Denver Pizza

The closest Denver gets to a NYC slice joint. The pizza is thin, foldable, and served by the slice until late. The crust has that proper NY char, the cheese ratio is right, and the atmosphere is no-frills. It's not trying to be anything other than good New York pizza, and it succeeds. Essential for late-night downtown eats.

Order: Plain cheese or pepperoni. Keep it classic.

Don't let the name fool you—this is serious pizza. Each location is unique, but all serve properly thin NY-style slices with creative topping options. The dough is made in-house, the sauce is tangy, and the portions are generous. Some locations have great patios. A Denver original that's earned its reputation.

Try: The Margherita or any daily special.

Built inside shipping containers in RiNo, Cart-Driver serves some of Denver's best Neapolitan pizza. The wood-fired oven produces perfectly blistered, slightly charred crusts with that signature chew. The menu is focused—a handful of pizzas, some salads, oysters on the half shell—and everything is excellent. The outdoor space fills up fast; go early or late.

Must try: The Burrata pizza is a thing of beauty.

A collaboration between Frasca Food & Wine (Boulder's fine-dining gem) and Chipotle's founder—an unusual pedigree that produces excellent pizza. The Neapolitan pies are proper: imported Italian flour, San Marzano tomatoes, custom-built ovens. Fast-casual service keeps prices reasonable. The Margherita is textbook; the seasonal specials are worth exploring.

Great for: Quick, quality pizza without the wait.

The Detroit-style standard in Denver. Blue Pan uses proper blue steel pans, Wisconsin brick cheese, and a 72-hour fermented dough that produces the signature airy, crispy-edged square slices. The cheese-to-edge ratio is perfect—each corner piece is pure caramelized cheese. They've won national awards and earned them. Worth any wait.

Essential: Get the corner pieces—the "frico" cheese edges are the point.

Detroit-style with a Colorado twist. The squares are thick, the cheese edges are properly crispy, and the topping combinations lean creative. They also do solid NY-style by the slice. The locations are neighborhood joints—casual, family-friendly, good for takeout or dining in. Consistent quality across all spots.

Try: The pepperoni cup-and-char Detroit style.