Top Rated Pizza Joints in Iquitos That Locals Swear By

Finding the Best Casual Pizza Iquitos Has to Offer

I have lived in Iquitos long enough to know that when the humidity hits a certain point and the afternoon rain starts drumming on corrugated roofs, nothing fixes a rough day like a hot slice. The top rated pizza joints in Iquitos are not fancy. They are loud, often cramped, and run by people who have been pulling dough for decades. You will find them on corners you would walk right past if someone did not point them out. This is a city built on the rubber boom, river trade, and a stubborn refusal to let isolation kill good food culture. Pizza here arrived through Italian and Brazilian influences during the mid-20th century, then got swallowed into the local palate until it became something entirely its own. I am going to walk you through the local pizza spots Iquitos residents actually argue about, not the ones that show up first on a generic search.

1. Pizzeria La Italiana (Jr. Napo, between Putumayo and Arica)

La Italiana sits on Jr. Napo in the center, a few blocks from the Plaza de Armas, and it has been feeding families here since before I moved to the city. The owner, a second-generation Italian-Peruvian, still uses a wood-fired oven that he built himself in the back. The crust is thin, slightly charred at the edges, and has a chew that tells you the dough rested for at least 24 hours. I always order the pizza hawaiana with extra jalapeño, which sounds wrong until you taste how the sweetness of the pineapple fights the heat in a tropical climate. The margherita is solid too, but the mozzarella they use is a local queso fresco that melts differently than what you would get in Lima, so expect a slightly grainier texture.

What to Order: Pizza hawaiana with jalapeño, or the quattro formaggi if you want something heavier.
Best Time: Weekday evenings around 7:30 PM, before the after-work crowd fills every table.
The Vibe: Plastic chairs, soccer on a small TV, and a kitchen you can watch from your seat. The air conditioning unit in the back corner has been broken for at least two summers, so the far-right tables get uncomfortably warm after 8 PM.

Local Tip: Ask for the house aji sauce on the side. It is a green chili blend the family makes in batches and does not appear on the menu. If you are friendly, they will bring it out without charge.

2. Pizza Burger (Av. Abancay, near the intersection with Jr. Grau)

Pizza Burger is not a burger place, which confuses every tourist who walks in expecting a hamburger. The name comes from the original owner in the 1980s who sold both burgers and pizza until the pizza took over completely. It is on Av. Abancay, close to the market area, and it stays open past midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The slices here are huge, almost comically large, and they sell them by the quarter or half. I usually get a quarter of the pizza de champiñones with a cold Inca Kola. The mushrooms are canned, not fresh, but they are sautéed with enough garlic and local cumin that you stop caring.

What to Order: Quarter pizza de champiñones, or the pizzaamericana if you like olives and ham.
Best Time: Late night on weekends, around 11 PM, when the place fills with people coming out of the nearby bars.
The Vibe: Fluorescent lighting, tile floors that are always slightly sticky, and a counter where you order and pay before sitting. The service slows down badly during the Friday midnight rush, so do not come here if you are in a hurry.

Local Tip: There is a back entrance through the alley on Jr. Grau that most people do not know about. It opens directly into the dining area and saves you from waiting in the front line.

3. Pizzeria El Hornero (Jr. Amazonas, block 3, near the Malecón)

El Hornero is the kind of place that locals in Iquitos defend with an almost irrational loyalty. It sits on Jr. Amazonas, a short walk from the Malecón Tarapacá, and it has a brick oven that runs on charcoal. The owner, Don César, has been making pizza here for over 30 years and he still personally stretches every base. The specialty is the pizza parrilla, which comes with grilled beef strips on top of the cheese. It sounds like a gimmick, but the beef is marinated in a soy and cumin rub that ties the whole thing together. I have brought friends from Lima who admitted it was better than anything they had in Miraflores.

What to Order: Pizza parrilla with a side of fried yuca balls.
Best Time: Early evening, around 6 PM, when the charcoal oven is at peak temperature and the crust comes out with the best char.
The Vibe: Family-run, with Don César’s daughter handling the register and his son running the oven. The outdoor seating along the sidewalk gets uncomfortably warm in peak summer, especially in January and February when the sun does not set until after 6:30 PM.

Local Tip: If you go on a Tuesday, Don César sometimes makes a special pizza with river fish and hearts of palm that never appears on the regular menu. You have to ask for it by name, "pizza de pescado," and he will only make it if he had a good catch that morning.

4. Pizzeria Napoli (Jr. Putumayo, between Napo and Arica)

Napoli is a tiny spot on Jr. Putumayo that most people miss because the sign is faded and half-covered by a street vendor’s umbrella. It is run by a Brazilian family that moved to Iquitos in the 1990s and brought a São Paulo-style pizza approach with them. The crust is thicker than what you find at La Italiana, almost focaccia-like, and they load the toppings heavy. I go here specifically for the pizza de palmito, which uses hearts of palm from the local aguaje palm. It is creamy, slightly tangy, and unlike anything else on this list. They also do a calzone that is roughly the size of a small pillow and stuffed with ham, cheese, and a touch of local oregano.

What to Order: Pizza de palmito or the calzone with a side of hot sauce.
Best Time: Lunchtime, around 1 PM, when the oven is fresh and the lunch crowd has not fully arrived yet.
The Vibe: Four tables, a single ceiling fan, and a kitchen that is basically a hallway. The Wi-Fi drops out near the back tables, so do not plan on working from here.

Local Tip: The family makes a passion fruit mousse, "mousse de maracuyá," on weekends that they sell in small plastic cups. It is not on the menu, but if you see a container behind the counter, ask for one.

5. Pizzeria El Rincón de la Abuela (Jr. Huallaga, near the Plaza 28 de Julio)

El Rincón de la Abuela is on Jr. Huallaga, close to the Plaza 28 de Julio, and it has been a neighborhood staple for as long as anyone I know can remember. The name translates to "Grandma’s Corner," and the recipes supposedly come from the owner’s grandmother who learned to make pizza from an Italian neighbor in the 1960s. The pizza here is thick, almost deep-dish style, and they use a tomato sauce that is sweeter than what you would expect. I like the pizza de pollo, which uses shredded chicken that has been slow-cooked with aji panca and a hint of chocolate. It sounds strange, but the chocolate adds a depth that works surprisingly well with the melted cheese.

What to Order: Pizza de pollo or the pizza de chicharrón if you want something with crispy pork.
Best Time: Sunday afternoons, around 2 PM, when families come in after church and the place has a relaxed, unhurried energy.
The Vibe: Checkered tablecloths, framed photos of the owner’s grandmother, and a radio playing cumbia at a volume that lets you still hold a conversation. The parking outside is a nightmare on weekends because the street narrows to one lane and half the cars double-park.

Local Tip: If you are here on a Sunday, ask for the "menú familiar" which is not a written menu but a verbal deal the owner offers to large groups. It usually includes two large pizzas, a pitcher of chicha morada, and a plate of fried plantains for a price that works out to about 8 soles per person.

6. Pizzeria La Costeña (Av. La Marina, near the intersection with Jr. Pevas)

La Costeña sits on Av. La Marina, a busy avenue that runs along the edge of the city center, and it is the go-to spot for cheap pizza Iquitos residents grab on a weeknight. The prices here are noticeably lower than the other places on this list, and the portions are generous. The pizza is not going to win any awards for crust technique, but the toppings are fresh and the cheese pull is real. I usually order the pizza de jamón y queso, which is just ham and cheese, because sometimes that is exactly what you want after a long day. They also do a pizza with cecina, which is smoked pork from the local market, and it is salty, chewy, and perfect with a cold beer.

What to Order: Pizza de cecina or the pizza de jamón y queso with extra oregano.
Best Time: Weekday nights around 8 PM, when the dinner rush is winding down and you can grab a table without waiting.
The Vibe: Bright lights, a loud fan, and a counter service system where you order at the front and they call your number. The outdoor seating along the avenue gets dusty and noisy from passing mototaxis, so I always sit inside.

Local Tip: They sell pizza by the slice from a display case near the entrance after 9 PM. The slices are from whatever was left over from the dinner service, so the selection is random, but they are half the price of a whole pizza and still warm.

7. Pizzeria Buon Giorno (Jr. Prospero, between Salaverry and 20 de Enero)

Buon Giorno is on Jr. Prospero in a slightly quieter part of the center, and it has a more modern feel than most of the other places I have mentioned. The owner renovated the space a few years ago, added some indoor plants, and put up a chalkboard menu that changes weekly. The pizza here leans toward a Neapolitan style, with a puffy, blistered crust and a lighter hand on the cheese. I had a pizza with local shrimp and a drizzle of aji amarillo cream that was genuinely one of the best things I have eaten in Iquitos. They also do a dessert pizza with Nutella and sliced bananas that is ridiculous in the best way.

What to Order: The weekly special, whatever it is, or the dessert pizza if you have room.
Best Time: Friday or Saturday evening, around 7 PM, when the chalkboard menu tends to have the most creative options.
The Vibe: Instagrammable without trying too hard, with a playlist that shifts between Italian jazz and Peruvian rock. The air conditioning works well, which is a genuine advantage in a city where most places rely on fans.

Local Tip: The owner posts the weekly specials on a Facebook page that has fewer than 500 followers. If you check it before you go, you can plan around the specials and avoid the disappointment of missing the shrimp pizza.

8. Pizzeria El Chino (Jr. Arica, near the intersection with Jr. Putumayo)

El Chino is the most controversial entry on this list. It is on Jr. Arica, and it is run by a Chinese-Peruvian family that has been making pizza here for three generations. The style is unlike anything else in Iquitos. The crust is thin and almost cracker-like, the sauce has a hint of soy sauce and five-spice, and the cheese is a mix of mozzarella and a local queso andino that melts into a stretchy, slightly funky layer. I know people who refuse to eat here and people who swear it is the best pizza in the city. I fall somewhere in the middle. The pizza de pollo chino, with shredded chicken, ginger, and a sweet soy glaze, is genuinely addictive. But the pizza de carne, which uses a spiced beef mixture, can be hit or miss depending on how fresh the meat is that day.

What to Order: Pizza de pollo chino with a side of fried wontons.
Best Time: Early dinner, around 6 PM, when the kitchen is less rushed and the pizzas come out more carefully assembled.
The Vibe: A fusion of Chinese and Peruvian that feels completely natural in a city where cultural mixing is the default. The walls are covered with old photos of the family and a calendar from 2014 that no one has bothered to change.

Local Tip: The wontons are made in-house and filled with a mix of pork and local river prawns. They are not listed as a side dish on the menu, but if you ask, they will bring a plate for about 5 soles.

When to Go and What to Know

Iquitos is a city that runs on its own clock. Most pizza places open for lunch around noon and stay open until 10 PM or later, but the sweet spot for the best experience is between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest, and you should expect a wait at most of the places I mentioned. Cash is still king in Iquitos, and not all of these spots accept cards, so carry soles with you. The heat is a factor year-round, and if you are sensitive to it, avoid the outdoor seating at places like El Hornero and La Costeña during the hottest months of January through March. Mototaxis are the easiest way to get between these spots, and most rides within the center cost between 2 and 4 soles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How easy is it to find pure vegetarian, vegan, or plant-based dining options in Iquitos?

Vegetarian pizza is available at most of the places I listed, but vegan options are harder to find because cheese is a default on almost every pizza. Napoli and Buon Giorno are the most accommodating if you ask them to hold the cheese and load up on vegetables. Outside of pizza, the city has a few vegetarian restaurants near the Plaza de Armas, but they are not always open for dinner. Bring a Spanish phrase card if you have strict dietary needs, because kitchen staff may not understand the difference between vegetarian and vegan.

Are there any specific dress codes or cultural etiquettes to keep in mind when visiting local spots in Iquitos?

There is no formal dress code anywhere in Iquitos, including at the nicer pizza places. People dress casually, and you will see everything from office clothes to flip-flops. The main cultural etiquette is to greet the staff when you arrive and say "gracias" when you leave. Tipping is not mandatory but rounding up the bill or leaving 1 to 2 soles is appreciated. Do not be surprised if a stranger at the next table starts a conversation with you. Iquitos is a friendly city, and that is part of its character.

What is the one must-try local specialty food or drink that Iquitos is famous for?

Juice made from the aguaje fruit is the drink you should try. It is a palm fruit that grows in the surrounding rainforest, and it has a slightly earthy, carrot-like flavor. You will find it sold fresh at markets and at juice stands near the Malecón. For food, the ceviche de dorado made with local river fish is the dish that defines Iquitos. It is different from coastal ceviche because the fish is freshwater and the leche de tigre uses local limes and aji limo peppers that give it a sharper, fruitier kick.

Is the tap water in Iquitos to drink, or should travelers strictly rely on filtered water options?

Do not drink the tap water in Iquitos. The city’s water supply comes from the Amazon River and is treated, but the pipes are old and the pressure is inconsistent, which means contamination is a real risk. Buy bottled water from any corner store, or ask for "agua sin gas" (still water) at restaurants. Most pizza places will serve you a glass of filtered or bottled water if you ask, but do not assume it is safe unless you see the bottle opened in front of you.

Is Iquitos expensive to visit? Give a realistic daily budget breakdown for mid-tier travelers.

Iquitos is one of the more affordable cities in Peru. A mid-tier traveler can expect to spend between 120 and 180 soles per day, which covers a hotel room in the center (60 to 100 soles), three meals at local restaurants (40 to 60 soles), and transportation by mototaxi (10 to 20 soles). A whole pizza at most of the places I listed costs between 20 and 40 soles, and a quarter slice at La Costeña runs about 8 to 12 soles. The biggest expense is usually flights to and from Lima, which can range from 200 to 600 soles round trip depending on how far in advance you book.