Eat With Sam KSearching for the best pizza in Nashville? Whether you're craving a classic New York-style slice, authentic Neapolitan pizza, Detroit-style, or a creative local favorite, this guide highlights some of the top pizza restaurants in Music City.
I'm working my way through Nashville's pizzerias and giving the places I personally visit a Sam Score based on my overall experience. This guide will continue to change as I try more of them.
At Eat With Sam K, every meal is purchased with my own money. I don't accept paid reviews or exchange positive ratings for free food.
Tip: hover over any $ price tag below to see what it means.
⭐ Prince St. Pizza
Neighborhood: Downtown (Fifth + Broadway)
Sam Score: 7.4/10
Best For: Quick New York-style slices downtown
Price: $$
Prince St. Pizza has become one of my favorite places to grab a quick New York-style slice downtown, inside the Fifth + Broadway development.
It's a solid, no-frills square slice with real New York pedigree, the Spicy Vodka and Naughty Pie both deliver plenty of flavor. It doesn't quite live up to the legendary hype of the original Nolita shop, but it's a dependable, affordable stop if you're downtown and want a genuinely good slice fast. Read Sam's full review →
💬 Sam Says: "A dependable, affordable stop if you're downtown and want a genuinely good slice fast."
⭐ Personally Reviewed by Eat With Sam K · Read my full Prince St. Pizza review →
More Nashville Pizza Worth Knowing
I'm still working my way through Nashville's pizzerias, so the restaurants below haven't all received an official Sam Score yet.
Rather than assigning rankings to places I haven't personally reviewed, I'm keeping them on my radar and will update this guide as I visit them.
🍕 Five Points Pizza
Five Points Pizza has become one of Nashville's most iconic pizza destinations. Known for its massive New York-style slices, perfectly crisp crust, and quality ingredients, it's a must-visit whether you're grabbing a quick lunch or a late-night bite.
Best For: New York-style pizza
🎨 Smith & Lentz
Originally known for its brewery, Smith & Lentz has developed a reputation for serving some of the city's best artisan pizzas. Their naturally fermented dough creates a light, airy crust with outstanding flavor.
Best For: Artisan pizza
🍺 Dicey's Tavern
Dicey's Tavern has quickly become one of Nashville's favorite neighborhood pizza spots. Their crispy, tavern-style pizzas are perfect for sharing alongside a drink.
Best For: Thin crust pizza
🧀 Slim & Husky's Pizza Beeria
Slim & Husky's offers a fun build-your-own concept while also serving signature pizzas packed with flavor. It's one of Nashville's most recognizable local pizza brands.
Best For: Custom pizza
🇮🇹 DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana
If you're looking for authentic Italian pizza, DeSano is one of the closest experiences you'll find in Nashville. Imported ingredients and wood-fired ovens produce soft, flavorful pizzas with beautifully blistered crusts.
Best For: Authentic Neapolitan pizza
🔥 Nicky's Coal Fired
Coal-fired ovens give Nicky's pizzas a unique texture and smoky flavor. Their handcrafted pizzas pair perfectly with fresh pasta and Italian-inspired appetizers.
Best For: Coal-fired pizza and pasta
🟥 Emmy Squared Pizza
Known for its Detroit-style pizza, Emmy Squared serves thick, crispy, cheesy square slices loaded with premium toppings.
Best For: Detroit-style pizza
🇮🇹 Bella Napoli Pizzeria
Bella Napoli has become a local favorite for authentic Italian-style pizza served in a cozy neighborhood atmosphere.
Best For: Cozy, neighborhood Italian pizza
🌲 PennePazze
PennePazze combines authentic Italian recipes with high-quality ingredients, creating wood-fired pizzas that continue to earn praise from Nashville diners.
Best For: Wood-fired Italian pizza
🍻 TailGate Brewery
TailGate Brewery serves excellent craft beer alongside one of the city's most underrated pizza menus. With multiple locations around Nashville, it's a great casual option.
Best For: Pizza and craft beer
Best Pizza in Nashville by Occasion
If you don't want to sort through the entire list, here's where I'd start depending on what you're looking for.
| Looking For | Try |
|---|---|
| ⭐ Highest Sam Score | Prince St. Pizza, 7.4 |
| 🍕 New York-Style | Prince St. Pizza / Five Points Pizza |
| 🇮🇹 Neapolitan | DeSano Pizzeria |
| 🟥 Detroit-Style | Emmy Squared |
| 🍺 Pizza & Beer | TailGate Brewery / Slim & Husky's |
| 🎨 Artisan | Smith & Lentz |
| 📍 Quick, Downtown | Prince St. Pizza |
What Is My Favorite Pizza Spot in Nashville?
Right now, Prince St. Pizza is my top personally-reviewed pick, with a 7.4 Sam Score.
That doesn't mean the ranking is permanent. I'm continuing to visit pizzerias throughout Nashville, and whenever I review another one, I'll update this guide based on my actual experience.
The goal is eventually to have a complete ranking based entirely on restaurants I've personally visited rather than simply repeating the same Nashville restaurant lists you can find everywhere else.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pizza in Nashville?
Of the pizzerias I've personally reviewed so far, Prince St. Pizza is my highest rated at 7.4/10. Five Points Pizza, Smith & Lentz, Dicey's Tavern, and DeSano Pizzeria are also consistently recognized as some of Nashville's top pizza destinations.
Where can I get New York-style pizza in Nashville?
Prince St. Pizza and Five Points Pizza are both widely considered among the best places for authentic New York-style pizza in the city.
Where can I find authentic Neapolitan pizza?
DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana is one of Nashville's best choices for authentic wood-fired Neapolitan pizza.
What is the best Detroit-style pizza in Nashville?
Emmy Squared Pizza is the city's standout destination for Detroit-style pizza.
The Sam Score
Every pizza spot that receives a Sam Score has been personally visited and reviewed by me, taste, value, quality of ingredients, service, and atmosphere all factor in.
Restaurants cannot pay for a Sam Score or a better rating. My goal with Eat With Sam K is simple: try the food myself and tell you whether I think it's actually worth your money.
As I visit more pizzerias around Nashville, I'll continue updating this guide with new Sam Scores and rankings.
Last Updated: August 2026
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