Pizza Craft Pizzeria & Italian Specialities

Overview

Pizza Craft sits right on Himmarshee Street in the middle of Fort Lauderdale’s downtown entertainment district, pulling double duty as a wood-fired pizzeria and a hidden cocktail destination. The main dining room is intentionally small – only five or six tables inside, framed by brick walls and vintage Italian decor – so the energy stays intimate rather than chaotic. A larger patio out front seats eight to twelve under red umbrellas with heaters standing by for cooler evenings, giving you a front-row view of the Himmarshee scene.

The real surprise is The Apothecary, a speakeasy-style room tucked behind the restaurant. It is dim, moody, and built around small cocktail tables rather than full dinner service – the kind of spot you settle into with a well-made drink after your meal or before a night out on the strip.

The kitchen runs Neapolitan-rooted recipes from the owner’s family in Naples, and the wood-fired oven is the centerpiece. Guests consistently single out the truffle mushroom pizza, the fig jam and bacon pie, and the burrata appetizer. The Bucatini Carbonara and chicken parmigiana hold their own against the pizzas, and the tiramisu has a reputation for getting the coffee-to-sweet ratio exactly right. Free cannolis have been known to show up in takeout orders.

The owner is a visible, hands-on presence – greeting tables, checking in throughout the meal, and clearly invested in the experience. Service tends to be friendly and attentive, though the reservation system can feel rigid even on quiet nights, so booking ahead is strongly recommended.

Pizza Craft draws a mix of college-age groups from nearby, downtown tourists walking Himmarshee, and couples looking for a low-key Italian dinner before hitting the neighboring bars. The price point sits comfortably in the moderate range, with individual tabs landing around $40 to $50 for a full meal before tip.

Good to know

• Rating: 4.4/5 from 1,245 Google reviews
• Price: $$
• Best for: date night downtown, wood-fired pizza fans, craft cocktail seekers, Himmarshee pre-game drinks, casual Italian dinner
• Features: Happy Hour, Outdoor Seating, Live Music, Dog Friendly

Hours