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.
Pleasant ten minute winter walk with lights & churches along the way from McGill campus. We came to celebrate a birthday with delicious wood-fired pizzas. (We hadn't made a reservation & arrived on a Monday at 5:45 PM just as it was filling up, just as a heads up! ). So many choices! Great place for having many amazing options for vegetarians as well as not-so-vegetarians. They arranged a cake slice with a candle, a rousing start of the birthday song, & a superb little cannoli dessert for each person at our table. Thank you! Can't beat a roaring fire & a warm welcoming staff for a March birthday celebration in Montreal! We don't eat out very often, but this place is definitely on our list.
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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I went many times & it was always a treat. The pizzas are amazing, the menu has plenty of interesting options (77 pizzas) & the service is really good, even when the restaurant gets crowded.
Stopped in for a quick bite & was pleasantly surprised by how many pizza options there were. We ordered two & in both cases they were super delicious & baked to perfection. Drink wise it's wine or four beer options, I had an amber off the tap & it was fresh as well. Highly recommend Pizza Il Focolaio!
6/5 stars! Best service I have ever had at any restaurant ever. The staff were all so friendly & attentive. The food was also amazing! Great pizza & tons of options. Huge portions for the salads too.
They have so many pizza options to choose from, & it can be really hard! I was craving for seafood so I went by their seafood option, & they didn't let me down at all.
This was an amazing little spot with super efficient service. The food was fantastic & at points there were lineups out the door but within 20 minutes a giant line all seemed to be placed no matter how busy it was. The food was so fast to come out & it tasted incredible. There were so many options & you could change any of the toppings on the pizza so was easy even if you didn't want something exactly was designed. Also the dessert was well worth it.
Great pizza & a pretty good deal. I've paid much more for similar pizza & even not as good. The choice is a little overwhelming but it's great to have that many options. Staff is friendly & lively.
Over 70 pizza options! Delicious pizza & cannoli's! The service was amazing, our server Sohail was amazing, kind & patient with our table! All the staff were friendly & helpful & the pizza makers were something to watch! A must try if in Montreal!
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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There are a lot of options here for pizza lovers! The best ones are marked by *. For the first time I'd recommend to go with the * ones. You'll be given French menus but if you ask, they'll provide English Menus.
I didn't like the vegetable based pizza we got the second time we went there.
A pizza place from the 80-90s & still running must mean it's the best, well yes, it was great. The sauce & pizza are amazing, you can choose from your 70 options of pizza.
I'd definitely recommend, but the line up is an issue.
