Best Pizza in Rio de Janeiro: 15 Pies Locals Actually Eat
Quick answer — where should I eat pizza in Rio tonight?
Best Neapolitan: Nino Cucina (Leblon) or Zona Sul Pizza / Ferro e Farinha (Catete). Iconic scene: Bráz Elettrica (Ipanema) or Capricciosa. New York slice: Vezpa, open till 4 AM. Detroit-style: Damn Good Pizza (Botafogo). Sunday family lunch: Pizzeria Amado (Jardim Botânico). Book Nino, Bráz and Stuzzi — walk in for the rest.
Rio de Janeiro's pizza scene, from Leblon's Neapolitan ovens to Vezpa's late-night slices, punches above its weight. Half a century of Italian and Argentine immigration, plus a São Paulo–led Neapolitan revival that spread south, means the city now has genuinely world-class wood-fired pizza — and one of Latin America's best late-night slice cultures. Here are the 15 pizzerias Rio locals actually eat at in 2026, from R$18 street slices to R$160 truffle pies.
At a glance
| Pizzerias covered | 15 (Neapolitan, NY slice, Detroit, Argentine, boteco) |
| Price range | R$18 (Vezpa slice) → R$160 (Capricciosa truffle) |
| Best Neapolitan | Nino Cucina · Zona Sul Pizza · Chez L'Ami Martin |
| Best slice | Vezpa (NY) · Pizza da Praça (al taglio) |
| Only Detroit-style | Damn Good Pizza (Botafogo) |
| Open latest | Vezpa (4 AM Fri/Sat) · Pizzaria Guanabara (24h) |
| Reservations | Nino, Bráz, Stuzzi, Chez L'Ami Martin — book same-week |
The 15 best pizzas in Rio
1.Nino Cucina
R$$$Neapolitan (wood-fired) · Leblon · Rua General San Martin 1219
The Margherita most Rio chefs agree is the city's best. 60-second bake in a 480°C oven. Book — 40 seats, full every night. Ask for the Nduja if you want spice.
2.Braz Elettrica
R$$Roman-style (electric oven) · Ipanema · Rua Maria Quitéria 44
The Rio outpost of São Paulo's beloved Bráz group. Thin, crackly crust cut in squares. Order the 'Bráz' (mozzarella + roasted tomato) and a chopp. Walk-ins fine before 8 PM.
3.Zona Sul Pizza (Ferro e Farinha)
R$$Neapolitan artisan · Catete · Rua Alice do Amaral Peixoto 55
Chef Mauro Maia's tiny 20-seat spot. Sourdough, San Marzano, buffalo mozzarella from Minas. Queue starts 7 PM — no reservations. Cash-friendly.
4.Vezpa Pizzeria
R$New York slice · Multiple · flagship Ipanema Rua Visconde de Pirajá 128
The 3 AM slice pizza of Rio. Open until 4 AM Fri/Sat. Pepperoni + Coke Zero is the classic post-bar move; also a great cheap lunch under R$40.
5.Chez L'Ami Martin
R$$Neapolitan (French-Brazilian) · Botafogo · Rua Voluntários da Pátria 340
French chef, Napoletana rules. Small menu, seasonal toppings, killer wine list under R$200. Best patio for a slow Sunday lunch in Botafogo.
6.Bráz Pizzaria
R$$$São Paulo-style · Leblon · Av. Ataulfo de Paiva 1079
The full-service Bráz — thicker crust than Elettrica, Sicilian menu, 30+ pizzas. Family-friendly, reliably excellent. Book on Fri/Sat.
7.Fratelli
R$$Classic Italian-Brazilian · Copacabana · Rua Fernando Mendes 7
Old-school Copa institution since 1990. Thin crust, generous mozzarella, the calabresa is the local order. Live piano some nights. Great for post-Cristo dinner.
8.Capricciosa
R$$$Modern Italian · Ipanema · Rua Vinícius de Moraes 134
Rio's celebrity pizza spot for 20+ years. Wafer-thin crust, elaborate toppings (truffle, prosciutto di Parma, burrata). See-and-be-seen crowd.
9.Pizzaria Guanabara
R$$Boteco pizza + bar · Leblon · Av. Ataulfo de Paiva 1228
24-hour boteco famous for its 3 AM pizza. Not the best crust in Rio but the best vibe — expect samba, Antarctica draft and locals from every generation.
10.Damn Good Pizza (DGP)
R$$Detroit / American · Botafogo · Rua Voluntários da Pátria 402
Rio's only proper Detroit-style pizza — square, cheesy edges, thick focaccia base. Rotating specials, natural wine list, ~30 seats. Book same-week.
11.Pizzeria Amado
R$$Neapolitan wood-fired · Jardim Botânico · Rua Pacheco Leão 758
Neighborhood favorite hidden behind the botanical garden. Two-person Margherita for R$78, garden terrace, family-run. Best Sunday lunch spot in JB.
12.1900 Pizzeria
R$$Argentine-Neapolitan · Copacabana · Rua Barata Ribeiro 194
Argentine owners, media-luna dough, generous cheese — the muzza is what Buenos Aires locals order. Late kitchen until 1 AM, good draft, walk-in friendly.
13.Stuzzi
R$$$Italian trattoria + pizza · Leblon · Rua Dias Ferreira 48
Pizza plus a full Italian menu (burrata, vitello tonnato). Dias Ferreira's best mid-price Italian. Book same-week.
14.Pizza da Praça
R$Street pizza / al taglio · Botafogo · Praça Nemésio Prata (kiosk)
Al-taglio slices sold from a permanent kiosk on the plaza. R$18 a slice, open until 2 AM, best cheap post-bar bite in Botafogo.
15.Ristorantino
R$$Napoletana (wood-fired) · Barra da Tijuca · Av. das Américas 4666
Best pizza in Barra — proper 480°C wood oven, San Marzano tomatoes. Popular with families; the outdoor terrace at BarraShopping stays cool at night.
Most popular food tour
A guided Ipanema–Leblon food tour usually swings by one of Rio's best pizzerias plus a boteco and a juice bar — ideal for first-timers who want a curated intro before booking their own dinners.
Check food tour availabilityBest pizza in Rio by scenario
First pizza in Rio (do it right)
Nino Cucina Margherita — book the week you arrive.
Cheap and delicious
Vezpa pepperoni slice + Coke Zero: R$40 fed.
Sunday family lunch
Pizzeria Amado (Jardim Botânico) or Bráz Leblon.
Trendiest queue
Zona Sul Pizza / Ferro e Farinha in Catete — arrive 7 PM.
Something different
Damn Good Pizza — Rio's only proper Detroit-style.
Post-bar / 3 AM
Vezpa (4 AM) or Pizzaria Guanabara (24h).
See-and-be-seen
Capricciosa Ipanema — truffle pie + celebrity crowd.
Pizza in Barra
Ristorantino at BarraShopping — proper wood oven.
The Brazilian toppings worth trying
Once you've done the Margherita, try what's actually Brazilian: Calabresa (spiced sausage, more oregano than Italian pepperoni), Portuguesa (ham, egg, onion, olive, palm heart — sounds chaotic, works), Frango com Catupiry (chicken with creamy Brazilian requeijão — surprisingly great), and Quatro Queijos (four cheeses including Brazilian catupiry). Skip the sweet-pizza dessert menu on a first visit; it's polarizing.
Related guides
Best Restaurants in Ipanema
15 Ipanema spots locals actually eat at.
Best Restaurants in Leblon
Rua Dias Ferreira and Rio's fine-dining street.
Best Feijoada in Rio
Rio's national dish, done properly.
Best Botecos in Rio
Where locals drink cold chopp and eat coxinhas.
FAQ — Best pizza in Rio
What is the single best pizza in Rio de Janeiro?+
Ask 10 Rio chefs and 8 will say Nino Cucina in Leblon — proper Neapolitan, 60-second wood-fired bake, Margherita widely considered the city's best. Ferro e Farinha (now Zona Sul Pizza) in Catete is the tighter, hipper alternative. For a slice, Vezpa; for Detroit-style, Damn Good Pizza in Botafogo.
Where can I find real Neapolitan pizza in Rio?+
Rio has a strong Neapolitan scene: Nino Cucina (Leblon), Zona Sul Pizza (Catete), Chez L'Ami Martin (Botafogo), Pizzeria Amado (Jardim Botânico) and Ristorantino (Barra). All use wood-fired ovens above 450°C, San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte or buffalo mozzarella.
How much does pizza cost in Rio?+
A slice at Vezpa or Pizza da Praça: R$18–35. A full Neapolitan Margherita: R$65–95 (serves 1–2). A Bráz or Capricciosa specialty: R$110–160 (serves 2–3). Add 10% service charge and R$15–25 for a chopp. A full pizza dinner for two with drinks runs R$150–260.
Which Rio pizzerias are open late?+
Vezpa Ipanema until 4 AM Fri/Sat. Pizzaria Guanabara Leblon runs 24 hours. 1900 Pizzeria Copacabana closes at 1 AM. Pizza da Praça kiosk in Botafogo serves slices until 2 AM. Most sit-down Neapolitan spots (Nino, Bráz, Amado) close their kitchens by 12:30 AM.
Is New York-style or Neapolitan more common in Rio?+
Neapolitan is the dominant fine-pizza style in Rio (owing to the huge Italian-Brazilian community in São Paulo pushing the trend south). New York slice is rarer — Vezpa is essentially the only chain doing it well. Detroit-style is brand new: Damn Good Pizza is the only serious operator.
Do I need reservations for pizza in Rio?+
For Nino Cucina, Bráz Leblon, Stuzzi, Chez L'Ami Martin and Capricciosa: yes, especially Fri/Sat — book same-week. Zona Sul Pizza and Braz Elettrica are walk-in only; arrive before 7:30 PM or expect an hour wait. Slice spots (Vezpa, Pizza da Praça) never need reservations.
What are the classic Rio pizza toppings I should try?+
Order the Margherita first (a Neapolitan spot lives or dies on it). Then try Calabresa (Brazilian pepperoni, more spiced), Portuguesa (ham, egg, onion, olives — Brazilian classic), Frango com Catupiry (chicken with creamy Brazilian cheese — sounds odd, is beloved) and Quatro Queijos (four cheeses).
Is there good vegan pizza in Rio?+
Yes. Zona Sul Pizza does a rotating vegan Marinara. Chez L'Ami Martin marks vegan options on the menu. Braz Elettrica has a vegan mozzarella swap on request. For an all-vegan pizza spot, see our full vegan Rio guide.
Where do locals eat pizza on a Sunday?+
Sunday afternoon = family pizza. The locals' order: Pizzeria Amado in Jardim Botânico (garden terrace), Chez L'Ami Martin in Botafogo (slow lunch), Bráz Leblon (kids welcome), or Ristorantino at BarraShopping. Most kitchens open at 12 PM Sunday and stay full until 4 PM.
What about pizza rodízio (all-you-can-eat)?+
Rio doesn't do pizza rodízio at the artisan level — it's a São Paulo tradition and Rio's best kitchens skip it. If you want unlimited pizza, look for Bráz Sunday lunch (fixed price with rotating trays) or hotel Sunday brunches (Fasano, Windsor). Otherwise, order à la carte.