Best Pizza in Seattle (Part 5): The Best Pizza Spots Right Now
Seattle quietly became one of the most interesting pizza cities in the country.
Not because it does one style perfectly, but because it does everything. Wood-fired pies. Roman-style slabs. Real slice shops. Detroit squares. Even grocery store pizza that somehow works.
I’ve been a professional cook in Seattle for over a decade, and this is Part 5 of my ongoing search for the best pizza in Seattle. This is not a definitive ranking. It is simply where we went in this episode, what we ate, and what actually stood out.
If I missed your favorite pizza spot, tell me. This series is not done. Seattle has too much pizza for that.
There are several parts to this so here’s a map to all my visits.
TIVOLI PIZZA
Tivoli was our first stop, and it immediately set the tone for the day.
Getting there is classic Fremont. Tight streets, limited parking, and just enough chaos to make you question whether it is worth it. Then you eat the pizza and remember why people keep coming back.
Tivoli sits in a really nice middle ground. It is not trying to be a floppy New York slice, and it is not trying to be overly precious either. The crust has real crunch, good lift, and enough structure to eat clean.
I went pepperoni. My buddy went pesto. Both slices delivered. We were also handed a free brownie, which is never a bad way to start a pizza crawl.
Why Tivoli stands out
• Balanced crust with crunch and fluff
• Great sit-down bar atmosphere
• Feels like a Fremont institution, not a trend
Best for: A proper sit-down pizza night
Pizza style: Between bar pie and New York slice
RUFFIN PIZZA
I am not a South Lake Union guy. I lived there briefly and that was enough.
That said, Ruffin Pizza is absolutely worth the trip.
This stop perfectly shows how tight the Seattle pizza community really is. We got there just before close, slices were running low, and my guy Alex from A.K. Pizza reached out so they could save us a couple. That does not happen by accident.
Ruffin does a Roman-style, by-the-cut pizza that is hard to label beyond this: crunchy bottom, fluffy interior, and excellent structure. The slices hold up. They eat light. And they are built like someone who thinks like a chef, not just a pizza maker.
We tried the competition slice, which makes sense once you hear that the owner competes internationally. You can taste that mindset in the sauce and toppings.
They also do sandwiches on Fridays only. The sandwich changes weekly, and if you catch it, you should order it.
Why Ruffin stands out
• Excellent crunch to fluff ratio
• Dough that eats lighter than it looks
• Thoughtful toppings and sauces
Best for: Unique pizza that still feels familiar
Pizza style: Roman-inspired, by-the-cut
SLICE BOX PIZZA
Slice Box was the biggest surprise of the day.
This is parked down in SoDo near the stadiums, and it feels like a real slice shop the moment you walk in. Stickers everywhere. No frills. Just pizza.
The backstory makes it even better. The space used to be a hydroponics grow shop. Legalization happened, business dropped, and instead of folding, they pivoted into pizza. From flour to flower. It does not get more Seattle than that.
The slice itself is exactly what I want from a slice shop. Crisp bottom, light structure, a little flop, proper pepperoni cups, and excellent char. Even right before closing, it was better than most slices I have had in the city.
Their hours are limited and a little wild, but that probably explains why the quality stays high.
Why Slice Box stands out
• Best true slice shop pizza in Seattle
• Light, crisp, great fold
• No gimmicks, no cosplay
Best for: The best single slice in the city
Pizza style: New York-inspired slice shop
PCC MARKET
This one surprised me.
A lot of you kept telling me to try PCC pizza, and I did not expect grocery store pizza to make a Best Pizza list. But here we are.
Every PCC smells like pizza when you walk in. That is not an accident. They use good ingredients, and it shows.
We grabbed a cheese slice and a pepperoni slice. Thin crust, solid crisp, good structure. It is not trying to be a New York slice, and I respect that. It sits closer to Pagliacci territory.
Is this destination pizza? No. But if you are already grocery shopping, coming from the gym, or grabbing lunch, this is a very solid option.
Why PCC stands out
• Surprisingly good for a grocery store
• Consistent and convenient
• Better than most people expect
Best for: Grab-and-go pizza that still tastes good
Pizza style: Market slice
SPARK PIZZA
Spark Pizza has been on a lot of “best pizza” lists, especially on the Eastside. The first time I had it, we ate it in a parking lot, which was not fair to the pizza.
Sitting down and eating it fresh makes a difference.
The dough is the star here. Airy, well-fermented, and properly cooked. They serve the pizza on a perforated pan, which helps keep the bottom crisp. That is a small detail, but it tells you they care.
We also tried the Detroit style, and it was genuinely excellent. Crisp bottom, caramelized edges, not overly heavy. It makes sense that they run out.
They also do a New York style on Sundays by whole pie only, which I still need to come back for.
Why Spark stands out
• Excellent dough structure
• One of the better Detroit styles in Seattle
• Strong Eastside option
Best for: Sit-down pizza done right
Pizza style: Artisan, Detroit, New York (Sundays)
WORLD PIZZA
World Pizza is classic bar pizza in the best sense.
Big slices. Heavy cheese. Crispy edges. It immediately reminded me of the kind of pizza I grew up eating.
It is not light. It is not delicate. But it is comforting, nostalgic, and hits if that is what you are craving. The vibe inside is great, and it is one of the only pizza spots in the International District.
Sometimes the vibe matters just as much as the slice, and World Pizza has both.
Why World Pizza stands out
• Classic bar-style pizza
• Heavy, cheesy, nostalgic
• Great atmosphere
Best for: Old-school bar pizza cravings
Pizza style: Classic bar pie
A.K. PIZZA
This is my personal favorite pizza in Seattle.
I do not do ratings. I just tell you where I go.
AK Pizza consistently delivers a slice that holds up, has great bite, excellent fermentation, and real flavor. Even at the end of a long pizza day, it stood above the rest.
The potato slice we tried was unreal. Crisp bottom, perfect balance, and layered flavor. This is the kind of pizza that validates everything else you ate earlier.
Why AK Pizza stands out
• Exceptional crust and fermentation
• Thoughtful toppings
• Consistently excellent
Best for: My go-to slice in Seattle
Pizza style: New York-inspired with chef execution
KODE PIZZA
Kode Pizza, previously known for Korean Detroit-style pizza, is now doing New York-style slices.
This is a very floppy slice. Heavy. Greasy. Mall-adjacent energy. And that is not necessarily a bad thing if that is what you want.
It reminds me of Costco pizza in a good way. If you are walking around downtown Bellevue or the mall, this is a solid option. It is not destination pizza, but it serves its purpose.
Why Kode stands out
• Big, heavy slices
• Convenient location
• Straightforward and satisfying
Best for: Mall pizza cravings
Pizza style: New York-style slice
DELAURENTI FOOD & WINE
DeLaurenti Food & Wine is a place we’ve been to many times over the years, and it’s been featured more than once for good reason. Located inside Pike Place Market, this is one of those spots that consistently delivers — whether you’re stopping in intentionally or just wandering the market hungry.
Their pizza counter leans Italian and straightforward, with quality ingredients doing most of the work. The slices are simple, balanced, and reliable, with a crust that holds together and toppings that never feel excessive. It’s the kind of pizza that eats well no matter how busy the market is around you.
What makes DeLaurenti stand out in the Seattle pizza scene is consistency. Across multiple visits, the pizza has always held up, making it one of my go-to stops in Pike Place when I want something quick that I know will be good. It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be — it’s just solid every time.
If you’re looking for pizza in Pike Place Market or building a food crawl through downtown Seattle, DeLaurenti is an easy recommendation and a place I keep coming back to.
Why it stands out:
- Consistent quality across multiple visits
- Simple, Italian-leaning slices done well
- One of the best quick pizza stops in Pike Place Market
Best for: Pike Place Market food crawls or a dependable slice
Style: Italian-style pizza counter
Final Thoughts: Eating the Best Pizza in Seattle
Seattle’s pizza scene is deeper than people give it credit for. What makes it special isn’t one dominant style — it’s the range. In one stretch of the city (and the Eastside), you can find Roman-style pizza, New York–style slices, Detroit-style squares, wood-fired pies, and market counters that hold their own against full restaurants.
This list reflects how I actually eat pizza in Seattle. Some of these spots were first visits, others are places I’ve been back to again and again, but every stop earned its place based on execution, balance, and consistency. These are pizzas I’d recommend to friends without hesitation.
If you’re searching for the best pizza in Seattle, use this guide as a starting point — then go explore. Neighborhoods matter. Styles matter. And sometimes the best slice is the one you stumble into when you’re not overthinking it.
For the full experience, watch the vlog and see how each stop stacks up in real time. And if you have a pizza spot in Seattle you think belongs on this list, I’m always looking for the next place worth eating.