Introduction: The Fiery Rise of Pizza in Latin America 2025
In 2025, pizza has transcended its Neapolitan roots to become a cultural fusion in Latin America, blending Italian authenticity with local flavors like Andean potatoes, Amazonian herbs, and Mexican chilies. The 50 Top Pizza Latin America 2025 guide, announced in April at Rio de Janeiro’s Istituto Italiano di Cultura, crowns this region’s pizzerias as global contenders, with the top 11 securing spots in the prestigious 100 World’s Best Pizzerias. Curated by experts Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro, and Albert Sapere, the ranking draws from anonymous inspections, peer nominations, and a focus on dough mastery, ingredient sourcing, and innovation. Brazil dominates with 25 entries, followed by Chile (6) and Argentina (5), reflecting a boom in wood-fired ovens amid economic recovery and tourism surges. This year, sustainability shines with the Green Oven Award to Seba’s in Costa Rica, while special honors like Best Beer Service go to Paradiso in Paraguay. From São Paulo’s bustling streets to La Paz’s high-altitude haunts, these pizzerias redefine comfort food. Join us as we slice into the top 10 of 2025.
1. Leggera Pizza Napoletana, São Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷
Reclaiming the throne for the second year, Leggera Pizza Napoletana in São Paulo, led by pizzaiolo André Guidon, embodies 2025’s pinnacle of Latin American pizza artistry. Housed in a sleek Vila Madalena spot, it ferments dough for 72 hours using imported Italian flours, baked in a 500°C wood-fired oven for that signature leopard-spotted crust. Signature pies like the Margherita Extra—topped with buffalo mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes—earned raves for balancing lightness with bold flavors. In 2025, Leggera’s commitment to zero-waste practices, composting scraps into garden fertilizer, aligns with the guide’s sustainability ethos. Diners queue for hours, but the payoff is ethereal: a pie that weighs mere grams yet satisfies deeply. As Guidon notes, “Pizza is poetry on a plate—simple, yet profound.” This São Paulo staple not only tops the charts but inspires a new generation of Brazilian pizzaiolos.
2. QT Pizza Bar, São Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷
São Paulo’s QT Pizza Bar secures second in 2025, a testament to its inventive spin on Neapolitan classics in the vibrant Pinheiros district. Chef Thiago Portella’s 48-hour biga dough yields a pillowy base, perfect for bold toppings like the QT Special: guava-glazed pork belly with local queijo coalho cheese. The 2025 guide praises its craft beer pairings and intimate 40-seat vibe, where exposed brick walls hum with jazz. Amid Brazil’s pizza renaissance—now boasting 25 ranked spots—QT stands out for sourcing 80% local ingredients, reducing carbon footprints while amplifying flavors. Patrons love the interactive element: custom pie-building sessions that turn meals into memories. In a city of 12 million, QT proves pizza can be both elevated and approachable.
3. Ti Amo, Adrogué, Argentina 🇦🇷
Tucked in Buenos Aires’ suburban Adrogué enclave, Ti Amo claims third in 2025 with its heartfelt homage to Italian roots amid Argentine asado culture. Owner Pablo Rossi’s family-recipe dough, leavened with natural yeast from Patagonian wildflowers, bakes to golden perfection in a beehive oven. The star is the Fugazzeta Rellena, stuffed with caramelized onions and provolone, evoking nonna’s kitchen. This year’s ranking highlights Ti Amo’s expansion, adding gluten-free options that cater to 2025’s health-conscious diners. With outdoor patios under jacaranda trees, it fosters community—locals linger over Malbecs, debating soccer. As Argentina’s pizza scene heats up, Ti Amo bridges old-world tradition with New World warmth.
4. A Pizza da Mooca, São Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷
In São Paulo’s historic Mooca neighborhood, A Pizza da Mooca ranks fourth in 2025, channeling Italian immigrant heritage into rustic excellence. The team’s 96-hour cold-fermented dough, milled from Brazilian grains, supports hearty toppings like the Calabresa Picante: spicy sausage with pequi fruit for a tropical kick. The 50 Top inspectors lauded its value—generous portions under $15—amid 2025’s inflationary pressures. With checkered tablecloths and vinyl records spinning Sinatra, it feels like a time warp to 1950s Italy. Owner Luca Bianchi’s focus on staff training ensures seamless service, making it a family favorite for generations.
5. Allería, Providencia, Chile 🇨🇱
Santiago’s Allería in Providencia takes fifth, a Chilean powerhouse blending Mediterranean flair with Andean twists. Pizzaiola Valentina Guerrero’s semolina-rich dough ferments for 24 hours, crowned with the Allería Signature: king crab from Patagonia atop burrata and truffle oil. In 2025, its rooftop terrace—overlooking the Andes—became a hotspot, boosting Chile’s six ranked pizzerias. The guide commends Allería’s wine list, featuring Carménère pairings that elevate every bite. Amid post-pandemic vibrancy, it symbolizes resilience: Guerrero rebuilt after 2023’s wildfires, sourcing fire-resistant herbs for pestos.
6. Ardente, Mexico City, Mexico 🇲🇽
Mexico City’s Ardente ignites the sixth spot in 2025, fusing Neapolitan technique with Mexican fire. In Roma Norte’s trendy scene, chef Eduardo Ruiz’s lava-stone oven hits 450°C for cornicione bubbles, as in the Ardente Diablo: chorizo, habanero honey, and Oaxaca cheese for a spicy symphony. The ranking spotlights its 2025 mezcal-infused dough experiments, drawing foodies globally. With vibrant murals and mariachi nights, Ardente captures CDMX’s chaotic charm, proving pizza’s adaptability in Latin America’s spice capital.
7. Unica Pizzeria, São Paulo, Brazil 🇧🇷
Unica Pizzeria in São Paulo’s Jardins district earns seventh and the Made in Italy 2025 Award for its authentic imports—San Marzano tomatoes flown from Campania. Owner Fabrizio Zanette’s 60-hour dough yields ethereal lightness, shining in the Unica Classica: fior di latte and basil simplicity. In 2025, its zero-kilometer herb garden slashed emissions, aligning with regional green trends. Intimate and candlelit, Unica draws romantics, where pizza becomes foreplay to conversation.
8. Imilla Alzada, La Paz, Bolivia 🇧🇷
High in La Paz’s 12,000-foot elevation, Imilla Alzada defies altitude for an eighth-place finish, infusing Aymara indigenous elements into pizza. The quinoa-floured dough—fermented with llama milk yogurt—supports the Imilla Pie: alpaca salami and chuño potatoes. 2025’s guide hails its cultural preservation amid Bolivia’s tourism boom, with solar-powered ovens for sustainability. Overlooking Illimani peak, it unites locals and climbers in dough-kneading workshops, turning pizza into a bridge across cultures.
9. Ferro e Farinha, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 🇧🇷
Rio’s Ferro e Farinha, ninth in 2025, captures Carnival energy in Botafogo with iron-clad ovens forging Neapolitan gems. The Farinha Frita—fried dough stuffed with mozza and açaí—earned nods for innovation. Amid Brazil’s Rio-São Paulo rivalry, it sources Atlantic seafood for coastal pies. Beachy vibes and caipirinha slushies make it a post-surf haven.
10. Atte. Pizzeria Napoletana, Buenos Aires, Argentina 🇦🇷
Buenos Aires’ Atte. closes the top 10, a Palermo hideaway where Neapolitan purity meets porteño flair. The 72-hour biga dough cradles the Atte. Verde: pesto with yerba mate hints. In 2025, its fermentation lab experiments drew acclaim, while tango nights add romance. As Argentina’s third-ranked, it cements BA’s pizza prowess.
The Broader Impact: Pizza’s Cultural Fusion in 2025
The 2025 rankings spotlight Latin America’s pizza evolution: Brazil’s dominance reflects immigrant waves, while emerging scenes in Peru and Uruguay innovate with native ingredients like lúcuma and yuca. Sustainability surges, with 20% of ranked spots adopting eco-ovens, per the guide. Challenges like supply chain volatility persist, but pizzerias counter with hyper-local sourcing, boosting economies—São Paulo alone supports 6,000 jobs.
Challenges and Future Horizons
In 2025, inflation and climate shifts strain imports, yet digital reservations and pop-ups ensure accessibility. By 2030, expect VR dough classes and plant-based booms, but the soul—hand-stretched crusts—remains irreplaceable.
Conclusion: A Cheesy Tapestry of Latin Flavors
Latin America’s Best Pizzerias 2025 weave Italian legacy with regional heart, from Leggera’s featherlight mastery to Imilla’s indigenous fire. These spots aren’t just eateries; they’re cultural crossroads, inviting all to savor unity in every slice. As the continent’s ovens blaze brighter, pizza proves: the best meals feed body and soul.
