Pacific Grove was founded by one man in the late 19th century to serve as an educational and therapeutic retreat. It soon became popular with artists and writers of the era who built their summer homes there. It remained a gated and exclusive getaway location for the well-known and wealthy until the 1920s when a trolley service between Pacific Grove and Monteray became operational. Pacific Grove became even more attractive as a bedroom community, for those who could afford and didn't mind it's prohibition-like alcohol rules and curfews, when the Southern Pacific Railroad Company implemented new routes in the area. By the 1960s the resident population of Pacific Grove had reached twelve thousand and although stand-alone bars and the sale of alcohol was still restricted, some teetotal Italians relocated to there and bestowed a little happiness on the community by serving them pizza.

Pacific Grove in California is known for artisan pizza

Pacific Grove is known for artisan pizzas but what exactly are they? Artisan pizzas are relatively similar to traditional Italian thick crust only they're made entirely by hand and have a much more rustic appearance than other pies do. Forget a precisely round pizza with even edges all the way around that looks as though it might have come off a factory conveyor belt, artisan pizzas, no matter how good the pizza chef is, just aren't that perfect. Artisan pizzas also tend to be made from responsibly sourced ingredients and many pizzerias often adhere to the farm-to-table concept so a lot of the time everything on an artisan pizza you eat in Pacific Grove will have been produced in the state of California. That means one thing and one thing only - your pizza will taste great.

Best delivery pizza in Pacific Grove, California

To get the best delivery pizza in Pacific Grove you really have to order from a pizzeria that puts their heart and soul into what they do. The Pacific Grove pizzeria that does that, and more, is Pizza My Way. At Pizza My Way they really care about every thing connected to the preparation, cooking and delivery of your pizza and every pizza they bake and send out. Pizza My Way has a modest premises at the end of a row of stores on Forest Avenue. Inside has been decorated in a cool faux rustic style that incorporates painted cracks on the walls. It's definitely different and so are the pies they make here. There's nothing fake about the pizzas though, they're the real deal.

Best takeout pizza in Pacific Grove, California

If you've spent the afternoon browsing around the Motorcycle Museum or the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural Science and are starting to think about pizza for dinner, you're in luck. You're just a couple of blocks away from International Cuisine which is where you can pick up the best take-out pizza in Pacific Grove. International Cuisine is a restaurant on Lighthouse Avenue focused on quality Mediterranean food and pizza is one of the house specialities. They've been baking top quality pizzas since 1997 so have plenty of experience under their belt. Once you've walked through the door of International Cuisine you're bound to be impressed by its sophisticated albeit somewhat lavish décor and the pies are just as eye-catching. For a delectable delight of a pie try one that's topped with this restaurant's homemade sausage. You won't regret it.

Best pizza near Pacific Grove, California

Monterey

Monterey is so close to Pacific Grove you could almost walk the two miles in between the two. It's easier to drive though and less exhausting too as you'll need plenty of energy when you get there for exploring. Take a stroll around Old Fisherman's Wharf and Cannery Row and if you're a photographer you'll be snapping shots off non-stop left right and center of these two decidedly quaint places. For a dose of culture, visit the Monterey State Historic Park or the Monterey Museum of Art. To end the day in a special way, pick up a pizza from the Cannery Pizza Company on Cannery Row and head to San Carlos Beach to eat it as the sun sets.

Marina

There are so many great places to visit close to Pacific Grove that it can be hard to choose exactly where to go. Marina is just ten miles northeast of Pacific Grove and offers a variety of things to do. One superb place to go exploring is the Fort Ord Dunes State Park which covers over four miles of the Marina coastline. It's probably one of the least crowded beaches in California so make the most of the sands and the walking trails there for a good long session of relaxation. For something completely out of the box, take a handcar tour along six miles of the disused Monterey Branch Line that runs parallel to Monterey Bay. Do that and you'll certainly work up an appetite big enough to consume an entire pizza from El Palmar on Del Monte Boulevard.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Any keen photographer will not be able to resist going to Carmel-by-the-Sea as there are more scenic viewpoints there than you can capture on one memory card. Even if you're not a photographer, the scenery is fabulous to see. Check out the Lone Cypress and hope it hasn't slid into the ocean before you get there, then follow that with a stop at Pescadero Point where the rugged shoreline is an absolute delight. Spend an hour or so browsing the exhibits in the Carmel Mission Basilica Museum before having a wander along Carmel River State Beach. If you still have time on your hands, pick up a take-out pizza from Little Napoli on Dolores Street and take the scenic route home by doing the 17-Mile Drive.