The Best Pizza in New Orleans

Located adjacent to the Mississippi River, this local hot spot is adorned with modern lighting, contemporary art, and chalkboards that announce what’s on the menu. What really stand out, however, is the authentic Creole and Cajun offerings that are served up. The typical pizzas certainly have their place among others in the area, but it’s the eatery’s devotion to providing a real local experience that keeps patrons coming back. All meats are free-range and organic — while every effort is made to source local ingredients. Add in the local microbrews and international specialty beers, and this place has everything the heart could desire.

Emeril Lagasse is one of the preeminent chefs in the world, and NOLA Restaurant is his contribution to the city. Neon lights, modern art, vintage lighting, and an open-kitchen area all combine to make this a truly unique experience. Of course, it’s no surprise that Emeril would be a top contender for best pizza in New Orleans. A fusion of Southern, Acadian, and Creole all come together with influences from the countless countries visited by the master chef. The Whole Wheat Spaghetti Pizza features crawfish tails and the Lamb Shawarma Pizza is topped with labne. It’s nothing if not unique.

When Channing Tatum decides to take his megastar appeal and put it towards a “fun dining” rather than “fine dining” experience, magic happens. And not the Magic Mike kind of magic, although close. The eatery is styled after the red-light district burlesque halls and bordellos that kept New Orleanians occupied up until 1917. Saints and Sinners isn’t a pizzeria like other entries on this list, but its Pizza Burger — a meat-lover pizza slapped on their signature S & S bun — is definitely worth the trip.

Patrons who catch a glimpse of the wood-fire grill might be surprised that this isn’t really a pizzeria. The fine dining atmosphere might also be a little surprising to those who think the best pizza in New Orleans has to be in a new-age establishment. As it turns out, though, it’s perfectly fine for an eatery to offer chicken breast parmigiana and Louisiana crab cakes right alongside pizza margherita and paninis. Andrea’s proves that fine dining and pizza can successfully and deliciously go hand in hand.

Fancy wooden dining sets, luxurious lighting, extravagant mirrors, and modern art all culminate to make this one of the classiest dining experiences in New Orleans. The entry hall looks like it was pulled right out of the first-class passenger section of the Titanic. A menu featuring classic dishes like bucatini and Tuscan kale keep with the Italian flair, and the specialty pizzas featuring toppings ranging from lamb sausage to quattro formaggi hold onto their old-country roots as well. This is one of the fine dining establishments that prove the typical pizza experience doesn't always have to be typical.

Not to be confused with the NOLA staple Domenica — a word that's simply Italian for “Sunday” — PIZZA domenica is an uptown spinoff of the downtown location. The woodfired oven was custom- made in Italy, and it’s used to create gourmet pizzas in a casual and lively setting. Delectable pies like the Calabrese, Smoked Pork, and Gorgonzola go a long way in making this one of the best pizza eateries in New Orleans. Wall-to-wall windows also allow for some great people-watching from the comfort of contemporary seating.