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Daily Record
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Two Scottish restaurants named among Europe's best for authentic Neapolitan pizza
Scotland's pizza scene has earned global praise, with two favourites named among Europe's best in a top guide Scotland's thriving pizza scene has earned fresh international praise, with two of the public favourites in two Scottish cities named among Europe's top pizzerias in a prestigious new guide. Paesano, which now has three bustling venues across Glasgow, is one of only two Scottish spots featured in the newly released 50 Top Pizza list for 2025. The respected ranking, compiled annually by industry experts Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro and Albert Sapere, highlights the best places to enjoy authentic pizza across the continent, excluding Italy, Glasgow Live reports. While no Scottish venue made the top 50 this year, Paesano and Edinburgh's Salerno were included in the wider 'excellent pizzerias' category, recognising outstanding quality and consistent craftsmanship. For Paesano, the accolade comes hot on the heels of opening a new southside location and earning recent praise from Big 7 Travel, further cementing its status as one of the country's most celebrated pizza destinations. According to 50 Top Pizza: 'The space is furnished in a post-industrial style with iron and wood, featuring a large bar counter that dominates the room. "However, the name and wood-fired oven bring us back to the typically Italian dimension where food is the result of artisanal craftsmanship with fresh products. 'The goal of this Scottish establishment is very clear: to be obsessed with Neapolitan pizza, with a dough that is left to rise for 24 hours in the Coccia style, and a traditional menu where the great Neapolitan classics are combined with local flavours and seasonality. "Perfect and efficient service, great atmosphere in the dining room, and an unmissable drink selection.' Edinburgh's Salerno was also singled out for praise, earning its place among Europe's finest pizza joints. The guide's reviewers noted: 'A pizzeria called Salerno that serves a perfect Neapolitan pizza: something that may have seemed strange until a few years ago, just as in the Campania city, a fantastic Mediterranean experience is also lived in the Scottish capital. 'The atmosphere is very beautiful and personalised with wicker baskets used as chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, a large counter with a visible oven. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. "The pizzas have a good leavening and in addition to the classics, many are 'reinforced' according to local tastes but always with Italian products: ham, salami, dairy products. 'The service is cheerful and youthful, with a menu of Italian wines, beers, and excellent cocktails that complete an unmissable offer of quality when in this magnificent city.' Explaining the expanded scope of this year's guide, the curators said: 'Because quality continues to grow nonstop, this year too we wanted to emphasise the growing value of the European evolution, by including the category 'excellent' to the guide. "About 150 pizzerias scattered around the Old Continent, where you can eat an excellent pizza, which are added to the 50 positions in the ranking.'
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Dublin spot voted best pizza in Ireland for third year running
A Dublin pizza restaurant was named the best pizza in Ireland and the 16th best pizza spot in Europe at the 50 Top Pizza Europa Awards. Little Pyg, in Dublin's Powerscourt Townhouse Centre was awarded the accolade by 50 Top Pizza, a food publication and guide that celebrates the highest culinary achievements in the competitive world of pizza. The prizes were awarded last night at a ceremony in Madrid, with pizzerias from across Europe celebrated. Little Pyg was the only Irish spot named on the list. This year's win for best pizzeria in Ireland is its third in a row. Launched in Italy in 2017, the 50 Top Pizza Awards are curated by food critics Barbara Guerra, Luciano Pignataro and Albert Sapere and are voted on by 2,000 anonymous inspectors that travel across Europe and review pizzerias. The restaurants are graded on everything from dough quality and innovation, to ingredient sourcing and service. Little Pyg is the sister restaurant to Dublin favourite Pygmalion, and opened just before the outbreak of Covid-19. Pizzas are one of their specialties, with each pizza chef sent to Italy for one year, to train under Enzo Coccia, a celebrated pizza expert. It had ranked at no. 27 on the list last year. It was also famously visited by The Real Housewives of New Jersey cast in 2022, while on their group trip to Ireland. Naples on the Road in London, headed up by Michele Pascarella and his team, was awarded the top spot for the seconf year in a row, with Revelry in Madrid coming in second place. Via Toledo Enopizzeria in Vienna, Austria, rounded out the top three. Having made it into Europe's Top 18 Pizzerias, Little Pyg will go on to represent Irelanf at the World Pizza Championships in Naples this September. Speaking from Madrid, owner Paul McGlade Jnr shared his pride in the team, saying: "We're very proud of Federico, who is regarded as one of the best pizzaiolos in the world and our team at Little Pyg, it's a great award for their hard work and dedication." Little Pyg's head chef Federico Rapali also reacted to the win: "I'm incredibly proud to share that we have been named Best Pizzeria in Ireland for the third year in a row as well as ranking #16 in Europe at the 2025 Top Pizza Awards. This recognition means everything. It is a reflection of relentless passion, long hours and the belief that great pizza can bring people together. "To my amazing team and our loyal guests, thank you for making this journey possible. What started as a dream has grown into something far greater than I ever imagined. Here's to tradition, innovation and never settling for anything less than excellence."
