Pizza Is Life. Fact!

When you get the craving for that delicious disc of doughy, cheesy joy, you have to go get your fix, or it’ll be on your mind 24/7 until you do. We get it, we suffer with pizza cravings ALL THE DAMN TIME. That’s why we’ve compiled this list for you. Use it as a guide whenever you feel those pizza pangs in the pit of your rumbling stomach, to lead you straight to the hotspot that will banish those pizza cravings for another day. Save it as a tab on your phone, heck – print it out as your own personal directory if you must (not actually recommended – we’re all about saving those trees), and when you feel the urge for a ridiculously awesome pizza, whip it out and let it lead you to where you need to go. We could wax lyrical about pizza all day, every day, but let’s cut to the chase.

Read on, for pizza and for glory…

Baked In Brick

Location: The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Digbeth, B9 4AA

Award-winning street food trader Baked In Brick opened permanent digs in The Custard Factory and the whole of Birmingham rejoiced. Their laid-back restaurant offers delicious wood-fired pizzas, as well as a selection of fantastic street food style dishes and small plates. Their pizzas are incredible and their menu changes seasonally, reflecting the ingredients that are available at the time. If you’re looking to try something a little different to the usual suspects, we highly recommend their Aubrey Allen beef shin ragu and wild mushroom calzone (it’s an award-winning dish for a reason, folks), but keep an eye on their specials too.

IB Deal: 15% off the bill

Peacer

Location: 4 Woodbridge Road, Moseley, B13 8EJ

This laid-back eatery serves 20” pizzas by the slice, in a style made famous in the many pizzerias across New York City. Fast and convenient for a quick lunch on-the-go, you can just grab a quick slice and then head off on the rest of your busy day. If you’re in less of a rush, you can also eat in at this casual dining spot, and take your time. All of the pizzas here are vegetarian (and some vegan) as they don’t think their pizzas need meat to be incredibly yummy – and they’re absolutely right.

IB Deal: 15% off the bill

Laghi’s

Photo Credit: (IG:@thefoodfiend_)

Location: 22-24 Islington Row, B15 1LD

If you’re looking for the most authentic Italian pizzas this side of Rome then Laghi’s is the place to go. This family-run restaurant is filled with true Italian spirit (and incredible Italian smells) – and is all about sharing delicious food with loved ones. Freshly made to order, using the finest ingredients from Italy (and a whole heap of love), their authentic Neapolitan style pizzas are simply to die for. One bite and you’ll be hooked for life. Which is dangerous, considering they do take-away pizzas too…

IB Deal: 10% off the bill (Monday – Thursday) OR 20% off all take-away pizzas (anytime)

The Plough

Location: 21 High Street, Harborne, B17 9NT

This wonderful gastro pub in Harborne is a firm favourite for many locals. Alongside some pub classics, they have a good selection of pizzas on their daily menu, with lots of vegetarian and vegan options, as well as mighty meaty creations – so there’s something for everyone (they even have a fish option too). All of their pizzas are made on homemade hand-stretched dough, using fresh ingredients and toppings. Delicious!

IB Deal: 10% off food

Cargo Pizza at Gorilla Coffee Cafe

Location: 1a Drayton Road, Kings Heath, B14 7LP

This brilliant cycling cafe is perhaps best known for their delicious brunch and amazing coffee, but did you know they also do pizzas? Serving tasty Roman street food style pizzas (along with excellent craft ales) from their converted shipping container, under the guise of Cargo Pizza, they make their hand-stretched sourdough pizzas from scratch – proving the dough for 24 hours, and then adorning them with all manner of tasty toppings. Sound delicious? You know it! Get down to Kings Heath to get your pizza fix.

IB Deal: A FREE coffee or tea when you purchase any item from the main brunch menu.

The Village

Location: 179 Alcester Road, Moseley, B13 8JR

This charming, Moseley gastro pub is a wonderful place for a casual bite to eat. The lovely pub serves all manner of tasty treats, including some fantastic wood-fired pizzas. Using classic flavour combinations, they have a select menu of pizzas – but all of the options on their short but sweet menu are instant hits. If you’re yet to check out The Village, we highly recommend a visit.

IB Deal: 10% off food (Monday – Friday)

Dropshot

Location: 60 Heath Mill Lane, Deritend, B9 4AR

Ping Pong, Pool, Pints and Pizza – all of the best things in life begin with ‘P’, and you can get them all at Dropshot. This Digbeth-based activity bar has everything you need for a great night. Grab some drinks from the bar, place your pizza order, and play some games with your mates. Pizza makes every activity better: fact!

IB Deal: 50% off games (Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday) AND 10% off food and drinks (anytime)

POLI

Location: 21 York Road, Kings Heath, B14 7SA

POLI are known for cooking up some of the most delicious pizzas in Brum. Their wood-fired, sourdough pizzas really get our hearts racing and have foodies flocking to this fantastic pizzeria. This neighbourhood pizza joint is by the team behind Grace + James, so naturally they serve some beautiful glasses (or bottles) of wine to accompany your pizza. We highly recommend that if you’re making a pilgrimage to POLI, you make sure you go there hungry, because not only are their pizzas sensational, but they also serve some incredible, seasonal small plates and sides. One look at the menu will have you ordering one of everything – and if you’re not, you’re doing it wrong.

Otto

Location: 14 Caroline Street, Jewellery Quarter, B3 1TR

One bite of an Otto pizza and you’ll be seriously considering whether you’ve somehow died and gone to pizza heaven. This cosy JQ pizzeria oozes rustic charm, with wooden tables, fairy lights and candles giving the place a relaxed, effortlessly cool vibe. There isn’t a word for how incredible the pizzas are, you just have to take our word for it and go and try them for yourself. They have a menu that changes with the seasons, and they create delicious specials. Using the finest ingredients from the UK and Italy, and leaving their dough to prove for 72 hours, makes for one hella tasty pizza. Cooked to perfection in their wood-fired oven, these pizzas are pure magic.

Alicia’s Microbakehouse

Location: 1377 Pershore Road, Stirchley, B30 2JR

This artisan pizzeria focuses on simple, high-quality ingredients to bring you the best tasting pizzas. They started life as a bakery, baking sourdough loaves, but soon moved into the pizza world, using their knowledge of dough to create outstanding pizza bases. The speciality dough is allowed to rest and develop for a minimum of 24 hours to give it a light texture and bubbly crust. If you haven’t tried one of their pizzas yet, go find them right now.

Mulino

Location: Curzon Street, Millennium Point, B4 7XG

From the team behind the aforementioned Laghi’s comes Mulino. As you would expect, Mulino is also a truly authentic Italian restaurant and here they serve all the P’s: pizza, pastries and Prosecco. Found on Level Two of Millennium Point, get your authentic Italian pizzas to eat in or take away. While you’re there, grab a hand-rolled, freshly baked croissant too – you can’t beat them.

Sarehole Mill

Location: Sarehole Mill, Cole Bank Road, B13 0BD

We can’t think of a more picturesque place where you can partake in a pizza. The wonderful, historic site of Sarehole Mill serve delicious, freshly baked pizzas from their on-site cafe (The Millers Tearoom) and it’s the perfect excuse to drop in for a visit (although you don’t have to be visiting the Mill to stop by the tearoom). In conjunction with re-opening their newly restored, original bakehouse in 2020, they opened a brand new modern bakehouse at the same time, which means after nearly 150 years, they are baking once again on this historic site and you can sample the delights – lucky you! Their pizzas are beautiful, and we think best enjoyed in the fresh air of the courtyard, overlooking the grounds of the mill. Get ye to Sarehole Mill for pizza and a view.

The Loft Bar & Kitchen

Location: 143 Bromsgrove Street, B5 6RG

This cocktail bar is well-known on the drinks scene as a place to sip on delicious, boozy concoctions. But what do you do when you’ve had a tipple or two and you start to feel peckish? Order pizza, that’s what! The perfect snack to tuck into as you enjoy your cocktails, to keep the hunger at bay, and keep you dancing into the night. Now that’s how you do it.

That’s Amore

Location: Street Food

That’s Amore are a brilliant street food trader who can often be found at Taste Collective in Mell Square, Solihull. Their delicious pizzas will have you racing down to Taste Collective whenever they pop up there. They cook authentic Neapolitan pizzas and they are super duper tasty. Go and follow their page and keep your eyes peeled for when they pop up, then go grab an insanely delicious pizza – your belly will thank you.

Cucina Rustica

Location: 24 Ludgate Hill, B3 1DX

This family-run Italian restaurant takes pride in both their food and their hospitality, in true Italian style. They source the best, freshest ingredients to create their authentic Italian dishes, cooking them with the respect they deserve. The beautiful restaurant is the ideal place to enjoy a traditional Italian treat, and their pizzas are truly a treat. Made fresh to order, if you can’t find one you like on the menu, you can ask for your own combination of toppings instead.

Mr Singh’s

Location: 103 Cornwall Road, B20 2HY

Mr Singh’s is a big name in Brum. If you’ve never heard of them, we’re not quite sure how, but allow us to fill you in. Mr Singh’s is an all vegetarian pizza restaurant, with a relaxed, family-friendly feel. Lots of their pizzas are suitable for vegans too, and they have a great selection of both classic flavours and lots of original flavours too – like their Tandoori Paneer pizza or their Desi Calzone. All of their pizzas come as deep dish as standard but you can request thin crust if that’s more your jam, and they come in a range of sizes – perfect for different hunger levels! If you’re looking for tasty, veggie, take-away style pizzas – this is the place to go.

Ristorante Caffe Gustami

Location: 4 King Edwards Road, B1 2PZ

This hidden gem of a restaurant is just a stone’s throw away from the city centre, and well worth the short trip to feast on the delicious Italian delicacies within. This family-run restaurant offers a selection of traditional, wood-fired pizzas for you to enjoy, including the option to create your own bespoke pizza by choosing any four toppings you’d like. To finish your meal, what could possibly be better than following your tasty pizza with… another pizza! That’s right, they also have a sweet pizza topped with Nutella too. Oh hells yeah!

Oktogon

Location: 16 Station Road, Knowle, B93 0HT

This gin bar and artisan pizzeria is a cosy little Scandi-inspired hideaway, tucked down an alleyway in quaint and cute Knowle. Their hand-slung sourdough pizzas come in two sizes: 12″ and 20″. Now, some people will tell you the 20″ size is perfect for sharing. We say those people have no ambition and we could definitely demolish the whole thing ourselves. But whatever your stance on sharing, their deliciously crispy sourdough pizzas come in a range of flavours from classics (Hawaiian, Margherita) to the more adventurous (Chorizo & Honey, Prosciutto & Danish Blue). If you haven’t discovered Oktogon yet, go grab a slice of the action.

Pasta Di Piazza

Location: 11 Brook Street, Jewellery Quarter, B3 1SA

This fine, authentic Italian restaurant, found just off picturesque St Paul’s Square, is all about bringing a taste of Italy to the JQ. They serve traditional Italian dishes and daily specials, made using quality, fresh ingredients. Their selection of pizzas come in a range of flavours to suit all tastes, from classic Margherita to the Capri (goat’s cheese, caramelised balsamic red onion and fresh rocket) or the Vesuvio (tomato, Italian sausage, meatballs, mushrooms, chilli, olives and mozzarella).

Fogo Bar & Kitchen

Location: 197A Hagley Road, B16 9RD

This rustic but modern bar and kitchen has a good selection of pizzas on their menu, with a range of different topics and flavours. Their pizzas are cooked in a wood-fired oven for ultimate flavour. They have favourites such as Pepperoni, Primavera and Prosciutto e Funghi, but also some different flavours like the Coso Nostra (creamy cheese and mushroom sauce, fresh mozzarella, roasted mixed peppers and strips of British fillet steak) or the Fogo Special (tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, roasted mix peppers, pastrami, pepperoni and quail eggs).

Bare Bones Pizza

Location: Street Food

This family-run , mobile wood-fired pizza business pops up all over at street food events. The team consistently churn out tasty pizzas and have become a popular trader at lots of local and national events, weddings and more. If you haven’t tried a Bare Bones pizza yet, go give them a follow to find out when and where you can find them and then go try their yummy pizzas for yourself.

Download the Independent Birmingham App now and enjoy up to 25% off (alongside exclusive 2-for-1 offers, freebies, and more) at over 170 of the very best independents across Birmingham and Solihull – all for just £1.99 a month!

Download the IB App here.

The IB App features a list of over 170 terrific independents across Birmingham and Solihull for you to discover and support (with more added all the time), alongside an interactive map, filters (so you can filter by category, day, and area) and a Wish List so you can create your very own bespoke ‘to visit’ list. IB Membership is just £1.99 a month and it helps to keep this vital platform alive and allows us to keep doing what we do best – supporting Brum’s marvellous independents, and shining a light on our wonderful city.