Best Pizza Places in Charlotte
Where to find the best slices and whole pizza pies in the Queen City.
by Arielle Patterson
The Charlotte dining scene has a lot of options when it comes to cheesy pizza. From Neapolitan with red sauce to New York slices and Detroit-style pies, there’s something for every pizza-craving palate. Here’s where to find some of the best pizza in the Queen City.
800° Woodfired Kitchen
Neighborhood: SouthPark
800° Woodfired Kitchen turns up the heat when it comes to crafting hand-made pizzas. Scratch-made dough is topped with fresh, locally sourced produce, along with quality meats and cheeses, before cooking in a custom-made wood-fired oven for a subtle, smoky taste.
Bird Pizzeria
Neighborhood: Optimist Park
Bird Pizzeria owner Kerrel Thompson spent his time in lockdown learning how to craft his own pizzas in 2020. Two years later, alongside his wife Nkem, the couple opened Bird Pizzeria, specializing in gourmet East Coast-style whole pies. The local shop even received national recognition in The New York Times’ list of best pizza shops.
Bisonte Pizza Co.
Neighborhood: Uptown, South Charlotte, Matthews
The pizza sauce at Bisonte Pizza Co. was passed down from father to sons, Jim and Steve DaPolito. Try Buffalo-style pizza, known for being extra cheesy and extra saucy, right here in the Queen City. Order your pizza with a signature crust flavor, such as sesame, butter, garlic and parmesan.
The Crust
Neighborhood: Montford, South Charlotte
Instead of typical triangular slices, The Crust cuts its Midwest-style pizzas into crispy, thin squares that are prepared with the restaurant’s house-made dough and lightly sauced. While you can order from the selection of specialty pizzas or craft your own, ask your server about The Crust’s off-menu pizzas.
DaVinci’s Pizza
Neighborhood: University City, North Charlotte
Pizzas are crafted like a work of art at DaVinci’s Pizza. DaVinci’s offers a bit of everything, from pizza by the slice and specialty pies to thick-crust pan pizzas including Sicilian pizza. The DaVinci’s Special pizza comes with pepperoni, sausage, beef, ham, onions, peppers, mushrooms and black olives.
Due Amici Pizza
Neighborhood: North Charlotte
“Due amici” translates to “two friends” in Italian, which is fitting since friends Art Cornielle and Paul Cina own this New York-style pizza shop. Due Amici’s makes sauce and dough in-house daily, using recipes developed by Cornielle and Cina, for pizza by the slice as well as 14- and 16-inch pies.
Geno D’s
Neighborhood: Uptown
Located in The Market at 7th Street, Geno D’s offers a taste of Jersey Shore pizza, which is similar to New York-style as it uses an even ratio of sauce and cheese. Geno D’s is best known for its rectangular Grandma Pizza, with a thinner crust and sauce on top.
Gravity Sourdough Pizza Co.
Neighborhood: Camp North End
Make your way to the Boileryard area of Camp North End for sourdough pies finished in an 850-degree oven. Alex Osterhoudt and Amanda Wagner turned their pizza-making hobby into a business and now dish out creative offerings like the Every Day I’m Brusselin’ with shaved brussels sprouts and crushed pistachios.
Hawthorne’s NY Pizza & Bar
Neighborhood: South End, Elizabeth, Ballantyne, North Charlotte, South Charlotte, East Charlotte, Mint Hill, Huntersville, Mooresville, Concord
Build your own New York-style pie at Hawthorne’s. An 18-inch pizza provides eight cheesy, foldable slices — a key characteristic of the style. Hawthorne’s also offers specialty pizzas like the buffalo chicken pizza known as “The Inducer,” an option famous for sending pregnant women into labor.
House of Pizza
Neighborhood: East Charlotte
House of Pizza has been a favorite among Charlotte locals since 1978. This family-run restaurant uses fresh, high-quality ingredients to create its signature pizzas with options like the Greek Pizza, with mozzarella, feta, black olives and gyro meat, and the Philly Pizza, with your choice of chicken or steak, grilled onions, peppers and mushrooms.
Inizio Pizza Napoletana
Neighborhood: Dilworth, Ballantyne, Cotswold, Huntersville, Fort Mill, S.C.
Inizio is dedicated to crafting authentic Neapolitan-style pizza using ingredients imported directly from Italy, like San Marzano tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella, and naturally risen dough made with “OO” flour. After 90 seconds in a 900-degree wood-fired oven, to create a slight char on the crust, you can experience Inizio’s artisan pizza.
Pizza Baby
Neighborhood: Wesley Heights, Elizabeth
Each Pizza Baby location offers a different style. Pizza Baby West, in Wesley Heights, features 18-inch New York-style pies that combine classic pizza-making techniques with modern equipment. The Pizza Baby East location in Elizabeth specializes in Roman-style pizzas prepared with house-made focaccia, available by the rectangular slice.
Neighborhood: Midtown
Pizzeria Omaggio delivers an authentic Italian pizzeria vibe with a menu that features American influence. While classic cheese, margherita, spicy Diavola and white pizzas are always on the menu, try one of the seasonal selections crafted as a personal size.
Neighborhood: Uptown
Owner Sal Sapienza brought his father’s 30-year-old New York-style pizza recipe to Charlotte in 2018. Taste this legacy by the slice or as a whole pie, with options like classic cheese or one of the white pizzas. Pizzeria Sapienza also features square-cut Sicilian pizza with a thick crust.
Neighborhood: Uptown, Madison Park, South Charlotte, East Charlotte, Indian Land, S.C.
When two childhood friends immigrated to the U.S., they brought with them the flavors of northern Italy. Portofino’s pizzas are made with fresh dough, homemade sauce and Italian whole-peeled tomatoes. For a true taste of Italy, try one of the specialty pizzas like the Montese with prosciutto, mozzarella, basil and mushrooms.
Neighborhood: East Charlotte
Sal’s Pizza Factory dishes out thin-crust, Jersey-style pizza. Order one of more than 20 signature pizzas, loaded with toppings, including Sicilian-style selections. Unique options include the chicken Caesar salad pizza and Steak Fry white pizza with cheesesteak and French fries.
Neighborhood: NoDa
Upstairs from this local-favorite beer shop, Salud Cerveceria also serves 12-inch wood-fired pizzas. Try creative combinations like the Latin Lingo with a spicy crema base, chicken, corn, jalapeños, cotija cheese, tajin and lime. Keep an eye out for lunchtime and late-night pizza specials.
Neighborhood: NoDa
Zämbies features several options for oversized slices, as well as one rotating special. Folling a Northeastern-style technique to make 28-inch pizzas, Zämbies is available by the slice or as a whole pie to share that’s perfect for a late-night bite.
