Ivanhoe has a pizza scene that punches well above what you’d expect. The suburb runs working-class, authentic, community-focused — and the food reflects it. We’ve eaten at every pizza spot in the area and these are the ones worth your time and money.
Expect to pay $18-32 per person for a proper sit-down meal. The cheaper end gets you wood-fired, the higher end gets you Neapolitan done properly.
Our Top Picks
1. Marco’s — 107 Elm Street
Hours: Tue-Sat 5:30pm-11pm Price: $18-34 per person
Marco’s is the benchmark for pizza in Ivanhoe. The New York-style slice is what most people order, and for good reason — it’s consistently excellent. The margherita is the other standout, done with genuine care rather than the paint-by-numbers approach you get at chain spots.
The room seats about 45 and fills on Friday and Saturday nights. Midweek you’ll walk straight in. The service is efficient without being rushed, and the owner is usually behind the bar.
Order this: The sourdough base ($18) as a main, plus truffle mushroom to share. Insider tip: The specials board changes weekly and is usually better than the printed menu.
2. Zara Bench — 376 Elm Street
Hours: Wed-Sun 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-10:30pm Price: $18-28 per person
This is the locals’ pick — less polished than Marco’s but arguably more flavour per dollar. The kitchen runs tight with a small team, which means everything is made to order. The Neapolitan here has a depth that comes from doing the same dish three hundred times until it’s muscle memory.
The space is small — about 30 seats — and they don’t take bookings on weeknights, so arrive before 6:30pm or after 8pm to dodge the rush.
Best dish: The wood-fired ($18). Simple, executed perfectly. Pro tip: BYO wine on Tuesdays ($5 corkage).
3. Half Yard — 324 Elm Street
Hours: Wed-Sun 5:30pm-11pm Price: $21-41 per person
Half Yard opened in late 2025 and has already built a following. The menu is short — eight dishes — which is usually a good sign. Everything on it is considered. The margherita ($24) is the dish that gets photographed most, but the truffle mushroom ($27) is the one regulars order.
When to go: Sunday lunch is the sweet spot. Same food, half the crowd.
4. Theo Works — 111 North Crescent
Hours: Mon-Sat 5:30pm-10pm Price: $20-37 per person
The takeaway option on this list. Theo Works doesn’t have table service — you order at the counter and either take it home or eat at the three outdoor tables. The quality-to-price ratio is the best in Ivanhoe. The New York-style slice ($20) is the standout.
5. Northern Larder — 9 Collins Place
Hours: Tue-Sat 12pm-3pm + 5:30pm-11pm Price: $24-42 per person
A solid all-rounder. Not the cheapest, not the most experimental, but consistently good across the entire menu. The Neapolitan ($28) and the wood-fired ($21) are both worth ordering. The wine list is surprisingly thoughtful for a pizza place.
Quick Comparison
| Restaurant | Best For | Price (pp) | Bookings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marco’s | Overall best | $18-34 | Recommended Fri-Sat |
| Zara Bench | Locals’ favourite | $18-28 | Walk-in only (weeknights) |
| Half Yard | New opening | $21-41 | Yes, via website |
| Theo Works | Best takeaway | $20-37 | Counter service |
| Northern Larder | All-rounder | $24-42 | Recommended weekends |
Pizza Price Guide — Ivanhoe
| Category | Price Range | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $8-14 | Counter-service, takeaway, no frills |
| Mid-range | $18-32 | Sit-down, proper menu, decent wine list |
| Premium | $50+ | Tasting menus, premium ingredients |
Before You Go
Best time to visit: Weeknight dinners (Tue-Thu) for no wait. Friday and Saturday — book 3-5 days ahead for the top two spots.
Parking: Street parking along Flinders Drive is metered until 6:30pm. Side streets are usually 2-hour. After 6:30pm, most are free. Best option: Public transport options in Ivanhoe.
Dietary: Every restaurant listed handles vegetarian requests. Vegan and gluten-free: call ahead to confirm, but most are accommodating.
Delivery: Theo Works and Marco’s are on Uber Eats and DoorDash. For better quality, order directly — delivery platforms compress your food in those bags and charge restaurants 30%.
Nearby Guides
- Melbourne CBD Pizza
- Melbourne CBD Pizza
- Ivanhoe Cheap Eats — when budget matters
- Ivanhoe Bars — post-dinner drinks
- All Ivanhoe Guides
Last updated: March 2026
Keep Exploring
More in this area:
Useful tools:
Where to Eat Pizza in Ivanhoe
Woodfire Pizzeria & Cucina
The Ivanhoe benchmark for classic wood-fired pizza, with a long local history and a menu built around Neapolitan-style bases. Go here when you want a proper sit-down Italian meal, not just a takeaway box.
Little Naples Pizzeria
A strong pick for pizza-first diners, especially if you like a softer Neapolitan-style base and richer toppings. It suits groups because the menu runs from simple Margherita territory through to more loaded gourmet options.
JOIA Cucina
JOIA leans polished and modern, with pizza sitting alongside pasta, drinks and a broader Italian dining menu. It is a good date-night or family dinner option when some people want pizza and others want a full restaurant meal.
La Porchetta Ivanhoe
This is the reliable family option: casual, familiar, and built for easy group dining. Choose it when the brief is uncomplicated pizza, pasta, kids’ meals and a room that can handle a noisy table.
Oreganos Pizza, Pasta, Fish and Chips
Oreganos is the local workhorse for takeaway-style pizza rather than a destination dining room. It is best for weeknight delivery, big topping combinations and the kind of neighbourhood order that feeds everyone without overthinking it.
What Ivanhoe Does Well
Ivanhoe’s pizza scene works because it covers both ends of the local appetite. You can get a blistered, wood-fired base with Italian ingredients, but you can also get old-school suburban pizza with generous toppings, garlic bread and no fuss.
Upper Heidelberg Road is the main pizza spine, so dinner plans are easy to combine with the station, local bars, gelato, or a quick supermarket stop. The best move is to decide whether you want dine-in atmosphere or takeaway convenience before picking the venue.
For “best overall”, Woodfire and Little Naples are the strongest pizza-focused choices. For families, La Porchetta is the low-risk option. For a more polished Italian night, JOIA gives you the most complete restaurant feel.
Local Tips
Friday and Saturday nights can get busy around Upper Heidelberg Road, especially when families and school groups are out early. Book ahead for Woodfire or JOIA if you want a normal dinner time rather than a late table.
If you are ordering takeaway, collect instead of relying on delivery apps when possible. Ivanhoe pizza travels reasonably well, but wood-fired bases are always better eaten quickly.
Little Naples is the one to try if you care most about the base and crust. Oreganos is better when the priority is value, delivery and crowd-pleasing toppings.
For a mixed group, avoid choosing the most “serious” pizza place by default. Ivanhoe has enough Italian venues that the better question is whether the table wants Neapolitan, family casual, or takeaway-style suburban pizza.
FAQ
Q: What is the best pizza in Ivanhoe for a proper sit-down dinner?
A: Woodfire Pizzeria & Cucina is the safest pick for a pizza-led sit-down meal, while JOIA is better if you want pizza as part of a broader Italian restaurant night.
Q: Where should families go for pizza in Ivanhoe?
A: La Porchetta Ivanhoe is the easiest family choice because the format is casual, familiar and built around group-friendly Italian food.
Q: Is Ivanhoe better for dine-in pizza or takeaway?
A: Both, but the better Ivanhoe experience is dine-in at Woodfire, Little Naples or JOIA; takeaway is strongest when you want Oreganos-style convenience or a quick local order.
