Pizza is both preferential and deeply personal. While it’s generally a simple blend of dough, cheese and tomato sauce, you’re hard-pressed to find any ingredient, or style for that matter, that is universally agreed upon. Yet we can all agree on pizza now, which has redefined a whole category of eat-in, takeout and, with newer backyard pizza ovens, fired-at-home dining.
Everyone across the globe, especially those in Napoli, New York and Chicago, has their hot take. Closer to home, the Monterey Peninsula hosts a number of eateries where pizza shines, unafraid to specialize in such everyday fare.
Big flavors and world-renowned ingredients are a staple of this region, and pizza is no different. With a focus on sustainable, local products, from the fields of Salinas Valley to the ranches and farms inland, every bite showcases what makes food here so special.
Here are our favorite pizzas around the peninsula, but be warned: oven-perfected crusts, next-level toppings and neighborhood treasures await. One slice may not be enough.
Carmel
The stories of this pristine beach town extend far beyond the country’s western coast, with its world-famous food rightfully making headlines. You won’t find more acclaimed chefs and unforgettable dining experiences in one square mile anywhere else on earth. And there’s always room for pizza.
Tucked on a side street next to the town’s performing arts center, Sunset Center, Pizza Heaven is an unassuming gem that serves extensive options, from classic pies to local twists like the favorite Pepperoni Hot Honey. Grab a table with your pooch on the patio, and enjoy a few slices under the stars.
Nearby, Rise & Roam Bakery and Pizzeria is just that, offering a full coffee bar with daily baked goods, as well as a full-fledged restaurant featuring delicious sandwiches and pillowy pizzas, with gluten-free and vegan options throughout the menu.
The Little Piggy, starring fennel sausage with house-made San Marzano tomato sauce, offers a beautifully balanced bite that pairs well with any of their beers or wines by the glass. The hybrid spot also has a bright, self-seating dining area that overlooks Mission Street, perfect for little ones needing a break and a snack (ask for the kids’ menu!).
Also within a few steps, the popular bistro La Bicyclette brings the European countryside to life with a classic French menu and an intimate dining room on the corner of 7th and Dolores. But don’t overlook their wood-fired oven, which bakes next-level breads and pizzas with exciting combinations.
Try the Andrew Molera, named after the turn-of-the-century “Artichoke King” of Monterey County, featuring the namesake artichoke plus manchego and goat cheese with pumpkin seeds and watercress. The cornerstone gem is an ever-lively staple for weekend wine tastings and après-sunset strolls on Carmel Beach.
For an over-the-top catering experience, Sleight of Hand is fired by 14-time World Pizza Champion Justin Wadstein. That’s My Jam is a signature, pairing fresh mozzarella, serranos, stracciatella, cotija and mint with a salted watermelon jam. Justin and his wife, Liza, build custom menus for any size group, featuring artisan wood-fired pizzas, salads and charcuterie, along with Justin’s dough-tossing entertainment. It’s a must for your next party around the Monterey Peninsula.
Monterey
With all the restaurant options throughout the peninsula, downtown Monterey doesn’t always get the same buzz as its neighbors. But among the historic adobes and seaside sites marking California’s earliest capital, there are sneaky-good options, from award-winning breweries and fast-casual favorites to upscale seacoast dining and pizza joints for every taste.
Tucked into the Old Town neighborhood (you’ll find it kitty-corner to the post office), Heirloom Pizza was opened nearly a decade ago by pizza master Michael Foley. Cornmeal adds a tasty crunch to classic and unique thin-crust options.
But as online reviews confirm, the deep dish at this hidden Monterey gem goes bite-for-bite with any place in Chicago. The aptly named Bixby pie bridges the conventional with next-level flair, pairing sausage, feta cheese, green olives and sweet sun-dried tomatoes in a way that makes you question every pizza convention.
Closer to Cannery Row, Gianni’s Pizza offers the scene of a classic Italian restaurant, complete with red-and-white-checkered tablecloths, vintage posters of the Sicilian coast and pizzas that can feed the whole neighborhood. You can’t go wrong with any of the hand-tossed pies, from the Meat-Zilla to the Chicken Margarita, and there might be just a little more room for a few spoonfuls of Italian gelato, with more than a dozen flavors to choose from.
Carmel Valley
Sun-seekers, hikers and wine enthusiasts will also point you east to Carmel Valley, down the eponymous road into a sprawling basin shaped by lush hillsides and deep vistas into the Santa Lucia range. About seven miles inland, Ioli’s in the Mid-Valley Shopping Center is known for large pies and big flavors, including the Bronx Combo, which pairs roasted veggies with pepperoni and sausage.
Carmel Valley Village lies only a few more miles along the scenic roadway, noted for its small-town charm, numerous wine tasting rooms and dining spots that make the most of the inland sun. Corkscrew Cafe offers quintessential valley dining in a quaint country home setting, alongside al fresco tables in a shady garden.
Owned by the neighboring Georis Winery, the cafe serves a classic Californian menu, but the pizzas are worth the trip: a golden, wood-fired crust under fresh, local toppings offers a bite that will have the table ordering another. The Meyer Lemon pie delivers a bright, zesty pop balanced by salty prosciutto and peppery arugula, a deliciously refreshing way to end your pizza journey around the peninsula.
“Every pizza,” as legendary comedian Bill Murray is widely credited with saying, “is a personal pizza if you try hard and believe in yourself.” The Monterey Peninsula icon gives us a bold challenge, but one worth the adventure.
Whatever your pizza preference, you’ll find a new favorite from the cobblestone streets of Carmel-by-the-Sea to the seal-spotted wharfs of Monterey. Here’s to the next slice in paradise!
This feature originally appeared in the Summer & Fall 2026 issue of Monterey Coast Homes.
Thinking about calling the Monterey Peninsula home? Our local agents know these neighborhoods, from Carmel-by-the-Sea to Carmel Valley, and would be glad to help you find your place on the coast. Explore homes for sale at MontereyCoastRealty.com or call 831.624.2300.
