Even when it’s bad, it’s good. Hot pizza, cold pizza, blackout-night in-your-bed pizza. Whether it’s a classic Neapolitan-style Margherita, a traffic cone-sized slice, or some warped creation piled high with everything and the kitchen sink – we don’t discriminate when it comes to pizza. From mom-and-pop shops to cocktail bars, here are the 14 of the best pizza parlors in the Houston area!
1. Frank’s Pizza
Open late ’til 3 am on Fridays and Saturdays, Frank’s Pizza at the corner of Market Square District comes through with quality ‘za day and night. Their face-sized slices are peppered with fresh ingredients and scratch-made dough. The choice house specialty is the south-of-the-border Chicken Fiesta pizza with fajita chicken morsels, jalapeños, queso, green peppers, Pesto sauce, mushrooms, and onions.📍
📍417 Travis St.
2. Bollo Woodfired Pizza
Using ingredients such as buffalo mozzarella and OO flour sourced straight out of the Italian homeland, Bollo Woodfired Pizza on West Alabama uses a handmade, Vera Pizza Napoletana Association-approved (AVPN) oven to cook up their delicious Neapolitan pizzas. It’s hard to do wrong with whatever pizza you pick, but editor’s choice include their Bianca de Bollo pizza, as well as the Texas Wagyu Beef pizza made with meat sourced from Simonton, Texas.
📍1223 W 34th St Suite A-200
📍2202 W Alabama St A
3. Star Pizza
The story goes with Star Pizza is that its founder, a Chicago native, was disillusioned with the pizza here in the south. Taking it upon themselves, they started Star Pizza. Here, you’ll find Windy City-style deep dish as well as New York-style and hand-tossed personal pizzas on white and whole wheat crust. In addition to their killer ‘za, Star Pizza serves homemade lasagna, sandwiches, salads, and an Apple Cinnamon Dessert pizza.
📍77 Harvard St.
4. Gypsy Poet
Gypsy Poet puts the “art” in “artisan pizza”. Helmed by Pizza Queen, Vanessa Fernandez, The Midtown pizza studio on Austin Street creates picturesque 13-inch Neapolitan-style pies. The pepperoni-smothered Pepperoni Madness and Cappellone “Big Hat” with house-made tomato sauce, Flor di latte, mozzarella, Portobello mushroom caps, shallots, and Italian sausages are true works of art.
📍1050 Studewood St.
5. Brother’s Pizzeria
Looking for a taste of the Big Apple? Scoot down to Brother’s Pizzeria, with locations in Cypress, Garden Oaks, and on Highway 6, where the parlor turns out thin-crust pies spanning up to 18 inches. Opt for a monster-sized slice of ‘za, or chow down on one of their decadent sandwiches.
📍1029 Hwy 6 #100
6. Coltivare Pizza & Garden
The rustic Italian bistro in The Heights offers a quaint atmosphere complete with a 3,000-square-foot backyard garden to enjoy their simple, yet sensational, pizza. To compliment your pizza, we suggest ordering off the cocktail menu with one of their Gin and Tonics or Old Fashioneds, the latter made with Sorghum molasses.
📍3320 White Oak Dr.
7. Vinny’s
Product of Agricole Hospitality, the same group behind Coltivare Pizza & Garden, Vinny’s in East Downtown churns out big fat slices of New York-style pizza. Whole 16-inch pies are also available, with eye-popping options such as their El Primo, made with angus beef, provolone, pepperonata, oregano, chili flakes, and ricotta, as well their Maui Wowie with roasted pineapple, prosciutto, pickled jalapeños, chili flakes, and mozzarella.
📍3320 White Oak Dr
8. Piola
The kaleidoscopic restaurant and terrace on Louisiana St. in Midtown is, as its sign states, “famosi per la pizza”. At Piola, the pizzas are brick-oven cooked, the ingredients fresh, and the crusts thin and crispy.
What began in Treviso, an Italian city in the Veneto region, Piola has since expanded internationally with outposts in Texas and Florida. Of course, their classic Margherita is a solid go-to, but if you’re feeling venturesome, Piola offers sin tomato sauce options like their Odessa and Copenhagen pizzas using an Alfredo sauce base.
📍3201 Louisiana St Suite #103
9. Romano’s Pizza
The New York invasion of Houston pizzerias continues with Romano’s in River Oaks Plaza. The old school pizza parlor keeps things relatively simple with cheese, veggie, meatlover, and special options – the latter loaded with the works of pepperoni, Italian sausage, onions, hamburger, black olives, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Chef’s Specials, Sicilian Square deep dish, calzones, and other options are also available here.
📍1529 W Gray St.
10. Nonno’s Pizza
In the span of a few short months, Nonno’s Pizza has quickly become the hottest ticket in town. Named the “Best Pizza Joint” in North America by Esquire, Nonno’s Pizza is a ’90s-themed parlor that serves thin-crust, tavern-style ‘za in a family-friendly environment. Nonno’s is open from 5 pm – midnight Tuesday through Sunday.
📍1613 Richmond Ave.
11. Home Slice Pizza
Home Slice Pizza had long been a favorite in Austin before opening up shop in Houston 2021. The highly-renowned, highly-accoladed pizzeria is known for their crispy thin crust, NY-style pizza available in whole pies or by the slice. Subs, salads, beer, and wine are also available.
📍3701 Travis St.
12. Mony’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen
Located inside Mekong Center, Mony’s Pizzeria & Italian Kitchen is one of the most popular hole-in-the-wall pizzerias in Midtown. The mom-and-pop shop is known for their friendly service, warm atmosphere, and Texas-sized NY-style pizza.
📍2808 Milam St. Suite G
13. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse
Now with two locations in Houston, Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is a neighborhood cocktail hangout that slings celestial-quality pizza. Known for their out-there environment, seasonal pop-ups, and eclectic cocktails, Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is a solid choice for pizza on a night out.
📍2101 Washington Ave
📍4500 Montrose Blvd
14. Pizza Bira Vino
Prepared from scratch using carefully selected artisanal, imported ingredients, Pizza Birra Vino serves elevated craft pizza. Options here range from more traditional ‘za like Pepperoni Classico and Queen Margherita to more eccentric options like the Chicken Scampi, Myokonos, and Portobello pizzas. The restaurant also features a range of sandwich, pasta, and salad options as well as a Sommelier-curated wine list.
📍544 Waugh Dr.
See also: This Texas Vintage Pizza Hut Is A Large Slice Of Nostalgia
