Since 1984 clients have been coming to Il Focolaio to get that authentic Italian taste that is reminiscent of their grandmother’s cooking. Il Focolaio, in fact means fireplace in Italian. The name depicts the maple wood burning oven where each and every one of our pizzas and roasted ingredients are cooked. Our fireplace, as in the old country, not only brings forth the food but also becomes the gathering place for our clients who always feel welcomed and right at home. Our recipe for success is simple, serving up pizza using ingredients that only a true pizzaiolo would use, such as extra virgin olive oil, top quality tomatoes and only the freshest ingredients, all prepared with passion and a love for cooking to bring you the end result that you will never forget. We invite you to come and enjoy the taste of Italy with a nice glass of wine from our wine list. Enjoy it all on our terrace in the middle of downtown during the summer months.
Il Focolaio offers wood fired, thin crust pizzas with a vast range of toppings and a menu that balances classic Italian staples with inventive options, all baked to perfection in a real Italian oven. The crust is consistently crisp and flavorful, the ingredients are fresh, and gluten free crust and lactose free cheese options are appreciated by many diners. The service is repeatedly described as fast, friendly and attentive, with staff making guests feel welcome and cared for even during busy periods. The atmosphere is lively yet cozy, making it a great spot for casual dinners, family nights or a quick bite after visiting nearby sights, and the location downtown Montreal adds to its appeal. Desserts like tiramisu and cannoli are frequently praised, and the wine and beer selection complements the meals well. Overall, this spot is widely regarded as one of the best pizza places in town, a must visit for pizza lovers, with many guests planning to return.
By far, the best pizza I've had in Montreal. I went with a group of 7 friends. All our pizzas arrived in a reasonable time. I ordered a simple peperonata pizza. The crust was perfect in crustiness & the tomato sauce was rich & well balanced. Our waiters were very welcoming, friendly & professional. I highly recommend Pizza II Focolaio. They have over 70 options to choose from in terms of toppings combinations, so I'll definitely be coming back to try another!
Mar 7, 2026
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We visited from Hamilton, Ontario. We walked in the freezing cold & were so happy to stumble across this warm & cozy place. It was busy but very welcoming. We ordered the pepperoni pizza & it was probably one of the best I've ever had. Hot, delicious & made on the spot in plain view of the dining area. The crust was thin, crisp & perfect.
If I lived in Montreal, this would be a regular go-to place. ⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐?⭐?
If you are looking for the best pizza in town, look no further than Pizza Il Focolaio. This spot is a must-visit for anyone in Montreal craving authentic, wood-fired goodness.
What Makes It Special:
The Selection: They have an incredible 77 different pizzas to choose from! You are truly spoiled for choice, ranging from classic Italian staples to unique, creative toppings.
The Quality: Our group ordered three different pizzas, & each one of them tasted really nice. The crust had that perfect crispness, & the ingredients felt fresh & high-quality.
The Atmosphere: It's a bustling, welcoming environment that perfectly complements the hearty food.
We had a fantastic experience & left completely satisfied. This is easily one of the highlights of the Montreal food scene. I would love to visit again next time I'm in town!
We visited Montreal for a week in early November & discovered Pizza Il Focolaio by doing a quick search online. We walked from our hotel on a rainy Monday evening & were surprised to find the restaurant full! We soon discovered why - this small, cozy, local neighbourhood restaurant has a real family feel about it & the wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas were authentic & delicious. We also shared a fresh Italian salad to start & cappuccinnos at the end. Great service, fantastic food & reasonable prices. 5+ stars! Merci beaucoup!
I ordered half plain & Hawaiian pizza. The pizza doesn't have a crunchy crust, taste of tomato is bland & the dough flavor is average. I won't call this a high end pizza, it's just an ok, average pizza.
Me & my family love the pizza here, lots of options for toppings, & the thin crust is delicious. Otherwise, the restaurant seems mostly intended for tourists who want to eat & keep moving. I recommend it for lunch. They could fix a little the atmosphere, it's too dark in some areas & the tables are quite small. The service sometimes is good, but sometimes it seems they just want you to leave as soon as possible.
Aug 10, 2025
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Amazing pizza every time! Consistent, always fresh, & not shy with toppings. Plus they have delicious gluten free crust available & lactose free cheese for people with dietary restrictions! The servers are also very knowledgeable & friendly. Highly recommend!
Maybe I came at an'off moment', maybe it's just a matter of taste, but this pizza was so lackluster for the price & I left confused by the overwhelming amount of positive reviews this place has.
I'm surprised not a single reviewer has mentioned the tomato sauce here, either as a positive or a negative. Because that was my biggest issue. The crust was amazing. Classic thin crust Italian baked in a super hot oven. Exactly what I want. But the sauce was like battery acid. Just pure acid & salt & zero sweetness, no fresh tomato taste. Tasted like it was poured out of a store brand jar. The cheese was also cooked pretty dark & pulled off in large chunks which was disappointing.
Great service. Nice views of the square. But overall I wouldn't subject myself to a pizza this pricey & this mediocre again.
I would expect this quality if I was ordering late n
Saw the reviews & wanted to try. Lived up to the hype. Great pizza. Crispy crust. Good quality toppings. Decent prices depending on what you order. Like the larger style cuts for slices. Free WiFi. Great comfortable atmosphere. Clean facility. Clean washroom. Friendly staff who can speak English well.
Absolutely loved this pizza shop! The pizza was genuinely tasty - fresh ingredients, perfectly cooked crust, & just the right amount of cheese & toppings. The price was very fair for the quality & portion size, which is always a plus. What really stood out, though, was the staff - they were incredibly nice, welcoming, & made the whole experience even better. You can tell they care about their customers & take pride in their service. Whether you're grabbing a quick bite or dining in, this place is worth a visit. I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend it!
May 19, 2025
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We were honestly surprised at how much we loved Pizza Il Focolaio. My husband & I have been diehard pizza enthusiasts for years & most places are very middle of the road. But this place had great service, a really efficient team, & pizza combinations that are interesting & delicious. One of the best things about this place was the chili oil they will bring out to the table at request. We split the Capo Franco pizza & were very full! Although the pizzas are on the smaller side, any one of them can easily feed two people comfortably because they really load on the ingredients. That being said, despite lots of toppings, the pizza's crust was still crisp, slightly chewy, & maintained a nice char without being soggy. If we ever go back to Montreal, we'll be sure to visit again!
This spot seriously delivered some of the best thin-crust pizza I've ever had! The crust was perfectly crisp with just the right amount of char, & the toppings were fresh & flavorful. We tried a variety-one with pineapple & blue cheese that was unexpectedly amazing, & another loaded with sausage, pepperoni, & green peppers that was packed with flavor. The Caesar salads were also generous & creamy-definitely a solid starter.
Service was excellent-super friendly & attentive. The only downside? It was surprisingly crowded for a Tuesday lunch. That said, it's clearly popular for a reason. Would absolutely come back!
Gluten free friendly crust is to die for. Best ever. Cooked to perfection. Our one regular wheat crust eater said it was his most favourite pizza ever. Definitely recommend & coming back. So happy you were so close to our hotel. Front staff ladies 10/10.
Ended up at this place because of my friend's recommendation. She's been to this pizzeria before & thought their pizza is amazing so she took me here during our Montréal trip. The place was busy when we went for a visit during peak lunch hour rush on a Thursday. There was even quite a long line forming outside the restaurant of people waiting for a table. We ended up waiting for about 15 minutes or so before getting a table. The waiting time wasn't too bad to be honest. & if you don't want to wait, you can always order to go & eat it at the park across the street. What we ordered: Caesar Salad 8.5/10 The salad was fresh & nicely seasoned. Not too salty or peppery or cheesy. Very balanced. The portion was quite generous too. No.23 Campagnola 9.5/10 Sauce, mushrooms, onions, spicy pancetta (Italian bacon), mozzarella, black olives. I have to say this was probably one of the best pizza I've ever had in recent times. The pizza was cooked really well with that wood burning aroma whiffing off of the crust that's slightly charred on different spots. The texture was nice, chewy & there's a slight bounce to the bite. All the toppings were also evenly cooked & sitting nicely on top of the gooey mozzarella & the portion is quite big & generous. No.68 A La Griglia 9/10 Fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, grilled vegetables (zucchini, eggplant, onions, artichokes, mushrooms, green & red peppers), fresh garlic, Italian herbs, olive oil, Parmigiano-Reggiano. My friend actually ordered this one & I have the same comment about the overall pizza like the Campagnola. I think their pizza is really solid & you can just order whichever pizza that have the toppings that you like & I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy it. Definitely will go back again the next time I'm in Montréal
