I Carusi || 46A Holmes Street, Brunswick East. Ph: (03) 9386 5522.

Forget oil, grease or over-cheesiness, these authentic pizzas bases are covered with quality ingredients. You’ll soon realise why this local favourite heads up the Melbourne best pizza list.

Lucky Coq / Bimbo Deluxe || 179 Chapel St. Windsor. 3181. Ph: (03) 9525 1288. luckycoq.com.au; Bimbo Deluxe. 376 Brunswick St. Fitzroy. 3065. Ph: (03) 9419 8600. bimbodeluxe.com.au.

Sister venues doing fine, famous pizzas. Mid-week, get a $4 ‘Agnello’ with tomato, mozzarella, spiced lamb, rocket, pinenuts and sultanas. Kick your diet with a little, decadent dessert pizza.

Ladro || 224 Gertrude St. Fitzroy. 3065. Ph: (03) 9415 7575. 162 Greville St. Prahran. Ph: (03) 9510 2233. ladro.com.au.

Wood-fired ovens work flat out most nights at Ladro. Delivered with a smile on Gertrude or Greville, toppings like anchovy and gorgonzola melt onto crisp, bubbled bases.

Pizza Meine Liebe || 231 High St. Northcote. 3070. Ph: (03) 9482 7001. pizzarocks.com.au.

A little shopfront with 60’s décor. Eat thin chewy bases with fresh, quality toppings by hand. Doing ol’ favourites on request, the ‘Sea Song’ comes with tomato, stracchino, seared tuna, red onion, chilli and olives.

+39 Pizzeria || 362 Little Bourke St. Melbourne. 3000. Ph: (03) 9642 0440. plus39.com.au.

Award-winning pizzeria and degustation bar on Little Bourke offers every Italian staple. From Piadina to Pannini to Pizza, the ‘Aragosta’ with lobster, black caviar, burrata and cherry tomato is high-class. Great tiramisu for dessert.