Though Bath has long been associated with affluence and a certain tendency to the high-falutin, as well as it being one of the UK’s most attractive places for both domestic and international tourism, its restaurant scene has only recently begun to match the city’s fine reputation.
But over the past ten years or so, Bath’s culinary map has become populated with a string of restaurants where the cooking is confident, the prices are reasonable, and the vibes more in tune with what’s happening in London than perhaps any other city of its size here in the UK.
That said, amongst all the hip, happening openings, sometimes all you really want is a pizza. Should you be in Bath and wondering where to eat the best pizza, we’ve got you covered…
The Oven
This little corner of South West England isn’t too blessed with seriously good pizza options, so we’ll jump right in with The Oven, which is, in our minds, the premium pizza spot in the city.
The oven in question, central to the restaurant not only in name but in its prime position in the dining room, is manned by pizzaioli Fabrizio Mancinetti, with the pizzas here loosely based on the Neapolitan canotto style.
Translating as ‘dinghy’ and defined by their imposing, inflated crusts, the dough at The Oven boasts the requisite heft to carry some generous toppings, whether that’s the Sicilian sausage, mushrooms and toasted walnuts, or the goat’s cheese, caramelised red onion, rocket and pine nuts. Yes, nuts on a pizza; trust us, it works.
Address: 3 & 4, Seven Dials, Saw Cl, Bath BA1 1EN
Website: theovenpizzeria.co.uk
Bosco
Bath’s Bosco bills itself as being ‘inspired by the best pizzerias of Naples and New York’. Having spent plenty of time in the former, we’d venture that Bosco has little in common with the rustic restaurants of Dalle 500 Cupole.
The vibe here, with its marble counter seating, dark wood and brass, instead calls to mind a New York speakeasy.
The pizzas – the bit you’re here for, of course – land somewhere in between the two cities, boasting more structural integrity than a Neopolitan, sure, but also drier than a keenly adorned New Yorker. There’s a central wood-fired oven at play, and the resultant puffy crusts, blistered and burnished in all the right places, make for an eminently satisfying eating experience.
Indeed, on its day these are fine pizzas indeed, boasting premium ingredients imported from the markets of Milan and Rome. Owing to that tendency towards the dry we mentioned, the best pizzas to order here are those that are a little more fully loaded. A case in point is the excellent Calabria, which is hot from ‘nduja and lusciously, liberally anointed with both mascarpone and fior di latte. The tomato base and roasted red onions bring some much needed sweet piquancy. It’s a fine pizza; arguably the best in Bath, quite honestly.
Owing to the dimmed lights and hushed tones of the place, Bosco is one of the city’s most romantic spots for a date night. During the day, the courtyard, a perfect sunspot, thrums with activity, cheer and chatter. The excellent house negronis certainly do no harm whichever way you’re playing it.
Website: boscopizzeria.co.uk
Address: Milsom Place, Bath BA1 1BZ
Bath Pizza Co.
Housed in the historic Green Park station – now populated with a whole host of great independent traders – comes Bath Pizza Co., a simple, walk-up to the window affair that happens to sling some of the best pizzas in town.
The now-closed landmark that houses these excellent pizzas boasts an elaborate Victorian railway glass roof, offering shelter from the elements when the semi-alfresco nature of the dining here is threatened by rain. They even have massive heaters for those feeling the cold during winter. That said, when the sun is shining, there’s nowhere more pleasant to eat in Bath.
In case there’s any danger of you forgetting the history of your illustrious surrounds, you’ll find Bath Pizza Co. right next to the old ticketing hall, though dining carriage fare this ain’t.
Instead, these guys were not only National Pizza Awards finalists in 2021, but were also named the ‘Independent Pizza Restaurant of the Year’ by the Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Association (PAPA), the only formal trade body in the UK representing the Italian food and drink industry.
That’s some serious pizza pedigree, but you’ll be pleased to hear that this is a casual dining spot, with no bookings required. Get yourself a drink from the next door Brasserie Bar and settle in for a great pizza with a side order of history!
Address: Green Park Station, 2-3 Westmoreland Station Rd, Bath BA1 1JB
Website: bathpizzaco.com
Dough Pizza
Dough Pizza, close to Bath’s historic Pulteney Bridge, offers a different proposition to the traditional pizzas (or rather, bases) so far installed on our list, in that it’s a customisable affair, allowing diners to choose from a variety of inventive, inclusive doughs, including hemp, seaweed, turmeric and a gluten-free option, all of which appear on the ‘Specials’ section of the menu.
A family-run operation with roots in Puglia, the pizzaiolo here is Emiliano Tunno, a man with pedigree in inventive pizzeria openings across the world, and a mission to make pizzas accessible to all, regardless of their dietary requirements or preferences. We just love the V for Vegan, which sees a khorasan wheat dough topped with vegan cheese, beetroot ‘carpaccio’, courgettes and capers. It’s wonderful.
For a quick, grab-and-go lunch, the pucce – a type of warm southern Italian sourdough bap – are excellent here, too. Divided into regions, our favourite is the Sorrento, which features grilled peppers, aubergines and courgettes, fior di latte mozzarella and rocket. Just delicious.
You’ll find a second branch on Kingsmead Square.
Address: 14-16 The Corridor, Bath BA1 5AP, United Kingdom
Address: 9 Kingsmead Square, Bath BA1 2AB, United Kingdom
Website: doughpizzarestaurant.co.uk
The Pizza Bike
We end our tour of the best pizzas in Bath in the garden of the Bell Inn, enjoying a slice from what is quite possibly the smallest pizzeria on the planet.
Run (or should that be ridden?) by Angel Ganev, this portable pizzeria sees the budding pizzaiolo pull a miniature oven across the city, delivering pizzas to the hungry masses. Currently stationed at Walcot Street’s Bell Inn, flavours are refined and simple (we imagine there’s not much fridge space for more elaborate toppings!), with the sobrasidita a particular favourite in the IDEAL office. We always add some sliced jalapenos – you should, too!
Pair it with a pint of the pub’s excellent, CAMRA-approved real ale, and settle in for an evening of good drinking and eating.
Address: 103 Walcot St, Bath BA1 5BW, United Kingdom
Instagram: @thepizzabike
Honourable Mention
The Real Italian Pizza Co: A short stroll from the historic Roman Baths, this compact, family-run pizzeria probably won’t give you the best pizza of your life, but if it’s pizza you’re craving (you are; that’s why you’re here) and you can’t get a seat at another restaurant on a tourist-filled day in Bath, then The Real Italian pizza Co will do the job.
Open since 2007, the British-Italian ownership duo of Timothy Coffey and Francesca Addabbo aimed to showcase the pizzas of Addabbo’s childhood in Italy; crisp, light and satisfying.
16 years on, we think it’s safe to say they more or less succeeded in their mission, with a second Real Italian Pizza Co. now open in nearby Cardiff. Try their take on a Full English Breakfast in pizza form (yes, really), which sees Italian sausage, bacon, mushrooms and a fried egg sitting atop the restaurant’s signature tomato sauce and naturally leavened, quick-fired dough. Thankfully, no baked beans make it onto this one.
Address: 16 York St, Bath BA1 1NG, United Kingdom
Website: realitalianpizza.co.uk
Website: The Pizza Bike | Bath (facebook.com)
And if, somehow, you’ve still got room for another course or two, do check out Upstairs at the Landrace, which is only a short walk from all of our selections here, and a brilliant restaurant indeed.