Top Rated Pizza Joints in Murshidabad That Locals Swear By

Let me be straight with you. Murshidabad is not Mumbai. It is not Delhi. It is not even Kolkata. This is a city of nawabi biryani, of Kosha Mangsho served on banana leaves, of sweet shops that have been running since the 1800s. So when someone asks me about the top rated pizza joints in Murshidabad, I have to pause and be honest. The city does not have a Domino's on every corner. It does not have a wood-fired Neapolitan place tucked into a heritage lane. What it does have, though, is something more interesting. A handful of local spots that have figured out how to make pizza work in a town that would rather eat mutton rezalla. I have eaten at every single one of these places, sometimes more than once, and I am going to tell you exactly what to expect.

The Reality of Pizza Culture in Murshidabad

Murshidabad sits about 220 kilometers north of Kolkata, connected by the Bhagirathi River and a railway line that has been running since the British era. The city's food identity is deeply rooted in Mughlai and Bengali Muslim cuisine. Think Murshidabadi biryani, which uses small-grained fragrant rice and a lighter hand on the oil compared to Kolkata's version. Think chhanar mutton, think shahi tukda, think the kind of food that makes you forget pizza exists. But here is the thing. The younger crowd, the college students from Krishnath College and the ones who have traveled to Kolkata for work or study, they come back wanting pizza. And a few enterprising local eateries have stepped up. These are not chains. These are not franchises. These are small, often family-run places that have added pizza to their menu alongside rolls, chowmein, and sometimes even biryani. The best casual pizza Murshidabad has to come from these hybrid spots, and I am going to walk you through them one by one.

1. Cafe Bawarchi, Berhampore

Berhampore is technically a separate municipality from Murshidabad city proper, but it is the commercial hub of the district and where most people actually live and work. Cafe Bawarchi sits on the main road near the Berhampore Court area, and it is one of the first places in the district to take pizza seriously. The owner told me he learned the basics from a friend who ran a place in Siliguri, and then spent months tweaking the recipe to suit local taste. The base is hand-tossed, slightly thicker than what you would get at a Domino's, and the cheese is a mix of processed mozzarella and a local dairy cheese that melts differently but tastes surprisingly good. Their chicken tikka pizza is the one to order. It comes with actual tandoori chicken pieces, not the rubbery processed stuff. A medium costs around ₹180–₹220, and a large runs ₹280–₹350. They also do a paneer overload version that the vegetarian crowd from the nearby college swears by.

The Vibe? A small, no-frills dining room with plastic chairs and Bollywood music playing from a phone speaker. Nothing fancy, but clean enough.
The Bill? ₹180–₹350 per pizza, depending on size and toppings.
The Standout? The chicken tikka pizza. Order it with extra green chili on the side.
The Catch? The AC is a single split unit that struggles after 2 PM in summer. If you are visiting between March and June, go before noon or after 7 PM when the heat breaks.
Local Tip: Ask for the "special sauce" they keep behind the counter. It is a homemade garlic-chili blend that they do not put on the menu but will give you if you ask nicely.

2. The Roll Station, Dhulian

Dhulian is a riverside town on the Bhagirathi, about 25 kilometers from the main Murshidabad city center. It is not a place most tourists think about, but it has a small but loyal food scene driven by the river trade workers and the families who have lived here for generations. The Roll Station is primarily a roll and chowmein joint, but their pizza has become a quiet hit among locals. The crust here is thinner, almost cracker-like, which I suspect is because they are using the same dough base they use for their paratha-style rolls. It works better than you would expect. A chicken pizza here costs around ₹150–₹200, and a veg version is ₹120–₹160. They do not have a dine-in space to speak of. You order at the counter, wait on a plastic stool by the road, and eat standing up or take it away. This is cheap pizza Murshidabad style, and it hits the spot after a long day of exploring the riverside ghats.

The Vibe? Street food counter with zero pretension. You eat with your hands, standing up, watching the river traffic go by.
The Bill? ₹120–₹200 per pizza.
The Standout? The thin crust and the fact that they use real tomato sauce, not ketchup. You can taste the difference.
The Catch? No seating to speak of. If it is raining during monsoon season, you are eating under a tarpaulin sheet that leaks.
Local Tip: Go in the evening around 5 PM when the river light is golden and the temperature drops. The auto-rickshaw from Murshidabad city to Dhulian costs about ₹80–₹120 per person if you share.

3. Food Plaza, Near Hazarduari Palace Area

The area around Hazarduari Palace, the massive 19th-century palace built by Nawab Nazim Humayun Jah, is the tourist heart of Murshidabad. The palace itself has a museum with an impressive collection of paintings and palanquins, and the surrounding lanes are packed with sweet shops, small restaurants, and tea stalls. Food Plaza is one of those places that does not look like much from the outside. It is a small, two-story building with a faded signboard, but the second floor has a surprisingly decent seating area with a view of the Bhagirathi River. Their pizza is not going to win any awards, but it is reliable. A medium chicken pizza is around ₹200–₹250, and they do a "Murshidabad special" version with local spices mixed into the topping that is actually worth trying. The cheese pull is not Instagram-worthy, but the flavor is solid.

The Vibe? Functional. You come here to eat, not to linger. The second-floor window seats are the best in the house.
The Bill? ₹200–₹300 per pizza.
The Standout? The river view from the second floor. Eat your pizza while watching boats cross the Bhagirathi.
The Catch? The place gets packed between 12 PM and 2 PM with tourist groups. The wait can stretch to 30 minutes, and the staff gets visibly stressed.
Local Tip: Visit the Hazarduari Palace museum first (entry is ₹5 for Indians, ₹100 for foreigners, open 10 AM to 4:30 PM except Mondays), then walk to Food Plaza for lunch. The walk takes about 5 minutes through the market lane.

4. New Town Restaurant, Cossimbazar

Cossimbazar is a historic trading town about 15 kilometers from Murshidabad city, known for its old Dutch and British trading posts. It is also where some of the finest silk in Bengal used to be produced. New Town Restaurant is a local institution that has been around for decades, originally serving Mughlai and Chinese food to the trading community. They added pizza to their menu about five years ago, and it has become a regular order for the younger crowd. Their specialty is a "double cheese" pizza that uses two types of processed cheese, and it is exactly as indulgent as it sounds. A regular size is ₹160–₹200, and a family size is ₹300–₹380. The base is slightly oily, which I think comes from the same tawa they use for their parathas, but it adds a certain richness that works.

The Vibe? Old-school family restaurant. Wooden tables, ceiling fans, and the smell of biryani in the air even if you are there for pizza.
The Bill? ₹160–₹380 depending on size.
The Standout? The double cheese pizza. It is not subtle, but it is satisfying.
The Catch? Cossimbazar is not on the main tourist trail, so getting there requires an auto-rickshaw or a shared van from Murshidabad city. The ride takes about 25–30 minutes and costs ₹60–₹100 per person.
Local Tip: If you are in Cossimbazar, visit the old Dutch Cemetery nearby. It is a quiet, overgrown place with tombstones dating back to the 1700s, and almost no tourists know about it.

5. Pizza Point (Local Chain), Berhampore

There is a small local chain called Pizza Point that has two outlets in Berhampore, one near the bus stand and another near the medical college. This is the closest thing Murshidabad has to a dedicated pizza place, and it is popular with students and young families. The menu is straightforward. Veg pizza, chicken pizza, and a few combo deals that include garlic bread and a cold drink for ₹250–₹350. The crust is factory-made, the cheese is standard processed mozzarella, and the toppings are generous if not particularly inspired. But here is why it makes the list. It is consistent. You know exactly what you are getting every time, and in a city where food quality can vary wildly from day to day, that consistency matters. A medium veg pizza is ₹140–₹180, and a medium chicken pizza is ₹180–₹230.

The Vibe? Fast food joint. Bright lighting, laminated menus, and a TV playing music videos. Kids love it.
The Bill? ₹140–₹230 per pizza, ₹250–₹350 for combos.
The Standout? The garlic bread. It is buttery, crispy, and better than the pizza itself.
The Catch? The outlet near the bus stand has terrible parking. If you are on a motorcycle, you will be fine. If you are in a car, good luck finding a spot on weekends.
Local Tip: The medical college outlet is quieter and has better parking. It is about 1.5 kilometers from the bus stand outlet, and an auto between the two costs about ₹20–₹30.

6. The Heritage Cafe, Near Katra Masjid

Katra Masjid is one of Murshidabad's most impressive historical structures, a massive mosque built by Nawab Murshid Quli Khan in the early 1700s. The area around it is a maze of narrow lanes, old havelis, and small shops. The Heritage Cafe is a tiny place that opened recently, run by a young local couple who wanted to create a space that blends the city's history with modern food. Their pizza is made in a small electric oven, and the portions are modest, but the effort is real. A personal-size pizza costs ₹120–₹160, and they do a version with local Kasundi mustard sauce that is genuinely creative. The cafe itself is decorated with old photographs of Murshidabad, and the walls have hand-painted murals of the Hazarduari Palace and the Nashipara terracotta temples.

The Vibe? Quirky, small, and personal. You can feel the owners' passion in every detail.
The Bill? ₹120–₹160 per personal pizza.
The Standout? The Kasundi mustard pizza. It is a fusion that actually works, and you will not find it anywhere else in the district.
The Catch? The place only has four tables. If two groups are already seated, you will have to wait outside, which in summer means standing in direct sun with no shade.
Local Tip: The owners are happy to tell you about the history of the Katra Masjid and the surrounding area. Ask them about the underground chambers beneath the mosque. Most tourists walk right past them without knowing they exist.

7. Night Market Stalls, Berhampore Station Road

Every evening after 7 PM, a row of food stalls springs up along Station Road in Berhampore, near the railway station. These stalls primarily sell rolls, chowmein, and momos, but two of them have started offering pizza as a novelty item. The pizza here is made on a large tawa over a gas burner, with a metal lid placed on top to melt the cheese. It is a far cry from oven-baked, but it costs ₹80–₹120 and it is hot, cheesy, and satisfying in the way that late-night street food always is. The chicken version uses pre-cooked tikka pieces, and the veg version has capsicum, onion, and sweet corn. This is cheap pizza Murshidabad at its most raw, and it is perfect after a long train journey when you just want something warm and filling.

The Vibe? Street food chaos. Smoke from the tawas, honking rickshaws, and the general energy of a small-town evening market.
The Bill? ₹80–₹120 per pizza.
The Standout? The price and the experience. Eating tawa pizza on a plastic stool at 9 PM in Berhampore is a memory you will not forget.
The Catch? Hygiene is what it is. The stalls are clean by street food standards, but if you have a sensitive stomach, stick to the cooked-to-order items and avoid anything that has been sitting out.
Local Tip: The stall on the far right, near the paan shop, makes the best version. The owner uses slightly more cheese than the others, and he toasts the base longer for a crispier bottom.

8. Homemade Pizza at Local Homestays, Murshidabad City

This one is not a restaurant, but it deserves a mention because it is one of the best local pizza spots Murshidabad has to offer, and almost no one knows about it. A few homestays in the old city area, particularly around the Nashipara and Lalbagh neighborhoods, offer homemade pizza as part of their dinner menu. These are not professional chefs. They are local families who have learned to make pizza from YouTube videos and have adapted the recipe using locally available ingredients. The base is often made with atta (whole wheat flour) instead of maida, the cheese is whatever is available at the local market, and the toppings are whatever is fresh that day. A full pizza costs ₹150–₹250, and it comes with a side of homemade chutney and a cup of chai. The experience of eating pizza in a family courtyard, surrounded by the sounds of the old city at night, is something no restaurant can replicate.

The Vibe? Intimate and personal. You are eating in someone's home, and the conversation is as much a part of the experience as the food.
The Bill? ₹150–₹250 per pizza, usually included in the homestay dinner package.
The Standout? The atta base. It is nuttier and more filling than regular pizza dough, and it pairs surprisingly well with local toppings like smoked eggplant or Kasundi-marinated chicken.
The Catch? You need to book in advance. These homestays do not make pizza every night. Give them at least 4 hours' notice, and be prepared for the possibility that they might be out of cheese on any given day.
Local Tip: The homestays in the Nashipara area are the best for this. They are also the closest to the Nashipara terracotta temples, which are worth visiting in the late afternoon when the light makes the carvings glow.

When to Go and What to Know

Murshidabad is best visited between November and February, when the temperature hovers between 12°C and 25°C and the humidity is manageable. March through June is brutal, with temperatures regularly crossing 40°C and the humidity making it feel worse. If you are visiting during summer, plan your food explorations for early morning or evening, and avoid eating outdoors between 11 AM and 4 PM. The monsoon, from July to September, brings heavy rainfall that can flood the low-lying areas near the Bhagirathi River. Some of the smaller eateries and street stalls may close temporarily during heavy rains, so have a backup plan.

Getting around Murshidabad is primarily done by auto-rickshaw. The city does not have a metro system, and Ola and Uber are unreliable outside of Berhampore. Shared autos run on fixed routes and cost ₹10–₹30 per person. For longer distances, like from Murshidabad city to Cossimbazar or Dhulian, you can hire a private auto for ₹150–₹300 depending on the distance. The railway station at Berhampore Court is the main railhead, with regular connections to Kolkata (Sealdah) via the Lalgola passenger and a few express trains.

One more thing. Murshidabad is a city where food is deeply tied to its history. The Nawabs who ruled here brought with them a culinary tradition that blended Mughlai, Bengali, and European influences. When you eat pizza in Murshidabad, you are eating it in a city that has been absorbing outside food influences for three centuries. The pizza might not be perfect, but the context makes it worth every bite.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the one must-try local dish or street food that Murshidabad is genuinely famous for, and where is the best place to eat it?

Murshidabad is famous for its biryani, specifically the Murshidabadi biryani, which uses small-grained fragrant rice, light spices, and a distinctive style of cooking that differs from the Kolkata version. The best place to eat it is at the small, unassuming eateries near the Hazarduari Palace area in the old city, where a plate of mutton biryani costs