There are a vast array of pizza options in Paris – all relatively similar in offering. None that I’d argue are outstanding and worth the detour – that is, until recently.
Oobatz sprung up a few years ago on a quiet street in the 11th, where Dan Pearson has been turning out seasonal, hybrid-sourdough pizzas with a difference – and a hefty price per pie. The latter point delayed me from visiting but since my first visit, I can’t stop coming back. It’s an incredibly popular spot with chefs, foodies and tourists, and it’s difficult to get a table.
So is Oobatz worth the hype, and should you cross town for it? For me, absolutely. They make, genuinely, the best pizza that I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying. A fellow Paris restaurant writer told me it’s better than anything you’ll find in Napoli. A bold claim, but I can’t disagree.
Go out of your way The best pizza in Paris. Creative, seasonal pies that are utterly addictive. 
Drinks & Wine List
Oobatz has a very good wine list. The by-the-glass list is short: four wines, all at €8 for a 12cl glass or €28 for a 50cl pichet. That’s a very fair price for natural wine in Paris.
Two of them come from Christopher Barth in Rheinhessen, a white (Zwei Zimmer Küche) and a light, chilled red (Zucchini Rosso). There’s also a Croci Rosso from Emilia-Romagna, which suits the pizza nicely, and Andi Mann’s 2023 orange, also from Rheinhessen. There’s a Negroni (€13) and a Chartreuse tonic (€15) if you’d rather start with a cocktail.
For bottles, you’re in for a treat. The list is long, almost entirely natural and low-intervention, and clearly put together by people who love the stuff. Big French names sit alongside smaller producers. There’s a large selection of Beaujolais – including Dutraive, Jérôme Balmet and the Dufaitres – plenty of Jura from Les Valseuses and Olivier Boulin, and the excellent L’Anglore from the Rhône.
On the beer side, there are two from Basqueland in San Sebastián, the Imparable West Coast IPA and the Santa Clara Helles lager (both €6.50), plus To Øl’s Implosion, an alcohol-free beer from Copenhagen (€6). For the non-drinkers there’s a limited alcohol-free selection: a lemon soda, chinotto (the bittersweet Italian citrus soda, €5) and Ghia, a non-alcoholic bitter aperitif, at €12.
The Pizzas and Menu at Oobatz
The pizza menu at Oobatz is short, seasonal and, relatively speaking, rather pricey. They have six nameless (yet very creative) pizza options on rotation ranging from €16 to €26, with pizza ‘un’ being the cheapest and ‘six’ the most expensive.
The dough is a kind of hybrid-sourdough, high hydration and long fermentation, reportedly around 36 hours. The pies are baked in an electric oven, resulting in a really consistent output. The leopard spotting is uniform across the crust and the base has a lovely colour. I’d say it’s a kind of hybrid New York-Roman style pizza – it’s foldable yet delightfully crunchy with a lovely bite.
The attention to detail is like no other I’ve seen – the crust gets a scattering of crunchy sea salt to really amp up the flavour. Toppings are placed uniformly, not just thrown on in a rush.
As I mentioned, the pizzas are seasonal and they tend to riff on what comes from their suppliers. Come in spring and summer and you’ll see their superb courgette pizza (€20) on the menu. Thin slices of courgette go on raw and bake down, finished with a garlic butter. It’s fresh, zingy and highly addictive. On other visits I’ve had a superb chanterelle pizza and one with fresh clams.
During my last visit we also tried their tripe and pancetta ragù pizza (€24), which was incredibly meaty and moreish. I’m not a massive fan of tripe but it worked really well here. Dots of ricotta added a nice bit of acidity to cut through the richness.
Interestingly, pizza ‘six’ is a surprise pizza – the chef will choose it for you based on what else you’ve ordered. Depending on allergens and preferences, they’ll ask if you have a slight leaning towards a certain style (vegetarian or meat, for example). The price does vary here, so if that bothers you, I’d ask when ordering.
For dessert they have a very lovely chocolate chip cookie (€13) baked fresh to order and topped with vanilla ice cream. Their strawberry sorbet (€6) is also very nice.
My Verdict
Oobatz is, without a doubt, my favourite pizza in Paris. Their pizzas are precise, consistent, creative and just incredibly tasty. Yes, they’re a little pricey (a complaint many of my friends have here) but for me, it’s well worth it.
Paris has a lot of very good pizzerias but Oobatz is the only one I’d cross town for, and it deserves to be on your must-try list. It’s also one of my favourite restaurants in the 11th arrondissement, an area that’s quietly become the best place to eat in the city.
Come hungry, with a big group, and order as many of their pizzas as you can manage. Just book well ahead.
I paid for this meal in full This review is entirely independent.What to know before you visit
- Dinner only, Monday to Friday, roughly 6pm to 10pm. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
- Reservations open two weeks in advance and go quickly, so book the moment they release.
- There are a handful of walk-in seats at the bar, but don’t count on them at peak times.
- For a last-minute bar seat, try DMing them on Instagram. It’s worth a shot.
- Six pizzas on rotation, €16-26. Pizza ‘six’ is a surprise chosen by the chef and the price varies, so ask when you order if that matters to you.
- The menu is seasonal and changes with what their suppliers send, so the pizza you came back for may not be on.
Address: 4bis Avenue Jean Aicard, 75011
Tel: 09 87 41 68 53
Website: instagram.com/o.o.b.a.t.z
Photos From Previous Visits
