WALTHAMSTOW
Walthamstow’s premier pizzeria majors in long-fermented sourdough bases, craft beers and natural wine, served in an airy warehouse space – very E17. If you’re visiting at the weekend you can order one of the special brunch pizzas: The Casper, with smoked mozzarella, cream, chard, white onion, eggs, Lincolnshire Poacher and Parma ham, is the one to beat. There are Bethnal Green, Hoxton and Clapton branches too, and if you fancy learning the tricks of the trade, they run pizza-making classes.
What to order It’s got to be the John Bon Chovy (tomato, mozzarella, anchovies, olives, capers, chilli and fresh parsley), for the name if nothing else
Address: Sodo Pizza, 21-23 Hatherley Mews, Walthamstow, London E17 4QP
Telephone: +44 20 8520 1244
Website: sodopizza.co.uk
Santa Maria
EALING
They’re big on provenance at this funky Ealing mainstay: Neapolitan owners Angelo and Pasquale are veterans of London’s pizza scene, and they only use San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte from Campania, along with delicacies from closer to home such as rare-breed Yorkshire pork sausage. Santa Maria has one of London’s best vegan pizza selections, topped with walnut- or pumpkin-cream bases. As well as the original, there are branches in Chelsea and Fitzrovia.
What to order The mortadella and pistachio pesto – or, if you’re meat-free, the vegan Sant’ Andrea, with cream of potato and onions in soy milk, red and yellow peppers, portobello mushrooms and olives
Address: Santa Maria, 15 St Mary’s Road, Ealing, London W5 5RA
Telephone: +44 20 8579 1462
Website: santamariapizzeria.com