The Absolute Best Pizza in Austin

There’s no denying what you’ll be digging into from the moment you pull into Swift Pizza Co.’s parking lot—the large, 3D pizza sign decorating their front door will have you drooling like a Pavlovian dog before you’ve even set foot in the dining room. The crew behind popular restaurants Jacoby’s and Grizzelda’s opened the pizzeria earlier this year—and, with colorful interior accents and comfort food sides (AKA Chicken Tenders and Mozzarella Sticks), it’s a perfect place to bring kids, as well as your boyfriend who acts like a twelve-year-old. But let’s get to the pies—in particular, the West Texas, which with smoked beef, pimento cheese, caramelized onions, and barbecue sauce, is East coast-style thin crust meets Lone Star state flavor.
How to book: Order take-out via Toast.

Picture it: It’s Sunday, and you and bae are hungover. They’re craving some thin-crust slices to satisfy their beer-laden stomach, while you can’t imagine grubbing down on anything besides Detroit-style squares to gear up for that eventual post-meal nap. Luckily, Love Supreme has you both covered, serving two styles for all your versatile needs in a location with such a beautiful, string light-covered patio that you might be tempted to change that to-go order to dine-in. Regardless of which style you pick, you’ll want to go for their signature Love Supreme, a topping bonanza spanning pepperoni, sausage, pomodoro, red onion, and olives, plus unexpected highlights like kale and watermelon radish.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out via Toast.

Consider the 40-minute drive to Jester King a true pizza pilgrimage, one that rewards the pious with all the chewy, Neapolitan-style crust of their prayers. In fact, the dough is so good, you won’t even miss the cheese when you order their vegan pizza, the Jeffries, which tastes as fresh and bright as its smattering of charred local tomatoes, burnt onion, and green sauce made from herbs grown on the famed brewpub’s farm. And, as if that’s not enough carbo-loading for one day trip, Jester King specializes in award-winning sour beers, so you can take your gluten devotion to a whole new level, all while basking in gorgeous Texas Hill Country views.
How to book: Reserve via Tock or order take-out via Toast.

Among the traffic-packed streets of North Lamar, the blue-striped umbrella deck and outdoor area of 40 North pops up like an easygoing European respite. And while the breezy Mediterranean atmosphere mirrors the Neapolitan-style of pies they sling, their unique topping combinations are anything but traditional. Consider the Dandelion, which delicately balances dandelion greens and onion jam with savory slices of pancetta. For an even more curious creation, go with the Spicy Pickle Pizza, a collaboration with La Barbecue that combines pickles (yes, pickles), spicy peppers, fresh dill, and thick slices of garlic which, somehow, work really, really well together.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating, order take-out via ChowNow. 

Sometimes you can’t help but crave the type of drippy, droopy, grease-smothered pizza guaranteed to leave you in a cheese-induced coma—hey, no judgment on our end. For those moments, there is no better option than the Detroit-style mastery of Via 313. Thick, bready crusts are perfectly accentuated with the crispy caramelized cheese, making every slice the coveted “corner piece” you and your siblings fought over back in the day. Menu newbies can’t go wrong with the Meatball, topped with green peppers, red sauce, grated parmesan cheese, and meatballs so on-point they’ll give your Nona’s recipe a run for its money.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Toast.

Few places pay the unbeatable combination of pizza and beer the homage it duly deserves as well as Pinthouse. Their award-winning homemade brews like the citrus-driven Electric Jellyfish IPA serve as perfect soulmates to the soft-crusted, toppings-loaded pies they craft with equal care. Their unusual-yet-tasty combinations—think the Honey Pear, which tempers the sweetness of pears and honey with the boldness of prosciutto and blue cheese—can be modified for multiple dietary needs, so even your keto and vegan friends can enjoy a slice together. Be sure to order a side (or two) of their homemade Jalapeño Ranch for dipping purposes—you’ll never go back to Hidden Valley again.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Although it’s only been open a little over a year, Dough Boys has already garnered the level of local buzz usually reserved for long-time institutions. They recently moved to a new location at Meanwhile Brewery, bringing with them their Italian wood-burning oven and churning out pies imbued with the endlessly chewy, bubbly crust that put Neapolitan-style on the map. Lean into the Austin vibes with an Eastside Trip, which features local oyster mushrooms alongside garlic cream and smoked mozzarella.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Northeast transplants can find a taste of home at Home Slice, the only place in Austin that really nails the New York-style pie, down to the distinct aroma of cheese and tomato sauce wafting clear down the block. Considering this, it’s hard to choose anything other than a slice of their tried-and-true classic Pepperoni and Mushroom, which soaks any plate with grease like a good New York slice should. For the more adventurous, Home Slice’s take on the White Clam Pizza, with plentiful amounts of chopped clams and garlic, will transport you directly to New Haven—without the threat of a long, gray winter.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out via ChowNow.

Sipping Lemoncello beneath the light-covered tree on Il Brutto’s outdoor patio might make you forget that Italy is actually a 15-hour flight away. And perusing their menu of Italian cuisine only adds to the illusion—while the antipasti and pasta are stellar on their own, the Neapolitan-style pies are the perfect shareable Happy Hour snack for a group of friends. The Funghi Pizza, with its sizable dosage of shiitake mushrooms, is an ideal bite for those craving a hit of umami.

As Austin’s dining scene continues to explode on par with its growing population, a bulk of the city’s original haunts have, unfortunately, disappeared. This makes Little Deli all the more special: their Crestview location has been open for close to three decades, as its relaxing, inviting atmosphere continues to draw patrons across generations. That’s not to say their longevity is due to nostalgia alone, as their hand-tossed thin-crust pies have remained one of the city’s best year after year. The Rollatini, covered with roasted eggplant, ricotta, pecorino romano, and roasted garlic, is as essential an Austin experience as watching the bats from the South Congress bridge.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

While every Austin local has a favorite taco or barbecue place they will defend to the death as “the absolute best,” there is no such debate when it comes to Bufalina. This high-end, pizza-driven establishment is universally beloved by anyone lucky enough to taste their Neapolitan-style creations. The delicate, expertly formed pies here are a love letter to all the possibilities that the combination of dough and ingredients can achieve. The complex show of flavors, like the ones in the Garden Pie (which contains coconut milk, squash, corn, fennel hot sauce, and various herbs), will elevate a guilty pleasure to fine cuisine.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out via Tock.

When you find yourself a few too many Lone Stars deep at the end of a night out, count on Hoboken Pie to provide the kind of grub your beer-soaked stomach craves. And while their late hours—they’re open till midnight—and no-frills attitude might lure the stumbling masses out of nearby Dirty Sixth Street bars, that doesn't mean their New Jersey-inspired pies are any less tasty. Even for the stone-cold sober, their specialty pies, like the Danzig, with black olives, mushrooms, honey ham, and cheese, are sure to hit the spot.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out via ChowNow.

Fans of this Austin mainstay reflect the full spectrum of the city’s citizens—from musicians indulging in late-night eats to families grabbing a Saturday afternoon slice, everyone flocks to this mini-chain’s three locations. This might be be the extensive menu, which allows you to forego the traditional marinara and, instead, opt for a base of pesto, chimichurri, ricotta, or black bean sauce atop their thin, cracker-like dough. Pizza purists shouldn't be discouraged, though, as there are plentiful combinations featuring good old-fashioned red sauce like the vegetarian Guiche, topped with enough spinach, green chillies, sun-dried tomatoes, and goat cheese to melt the heart of even the most carnivorous gourmand.

Technically bordering the outskirts of Austin, Pieous is a bit of a drive compared to the other locations on this list. For pizza aficionados, though, it’s worth the extra miles—their pies are so popular, in fact, they moved to their current location two years ago in order to accommodate growing demand. It may not be officially listed on the menu, but the move here is to add a mound of juicy house-made pastrami to your pizza order. Also, as the name suggests, Pieous worships pies in all forms,—save room for the Blueberry Brown Betty, a melt-in-your mouth treat made with fresh blueberries and coated with crumble.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

While officially called The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., any proper Austinite worth their carbs knows it simply as the ABGB. If the cherished nickname doesn't give it away already, this beer garden is a deep-rooted neighborhood go-to in South Austin. While the beer may be, literally, the headliner here, their fresh, seasonal pizzas are equally deserving of the spotlight. And the joint’s cherished bond with the city is further emphasized by the food itself, where many ingredients come locally sourced. Considering how topped-to-the-gills their pizzas are—one option contains brussel sprouts, pistachio pesto, taleggio, rosemary, black garlic, sweet potatoes, red onions, ricotta, and goat cheese on a single pie—it’s a good thing they can restock the line without leaving their own backyard.

While this list alone is proof that Austin has its fair share of great Neapolitan-style pizza purveyors, the Backspace gets a special shout-out for their exceedingly exceptional dough, which covers all the standard characteristics of a thin and crispy base while still maintaining a fluffiness that’s all too often lost to the flames of other wood-fired ovens. A real winner is their take on the Bianca Pizza, a white pie that generally exhibits a richness that makes having more than one slice nauseating. The Backspace, however, balances their Bianca with enough lemon and arugula to cut through the heaviness, giving you all the satisfaction of fullness, with none of the stomach ache.
How to book: Order take-out via RevelUp.