One reason pizzerias in Spain are really succeeding at the pizza game has to do with a fine balance of staying true to Italian pizza-making methods, while offering innovative toppings, including those local and popular in the region. And many pizza shops in Spain are baking their pizza the Italian way, in wood-fired ovens — along with their own signature flair. For instance, Sartoria Panatieri gives their dough a long time to leaven, and La Balmesina does the same with their sourdough crust that’s also undergone fermentation.
Whether you wander into an upscale restaurant or neighborhood hole-in-the-wall shop, on pizza menus across the country, like those at Sartoria Panatieri and La Balmesina, you’re likely to find toppings like Spanish chorizo, tomato, mozzarella, and herbs. Not to mention, the Iberico ham andmanchego cheese beloved by Spaniards. Plus, a healthy drizzle of Spanish olive oil, of course.
It’s not hard to see why Sartoria Panatieri earned its No. 1 pizza spot in Europe designation, with toppings ranging from creamy burrata to pies sauced with roasted carrot cream. While there’s certainly something to be said about pizzas that offer modern twists on the classic pie, Fratelli Figurato, which is owned by a pair of Neopolitan brothers, leans into its owners’ Italian heritage to bring pizza to Spain. And, don’t forget the tiramisu, which luckily can be found on various pizza shop menus too.