Where to Find the Best Pizza in Ottawa: 10 Spots Worth the Trip

Here's our guide to the best pizza in Ottawa, with one twist: we're not ranking it.

Why not? We haven't tasted all ten side by side under one set of rules, and opinions split. A community-paper taste-off put Colonnade fourth of five for Ottawa-style pizza, yet readers voted it gold in The Ottawan's 2026 poll. Besides, a metre-long Roman pala and a cheese-heavy Ottawa pie aren't playing the same sport.

So: grouped by style, in no particular order, all worth the trip.

Quick tip: hours change, so check each spot's site before you head out.

How we chose: We picked these 10 from local critics' reviews (mainly the Ottawa Citizen's), community-newspaper taste-offs and The Ottawan's 2026 reader poll, then checked addresses, menus and prices against each spot's own site. No business paid to be included.

New Edinburgh (11 Springfield Rd.), Little Italy (348 Preston St.) and ByWard Market (15 Clarence St.) · schoolhousepizza.ca

Brooklyn-style thin crust on three-day dough. Order the Made in Brooklyn (pepperoni, whipped ricotta, Mike's Hot Honey, basil) or the mushroom white pie with truffle oil. Why go: The Mainstreeter's February 2026 taste-off named it best overall, plus best crust and best cheese.
Sources: The Mainstreeter taste-off · Ottawa Citizen roundup

Hintonburg (465 Parkdale Ave.) and Westboro (383 Winona Ave.) · heartbreakerspizza.com

Parkdale is a sit-down room (takeout too), whole pies only. Winona does walk-up slices. Get The Sweetheart (pepperoni, jalapeño, oregano, honey), or Winona's Mortadella slice with pistachio and lemon. Small 13" pies run $17.50–$22; slices, $4.50–$6.50. Why go: it's in the Ottawa Citizen critic's personal "big three."
Sources: Ottawa Citizen pizza crawl · Ottawa Citizen review

Lindenlea, 119 Beechwood Ave. · lindenpizza.ca

Chef-driven, very thin crust from a three-day ferment of Quebec-milled flour. Try the Valentina (pepperoni, fior di latte, hot honey) or the Gorgeous Gorg (poached pear, gorgonzola). Pizzas run $23–$26. Why go: the Citizen calls its pies "thin-crusted marvels."
Sources: Ottawa Citizen review · Ottawa Lookout (Capital Eats)

Centretown (478 Bank St.) and Old Ottawa South (440 Sunnyside Ave., at Seneca St.; takeout and delivery only) · pizzanerds.ca

Thin crust, creative toppings. Get the Lisgar (house-made sausage, basil purée, tomato sauce) or the Lyon (black-pepper-molasses bacon, pickled onion, chili-basil honey). Pies at the Old Ottawa South shop run $20–$26. Why go: a perfect crust score in The Mainstreeter's taste-off, plus gold for Neapolitan-style pizza in The Ottawan's 2026 reader poll.
Sources: The Mainstreeter taste-off · The Ottawan Best of Ottawa 2026 · Ottawa Citizen roundup

Little Italy (492 Rochester St.) and Kanata (806 March Rd.) · farinellaeats.com

Roman pizza alla pala, sold by the half-metre ($19.50–$28) or metre ($39–$56). Pre-order those; lunch slices are walk-in, Rochester only. Get the Tarin-Tino (pancetta, whipped ricotta) or the Frank Pinello white pizza with caramelized onion and sesame. Why go: it's another of the Citizen critic's "big three."
Sources: Ottawa Citizen pizza crawl · Ottawa Citizen roundup

Old Chelsea, Que., 241 Chemin Old Chelsea · robertopizzaromana.com

Our day-trip pick: thin, crispy rectangular Roman slices on 48-hour sourdough. (Not the closed Roberto Pizza on Preston.) Get the Mortadella & Pistachio or the Potato & Truffle, plus a maritozzo, a Roman cream bun. Whole six-slice pies ordered online for pickup run $29.70–$48.45. Why go: the Citizen calls it "magnificent," and it pairs perfectly with a Gatineau Park outing. It's open Thursday to Sunday, with pizza from 11:30 a.m., but check before you drive.
Sources: Ottawa Citizen pizza crawl · CTV News Ottawa

Little Italy, 122 Preston St. · retrogustoeats.com

Roman-style tonda: round, thin pies with crisp but pliant crusts and toppings spread almost to the edge, served in a small, dinner-only room (reservations recommended). Get the Salamino (smoked caciocavallo, soppressata, hot honey) or the Funghi (Le Coprin mushrooms, fontina). Pizzas run $18–$32. Why go: it rounds out the Citizen critic's "big three," and he says its crusts "hit the sweet spot" between Neapolitan softness and North American chew.
Sources: Retro Gusto 2026 dinner menu · Ottawa Citizen pizza crawl · Ottawa Citizen roundup

Centretown, 360 Elgin St. · pizzastaygold.com

Rectangular Detroit-style pan pizza with crisp, cheesy edges and a bready, focaccia-like base. The Citizen calls it a pioneer of the style in Ottawa. Order the Bee Sting (mozzarella, soppressata, chili honey) or the Pepp Talk. Pies run $22–$27. Why go: it helped bring Detroit squares to Ottawa, and it's right on the Sens Mile.
Sources: Ottawa Citizen roundup · CBC Ottawa

Cheese-heavy, toppings tucked under the cheese, with Lebanese-Canadian roots.

Vanier, 181 McArthur Ave. · louispizza.ca

Family-run since 1960, now in its fourth generation. Order the Louis' Special (pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, green olives, bacon; $18 for a 10") and save room for coconut cream pie ($7.50). Why go: the Citizen says it "may have the best crust" of the old-school shops, and The Mainstreeter's Ottawa-style taste-off agreed.
Sources: Ottawa Citizen · The Mainstreeter, "A slice of the City"

Centretown original at 280 Metcalfe St., plus Barrhaven, Bank St. (Blue Heron Mall) and Carling Ave. · colonnadepizza.com

Brick-cheese pies since 1967. Order the Combination (mushrooms, pepperoni, green peppers); plain pies start at $11.95. Why go: the Citizen calls it a "culinary institution," and it took gold for Ottawa-style pizza in The Ottawan's 2026 reader poll.
Sources: Ottawa Citizen pizza crawl · The Ottawan Best of Ottawa 2026

Details were checked Oct 8, 2026. Menus, prices and hours change, so confirm with venues before you go.