The Top 100 of The Best Pizza Awards 2026 was entirely dominated by Italy, New York, Tokyo, and others, with only one Portuguese pizzeria making the cut, in Lisbon. But the ranking extends beyond the top 100, and that’s where Porto came into the picture: two pizza chefs from the city were selected for the list of talents worth keeping a close eye on.
The Best Pizza Awards are now one of the most respected rankings in the world of pizza, and the 2026 edition, unveiled on June 24 in Milan, recognized 100 pizzerias from Naples to Tokyo. In this Top 100, Portugal had only one representative: Duda Ferreira, of Lupita Pizzaria in Lisbon, was the only Portuguese chef to secure a spot on the main list.
But the ranking doesn’t stop at the top 100. It is accompanied by the “Ones to Follow” list, comprising 150 pizza chefs from 39 countries and five continents, presented in no particular order or hierarchy, all equally deserving of recognition. And this is where Porto appears, with not one, but two names: Jorge Mariano, from Generosa, and Léo Oldman, from Oldman Pizza & Co.
Jorge Mariano and Generosa
Jorge Mariano’s story began in Brazil, where he learned the art of baking at a bakery in Curitiba before moving on to a pizzeria. He moved to Porto in 2022 at the invitation of Gustavo Schmidt and Gabriela Johann, owners of the natural wine bar Genuíno, to open the neighboring establishment: Generosa, in Cedofeita.
In a space of just 26 square meters, Jorge began making sourdough bread and Neapolitan- and Roman-style pizzas, sold for takeout. Success was immediate, and demand grew so much that this year, Generosa opened a second location in Bonfim—with three times the space—dedicated to bread production, leaving the pizzas as an exclusive offering of the original store.
Léo Oldman and Oldman Pizza & Co.
Meanwhile, Léo Oldman’s Oldman Pizza & Co. operates on a more intimate scale: artisanal pizza from Tuesday through Saturday, with a limit of 50 pizzas per night. The restaurant is located on Rua do Alferes Malheiro and has garnered enthusiastic reviews from visitors who highlight both the quality of the dough and the warm welcome from Léo himself, who usually makes the pizzas in full view of the customers.
What Is This List?
Although they aren’t part of the Top 100, being on the “Ones to Follow” list is no consolation prize. The organization describes the list as a selection of emerging talents whose creativity and craftsmanship are helping to define the direction of contemporary pizza. For Porto, that’s two more reasons to head out in search of the next slice.
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