There’s one certainty in this world, one great unifier, one truth we can uphold above all others: pizza is great. No matter how old you get, how successful or isolated from your inner-child, the words “pizza party” still inspire excitement and anticipation. If Friday night pizza delivery was the highlight of your childhood, we just have one question: what’s stopping you now? Treat yourself to a few moments of heartfelt bliss and eat a slice (or four) of pizza. To that end, we’ve scoured the country for the 50 best pizza places in America. The coasts feature heavily, including the Third Coast, Chicago, with its infamous deep dish. The spots appear in no particular order, so find the closest and have yourself a pizza party.
Image Credit: Apizza Scholls on Facebook
Apizza Scholls
Portland, OR
Owner/chef Brian Spangler worships at the temple of pizza to churn out perfect pies.
Image Credit: Pepe’s Pizza on Facebook
Frank Pepe’s
New Haven, CT
Try the White Clam Pizza; it’s been named best in the country by Daily Meal two years running.
Image Credit: Lindsey C. on Yelp
Emilia’s
Berkley, CA
Tough to order, but worth the hassle for the thin-crust New York-style pies with limited numbers offered each night.
Image Credit: Di Fara Pizza on Facebook
Di Fara
Brooklyn, NY
Open since 1964 and celebrated by everyone from The New York Times to Anthony Bourdain as the best of the best.
Image Credit: Pizza Brain Philly on Facebook
Pizza Brain
Philadelphia, PA
Stop in for not just pizza but also to visit the first pizza museum in the country.
Image Credit: Antico-Pizza Napoletana on Facebook
Antico-Pizza Napoletana
Atlanta, GA
Woodfired pizzas considered the best in Georgia, if not the whole south by Sports Illustrated.
Image Credit: flour + water pizzeria on Facebook
flour + water pizzeria
San Francisco, CA
Order a “Big Slice” from the takeout window for ½ a pizza rolled into a sandwich with dipping sauce.
Image Credit: Al Forno Restaurant on Yelp
Al Forno
Providence, RI
This joint’s known for it’s grilled pizza, plus the casual no-reservations atmosphere.
Image Credit: The Star Tavern on Facebook
Star Tavern Pizzeria
Orange, NJ
This spot’s known for great thin-crust pizza, plus plenty of Italian staples on the menu.
Image Credit: Good Pie on Facebook
Good Pie
Las Vegas, NV
The place to visit if you’re not sure what style of pizza is your favorite; they offer four classics
Image Credit: L’industrie pizzeria on Facebook
L’industrie Pizzeria
Brooklyn, NY
It’s cash-only here, so hit at ATM before perusing the 30 different pizzas on the menu, including a breakfast pie.
Image Credit: Buddy’s Pizza on Facebook
Buddy’s Pizza
Detroit, MI
Put the place where rectangular, thick-crust, sauce-on-top Detroit-style pizza was born on your must-visit list.
Image Credit: Cane Rosso Austin on Facebook
Cane Rosso
Austin, Texas
Perfect for the ultimate pizza party, they offer 3-foot long rectangular pies.
Image Credit: Loui’s Pizza on Facebook
Loui’s
Hazel Park, MI
Eat in to see the Chianti bottles signed by celebrities before digging into thick-crust, deep-dish pie.
Image Credit: Lovely’s Fifty Fifty on Facebook
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty
Portland, OR
Pies made with farm-to-table ingredients atop a sourdough crust all made from a starter lovingly dubbed “Jake.”
Image Credit: Pizzeria Mozza on Facebook
Pizzeria Mozza
Los Angelas, CA
A New York-style pizzeria on the West Coast that stays open until midnight.
Image Credit: David C. on Yelp
La Nova
Buffalo, NY
Try the unique sesame-seed encrusted crust at this pizzeria operating since the 50s.
Image Credit: Zaffiro’s Pizza on Facebook
Zaffiro’s Pizza
Milwaukee, WI
Long considered the best in Milwaukee, they use a paper-thin crispy crust and go heavy on toppings.
Image Credit: Lou Malnati’s on Facebook
Lou Malnati’s
Chicago, IL
Everyone picks side about the best deep-dish in Chicago, but Malnati’s is always a favorite.
Image Credit: Deepika on Facebook
Pizzeria Beddia
Philadelphia, PA
Visit the new Fishtown location of the former one-person operation for great pies and natural wine.
Image Credit: Melissa V. on Yelp
Paulie Gee’s
Brooklyn, NY
The gourmet specialty pies will have you craving another slice while you still have one in your hand.
Image Credit: Sally’s Pizza on Facebook
Sally’s
New Haven, CT
A friendly competitor of Pepe’s; try the pies side-by-side before you choose your favorite.
Image Credit: Pequod’s Pizza Chicago on Facebook
Pequod’s
Chicago, IL
Pan pizza with perfectly caramelized cheese around the edges and shows what’s great about Chicago-style deep-dish.
Image Credit: Pizzana LA on Facebook
Pizzana
Los Angeles, CA
People wait for hours for the crispy, herbed-crust Neopolitan-style pizza.
Image Credit: Bianco on Facebook
Pizzeria Bianco
Phoenix, AZ
Considered one of the country’s best pizza joints for the past 20 years, serving pies from a wood-burning stove.
Image Credit: Pizzicletta on Facebook
Pizzicletta
Flagstaff, AZ
The naturally-leavened and aged dough cooks in a 1,000-degree woodfired oven for craveable Neopolitan-style pizza.
Image Credit: Razza Pizza Artigianale on Facebook
Razza Pizza Artigianale
Jersey City, NJ
They pair naturally-leavened dough with local ingredients to create what the New York Times considers the best New York pizza.
Image Credit: Pizzeria Locale on Facebook
Pizzeria Locale
Boulder, CO
Casual and inexpensive, they offer thin-crust pies with unexpected local ingredients like creme Fraiche and corn, or ricotta and chilies.
Image Credit: Lindsey C. on Yelp
Scarr’s
New York, NY
Nothing more than a takeout window in a dive bar, stop in for a great, classic New York slice.
Image Credit: Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria on Facebook
Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria
Nashville, TN
A hip-hop/pizza mashup restaurant that features both signature and build-your-own options on the menu.
Image Credit: Pizzeria Vetri on Facebook
Pizzeria Vetri
Philadelphia, PA
Try out the super-thin-crust pizzas with creative toppings alongside tempting Italian classics on the menu.
Image Credit: Spacca Napoli on Facebook
Spacca Napoli
Chicago, IL
They’re known for their gluten-free cauliflower crusts, on which you can get any of their 20 specialty pizzas.
Image Credit: Jenn N. on Yelp
Santarpio’s
Boston, MA
This neighborhood joint features cheap pitchers of beer, and cracker-thin crispy crust pizza, loaded with toppings.
Image Credit: Colony Grill Stamford on Facebook
Colony Grill
Stamford, CT
Be sure to order the signature pie, the hot oil pizza made with oil infused with poblano peppers.
Image Credit: Piece Pizzeria and Brewery on Facebook
Piece
Chicago, IL
Unique in Chicago, Piece offers New Haven-style pies, with plenty of sauce but no mozzarella.
Image Credit: Serious Pie Downtown on Facebook
Serious Pie
Seattle, WA
Hand-tossed oval-shaped pies achieve the perfect crispy/chewy balance, with classic toppings.
Image Credit: Pizza Delicious on Facebook
Pizza Delicious
New Orleans, LA
This is the best place to get a slice of New York-style pizza in the Big Easy, perfect crust with hand-crushed tomatoes in the sauce.
Image Credit: JohnnyPrimeC. C. on Yelp
Totonno’s
Brooklyn, NY
They make amazing thin-crust pizza, with homemade mozzarella and sweet sauce.
Image Credit: Tribute Pizza on Facebook
Tribute Pizza
San Diego, CA
It’s the place to try all the best pies in the world. Tribute’s specialty pizzas imitate other famous pizzeria’s style.
Image Credit: Pizza Rock Las Vegas on Facebook
Pizza Rock
Las Vegas, NV
Get the best in Vegas, an authentic New York, bigger-than-your-head, fold it in half slice.
Image Credit: Emmy Squared Gulch on Yelp
Emmy Squared
Nashville, TN
They have locations in both New York and Nashville that serve puffy Detroit-style pizza.
Image Credit: EVO Pizzaria on Facebook
EVO
Charleston, SC
The menu has a long list of inventive specialty pizzas that use farm-to-table gourmet ingredients.
Image Credit: Emily H. on Yelp
Vito & Nick’s
Chicago, IL
Around since the 1950s, serving not Chicago-style but cracker-thin crust pizzas with spicy red sauce.
Image Credit: Zoli’s NY Pizza on Facebook
Zoli’s
Dallas, TX
Opened by the owner of Cane Rosso for a real New York-style slice in Texas, and be sure to order the garlic-knots.
Image Credit: Jessica Y. on Yelp
Pizza Shackamaxon
Philadelphia, PA
This pizza joint took over when Beddia moved, serving up huge slices piled with toppings and great tomato pie.
Image Credit: Pizzeria Bebu on Facebook
Pizzeria Bebu
Chicago, IL
Exceptional in Chicago, it’s a contemporary restaurant serving thin-crust pizza in a bright, airy atmosphere.
Image Credit: Ken’s Artisan Pizza on Facebook
Ken’s Artisan Pizza
Portland, OR
A crowded restaurant that serves just eight different pies, but it’s well worth the wait for the crispy/chewy crust and authentic Italian toppings.
Image Credit: O4W Pizza on Facebook
O4W Pizza
Duluth, GA
Order the Grandma Pie; it’s considered the best pizza in Georgia.
Image Credit: Jess F. on Yelp
Circles and Squares
Philadelphia, PA
Made-to-order pies in Philadelphia, each topped with fresh grated Pecorino Romano cheese as it comes out of the oven.
Image Credit: Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana-Salt Lake City on Facebook
Settelbello
Salt Lake City, UT
Imported ingredients cook for less than a minute in the 1000-degree oven for authentic Naples-style pizza.
Featured Image Credit: Ivan Torres on Unsplash
