There really is something special about a wood-fired pizza. The smokiness, the chewy dough, that fresh-out-the-oven flavour.

There’s a bunch of venues across the Mid North Coast that really know how to cook a pizza with fire. Here are three spots we’ve tried and LOVED, plus our top picks for toppings.

Matildas, Nambucca Heads

By the Nambucca River sits a little pink shack serving the kind of breakfast menu items Australia is famous for, fresh local seafood, and of course their much-loved wood-fired pizzas.

Book a table or takeaway, sit in the fresh air of the courtyard or cozy up indoors, treat yourself to a plate of oysters and a bottle of wine or grab a selection of pizzas to share.

Be sure to check out the drinks list with a selection of local beers on tap, creative cocktails and a considered wine list including chilled reds and orange wines.

 Matilda’s must-try pizza: If it’s on the special’s menu, don’t miss The Fig Jam!
 Fig, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, basil, fior and evoo.

Matilda’s also hosts live music every Saturday and Sunday between noon and 3pm.

Location: 6 Wellington Dr, Nambucca Heads, 2448
Opening Hours:
Brekkie: Thursday - Sunday, 7:00 am – 11:00 am
Lunch: Friday - Sunday, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Dinner: Thursday - Monday, 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm

The Bush Kitchen, Crescent Head

Down the backroads of Crescent Head, tucked away in bushland, is a pizza oven in the the front yard of a home where the community swaps slices and stories.

The Bush Kitchen is the definition of a family-run business with the kids often helping dad make the orders or running food to the guests.

Grab a table undercover, or bring a chair or picnic rug and pick a spot on the lawn. In the colder the months, you can sit around an open fire that is fed with discarded pizza boxes.

The Bush Kitchen’s must-try pizza: We suggest grabbing any pizza that uses fresh veggies or herbs from their garden. For example, the Caprese is topped with a tomato medley gathered from home-grown plants on site.

Location: 1060 Point Plomer Rd, Crescent Head, 2440.
Opening Hours: Typically open Fridays nights, and additional nights during school holidays. Text or call to check opening hours and to book 0400 957 192.

Bellingen Brewing Co, Bellingen

Bellingen’s brewery is back and fired-up. And so is the pizza oven.

In the heart of town sits this micro-brewery in a revamped warehouse, serving craft beer (including their local brew), cocktails, organic wines, and wood-fired pizza.

After a morning swimming in the Never Never River, walking through the Promised Lands, or stall-hopping at the monthly markets, make your way to the brewery for an afternoon of cold drinks and hot pizza.

Bellingen Brewing Co’s must-try pizza: We love their Potato and Smoked Mozzarella pizza. Spinach and garlic base, potato, thyme with smoked mozzarella.

Don’t miss their Thursday deal of a pizza and pint for $35.
The venue also hosts music gigs most weekends, from DJ dance sessions on Saturday night to chilled acoustic sets for your Sunday arvo.

Location: 3/5 Church Street, Bellingen, 2454
Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday, 5pm-10pm and Friday - Sunday, 12pm-11pm.

Like our list but think we’ve missed a spot? Email [email protected] or message us in Instagram with you top picks for wood-fired pizza in our region.