In Denver, as in most towns across the nation, pizza parlors are everywhere. But no matter where you’re from or where you’re headed, you’ll feel right at home in these stellar pizza joints.
SliceWorks Pizza
Need a pizza to please every palate? Head to SliceWorks where you can choose from a variety of traditional pies (think: red sauce, mozzarella, basil and parmigiana) as well as out-of-the-ordinary creations like a Colorado-inspired green chile pizza. With locations in Capitol Hill and LoDo, a slice is never far away.
Beau Jo’s
Beau Jo’s dates back to 1973 when it started its Colorado-style pizza business in Idaho Springs, a popular hangout for skiers and snowboarders heading to and from the ski resorts. Now you can have hearty, sweet-crusted mountain pies in Arvada, too. Bonus: Gluten-free and cauliflower crusts so even more people can enjoy.
Redeemer Pizza
If New York and Neapolitan style pies were to marry, plus throw in a little sourdough to complete the union (who are we to judge?), you’d have Redeemer Pizza’s perfectly chewy-crispy-with-a-bite crust. The naturally leavened dough takes three to four days to ferment before getting topped with traditional or out-of-the-box (soy-pickled mushrooms for starters) ingredients and hitting the 600-degree electric deck oven. If you can’t snag a table in the bustling River North Art District (RiNo) dining room, try the back alley window for a slice.
Famous Original J's
Just how New York are the foldable slices at Famous Original J’s? They use reverse osmosis to transform Denver tap water into the mineral blend you find in New York City water, nailing that crispy-chewy crust. Walk on up to the window on the 715 Club’s patio and grab a slice or whole pie.
Blue Pan
Blue Pan first started making Detroit-style pizza believers out of Denverites in 2015, and we’ve been craving the rectangular, brick cheese-loaded pies ever since. The original West Highland spot got so in demand that they added a sister location in Congress Park to feed their fans.
White Pie
White Pie gets its name from the New Haven, Connecticut, style of oblong pizza that swaps crème fraiche for tomato sauce on its charred crusts. But there’s more to White Pie than, well, white pie. The deep dish sourdough Sicilian pies are also stellar (just be warned they take 30-40 minutes to cook), the meatballs al forno are a must-order starter, and the Porky Porkorino pie with soppressata, pickled chiles and hot honey pretty much has its own fan club.
Fat Sully's
For more than 15 years, Fat Sully’s has been Denver’s go-to for giant, affordable slices. Sharing space with the Denver Biscuit Company and Atomic Cowboy bar, you could stay at the Colfax and Broadway spots from morning until midnight and be well-fed and hydrated. (And seriously, we can think of worse ways to spend a day.)
Vero
Imagine devouring fresh pizza, seconds removed from a wood-fired oven shipped all the way from Naples, Italy. Located inside Denver Central Market, Vero is the brainchild of noted chef (and native Italian, so you know it's legit) Andrea Frizzi. You can literally have a slice of Italy without the plane ticket and pesky time change.
Hops & Pie
Expect the unexpected at this beer-centric pizzeria and taproom in the Berkeley neighborhood in north Denver. Pizza toppings include intriguing ingredients like beer-braised brisket, mashed potatoes, house-smoked tofu and blackberry barbecue sauce, and the taps are filled with an ever-rotating selection of exclusive craft beers from cult local producers like Crooked Stave and Strange Craft Beer Company.
Marco's Coal-Fired
Marco's serves up handmade pizza with artisanal cheeses and meats from Italy, Limoncello chicken wings and—be still our hearts—a Nutella pizza for dessert. It's certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, meaning that Racca’s pies adhere to strict guidelines originally set in place to guarantee the quality of pizzas made in Naples, Italy. It has two locations, one near Coors Field and the other in Englewood.
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers & Bar
Mellow out at this unique pizza joint featuring hand-tossed, stone-baked premium pizzas made with the finest ingredients, plus hoagies, calzones and fresh salads. The heated patio means you can hang out in the fresh air at Mellow Mushroom virtually year-round on the 16th Street Mall.
Cart-Driver
Tucked inside a shipping container in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood, Cart-Driver pairs premium wood-fired pizzas with fresh oysters. An odd couple? Not in our book! There’s also prosecco on tap, seasonal market plates, Italian-style spritzes and local brews. Cart-Driver also has another location in Lower Highland (LoHi).
Kaos Pizzeria
With a leafy patio from which to soak up the atmosphere on Old South Pearl Street, this local favorite scores with inventive signature pies like the Smokestack (featuring bacon, fire-roasted poblano peppers and goat cheese) and the Broccoli + Tater (topped with roasted garlic, white cheddar, broccoli, potatoes and créme fraîche). But regularly changing specials are surefire hits too, featuring gourmet ingredients like duck confit, smoked salmon and even caviar.