EPICURIOUS: A KARACHI PIZZA CRAWL

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   The RedBrick Pizzeria offers one of the best Neapolitan-style pizzas in Karachi
The RedBrick Pizzeria offers one of the best Neapolitan-style pizzas in Karachi

In a dimly lit street in Karachi — the kind that makes you clutch your mobile phone a little tighter — sits a house often described as ‘haunted’ on Instagram. Why this particular house? Because inside it is some of the best Neapolitan-style pizzas in Karachi.

It is called RedBrick Pizzeria and true to its name, you find a red-brick house with large green windows when you walk inside. The only way to dine here is to reserve a table weeks in advance. What really adds to the ‘haunted’ vibe is that you hardly ever see another person when you arrive — and it can feel as though you have arrived at the wrong place if it’s your first time visiting.

  The ‘Market Pizza’ at Famous O’s is topped with roast rib-eye, chimichurri and garlic confit
The ‘Market Pizza’ at Famous O’s is topped with roast rib-eye, chimichurri and garlic confit

You place your order by leaving a message on their WhatsApp — even when you are sitting there. The only time you see someone is when your order is being brought out. This is in stark contrast with the usual café experience in Karachi, where a small army of people usher you in while others rush around serving the food.

In a city that is increasingly obsessed about the ‘look’ of a place, RedBrick Pizzeria gets a free pass because the food is just that good. And if you do decide to do a pizza crawl on a Sunday, you absolutely must start here.

From airy Neapolitan pies to crisper New York-style slices, Karachi’s pizza scene has grown to accommodate a surprisingly diverse range of styles and flavours

Their tuscan chicken and pepperoni pizza offer simple flavours that allow you to appreciate the skill behind their pizza, particularly the airy crust. But what sets them apart is their desire to experiment with newer flavours. Their pistachio, mortadella and burrata pizza, for instance, offers a flavour you won’t find anywhere else in Karachi.

  The ‘Stella Pizza’ at Venti is a simple tomato pie, topped with fried garlic and burrata
The ‘Stella Pizza’ at Venti is a simple tomato pie, topped with fried garlic and burrata

Your next stop on the pizza run must be at Famous O’s, a food spot that committed to bringing the New York-style pizza to Karachi long before the city discovered it had a craving for it. While Neapolitan pizzas offer an airy crust, a New York-style pizza is often larger, crisper and sturdy enough to fold when you pick up a slice.

At Famous O’s, not only do you get the classic pepperoni but also newer pizzas such as ‘The Market’, topped with roast rib-eye, ricotta cream, chimichurri and garlic confit. Their pizzas featuring fennel sausage are also under-rated. Their ‘Son of A Pizza Man’ combines pepperoni, ground Italian fennel sausages and red onions in a pie.

  ‘The Son of a Pizza Man’ pizza at Famous O’s
‘The Son of a Pizza Man’ pizza at Famous O’s

While these two places can be considered the best in their category, there are also newer pizza places such as Venti Pizzeria. ‘The Stella’, for instance, has dollops of burrata and sliced garlic over a crisp tomato pie. Venti Pizzeria stands in stark contrast to the city’s many “loaded” pizzas: there is no dramatic cheese pull, but the flavours stay with you for days. The simple pie lets the garlic and tomato shine, with the creamy burrata adding richness.

  The beef and chimichurri pizza at Buru’s | Photos by the writer
The beef and chimichurri pizza at Buru’s | Photos by the writer

Then there is Braci, with its ‘Showstopper’, topped with roast beef, stracciatella, rocket leaves and balsamic dressing. Buru’s Pizzeria, meanwhile, became known for its beef and chimichurri pizza.

If your pizza run happens to take place on a cool evening, the hot chocolate at Famous O’s or a crème brûlée at Braci makes for a satisfyingly sweet finale.

Karachi will always have another list of places to try, but the best thing about a pizza run is that it offers a sense of closure. You walk away having tried flavours you might never have sought out before, appreciating the different styles the city has made room for — and perhaps with a new list of places to try.

And thankfully, there is always another day.

The reviewer is a food writer and a digital content creator. Instagram: @GirlGottaEat

Published in Dawn, EOS, October 11th, 2026

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