Best Pizza Restaurants in Downtown LA
20 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Bottega Louie
A Downtown Italian powerhouse with a full patisserie that keeps families happy.
Notable Picks
8.8
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Trendy Table Hotspots
A grand, high-volume Downtown institution that pairs reliable Italian comfort with a patisserie and market feel. Pastas and pizzas come out fast and consistent even at peak crowds, and the bright, bustling room works well for kids, groups, and celebrations without feeling like a compromise.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, House-made pastas (ask for daily standouts), Macarons and pastries from the patisserie counter
What Makes it Special: A Downtown Italian powerhouse with a full patisserie that keeps families happy.
8.8
The DTLA outpost of New York’s famed slice shop focuses on thick Sicilian squares and classic foldable rounds with assertive sauces and cupped pepperoni. Lines and late hours reflect how often locals lean on it for a fast, indulgent pizza fix in the Arts District.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Spring Pie, Naughty Pie, Prince Perfection square
What Makes it Special: Iconic New York-style Sicilian squares translated to a busy Arts District counter.
8.8
Downtown’s go-to New York–style slice shop, Joe’s turns out foldable thin-crust pies with a blistered edge and just-sweet-enough sauce, and it stays open into the early morning for service-industry folks and bar spillover. Expect a fast-moving line, late-night energy, and reliably hot slices whether you order a classic cheese, Sicilian square, or a fully loaded pie.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese Slice, Sicilian Pepperoni Slice, BBQ Chicken Pizza
What Makes it Special: NYC-style slices with serious late-night hours in the heart of DTLA.
8.5
Detroit-style square pies with a thick, airy crumb and caramelized frico crust anchor this high-energy L.A. LIVE outpost. It’s the spot for pre- and post-game slices that feel indulgent enough to justify arena prices, plus their cult-favorite burger for late-night cravings.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roni Overload (triple Ezzo pepperoni Detroit-style pie), Vodka (house vodka-sauce pie with basil and pecorino), Le Big Matt Burger (double-stack burger on pretzel bun)
What Makes it Special: Brooklyn-born Detroit-style pizza with a buzzy arena-adjacent setting and serious craft toppings.
#5
Braazo Pizza
8.4
Vibes:
Late Night Legends
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Group Dining Gatherings
Braazo riffs on New York–style pizza with a big-tent menu—by-the-slice, whole pies, vegan options, wings, and even fresh-baked cookies—served late into the night just off 7th and Main. With plenty of delivery and takeout volume plus TVs and beer on tap, it’s a dependable stop for groups refueling after concerts or bar crawls.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese Pizza, Braazo Special Pizza, Fresh-Baked Cookies
What Makes it Special: High-volume DTLA slice shop balancing classic pies with vegan and gluten-free options.
#6
Pi La
8.3
Pi LA builds thick, Detroit-leaning squares with playful, car-themed names in a compact Historic Core space just off 4th Street. The focus is indulgent, crisp-edged slabs with bubbly cheese and creative toppings rather than sceney design, making it a strong value for sharing a couple of pans with friends.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lil Red Detroit-Style Pizza, Korean-Inspired Detroit Square, Classic Cheese Detroit Square
What Makes it Special: Detroit-style squares with a playful car theme and crackly, caramelized edges.
8.3
Chris Bianco's 18-hour fermented dough creates a chewy, yeasty crust that holds up under wood-fired heat and house-made toppings like the fennel sausage on the Wiseguy. The DTLA outpost brings Phoenix's decades-long reputation to a loud, industrial-chic room where reservations run weeks out but walk-ins can luck into patio seats. Expect to commit to the experience—the short menu rewards patience, not spontaneity.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wiseguy Pizza, Gem Salad, Burrata Salad
What Makes it Special: James Beard Award-winning pizzaiolo Chris Bianco's wood-fired Neapolitan pies, featured on Netflix's Chef's Table
#8
Bestia
8.1
The Arts District warehouse that helped transform downtown LA dining in 2012, Ori Menashe's kitchen still delivers on housemade pastas—particularly the tagliatelle with oxtail ragù—and wood-fired pizzas. Portions run smaller and are designed for group sharing; expect to order multiple plates to build a full meal. The industrial-chic space stays loud and buzzy, making it better suited for celebrations than intimate conversation.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roasted Bone Marrow over Spinach Gnocchetti, Squid Ink Spaghetti with Lobster, Spicy Lamb Sausage Pizza
What Makes it Special: The Arts District pioneer that transformed downtown LA dining, serving housemade pastas with intense, balanced flavors in a converted warehouse.
8.1
A compact counter-service spot tucked into the Financial District, Los Angeles New York Pizza focuses on big, foldable slices with a crisp base, stretchy cheese, and a sauce regulars swear by. Decades of downtown lunch rushes and late-evening takeout have turned it into an under-the-radar favorite for office workers and nearby hotel guests alike.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese Pizza Slice, Spinach White Pizza, Veggie Delight Pizza
What Makes it Special: Long-running downtown slice shop with true old-school New York character.
8.1
Wood-fired artisan pizza operation started during COVID by James Brister, showcasing 12-inch individual pies with unique soft-yet-crispy dough. The outdoor ovens visible from the street create a theatrical element while delivering quality Neapolitan-inspired pizzas.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Pepperoni, White Pizza (Alfredo), Margherita
What Makes it Special: Wood-fired artisan pies with distinctively soft, fluffy dough cooked outdoors
#11
Pizza Next Door
8.1
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
A compact New York–style slice shop that’s been feeding Downtown since the mid-2000s, with a straightforward menu and steady execution. Slices run classic and kid-friendly—cheese, pepperoni, and veggie—served fast for families on the go. Best for a no-drama pizza stop before events or between errands.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese slice, Pepperoni slice, Meat Deluxe pie
What Makes it Special: Old-school DTLA slice joint with reliable NY-style pies.
#12
De La Nonna
8
A casual Arts District wine bar built around Roman-leaning pinsa, crisp focaccia sandwiches, and natural bottles. The vibe is social and unfussy, with a menu that’s light enough for aperitivo but solid for a full meal. A newer neighborhood staple that’s more about hang time than formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pinsa Romana (seasonal), Whipped Eggplant Dip & Focaccia, Focaccia Sandwich
What Makes it Special: Natural wine aperitivo spot with standout pinsa in the Arts District.
#13
Pane Bianco DTLA
8
Chris Bianco's lunch-only counter shop at ROW DTLA builds each sandwich on split focaccia baked to order in a wood-fired oven, filled with house-cured meats and local produce—a format that rewards the single-item visit over a full meal. The patio runs conversational rather than chaotic, and the free two-hour garage parking removes the usual downtown friction. With only 55 reviews it's still proving itself at this location, but the 80% five-star rate and Bianco's James Beard pedigree suggest the Phoenix playbook translates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Roast Beef Sandwich with Green Garlic Aioli, Mortadella Sandwich, Green Slice
What Makes it Special: Chris Bianco's lunch-only sandwich shop where split focaccia is baked to order in a wood-fired oven and served with house-cured meats and local produce.
Inside Grand Central Market, Olio turns out wood-fired, personal-size pizzas with leopard-spotted crusts to eat at the counter or carry through the hall. It’s a reliable choice when you want a proper Neapolitan-leaning pie in the middle of downtown’s busiest food hub.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Wild mushroom and truffle pizza, Margherita Plus with burrata
What Makes it Special: Long-running wood-fired stall bringing serious pizza craft to Grand Central Market.
Worthy Picks
7.9
A skate-culture slice shop that helped define the Arts District food scene, built on chef-developed sourdough crusts and hand-milled Stanislaus tomato sauce. The counter-service format keeps things fast and casual—grab a pepperoni or the Sunday-only mac & cheese pie and eat at the sidewalk window or the small patio. Fifteen years in with outposts in Tokyo and Seoul, it delivers a reliable LA slice without pretending to be anything more.
Must-Try Dishes:
White Pizza, Soppressata & Mushroom, Margherita
What Makes it Special: Arts District slice shop cranking out some of the best by-the-slice pizza in LA using fresh, locally sourced ingredients
#16
Prime Pizza
7.8
Housemade dough and sauce built on NYC fundamentals—Di Fara and Patsy's DNA filtered through an LA lens that actually accommodates vegan and gluten-free eaters without treating them as afterthoughts. The downtown spot runs loud and late, which is the point: this is where you end up at 1 AM when you need a proper slice, not a sit-down experience. Pricing stays honest for the neighborhood, making it easy to order a full spread of squares and knots without doing math.
Must-Try Dishes:
New York Style Cheese Pie, Garlic Knots, Grandma Pie
What Makes it Special: Housemade dough and sauce inspired by NYC legends like Di Fara and Patsy's, built for LA with vegan and gluten-free options most NY-style shops skip.
7.8
A compact Arts District vineria with natural wines and Italian-snack pacing, ideal for grazing rather than a heavy sit-down feast. Pinsa and small plates are cleanly executed, and the staff leans knowledgeable without being precious. Best framed as a wine-first Italian hangout within the ZIP.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pinsa Romana, Speck Truffle Toast, Charcuterie & Formaggi
What Makes it Special: Natural-wine bar pairing Italian small plates with airy Arts District energy.
7.7
A compact, counter-service slice spot tucked into the core of Little Tokyo. Expect straightforward, satisfying pies and calzones with a casual, walk-in vibe that works best for quick refuels between neighborhood stops.
Must-Try Dishes:
Classic Cheese Slice, Pepperoni Slice, Calzone
What Makes it Special: No-fuss slices in a prime Little Tokyo walkabout location.
#19
Pizza Italia
7.7
Pizza Italia is a low-key 7th Street standby where locals grab inexpensive slices, wings, and Middle Eastern–leaning flatbreads in a compact, no-frills space. It’s more of a late-day and occasional late-evening stop than an all-nighter, but its generous portions and value pricing make it a smart move when you want pizza on a budget in the Historic Core.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cheese Pizza Slice, Mannish Pita with Zatar, Wings and Fries
What Makes it Special: Old-school counter joint pairing classic slices with Middle Eastern–influenced baked items.
#20
Downtown Dough
7.6
Opened in 2025 with Issa Rae’s restaurant group, Downtown Dough pairs wood-fired pizzas and Italian-ish comfort food with a spritz-heavy cocktail list and a funk-era soundtrack in a highly designed space. Dinner-only hours that stretch to 11pm make it a stylish option for late-night dates and drinks when you want more of a night out than a quick slice.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita Pizza, Funky Focaccia, Tiramisu Banana Pudding
What Makes it Special: A funk-inspired, design-forward pizza bar with wood-fired pies and strong cocktails.