Portable pizza ovens are on trend, and they’re far more than just a foodie gimmick. The three models in our pizza oven review 2025 are compact enough to fit on a small balcony, capable of reaching temperatures of over 500 °C, and promise restaurant-level pizza. But which is the best one for you? We put the ovens to the test and compared them to find out.

Portable pizza ovens are all the rage amongst balcony grillers and vanlife adventurers – or anyone who wants to inject a little bella Italia into their life. They take up next to no space but deliver results normally reserved for Naples. Our pizza oven review focuses on compact models that can handle everyday urban life: small enough for a balcony, yet powerful enough for authentic Pizza Napoletana with partially charred leopard spotting on the crust.

By the way, if you’re looking to size up, check out our review of the Gozney Arc XL Pizza Oven – we already put it through its paces!

Our aim in the pizza oven review: authentic pizza on a small footprint that delivers maximum wow effect. When the flames roll across the dome and the dough rises in seconds, it doesn’t just look spectacular, it tastes good too.

3 Compact Pizza Ovens in Comparison – the Test Field

We examined three gas powered ovens in the pizza oven review, all with stone baking surfaces, all compact enough for urban settings, but each with its own character:

We tested in realistic conditions, using the same dough recipe, the same setup, and a team that tried all three ovens side by side at various office events. The differences that emerged in the pizza oven review aren’t just evidenced by the numbers but can also be felt.

Our Compact Pizza Oven Test Criteria

What really matters? We defined the following criteria for our pizza oven review:

• Baking result: the hallmark of Pizza Napoletana – a light and airy crust with leopard spotting
• Heat-up time: how fast do they reach the 450 °C mark?
• Heat consistency: can they bake multiple pizzas in a row without a loss in quality?
• Handling & everyday usability: how intuitive is it to use?
• Equipment & accessories basic kit vs. modular customisability
• Value for money: how well is the overall package priced?

The compact pizza ovens bring a taste of Italy to your balcony – but how do they really perform in everyday use? Will they become your go-to summer companions, or end up gathering dust after just a couple of tries? You can find the full 2025 pizza oven test with all models, baking results, and ratings over at our sister magazine DOWNTOWN.

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Words: Jonny Grapentin Photos: Lars Engmann