Claiming for somewhere to be the best pizza place in San Francisco is bold, but with Golden Boy I can safely say, in my opinion, it is far and away the best pizza in the city. Everything about this place is perfection. From the sticker-covered walls to the tongue-in-cheek menu board to the pizza itself, Golden Boy sets itself apart from every other pizza place.

My first time there they happened to be playing my favorite band (Black Sabbath); it was a sign. It has a lovably grungy vibe to it that only serves to make the pizza taste that much better. Nine times out of ten the line will be out the door, but if you’re not in a rush it’s definitely worth the wait. They rotate their toppings daily but the options are always original and delicious–regardless of whether or not you believe pineapple belongs on pizza.

They conveniently located themselves in the heart of North Beach, setting up one of the best afternoon combinations in the city: a slice of Golden Boy pizza in the park. This one’s hard to beat. Good pizza in one of the city’s signature neighborhoods is a guaranteed winner. 

Golden Boy is pretty funky itself, but to complete the vibe check out the “music” store across the street. As great as North Beach is, the main strip often overshadows the gems hidden on the side. But if you’re willing to walk a block or two off Columbus, you won’t be disappointed.