photo credit: Reedemer Pizza photo credit: Redeemer Pizza Denver has come a long way from our “mountain style” pie days. (Shoutout to Beau Jo’s and their honey crust.) The pizza boom that started with Marco’s Coal Fired in 2008 now includes foldable New York slices, caramelized brick cheese rectangles, New Haven white pies, and sourdough crusts topped with cheese from sixth-generation Italian dairy farms. And while we could argue over which is the best of the best, that would be like arguing over which dog breed is the cutest in those little rain slickers when the answer is obviously all of them. These are the best pizza places in Denver. Famous Original J's Pizza 715 E 26th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80205 New Yorkers like to moan about Denver’s pizza scene, but at this slice and whole pie window attached to the 715 Club, the only thing they can complain about are the Giants. The greasy, foldable slices will cure any East Coast homesickness thanks to the science-y magic they use to replicate NYC’s tap water for the crust. (The secret is a reverse osmosis filter, which gets the mineral blend just right.) There’s no dining room here, but you can grab a seat on the 715 Club’s patio, or eat it on the go à la a true New Yorker. photo credit: From The Hip photo credit: From The Hip photo credit: From The Hip photo credit: From The Hip Find The Best Spots Nearby Marco's Coal Fired 2129 Larimer St, Denver, Colorado 80205 Just how legit are the Neapolitan pies flying out of Marco’s 900-degree wood-fired oven? The restaurant is the only pizzeria in the state certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, and while we don’t speak Italian, we think that means it’s pretty darn credible. You’re definitely there for the pies, but Marco’s has become almost as well known for its limoncello coated wings and Nutella and powdered sugar topped dessert pizza. The Italian stops at the bar, though, where the beers are from Colorado and American sports are always on TV. RESERVE A TABLE WITH photo credit: Marco's Coal-Fired photo credit: Marco's Coal-Fired photo credit: Marco's Coal-Fired 3930 W 32nd Ave, Denver, CO 80212 When Blue Pan opened its West Highland pizzeria in 2015, it started a rectangular, caramelized brick cheese revolution. Denverites loved it so much that we crowded the tiny parlor until they relented and opened a second, larger location in Congress Park. Still, many of us have probably never stepped foot in a Blue Pan, preferring delivery to braving the crowds. And that’s OK—however you get your Brooklyn Bridge with pepperoni cups, hand-pinched sausage, and creamy ricotta is between you and your pizza god. While more Detroit-style spots have moved in over the past decade, the OG is still our choice. photo credit: Blue Pan photo credit: Blue Pan 2500 Larimer St., Denver, CO 80205 Regardless of where you’re from or how nuanced your opinions on whether fruit belongs on a pizza, Cart-Driver makes undeniably exceptional wood-fired Neapolitan-style pies. Loaded up with toppings like wood-roasted trumpet mushrooms, littleneck clams, and spicy calabrian honey, the pizzas are even better paired with a Negroni (just $8 during their twice daily happy hours). So long as it isn’t covered in a pile of snow, head out to the attached patio to escape the cramped shipping container space (seriously, the whole restaurant is 640 square feet). photo credit: Tobin Voggesser photo credit: Tobin Voggesser photo credit: Tobin Voggesser photo credit: Tobin Voggesser 1229 S Broadway, Denver, Colorado 80210 Joy Hill may look a bit like an artisanal Pizza Hut, but you aren’t there for the atmosphere. You’re there for the knockout, wood-fired sourdough pies. That’s because if you, like us, are in constant pursuit of exceptional crust, your journey will inevitably lead you to Joy Hill. Naturally leavened and leopard-like with charred bubbles, the tang and texture are so perfect that you could eat the crust plain. But you won’t do that because that’s weird—not to mention the toppings are pretty special, too, like fire-roasted sweet corn, local bison chorizo, pickled jalapeño, and creamy burrata. Sit at the divey bar up front or on the rooftop patio to avoid the whole ’90s pizza chain vibe.

photo credit: Joy Hill photo credit: Joy Hill photo credit: Joy Hill Pizzeria Leopold 1990 Wadsworth Blvd, Denver, Colorado 80214 No, Pizzeria Leopold isn’t in Denver, but what’s a 15-minute detour west when pizza and cannoli are involved? The blistered, thin-but-still-sturdy crust is great, but it’s the toppings that make Leopold—part pizzeria and part Italian grocer—worth the drive. Choose from Palisade peaches, River Bear candied bacon, house-made meatballs, chicken cutlets, and roasted eggplant—just maybe not all on the same pizza. (Or on the same pizza. You do you.) Since you drove all that way, it’s best to settle into the cozy dining room, grab a beer, a pistachio cannoli, and pick up some Italian groceries and cold cuts on your way out. 2705 Larimer St, Denver, Colorado 80205 They call their pizza style New York 2.0. We call it the only thing we want to be in a committed relationship with. Redeemer’s pies have the slight sass of a sourdough tang, and they’re available either by the slice from a to-go window in the alley, or as a 16-inch pizza in the bench- and stool-filled dining room. There are definitely some chichi ingredients here (soy pickled mushrooms and lemon pea cream sauce count as chichi, right?), but our favorite is the spicy-salty Diavolo with pepperoni, soppressata, and jalapenos. There’s not a ton of seating, so if you don’t get here early you might want to head around back to the slice window, where you can also grab to-go beer, wine, and canned cocktails. photo credit: Luke Gottlieb photo credit: Luke Gottlieb Little Arthur’s 205 E 7th Ave, Denver, Colorado 80203 There was a lot of social media commotion when Little Arthur’s announced that its pizza would be the most expensive in town. (The Reddit thread devoted to the $40 pies is a case study in being Mad Online.) But here’s the thing—the pizza is really freaking good. The crackly crust, cheese sourced from a sixth generation dairy farm in Naples, and flakey sea salt finish is worth the pretty penny, especially when you consider the 20-inch pizzas feed four. There are a few more hitches, though. Their hours sometimes fluctuate, you’ll have to battle the beer crowds inside Out of the Barrel Taproom where Little Arthur’s is located, and they do tend to run out of menu items. But hey, whatever you get here is going to be great, even if it’s not what you’d planned. 1702 N Humboldt St, Denver, Colorado 80218 We keep wondering why Denver doesn’t have more New Haven style pies , but it could be that White Pie nails it so perfectly that no one else has the hubris to enter the scene. Besides the namesake white pie with crème fraiche, bacon, cremini mushrooms, and an oozing sunny egg, our favorite is the Porky Porkorino, and not just because we like saying the name. The soppressata, pickled jalapenos, and hot honey combo is one for the ages. Full of plants, sunshine, and backless stools, White Pie fills up fast (do other people not need lumbar support?), but you can order ahead for pickup and eat it on your ergonomic sofa. Suggested Reading The Best Lunch Spots In Denver Where to have a very memorable midday meal. The Best Restaurants In Denver The Best Restaurants In RiNo The Best Sushi Spots In Denver The Best Lunch Spots In Denver Where to have a very memorable midday meal. The Best Restaurants In Denver Expert Neapolitan-style pizza, green chile-doused burritos, and more things that make Denver a super fun city to eat in. The Best Restaurants In RiNo A bungalow that only serves 18 people a day, a food hall you’ll want to move into, and a classic diner that’ll fill you up for $10. The Best Sushi Spots In Denver 11 of our favorite spots for temaki, slabs of toro, and omakase menus.