The Best Pizza Joints in Nashville

Pizza…just thinking about that alone can make anyone’s mouth water. Pretty sure it’s proven fact that even bad pizza is still good pizza because that’s how important a pie is.

Written by Kelly Brickey
The Best Pizza Joints in Nashville
Photo via @soulshinenash on Instagram

Pizza…just thinking about that alone can make anyone’s mouth water. Pretty sure it’s proven fact that even bad pizza is still good pizza because that’s how important a pie is. Anyone who disagrees is just wrong and it’s OK to tell them that. In 2016, it’s all about the ‘za and finding the best slice one could ever dream for.

Pizza is full of possibilities. You like sausage? Put it on as a topping! Hate the red marinara sauce? Sub for pesto! Have an allergy to gluten? Ask for an alternative style of crust! When it comes down to pizza, it can do no wrong and people must never forget that.

While Nashville may not be known for its own style of the pie, residents here go crazy over the Italian delicacy (shush, just believe it to be one) and establishing their favorite place to eat a slice or seven. No judgment—everyone has to be the hero who can finish their own large order on their own. Sounds Like Nashville has scouted out the top joints in town to feast down on a cheese or pepperoni or whatever suits your fancy. Here are nine of the greatest places to pick up a pizza pie in Music City:

#farmersmarketpie Thursday

A photo posted by Five Points Pizza (@fivepointspizza) on

Five Points Pizza – 1012 Woodland St / fivepointspizza.com

East Nashville may be the borough known for its hip boutiques and recent real estate developments, but low and behold, it is also the home to the grand Five Points Pizza. Known for their huge New York-style slices, it’s won the Best Pizza Award from the Nashville Scene since 2012. Plus, what goes with pizza better than beer? Five Points offers a wide selection of local brews on tap to create a well-rounded meal for all. P.S. Don’t forget a whole order of garlic knots—they’re simply life-changing.

Bella Napoli Pizzeria – 1200 Villa Pl Ste. 206 / bellanapolipizzeria.com

Napoletana-style pizza is what Bella Napoli specializes in, keeping the Italian tradition strong by representing it in their pies day by day. Their top seller? Margherita pizza, which takes care of all the essentials needed: red tomato sauce, fresh white mozzarella and green basil topped with a douse of olive oil. Let us eat all the slices pronto.

A photo posted by @twobootsnashville on

Two Boots Pizza – 1925 Broadway / twoboots.com

Looking for a late-night bite after painting the town red? Look no further than Two Boots Pizza. Open until 3:30 am on weekends, customers can choose from an eclectic mix of pizzas offered on the menu. Specialties include “The Kitty,” which features Hattie B’s hot chicken, “The Dude,” which is along the lines of a Cajun bacon cheeseburger pizza and vegan options like “Earth Mother,” which comes with five vegetables of the eater’s choosing and can be made without cheese.

City House – 1222 4th Ave N / cityhousenashville.com

Those looking for more of an upscale place to enjoy a delectable pizza should stop their hunt and head directly to City House. Tucked away in a cute little cottage house, their list of pizzas go on and on and include all of the savory toppings one could ask for. A favorite among many tends to be the belly ham pizza, which may sound weird but it’s 150% worth taking the risk for this mind-blowing dish.

Soulshine Pizza Factory - 1907 Division St / soulshinepizza.com

Midtown is filled with loads of funky restaurants and bars to pop in during the week and weekend nights. Soulshine Pizza offers not only some incredible pies, but they occasionally host live music events and songwriters’ nights to provide customers with both great food and great music. Complete with a rooftop patio section for visitors to soak in the Nashville experience, Soulshine is a killer joint to check out for a piece of “The Kitchen Sink” or “The Marley” pizzas.

Mafiaoza’s – 2400 12th Ave S / mafiaozas.com 

From the option to build-your-own to specialty slices, Mafiaoza’s feeds the mouths of the masses with their extra-cheesy pies. One of their busiest times happens to be Tuesday nights as their outdoor patio and bar seating area floods full with hungry customers hoping to snag the 2-for-1 special on both slices and drinks. Sometimes, it’s hard to go wrong with a 12 South neighborhood staple.

Desano Pizza Bakery – 115 16th Ave S / desanopizza.it

Desano is all about authenticity. Opened by Scott Desano, who was inspired by his Italian great-grandparents, this pizza place takes pride in keeping their ingredients fresh and their ovens hot. Each pie is served on a tray to ensure the family-style atmosphere just as if one was chowing down on a slice in Italy themselves. Buon appetito!

312 Pizza Company – 371 Monroe St / 312pizzaco.com

Good ol’ deep dish Chicago pizza. Sure, Nashville is just a road trip away from the Windy City and their hearty pies, but 312 Pizza Company came to the rescue by bringing the deep dish love right to the heart of Music City. Don’t fret though if you roll up to 312 Pizza with someone who prefers the thin crust—this place offers the best of both worlds depending on everyone’s tastebuds. Win-win!

Coco’s Italian Market – 411 51st Ave N / italianmarket.biz

Can you keep a secret? Great, because Coco’s Italian Market is a hidden gem in Nashville that creates some of the most authentic and delicious Italian food in the city (and possibly the state). The restaurant is divided into both a market and a sit-down eatery where customers can enjoy enormous pies with a rich glass of red for a fairly reasonable price. Finish up the meal with some housemade tiramisu or a scoop of smooth gelato and get ready to cry happy tears over how good everything tastes.