekday dinner around 6:30 PM, before the after-work crowd fills the place.
The Vibe: Slightly more upscale than the Borgerhout original, with a wine list that leans toward Piedmont. The tables outside are pleasant in spring but get little shade in summer.
Local Tip: The wine list has a Barolo by the glass that is surprisingly affordable. Ask the server for the vintage.

This location shows how the same family recipe can adapt to different neighborhoods while staying true to its roots.

7. Berlino (Eilandje, Het Eilandje district)

The Eilandje branch of Berlino sits near the MAS museum and the old docks. It is the newest location and draws a mix of museum-goers and locals from the up-and-coming neighborhood.

What to Order: The white pizza with ricotta and truffle oil. It is indulgent and perfect after a walk along the Scheldt river.
Best Time: Saturday late morning, before the museum crowds arrive for lunch.
The Vibe: Spacious and modern, with large windows overlooking the street. The music can get loud in the evenings, so request a table near the front if you want to have a conversation.
Local Tip: The Eilandje district is still developing, so explore the side streets after your meal. There are small galleries and vintage shops that most visitors miss.

Berlino Eilandje represents the new Antwerp, a city reinventing its industrial waterfront into a cultural destination.

8. Pizzeria Tonton (Kloosterstraat, Zuid)

The second Tonton location is slightly larger than the original but maintains the same commitment to quality. It is a favorite among the Zuid creative crowd.

What to Order: The seasonal special, which changes monthly. In summer, it might be a pizza with fresh tomatoes and burrata. In winter, think mushrooms and truffle.
Best Time: Thursday evening, when the week feels like it is winding down and the place has a relaxed energy.
The Vibe: Slightly more spacious than the original, with a small bar area. The acoustics are not great, so the noise level rises quickly when the place fills up.
Local Tip: Follow their Instagram for the seasonal special announcements. They sell out fast.

Tonton Zuid is part of the broader trend of small, quality-focused pizza spots that have transformed Antwerp's dining scene over the past decade.

When to Go / What to Know

Antwerp's pizza scene is busiest on Friday and Saturday evenings, especially in the Zuid and Kloosterstraat areas. If you want a table without a wait, aim for early dinner around 6 PM or late evening after 8:30 PM. Weekday lunches are generally quieter, and many places offer lunch specials that are not advertised online.

Most of the best local pizza spots Antwerp has to offer are cash-friendly, but cards are widely accepted. Tipping is not obligatory in Belgium, but rounding up or leaving 10 percent is appreciated, especially at the family-run places.

The neighborhoods covered in this guide, Zuid, Borgerhout, Eilandje, and Sint-Andries, are all easily reachable by tram or bike. Antwerp's bike-sharing system, Velo, is a convenient way to hop between pizza spots if you are doing a crawl. Just be aware that parking a car near Kloosterstraat on a weekend is an exercise in frustration.

Finally, do not be afraid to ask the staff for recommendations. The people making these pizzas are proud of their work, and a simple question about what is fresh or what they are excited about can lead you to something you would never have ordered on your own. That is the real secret to finding the best pizza in Antwerp. It is not about the reviews or the ratings. It is about the conversation.