It’s hard to find another food item so universally loved than the humble slice of pizza. A sphere that comprises the golden ratio of flour, water, yeast, then stacked with an array of toppings and ingredients—or anything really, that tickles your fancy. Bringing us to another incentive of pizza; it’s often fun, fuss-free and eschewing the formalities of a stuffy dinner. No surprise that in recent years, Singapore has seen a steadfast increase of pizza places and restaurants, to the delight of our city’s gourmands. Beyond the fast-food stigma of what we know of the people’s pie, is an artisan that goes a long way. Whether it be investing in the right flour, veering into heady territories of wood fires or drilling in the age-old technique of kneading, pizzas have rightfully reclaimed their spot on the gourmet front.
Enter the grungy New York-led joints in the vein of Sonny’s, that cavalierly operates on a takeout model in spirit of the NYC hustle, and Brooklyn’s famed Lucali that has found a local outpost here. Stemmed from the acclaimed private dining haven Casa Nostra led by chef Antonio Miscellaneo, comes La Bottega Enoteca—a charming trattoria in the East that has just snagged a spot on the 50 Top Pizza List for Asia-Pacific in 2022.
Below, Vogue Singapore rounds up our shortlist of pizza places. From authentic flavours to creative spinoffs, here’s where you can be granted a proper slice.
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Wild Child Pizzette
Rather than a traditional Italian pizzeria, Wild Child Pizzette is a creative outlet where all possibilities can transpire by incorporating Japanese ingredients and Asian flavours without the danger of stepping on any nonna’s toes. Nevertheless, the proof is in the pudding when it comes to delivering a solid pie by having the base shine—with the restaurant’s Neapolitan style crust.
Just four ingredients: 00 flour, salt, water and yeast are first fermented twice before going into their wood-fired oven. Their signature crispy fried margherita commands a crackling crust, as the inventive take on the classic pie is adorned with stracciatella, semi-dried San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil and aged parmigiana. As far as surprises go, the restaurant’s veggie pizza does its best to sate everyone—even the carnivores at your table—with crispy kale, garlic confit, pickled onions and a jolty zing from lemon juice. We also hear the restaurant now has a Cacio e Pepe rendition on its menu, for anyone fond of the trendy pasta.
Wild Child Pizzette, 50 Circular Rd, Singapore 049405
Enquiries: 6970 6592
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La Bottega Enoteca
Getting a reservation at La Bottega Enoteca on weekends is an Olympic sport in itself. The restaurant’s booking system releases new dates every week, and it is literally a fastest fingers first type situation when that happens. Chef Antonio Miscellaneo, who previously ran Casa Nostra in his cosy apartment, is also wildly popular amongst his peers—their recent inclusion (22nd place) in the Top 50 Pizza Asia-Pacific list is testament to that.
La Bottega’s degustation menu, which features the likes of wagyu bresaola and a selection of pastas, will leave you satisfyingly full, but it is his newpolitan pizza that will win your heart and stomach over. Crafted from fine-grained doppio zero flour with bubbly crust scorched by the heat and a softer, chewier texture than we are accustomed to, Chef Antonio offers five different flavours, including sausage and friarielli, and four cheeses. It is different but well-balanced and moreish, and certainly the restaurant’s best achievement.
La Bottega, 346 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427596
Enquiries: labottega.sg
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Cicheti
While the latest crop of artisanal pizza places emerging in Singapore continue to herald the humble pie’s resurgence, there is one restaurant on our island that has long enjoyed a reputation as one of the best pizzerias around. Seated in the heart of Kampong Glam, Cicheti has been serving up quality wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas for nearly a decade now.
Of course, the restaurant is now joined by sister-ventures Bar Cicheti, Wild Child Pizzette (also on our list) and Forma, but the original’s prowess is proven through its recent placement on Asia-Pacific’s Top 50 Pizzas list for 2022. Spearheaded by an all-Singaporean kitchen team, look forward to classic flavours (the Margarita will rarely disappoint) executed to perfection, with fior de latte mozzarella cheese and a tangy tomato sauce from Italy adorning every pie.
Cicheti, 52 Kandahar St, Singapore 198901
Enquiries: 6292 5012
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Lucali BYGB
Dining at Lucali BYGB is all about the experience and founder Gibran Baydoun has created a fabulous vibe that could put you in New York, London, Hong Kong or Singapore all at once. There’s no chicer place to partake a legendary 18-inch pie than with Chloe Sevigny gazing from a distance and Le Labo candles flickering.
Mark Iacono, the pizza authority who heads up the famed Lucali in Brooklyn where Jay-Z and Beyonce are fans, was involved in the process, but the pizzas are not entirely similar. You won’t get one of Iacono’s thin-crusted pizzas here; instead, it is a cross between a light Neopolitan-style pizza and a dense New York version. The base is fluffy, and is layered with a secret ‘four-hour tomato sauce’ passed down from Iacono’s grandmother. Finish off with your choice of toppings for the perfect pizza for your table—pepperoni, sweet sausage and onions are our favourites, but you do you.
Lucali BYGB, 66 Kampong Bugis, Level M, Singapore 338987
Enquiries: lucalibygb.com/reserve
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Milano Pizza & Wine
Pizza for date night? There is no place better than the sleek interiors of Milano Pizza & Wine to spend an evening indulging in artisanal pizza and natural wine. While the restaurant flaunts an impressive collection of the latter, what Milano is most serious about is its pizza. Stone-fired at 400 degrees from a homemade sourdough fermented over 24 hours, pick from a wide array of creative flavours on offer—from the light yet luxurious Crab and Lobster Bisque to the spicy, kimchi-flavour Koreatown.
There are three varieties of pizza on offer (Neo-Neapolitan, Sicilian Grandma and butter-crust pan), but if you are a pizza connoisseur, we recommend trying Sicilian Grandma. Popularised by Italian immigrants in New York, the dough for this unique pie is laboriously rested, folded, and rested again over a day, allowing the pie to retain its light, airy, and honeycombed texture—something special to impress your lucky date with.
Milano Pizza & Wine, 10 Craig Rd, Singapore 089370
Enquiries: 8920 4100
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Sonny’s Pizza
If you’re looking for a quick—but delicious—lunch option in town on a work day, the newly opened Sonny’s on Circular Road will have you in and out in 15 minutes with a piping hot slice of pizza in hand. Reminiscent of New York’s slice-shop culture, this lowkey pizza joint is as no frills in its service (everything is served on paper plates, so feel free to bring your pizza out of Sonny’s diner-like interiors and eat by the river), as it is consistent in its food.
You won’t go wrong with the classic Pepperoni, a pie that’s known for its hefty 18-inch size and generous toppings. Pair your pizza with a selection of well-executed sides, like the Old Bay wings or the Caesar salad, alongside a curated beer list imported from Hong Kong. The best part? If you so like, Sonny’s offers liberal drizzles of its two special house-made condiments on every slice: a luscious spicy-sweet hot honey, and of course, ranch.
Sonny’s Pizza, 17 Circular Rd, 049373
Enquiries: 9822 4825
