If you’re in south Wales and claim to love pizza, but haven’t visited these pizza places, then you need to have a word with yourself. Ellie McKeon has these suggestions to make it right.
DUSTY KNUCKLE
If you frequent food festivals in Wales, there’s a good chance you’ll have come across Dusty Knuckle as a pop-up. Baked in a pizza oven that was hand-crafted by owners Phill Lewis and Deb Noyes, the base is perfection, the sauce is perfection, and the cheese is perfection. Since 2016, they’ve been blessing Cardiff with stonebaked slices of heaven from a residence in the courtyard of the Printhaus arts collective in Canton. The Printhaus is relocating to Chapter Arts Centre, while Dusty Knuckle will relaunch on Wed 18 Sept in a location TBC.
The Yard, Papermill Road, Canton
Info: www.dustyknuckle.co.uk
FFWRNES
Like Dusty Knuckle, Ffwrnes started its life on the street food scene. Now residing on the top floor of Cardiff Market, it is home to Neapolitan-style pizza that – in their own words – “combines old-school Italian knowhow with the best Welsh produce”. This is your best bet for top notch affordable pizza with a relaxed vibe if you’re in the city centre – and they source some of their fresh produce from the veg stalls downstairs. Tidy!
Cardiff Market
Info: www.ffwrnes.co.uk
LITTLE DRAGON PIZZA VAN
Wood-fired pizzas with a cracking Welsh view: life doesn’t get much better than this. Serving from a custom-made VW van up on the Llangynidr Moor, they smoke their own meat toppings too. Little Dragon travel around, so even if you’re not local to the Beacons you might be in luck at an event near you soon.
Llangynidr Moors, Brecon Beacons + various
Info: www.littledragonpizza.co.uk
DA MARA
A bit more of a formal affair, Da Mara was named in the Sunday Times as one of the Top 25 Pizzerias in the UK in 2016. Three years on and it’s safe to say that claim can’t be disputed. This writer didn’t know that the quality of cherry tomatoes could bring tears to your eyes until visiting.
Pen-Y-Lan Road, Cardiff
Info: 029 2048 2222 / www.damaracardiff.co.uk
RAGTAG PIZZA, NEWPORT
Giving the ‘Port an injection of good quality pizza, Ragtag offers an outstanding selection of vegetarian and vegan options, making it a favourite amongst Newport’s meatless posse. But fear not carnivores, you are afforded – notably – a bacon jam, fried bacon & sweet maple pineapple pizza, and pizzas topped with pulled pork and buffalo chicken. With an experimental menu, they cheekily proclaim to be “as authentically Italian as Jamie Oliver”.
Clarence St, Newport
Info: 01633 675268