Complaining about Seattle’s pizza scene is a well-worn civic ritual, on par with decrying the sad state of the city’s sports teams. But wake up: It’s 2026, the Seahawks are world champs, the Sonics are coming back, and Seattle is awash in great pizza. Granted, this town of transplants has no “style” to claim as its own, unlike Detroit, Chicago, or New Haven, Connecticut. But as Seattle’s pizza culture has matured we’ve seen a blossoming of different variations on the dish, from Roman-style rectangular pies to New York-inspired slices with fermented dough for a sourdough tang.

Shane Abbott, owner of the acclaimed Lupo and Stevie’s Famous, says that Seattle’s pizza renaissance is connected to a nationwide surge in pizza quality. By 2010, he says, pizzaiolos were “putting some baking chops into their pizza, and then COVID was just a massive accelerator on that… the next thing you know, there’s pizzerias popping up everywhere.” 

At a time when many restaurant operators are complaining about high costs and struggling to stay afloat, “pizza is definitely a leading candidate for something that can survive,” Abbott adds. It’s wildly popular, a classic comfort food, and relatively affordable. No matter what happens, we’ll always have pizza. 

As a taste of how good we have it, here’s a handful of creative new pizzerias that have opened around Seattle in the past seven months, plus a pair that we’re eagerly awaiting.

Photo courtesy of A.K. Pizza

A.K. Pizza

Opened: September

6901 Martin Luther King Jr Way S. Suite A, in Othello

A.K. is the latest Seattle pizzeria to get overwhelmed by hype. Pretty much since it opened its doors in September the only way to get its pies has been to monitor the pre-order page and snag a pie the second orders open up (at noon the day before you can actually pick up a pie). Is it worth it? It is if you like your crust on the crispy side and your sauce to be oregano-forward. And if you do manage to snag a pizza from A.K., you might as well grab one of its massive, sea salt-flaked cookies.

Roma Roma

Opened: February

1610 12th Ave., on Capitol Hill

Longtime Seattle chef Forrest Brunton has returned to the city with Seattle’s only “al taglio” pizzeria—that means you can pick the size of your slice and pay by weight. If you get past the hurdle of describing to the counterperson how much pizza you want in inches, you’ll get to try some great crispy-crusted ‘za with creative toppings. A spring special includes asparagus and prosciutto with rhubarb mostarda for a dash of sweetness. (You can also pre-order whole pies for takeaway.)

Photo courtesy of Un Po Tipsy

Un Po Tipsy 

Opened: December

419 Occidental Ave. S., in Pioneer Square

Restaurateur Renee Erickson is known for her millennial-chic dinner spots (most notably the Walrus and the Carpenter), but her sports bar–adjacent pizzeria excels at the simple, casual pleasure of a slice. These New York-style joints are truly foldable and don’t fool around with too many complicated flavors—the oddest topping combo may be the “tomato tomato,” which is just tomato sauce, basil, olive oil, and whole cloves of roasted garlic. Don’t skip the salad part of the menu; the little gems in basil-pecorino vinaigrette are a dose of lightness you’ll need if you’re having a pizza-and-a-beer kind of afternoon.

Moto Pizza

Opened: March

512 2nd Ave. STE 100, inside the Smith Tower

Five years ago, in the midst of the pandemic, Moto opened in a converted West Seattle house, serving borderline outlandish stuff—thick, chewy Detroit-style pies laden with toppings like pork belly, chimichurri, and banana ketchup, and that was all on the same pizza. It became the hottest ticket in town, a pizzeria with an absurd months-long waiting list. Owner Lee Kindell has been trying to catch up with that demand by expanding rapidly, opening five pizzerias in the Seattle metro area, plus one up in Bellingham, and a couple more planned for Southern California. You can now roll up and casually order a pizza topped with clam chowder, shrimp, or crab, and for that you should be grateful.

Starla’s

Will open: Sometime this year, we hope.

Capitol Hill’s beloved Blotto pizzeria closed in late 2023, with two of the three co-owners decamping for Bellingham, where they opened a new pizza spot, Starla’s, to critical acclaim and a spot on the James Beard Award longlist. Now—rejoice!—Starla’s owners Jordan Koplowitz and Christy Wyble are bringing Starla’s back to Seattle along with its fermented dough, made-in-house ranch, and maximalist approach to toppings. Whenever and wherever it opens, expect some lines.

Photo courtesy of Stevie’s Famous

Stevie’s Famous

Will open: Any day now

6000 Phinney Avenue N., on Phinney Ridge

Pity poor northside Seattleites who have had to drive down to Burien or Beacon Hill to get some of the best New York-style pizza this side of the Mississippi. Very soon Stevie’s—which began in Burien and later took over food at the Clock-Out Lounge—will be opening its third and biggest location inside the former Zeek’s space. The draw here largely comes from the crust, which is fermented sourdough—it’s tangy and chewy without being soft, good enough to eat on its own.