The Best Vegetarian Pizzas in Dubai!

We’ve had a great year of #VeggieBuzzing, encompassing everything from veggie burgers to delicious Thai curries. But the one dish we can never have too much of is a good pizza. It’s a quick meal, it’s very veggie-friendly, and it’s not that unhealthy, right?  Hey, it’s the end of the year; we're allowed to indulge a little…

In a city like Dubai, there’s no shortage of great pies to choose from. We love a good Quattro Formaggio, or an exquisite Tartufo. Some pizzas have zesty rocket leaves on top while others use caramelized onions or peppers to give them some sweetness. To keep our selection process as fair and neutral as possible, we decided to stick with the humble Margherita Pizza.

These are, in no particular order, the best pizzas we’ve had in 2015.

1. 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria

We love the build-your-own-pizza concept at 800 Degrees, which gives you your choice of crust, sauce and toppings. We kept it simple with their signature Neapolitan crust, topped off with the Margherita base, and moments later (90 seconds, to be exact), the pizza was out of the wood-fired oven and ready to eat!  The crust is delicate and slightly chewy, and the Margherita has the right blend of tart and sweet flavors. They’ve also got a thin or gluten-free crust option, and we were pleased to see that they have separate pizza cutters for each individual dietary requirement!

Price: AED 33 for a 12-inch Margherita pizza

2. Pi.Dubai

The new gourmet pizza concept at the Dubai Mall uses fun, quirky names for its pizzas, such as Mushroom Pi or Potato Pi, but there’s a lot of complex flavor hidden behind that. Pi.Dubai is committed to using fresh, organic produce and authentic ingredients. They import their flour from a specific mill in Italy, which results in a pizza crust that’s crisp at the edges and soft in the middle.

Price: AED 75 for a 12-inch Margherita pizza

3. The Pizza Factory

The Pizza Factory in DIFC is a simple eatery that believes that good food doesn’t have to be too fancy. The restaurant has a cool industrial theme to it (including cutlery shaped like wrenches!) and they’ve got a special oven made up of stones extracted from a volcano! That explains why the pizza is so flavorful, with a nice crispy crust. You can even check out their companion store, The Ice Factory at JBR, if you’re in the mood for some fresh gelato.

Price: AED 30 for a 7-inch Margherita pizza and AED 46 for a 14-inch Margherita pizza

4. Bussola

Bussola is a well known name when it comes to fine Italian dining in Dubai, and the pizzas are no exception. With an open-air pizzeria that provides a great view of the beach and Palm Jumeirah, you can enjoy a delicious mix of slightly sweet cheese and tart tomato sauce on a crisp crust with just a hint of sourness to it. They’ve also got a creative assortment of veggie pizzas on their menu, including the Capricciosa, Integrale Naturale and the Messicana.

Price: AED 62 for a 12-inch Margherita pizza

5. The Pizza Guys

This little eatery in Business Bay is the only New York-style pizzeria on the list. While the pizza selection is fairly small, we can’t pass up a pizza called the Queen Margherita. The pizza has some solid flavor thanks to a specially imported brick oven, and a crust that’s ideal for the knife and fork treatment. And while you’re at it, order up a glass of Earl Grey iced tea on the side!

Price: AED 44 for a 12-inch Margherita pizza and AED 54 for a 16-inch Margherita pizza

6. Pizza Express

Pizza Express is another pizza place that has a few branches around Dubai. We tried out their JLT outlet, Jazz@PizzaExpress, which has a cool contemporary look and live music in the evenings. Their Margherita is the simplest on the list, with a layer of tomato sauce covered in shredded cheese, but it’s very satisfying on its own. Alternatively, you can try their signature Margherita Bufala.

Price: AED 50 for an 11-inch Margherita pizza (classic, thick crust) and AED 58 for a 14-inch Margherita pizza (Romana, thin crust)

Note: These prices are for the JLT branch only. It’s the only licensed outlet so the prices are slightly higher (4 AED) than at other Pizza Express outlets.

7. Pizzaro

Unlike the other pizza places we’ve listed, Pizzaro doesn’t really have any gimmicks or concepts. It doesn’t have any unusual flavors or toppings, nor does it have specially imported equipment or ingredients. What it does have is simple, clean Italian flavors and some very tasty pizza. The crust is nice and crisp, contrasting nicely against the gooey cheese and providing a solid base for their mouthwatering tomato sauce. Have just one slice and you’ll know why we love it.

Price: AED 40 for a 12-inch Margherita pizza