Finding the perfect slice of pizza in Downtown Los Angeles has never been easier. From classic, late-night New York-style street slices to upscale, wood-fired artisanal pies, DTLA’s diverse pizza scene caters to every craving. Here are five of the best spots to grab an incredible piece of pizza.

PIZZANISTA!

A popular brand with deep roots in skate culture, PIZZANISTA! offers a variety of pizzas and slices.

Founded in 2010 in Downtown Los Angeles by professional skateboarder Salman Agah, PIZZANISTA! blends the thin-crust style of New York-style pizza with California’s fresh produce and small-batch ingredients. The pies feature hand-tossed pizza dough that uses 200-year-old sourdough cultures from Naples, marinara sauce made from California tomatoes and a variety of pizza toppings. Its specialty pizzas include Meat Jesus, North Shore, Prosciutto & Arugula, Rise & Shine and Macaroni & Cheese, though the latter is only available on Sundays.

“PIZZANISTA! strives to use locally grown produce and humanely raised meats whenever possible,” its website said. “Creative and irreverent specials are available such as the specialty Macaroni & Cheese Pizza served on Sundays—as well as vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options served daily.”

The flagship location in the Arts District is located in a pre-World War I building.

PIZZANISTA! is located at 2019 E. Seventh Street, Los Angeles, and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, and closed on Mondays. Learn more by calling 213-627-1430 or visiting pizzanista.com.

Purgatory Pizza

New York native Tad Yenawine opened Purgatory Pizza because he wanted a good slice of pizza. He couldn’t find one in his new neighborhood in LA. So, he did it himself.

“In 2000, I bought the building because I was doing construction projects and I also have a bad habit of collecting cars and motorcycles,” Yenawine told the LA Downtown News in March. “The neighborhood still had no density, so if you wanted to start a retail business, this is the opposite of where you should do it. There was a restaurant in the front, and it served Chinese food, but when you sell a literal mountain of Chinese food for $3, you’re relying on volume, and when there are no people, you don’t get that volume. I wanted to preserve the use and the value in the building, and I couldn’t get a good slice of pizza to save my life, so in 2007, I got together with a buddy, and we redeveloped recipes — and that was that.”

Located on the east side of the Los Angeles River across from the Pico Aliso Metro Gold Line station, Purgatory Pizza features a broad menu that caters to both traditional and vegan diets. Their unique offerings include the Buffalo Soldier, West Coast Deep Dish and Dante’s Return. The extensive vegan menu features house-made cashew mozzarella and creative pizzas. Purgatory Pizza also offers appetizers, salads, calzones and pastas. Their local delivery is within a five-mile radius, and it also has a parking lot for customers.

Purgatory Pizza is located at 1326 First Street, Los Angeles, and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Learn more by calling 323-262-5310 or visiting eatpurgatorypizza.com.

Pizzeria Bianco

Restaurateur Chris Bianco expanded his Phoenix eatery, Pizzeria Bianco, to ROW DTLA in 2022, moving into an adaptive reuse space that was formerly a coffee roaster, and now features a prominent wood-burning oven.

“I hope people will like what we do. I’ve been doing it for 30-plus years,” Bianco told the LA Downtown News when he opened the ROW DTLA location in 2022. “We hope people will dig it. I’m very excited about it. It’s an opportunity for me and my staff in LA to offer great pizza. It’s an artisanal pizza. I needed to do this in my life.”

The menu is simple and heavily focused on quality, remaining largely unchanged from the original Phoenix location. Bianco is famous for his emphasis on strong relationships with farmers and using high-quality local ingredients. The six signature pizzas at Pizzeria Bianco are the Marinara, Margherita, Sonny Boy, Rosa, Wiseguy and Biancoverde. Reservations are strongly suggested for dinner.

“For Chris, the food has always been about his relationships and his intention,” its website said. “Relationships with the farmers, the local producers, his family, customers and staff; and the respect and sincere intentions he approaches his recipes with, as well as the many interpersonal relationships that have influenced his philosophy and who he is. Pizzeria Bianco has found a second home in Los Angeles, and we are excited to continue the pizza journey here.”

Pizzeria Bianco is located at ROW DTLA, 1320 E. Seventh Street, Los Angeles, with its entrance off Alameda and Center Street, and is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. It is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Learn more by calling 213-372-5155 or visiting pizzeriabianco.com.

Prince Street Pizza

Prince Street Pizza brings the famous pizza taste to Downtown LA. The Morano family brought their generations-old recipes to the West Coast in 2012, operating under the philosophy that, “if you can put it on pasta you can put it on pizza.”

The restaurant is renowned for its signature Sicilian “SoHo” Squares and original Neapolitan pizza. The sauces are handcrafted and made from scratch daily, with the overall experience designed to mimic a classic New York City slice shop. As such, pizzas are available by the slice and as whole pies.

“Our mission is to deliver happiness with every slice of pizza served and every interaction had,” its website said. “We are committed to consistency and the perfect bite in every pie. Respect and dignity are at the core of our team, and we bring those values each and every day.”

Price Street Pizza is located at 827 E. Third Street, Los Angeles. It is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, 11 a.m. to midnight on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Learn more by calling 213-266-8355 or by visiting locations.princestreetpizza.com/downtown-la.

Settecento

Settecento is an upscale Italian restaurant and event venue located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. It brings an old-world charm to DTLA with a heavy emphasis on regional authenticity and high-quality ingredients. The restaurant is elegant yet romantic, making it a popular spot for date nights, upscale dinners and private events and weddings.

The menu acts as a tour through Italy, ranging from the rich, earthy flavors of Northern Italy to the vibrant seafood dishes of the South. Its popular wood-fired pizzas include the Margherita, the Settecento (mozzarella, prosciutto crudo, arugula pesto, burrata and parmesan chips), and the Mortazza (mozzarella, Bronte pistachio, mortadella and lemon zest). The menu also includes handmade pasta, antipasti and mains.

“Each dish is crafted with love and authenticity in every bite, our offerings are a testament to Italy’s culinary abundance, featuring only the best ingredients,” Settecento’s website said. “Our breads, pastas, pizzas and pastries are made in-house daily using Italian-imported, GMO-free flour.”

Settecento is located at 700 W. Fifth Street, Los Angeles. It is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Learn more by calling 213-757-7765 or by visiting settecentodtla.com.