Best Pizza Places in Plzen: Where to Go for a Proper Slice
Words by
Jakub Prochazka
Best Pizza Places in Plzen: Where to Go for a Proper Slice
Jakub Prochazka here. I have been walking the streets of Plzen since I was old enough to ride a tram, and I have eaten more mediocre pizza than any human should tolerate. That is exactly why I wrote this guide, because Plzen is better than its reputation suggests. This city of 175,000 people, home to Pilsner Urquell and a proud industrial heritage, has slowly but genuinely developed a pizza culture worth talking about. I have personally eaten at every place on this list, some of them dozens of times, and I will tell you what is actually good, what is overrated, and when to show up for the best slice. If you are searching for the best pizza places in Plzen, this guide covers where to sit, what to order, and how to avoid the tourist traps hiding between Radnice and Republiky namesti.
The Historic Center: Pizza Walking Distance from Republiky Namesti
The top pizza restaurants Plzen offers tend to cluster within a ten minute walk of the main square, and this makes sense for a city that still treats its center as the default meeting point. You can do a full pizza crawl from Republiky namesti to Bezručova ulice in about forty minutes on foot, stopping at two or three places along the way. The center is where Plzen's identity lives, where Gothic meets Baroque and where every local still nods to the cathedral spires when walking to lunch. Pizza here is not just food, it is a social ritual that ties back to the city's industrial working class origins, workers who wanted something fast, cheap, and filling after shifts at the Skoda works or the brewery.
1. Pizzerie a restaurace Callaghan
Location: Žižkova 1, Plzeň (Smíchov district, near the western edge of the center)
Callaghan is where you go when you want pizza that respects the basics and does not try to be trendy. I have been coming here since the mid 2010s, and the kitchen has never once sent me a bad margherita. The dough is hand stretched, fermented for at least forty eight hours, and cooked in a wood fired oven that dominates the back wall of the dining room. It is a family run operation, and you can feel that in the way the servers remember their regulars. The restaurant sits on Žižkova, which is the main artery connecting Smíchov to the center, and it is easily reachable by tram lines 1 and 2.
What to Order: The Pizza Prosciutto Crudo with arugula and shaved Parmesan is the standout. The prosciutto is sliced paper thin and draped over the hot pie so it barely cooks, leaving it silky and melting. I always add a drizzle of their house chili oil.
Best Time: Weekday lunch between 11:30 and 13:00 is ideal. The kitchen is calm, the oven is dialed in, and you will get a table without waiting. Friday and Saturday evenings after 19:30 are packed with locals and the wait can stretch past thirty minutes.
The Vibe: Red tablecloths, wood beams, soccer on the television above the bar. It feels like a Czech neighborhood restaurant that happens to make exceptional pizza. The only real downside is the wine list, which is basic, think bulk supermarket bottles. If you care about what you drink with your pizza, bring your own. Some nights they will waive the corkage fee if you ask nicely, which would not happen at a Prague spot of this quality.
The Smíchov and Bory Edge: Where Locals Actually Live
When locals talk about the top pizza restaurants Plzen has in the residential neighborhoods, they point you toward the areas west of the center. Smíchov and Bory are where working families and university students eat, and the competition between pizza spots is fierce. This is also where you find Plzen's genuine multicultural character, Vietnamese and Ukrainian communities have opened businesses here, and some of them run kitchens that have started making pizza with surprising confidence. The Plzen pizza guide I am writing here would be dishonest if I ignored these neighborhoods, because this is where the city actually feeds itself on a Tuesday night, not when tourists are photographing the cathedral.
2. La Casa Trattoria Pilsen
Location: Radčického 10, Plzeň (Bory district, near the Radčického housing estate)
La Casa sits on a quiet residential street in Bory, surrounded by panel housing blocks that most tourists never see. I discovered it by accident years ago when a friend who lived nearby dragged me there after a football match, and I have returned at least once a month since. The owner is Neapolitan trained, and it shows in every detail, from the San Marzano tomato sauce to the fior di latte mozzarella they stretch by hand to order. The oven reaches 450 degrees Celsius, and the pizzas come out in under ninety seconds with the right amount of char on the cornicione.
What to Order: The Diavola is the house favorite, spicy salami with Calabrian chili and no excess grease. If you are not into spicy food, the Buffalina with buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil is restrained and perfect.
Best Time: Tuesday through Thursday evenings between 18:00 and 20:00. Weekends are busy, and the small dining room only seats about thirty people. On a Saturday night you might wait over forty minutes for a table, which is painful when the smell of charred dough is surrounding you.
The Vibe: Small, intimate, with just enough noise to feel alive without shouting. The walls are decorated with Italian movie posters and a single framed photo of the owner in Naples. One genuine complaint: the restroom is tiny and the hallway to it is narrow, so if someone is coming the other way, it becomes an awkward negotiation.
Local Tip: If you are coming by car, park on Radčického itself rather than trying to use the lot behind the restaurant. The back entrance is through a narrow passage that scrapes side mirrors. Every local who has been here more than once knows to park on the street.
3. Pizzerie Mamma Mia Plzeň
Location: Královská 37, Plzeň (near the intersection with Klatovská třída, western entrance to the center)
Mamma Mia sits at a crossroads that most visitors pass without noticing. Klatovská třída is one of Plzen's busiest roads, and Královská feeds into it near the old goods station, a piece of industrial architecture that now houses galleries and small businesses. This pizza place is unpretentious and enormous, with a dining room that can seat over a hundred people, and it has been operating since the early 2000s. It is the kind of place where groups of ten can show up without a reservation and not feel rushed. I have brought visiting friends here many times, and even the pickiest eaters leave satisfied.
What to Order: The Pizza Quattro Formaggi is their best version of a four cheese pie, featuring gorgonzola, fontina, mozzarella, and a generous dusting of pecorino. The crust has a chewiness that I associate with Czech style pizza, slightly thicker than Neapolitan but with good structure.
Best Time: Weekday lunch before 12:30 to beat the office crowd from nearby businesses. After 13:00 the place fills rapidly and service, which is normally efficient, slows considerably. The kitchen falls behind during rush and pizzas can arrive twenty five minutes after ordering, which feels long when you are hungry.
The Vibe: Functional and family friendly, with plastic checked tableclubs and a corner booth that regulars fight over. There is a small play area near the back for children, which makes it popular with young families. Music is low, conversation is loud, and nobody minds if you linger over a second beer.
Bolevak and the University Quarter: Student Budgets, Big Appetites
If you are asking where to eat pizza Plzen recommends to broke university students, Bolevak is the answer. It is the commercial heart of Plzen's university district, anchored by the University of West Bohemia and surrounded by shops, bars, and cheap eats. Pizza places here compete on price and portion size, and the quality varies wildly. I lived in this neighborhood during my studies, and I can tell you exactly which places deliver and which ones serve what I call "fridge pizza," a limp disc of dough with ketchup pretending to be sauce. The area has a young energy that reminds me of Žižkov in Prague, scrappy and a little chaotic, but full of life.
4. Pizzerie Kozlovna Bolevak
Location: Borská 59, Plzeň (Bolevak district, minutes from the University of West Bohemia campus)
Kozlovna is technically a Czech pub that serves pizza, and that sounds like a red flag until you actually eat there. The menu leans heavily on Czech and Central European dishes, but the pizza section has quietly improved over the past few years. They use a deck oven rather than a wood fired one, which produces a thin, crispy base that holds up well under heavy toppings. I go here more for the beer context than the pizza, Pilsner Urquell flows from taps that are cleaned properly, and the pub atmosphere on a Friday evening is hard to beat at these prices.
What to Order: The Classic Salami pizza is the safe bet, paired with a half liter of tap pilsner. If you want to push boundaries, try the pizza with Hermelín, a Czech marinated cheese that melts into something resembling a cross between brie and camembert.
Best Time: Early evening, around 17:00 to 18:30, before the post work crowd arrives. Happy hour runs Monday through Thursday until 18:30 with discounted beer, which is the real reason to time your visit.
The Vibe: Classic Czech pub, wooden benches, beer memorabilia on the walls, and a television permanently tuned to sports. It can get smoky in the old sense, though indoor smoking has been banned for years. The lingering smell is more about decades of absorbed cigarette odor, which some people find atmospheric and others find unpleasant.
Local Tip: Order through the bar staff rather than waiting for a server if you are eating at the bar. The floor staff gets stretched thin during peak hours and bar service moves at double the speed.
5. Pizzerie Trattoria La Strada
Location: Sedláčkova 12, Plzeň (center, between the theater and the Radnice area)
La Strada sits on Sedláčkova, a pedestrian street lined with shops and cafes that connects the eastern side of the center to the theater district. It is named after a Fellini film, which feels appropriate given the slightly theatrical ambiance inside, oversized mirrors, dim lighting, and red leather banquettes. The pizza here is Roman style, thin and cracker crisp, which is a refreshing departure from the Neapolitan popularity sweeping the rest of the city. I have had some of the best margheritas of my life here, and some of the worst. Consistency is not their strong suit.
What to Order: The Margherita DOC if you want to test the kitchen's core competency. When it is good, it is exceptional, fresh buffalo mozzarella, bright tomato sauce, chiffonade of basil. On off nights, the crust goes soggy in the center. I recommend asking the server how the kitchen is running, regulars do this and it works.
Best Time: Lunch hours on weekdays, 11:00 to 14:00, when the kitchen is less pressured. Dinner service after 20:00 on weeknights can be hit or miss. Saturday is their worst night; the kitchen is overwhelmed and quality drops noticeably. I stopped going on weekends two years ago after three consecutive disappointing visits.
The Vibe: Elegant enough for a date night, casual enough for a post theater bite. The playlist leans toward Italian pop and American jazz, which creates a mood. Decline the outdoor tables facing the pedestrian street during summer, the foot traffic noise from groups walking to and from the square makes conversation exhausting.
The Outskirts and Day Trip Spots: Plzen Beyond the Center
No Plzen pizza guide would be complete without venturing past the ring road. The outskirts of Plzen contain some genuinely surprising spots, tucked into shopping centers or attached to hotels, that serve pizza good enough to justify the tram ride. I am including two here, not because they are destination restaurants in themselves, but because they illustrate an important point about eating in Plzen. Quality is not confined to the center. Some of the best food I have had in this city came from places I would never recommend to a tourist for any other reason.
6. Malta Pizzeria
Location: Plzeň Plaza shopping center, corner of Přemyslova and Radčického (eastern entrance, near the main parking garage)
Malta Plzeň operates inside the Plzeň Plaza mall, which sounds like a culinary death sentence until you remember that malls in Plzen are social infrastructure, not just shopping destinations. This location feeds hundreds of people daily, which means the ovens are constantly running and the dough is always fresh. The chain has a standardized menu that would bore a food critic, but the execution is reliable, and the pricing is transparent. I come here when I am in the mall for errands and need a quick, filling lunch that will not disappoint.
What to Order: The Hawaiian pizza is the most popular item on the menu here, and I will admit it is well executed, sweet pineapple balanced with salty ham and a proper tomato base rather than the barbecue sauce some places use.
Best Time: Weekday lunch, 11:30 to 13:30, avoiding the post mall crowd that hits after 16:00 when office workers flood the food court.
The Vibe: Food court seating, fluorescent lighting, the sound of a blender from the smoothie stand next door. Nobody comes here for the atmosphere. What you get is efficient, edible pizza at a fair price, and sometimes that is exactly what you need. The seats near the main aisle get foot traffic noise from shoppers, so pick a corner table near the back wall if you want to eat in peace.
7. Pizzerie a restaurace Le Caveau
Location: Šumavská 36, Plzeň (Lochotín district, east of the center near the tram depot)
Le Caveau sits in Lochotín, a residential district that most visitors never enter. The restaurant takes its name from the French word for cellar, and the interior lives up to it, vaulted brick ceilings, low lighting, and a wine list that goes deeper than most Plzen establishments. The pizza here is wood fired and Neapolitan inspired, with dough fermented for seventy two hours. I discovered this place through a colleague at work whose wife is from Lochotín, and it remains one of my genuine favorites in the city, precisely because nobody talks about it online.
What to Order: The Salsiccia e Friarielli, sausage with rapini and smoked provolone, is the best pizza on the menu and one of the best I have had anywhere in the Czech Republic. It is bold, bitter, salty, and completely different from the safe options that dominate most Plzen menus.
Best Time: Thursday through Saturday evening, starting at 19:00. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays, which is unusual for a Plzen pizza place but reflects the owner's commitment to a work life balance I wish more restaurateurs shared.
The Vibe: Intimate, cellar-like, maybe thirty seats total. A single server handles most of the floor on weeknights, and he knows the menu cold. The wine pairing suggestions are worth following. Be warned, the brick walls and low ceiling amplify sound, so when the room is full, noise levels make conversation genuinely difficult.
Local Tip: Tram line 4 runs directly from the center to a stop two hundred meters from the restaurant. Do not drive. The street parking in Lochotín's residential blocks is almost impossible to find on weekend evenings, and the nearest paid lot is a five minute walk away, which is longer than the tram ride itself.
8. Pizzerie Club 2000
Location: Tyršova 2, Plzeň (center, between the main post office and the savings bank, a five minute walk from Republiky namesti)
Club 2000 is a relic of Plzen's post 1989 dining scene, one of the first private pizzerias to open after the Velvet Revolution, and it has survived every trend since. The interior has not been significantly updated in two decades, wooden paneling and laminate tables, but the pizza is consistent and the prices are lower than anywhere else of comparable quality in the center. I have been eating here since high school, and it remains the default recommendation when someone asks me for a no nonsense pizza at a student friendly price within walking distance of the square. It is not exciting, and it is not trying to be.
What to Order: The Prosciutto e Funghi is the most ordered item on the menu, ham and mushroom on a properly made tomato base. The crust is thinner than what Callaghan or Le Caveau produces, closer to a Czech family restaurant style, but the flavor is solid.
Best Time: Anytime. This place is relentlessly reliable. Lunch, dinner, late night. The kitchen runs until 22:30 on most days, which later than several of the more fashionable spots in the center.
The Vibe: Unchanged since 2005. Faded sports memorabilia, a television showing whatever match is on, servers who have worked here for over a decade. There is a comfort in the predictability, even if the decor screams "waiting for a renovation." Not a single complaint, actually. Some places do not need to be fancy to be satisfying.
How Plzen's Pizza Culture Connects to the City's Identity
Plzen is a beer city. Everyone knows that. Pilsner Urquell was born here in 1842, and the brewery remains the city's most powerful employer and cultural force. But pizza culture in Plzen has grown partly in response to the beer culture, not in opposition to it. Every proper pizzeria in this city takes its beer program seriously, and the best ones understand that a wood fired margherita and a properly poured half liter of Gambrinus or Pilsner Urquell belong together. I have spent years watching this relationship develop, and it tells you something important about Plzen. This is a city that respects tradition but quietly adapts, that imports Italian dough techniques and pairs them with Czech lager without any sense of contradiction.
The historical thread matters here. Plzen's working class identity, forged in the Skoda factories of the nineteenth century, created a food culture built on hearty, affordable meals. Pizza fits that tradition perfectly. When private restaurants opened after 1989, pizza was one of the first international cuisines to take hold, precisely because it matched what Czech diners already wanted, a shared, communal meal at a reasonable price. The best pizza places in Plzen today honor that legacy even as they source Italian flour and imported mozzarella. Callaghan, Le Caveau, La Casa, these restaurants are not imitating Naples. They are translating it through a Plzen lens.
When to Go and What to Know
Cash vs. Card: Every venue on this list accepts card payments, but smaller spots like Club 2000 and Kozlovna sometimes prefer cash during busy periods when card terminals lag. Keep 500 CZK in your wallet as backup.
Tipping Culture: Tipping in Plzen is not obligatory but expected in sit down restaurants. Round up to the nearest ten or twenty crowns, or add ten percent if the service was notably good. Do not tip at food court counters like Plzeň Plaza, the social norm does not require it.
Average Price Range: A standard margherita in Plzen runs between 160 and 240 CZK depending on the restaurant. Loaded or specialty pies run up to 280 CZK. A beer with your pizza adds 45 to 65 CZK for a half liter of quality lager.
Booking Ahead: Only Le Caveau and La Casa genuinely benefit from reservations. The rest operate on a first come, first served basis. On Friday and Saturday evenings, expect a fifteen to thirty minute wait at Callaghan and La Strada.
Language: Most Plzen pizzerias have English menus available, and younger servers speak functional English. At Kozlovna and Club 2000, Czech is the default, so having Google Translate ready is not a bad idea.
Seasonal Patterns: Pizza places in Plzen are at their busiest from mid September through late November, when the beer festival effect is long over but the winter social season kicks in. Summer is quieter, many locals leave the city entirely in July and August. This is when you get the best table and the fastest service.
Getting Around: Plzen's tram network is excellent and covers every neighborhood mentioned in this guide. A twenty minute ride costs 20 CZK. Taxis and rideshare apps are available but rarely necessary for pizza runs. Walking from the center to Bolevak takes about twenty minutes and is pleasant along the river path.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Plzen?
No formal dress code exists at any pizzeria in Plzen. Smart casual is the norm at Le Caveau and La Strada. Jeans and a T shirt are fully acceptable at Callaghan, Kozlovna, and Club 2000. The one etiquette that matters across Czech dining culture is greeting the staff when you enter and saying goodbye when you leave. A simple "dobrý den" when walking in and "na shledanou" when leaving will earn you noticeably warmer service. Seating yourself without waiting for a server to guide you is acceptable at casual spots but considered rude at Le Caveau and La Casa.
What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Plzen is famous for?
Pilsner Urquell, the world's first pale lager, brewed continuously in Plzen since 1842. A visit to the Pilsner Urquell Brewery, located on the eastern edge of the center, includes a tour of the historic underground cellars where you can taste unfiltered lager drawn directly from oak barrels. The experience lasts approximately ninety minutes and costs 240 CZK for adults. For a proper pint, head to any traditional pub in the center and order a "plná," which is a half liter of tap Pilsner. At around 55 to 65 CZK, it is cheaper than most bottled water in Plzen.
Is the tap water in Plzen safe to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?
Tap water in Plzen is completely safe to drink. It is monitored and regulated to EU standards, and locals drink it daily without hesitation. The taste varies by neighborhood due to different sources, with water from the Borský reservoir area having a milder flavor than water from the Klabava source. Restaurants will bring tap water if you ask for "voda z kohoutku." Only ask for bottled water if you specifically prefer it. There is no health reason to avoid the tap.
How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Plzen?
Moderately easy but limited compared to Prague. Almost every pizzeria on this list offers at least one vegetarian pizza, typically a Margherita or a four cheese option. Vegan pizza, with plant based cheese, is available at Callaghan and La Casa upon request, though choices are narrow. Dedicated vegetarian restaurants exist in the center, U Mansfelda and the café inside the Meditation Garden offer fully plant based menus. For a wider range of vegan options, head to the health food store on Klatovská třída, which stocks imported plant based products. Overall, you will not starve as a vegetarian in Plzen, but you will have fewer choices than in a capital city.
Is Plzen expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.
Plzen is significantly cheaper than Prague. A mid tier daily budget for one person, covering meals, drinks, transport, and one attraction, breaks down roughly as follows. Breakfast at a bakery: 80 to 120 CZK. Lunch at a pizzeria with a beer: 220 to 300 CZK. Dinner at a proper restaurant with drinks: 350 to 500 CZK. Attraction entry, brewery tour or museum: 150 to 250 CZK. Local transport for the day: 40 to 60 CZK. Total daily estimate for a comfortable mid tier experience: 840 to 1,230 CZK, which at current exchange rates translates to approximately 35 to 50 EUR or 38 to 55 USD per person per day.
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