A Local’s Guide to the Best Pizza in Nashville

Pizza in Nashville is having a moment, and you should taste it firsthand. From coal-fired classics to Tokyo-inspired Neapolitans, the city’s slices reveal stories of craft, heritage, and obsession. This guide brings you straight to the pies locals crave, with tips on what to order and why it matters. Come hungry, because the best bites happen when you lean in, ask questions, and grab that extra slice while it’s hot.

1. Sho Pizza Bar

Sho Pizza Bar feels like a culinary passport stamped Tokyo and Tennessee. The pies arrive blistered and fragrant, with pillowy edges that show off slow fermentation. Toppings lean Appalachian, so you might taste sorghum sweetness, country ham salinity, or pickled peppers cutting through creamy mozzarella.

Order the rotating seasonal pie and watch the char freckle as it lands at your table. The balance is deliberate but playful, never fussy. You taste intention in every bite, and the crust carries it all without heaviness.

Ask about the dough timing and you will hear a story about patience. Pair it with a bright aperitivo or sake by the glass. You will leave plotting your next visit.

2. Pinky Ring Pizza

Pinky Ring Pizza is the strip-mall secret you brag about later. The 18-inch pies arrive larger than your plans, with foldable slices and crisp undersides. Toppings go wild in the smartest way, stacking flavors that sound risky but somehow eat perfectly balanced.

Think smoked chilies meeting pineapple, or pesto hugging pepperoni under a snowfall of Parm. You get crunch, chew, and a saucy chorus that keeps you reaching for another slice. It is the rare place where creativity respects fundamentals.

Grab napkins and lean over the pie stand. Share with friends, or do not, no judgment here. Madison’s not-so-hidden gem turns weeknights into a celebration.

3. Folk

Folk makes pizza feel like an evening ritual worth dressing up for. The room glows, the oven hums, and seasonal pies change with the market. That famed clam pie tastes ocean-bright, garlicky, and perfectly charred at the edges.

Start with an aperitivo and let the crust’s sour tang open up as it cools. Vegetables get star billing here, layered thoughtfully, never piled. You can taste restraint and confidence, a combination that creates real comfort.

Service is welcoming without pretense, the kind that remembers your favorite bitter spritz. Order a second pie to compare textures and toppings side by side. You will linger, talk slowly, and plan the next reservation.

4. Roberta’s at Urban Cowboy Public House

Roberta’s brings a Brooklyn swagger to a Nashville hangout, and it works the second you smell the dough. The Bee Sting is the move, sweet honey tagging in after spicy soppressata and bright tomato. The wood fire kisses everything with smoke and snap.

Expect familiar classics done with high-repetition precision. Crust lands thin in the middle, puffed at the rim, and sturdy enough to fold. You can eat fast or take a beat and let flavors settle into harmony.

The Urban Cowboy setting adds charm: patio twinkle lights, good music, and friends drifting in. Order at least one extra pie for the table. Nobody complains when leftovers ride home.

5. City House

City House is where Southern ingredients take a spontaneous trip to Naples. Tandy Wilson’s pizzas feel familiar yet unexpected, like belly ham crisping into salty lace over bright tomato. The crust stays thin and lively, with just enough chew to carry bold toppings.

You get thoughtfully sourced vegetables, herbs snapped fresh, and a kitchen that edits hard. Nothing lands on a pie without a reason. Each bite reads as a conversation between smoke, acid, and gentle heat.

Germantown sets the tone with cozy energy and confident service. Ask what is seasonal and trust the suggestion. You will remember the flavors longer than the menu names, and that is the point.

6. Smith & Lentz Brewing and Pizza

Smith & Lentz nails the beer and pizza duet. Lagers arrive crisp and clean, clearing the palate for sourdough crust that crackles at the edge. The pepperoni with hot honey is a local legend, salty curls crowned with a sweet sting.

Dough here ferments slowly, building tang and texture you can feel when you fold a slice. Toppings skew classic with just enough twist. Nothing feels gimmicky, just dialed in and satisfying.

Grab a long table with friends, order a flight, and compare pies side by side. Sunshine through the taproom windows sets an easy mood. You will stay longer than planned, and that is the plan.

7. Nicky’s Coal Fired

Nicky’s Coal Fired channels old-school energy with a Nashville accent. The coal oven roars, turning dough into crisp, leopard-spotted crust in minutes. Toppings are balanced and focused, letting the smoke do real storytelling.

Order a classic red pie or go white with garlicky olive oil and dollops of ricotta. The crunch gives way to a tender middle, so every bite snaps then melts. You can taste restraint, a respect for how few ingredients can sing together.

The Nations location keeps it casual, perfect for weeknights and families. Grab a beer, watch pies fly from peel to table, and settle in. Comfort, speed, and a reliable char await.

8. Five Points Pizza

Five Points Pizza is the safety play that still excites. Slices are big, glossy, and fold just right, with a crisp base that stands up to extra cheese. The whole pies feed a crowd without drama, perfect for late nights and game days.

Go classic: pepperoni, mushroom, maybe a grandma slice if it is running. The sauce has snap, the cheese pulls long, and the vibe stays friendly. You will not overthink your order, and that is freeing.

Lines move quickly, and reheats are handled with care. Grab shakers of oregano and chili, then find a curb or booth. East Nashville keeps the energy buzzing until close.

9. St. Vito Focacceria

St. Vito Focacceria is a love letter to Sicilian sfincione. Think plush, focaccia-like slices, olive oil shimmering under a blanket of tomato and cheese. The crumb is airy yet sturdy, built for generous sauce and slow-baked depth.

Fontina brings buttery richness while onions add sweetness and perfume. You taste layers instead of toppings, a gentle crescendo rather than a shout. It is pizza by another name, and it sticks in your memory.

Order a tray for sharing, then add whatever seasonal variation is on deck. The edges caramelize into a gentle crunch that keeps you nibbling. It is comfort you can hold in one hand.

10. NY Pie

NY Pie is the trusted standby for straight-up New York flavor. Hand-tossed dough flies overhead, landing with a thin, resilient base. The sauce leans bright, cheese stretches satisfyingly, and the slice fold feels second nature.

Do not skip the sleeper-hit Sicilian pan pie. Corners caramelize into cheesy armor, with a fluffy middle that soaks up sauce. It is the square that converts skeptics and wins weeknight dinners.

Service moves quick, prices stay friendly, and the toppings are generous. Build your own or keep it classic with pepperoni and mushrooms. Either way, you leave full, happy, and plotting leftovers.