15 Tennessee Pizza Spots That Prove Great Pizza Is Always Worth The Distance
Great pizza has a way of convincing people to check the map twice and shrug at the mileage. In Tennessee, some pies spark that reaction instantly, sending diners out the door with keys in hand and expectations high.
These kitchens get the basics right, with crusts that crackle, sauces that stay balanced, and toppings treated with care rather than excess. Recommendations spread quickly, detours feel reasonable, and weekends start revolving around opening times.
The drive becomes part of the story, not an obstacle. This list rounds up Tennessee pizza places that reward the journey, showing that when flavour delivers, distance fades into the background and every mile feels well spent.
1. Sho Pizza Bar
Skylines fade when a pie lands with that soft thud, and Sho Pizza Bar hits the table with swagger. The dough wears those leopard spots you want to see, baked hot until the rim puffs like a toasted cloud.
In the middle, a glossy puddle of tomato and milky mozzarella gives you both tang and hush in one bite. You taste patience, the kind learned by tending a roaring oven. Find it tucked into East Nashville at 1309 McGavock Pike, Nashville, TN 37216, a stretch where locals actually argue about the best slice.
Order the spicy honey drizzle on a pepperoni pie and let the edges crunch while the center stays tender. Ask about seasonal specials, because the kitchen riffs shamelessly with great produce.
If you love balance, request light sauce for extra char notes.Service moves quick, but not rushed. You will want a seat close to the oven if you like watching craft become dinner.
Pair with a crisp pilsner and save crust for dipping in leftover chili oil.
2. Taste of NY pizza
Nothing beats that city-slice swagger, and Taste of NY pizza pulls off the fold test like a seasoned subway rider. The crust bends without breaking, with just enough grease to shine under the lights.
Cheese stretches into satisfying ribbons while oregano and garlic perfume the air. You get quick service, a paper plate, and a grin you cannot hide. It is an easy downtown stop at 530 Church St Suite 100, Nashville, TN 37219, where office folks and concertgoers collide.
Order the classic cheese first so you can judge the sauce to dough ratio, then go big with a white pie slice. Ask for a sprinkle of crushed red pepper and a dash of garlic powder.
If you love a crunchy tip, request a reheat for 30 extra seconds.Prices are friendly, portions generous, and the soda fountain stays busy. You can be in and out in minutes, or linger by the window for people watching.
Late-night cravings find a hero here, no questions asked.
3. DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana
Tradition speaks loudly when flour dust rises and the oven roars at DeSano Pizzeria Napoletana. You can smell San Marzano tomatoes before the first slice lands, bright and clean with a whisper of sweetness.
Mozzarella di bufala melts in gentle pools while basil wakes everything up. The crust is soft in the middle, airy at the cornicione, with honest leopard spotting.Step into 1012 4th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37219, and you will see bags of Italian flour and wood stacked like stage props.
Order the Margherita D.O.P. if you want the blueprint of balance. For something bolder, the Diavola brings heat that lingers but never bullies.
Ask for a side of Calabrian oil and dab, do not drench. Communal tables make strangers into nodding friends. Pizzas arrive fast, the way Naples intended, so be ready.
You will leave with tomato on your sleeve and zero regrets, which is exactly how this place measures success.
4. Mikes Pizzeria – Traditional Wood Fired Neapolitan style
Heat and humility meet inside the oven at Mikes Pizzeria, where the wood crackles like applause. Dough ferments into flavor, then blisters into a freckled rim that crunches and sighs.
Sauce tastes bright, almost garden-fresh, and the cheese melts into a gentle, creamy curtain. You will find yourself slowing down between bites, just to replay the texture.Make the drive to 1612 Memorial Blvd, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 for a pie that respects time.
Try the Neapolitan pepperoni with a swirl of hot honey if you like sweet against smoke. The Margherita delivers that sweet-spot simplicity you brag about later.
Ask for light basil if you prefer more char notes. Servers are quick with suggestions and honest about heat levels. Seating stays comfortable without trying too hard.
When you catch the oven door opening, watch for that breath of flame curling over the crust, sealing in the story this place tells with every pie.
5. BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse
Playful and punchy, BoomBozz brings big personality in both crust and toppings. Expect creative combos like sweet heat chicken or spicy Italian, with crusts that stay crisp under heavy flavor.
The cheese pull here is showy, and the sauce leans savory with a peppery wink. You will want a beer, maybe two, while you debate the next slice.Roll into 2839 Medical Center Pkwy, Murfreesboro, TN 37129, where the taphouse energy sets the tone.
Start with award-winning pies or build your own if you like to meddle. The pretzel bites with beer cheese make a fine warm-up act.
Ask for a half-and-half pizza to sample more without commitment. Game days feel loud in the right way, and staff keep pints filled without hovering. Families blend with friend groups, and patio tables disappear fast on sunny afternoons.
Come for the toppings, stay for the crunch, leave plotting your next round.
6. Cookeville Pizza & Pub
Comfort and crunch collide at Cookeville Pizza & Pub, the kind of joint where a booth turns into a small celebration. The crust runs hearty with a toasty bottom, ideal for loaded toppings that do not sog out.
Sauces lean bold and slightly sweet, with enough garlic to keep you honest. Every slice feels like that satisfying last bite of a backyard party. Swing by 707 Mahler Ave, Cookeville, TN 38501 when you want easygoing service and reliable pies.
The meat lovers will satisfy any ravenous mood, but the veggie works overtime with roasted peppers and mushrooms. Grab a local brew to chase down the heat from crushed red peppers.
Ranch for the crust is not only allowed, it is encouraged.Crowds swell on weekends, so line up an early dinner if you dislike waiting. Staff are chatty and quick with refills.
When you leave, the place clings to you in the best way: a little garlic, a little laughter, and maybe extra napkins in your pocket.
7. Singer’s Landing
Small-town charm makes food taste bigger, and Singer’s Landing delivers with confidence. The dough hits that sweet spot between tender and crisp, a base built for both classic and creative topping sets.
You will notice careful seasoning, the kind that whispers rather than shouts. Pepperoni curls into crunchy cups that hold bright orange oil like treasure. Head to 119 W Market St, Smithville, TN 37166 for a slice that feels like a friendly secret.
Try the arugula and prosciutto pie with a squeeze of lemon over the top. The mushroom mix brings earthy swagger, especially with a drizzle of truffle oil.
Ask for a side of chili flakes to wake everything up.Service is warm without turning syrupy, and the pace invites conversation. Windows glow at dusk, and the room settles into a cozy rhythm.
Bring a friend who appreciates good crust bubbles and a sense of discovery, then let the table do the talking.
8. 100 Pizza
Simplicity shines at 100 Pizza, where clean lines meet clean flavors. The crust carries a delicate tang, suggesting a patient ferment, then blisters beautifully along the edge.
Sauce stays light and bright, letting good olive oil and fresh herbs stretch the finish. You will catch yourself nodding after the second bite because everything lands in balance. Find the spot at 214 Ward Cir, Ste 200, Brentwood, TN 37027, easy to reach and hard to forget.
Go for a classic cheese to test the fundamentals, then graduate to a pepperoni with hot honey. The Caesar salad plays backup with serious crunch.
If you like extra char, ask for a well-done bake.Staff move confidently, and the open kitchen keeps the energy honest. Pies arrive fast, ideal for lunch or a quick evening bite.
Bring curiosity, taste through the specials, and leave with a new favorite rotation pie that sneaks into your weekly plans.
9. Paco’s Pizza & Pasta
Family energy hums at Paco’s Pizza & Pasta, where the pies feel like weeknight heroes. Expect generous cheese that melts into a bubbly blanket, with a crust sturdy enough to keep structure.
The sauce leans classic Italian-American, tomato-forward with a garlic handshake. You will want to split a pasta, then argue playfully over the last slice. Make your way to 910 Lincoln St, Manchester, TN 37355, an address locals recommend with a wink.
Order a deluxe with sausage and green peppers for that sweet-savory duet. The Alfredo chicken pizza surprises with comforting richness.
Ask for a side of marinara for crust dipping, and do not skip the house salad.Service is patient and kind, the kind that remembers your order by the second visit. Portions satisfy hungry crews after ball games or road trips.
When the check arrives, prices feel fair and your table looks like a conquered map of crumbs and smiles.
10. NY Pie
Folding a slice at NY Pie feels like muscle memory, even if it is your first time. The crust rides that razor line between crisp and chew, with a faint buttered-toast note from the deck.
Sauce pops with oregano and a little sweetness, finishing clean so the cheese can sing. You will inhale the first slice, then negotiate with yourself for another. Cruise to 6800 Charlotte Pike #105, Nashville, TN 37209, where the pies rotate in the window like a parade.
Start with a plain slice, then chase it with a grandma square if available. Pepperoni cups bring a photogenic sizzle.
Ask for a reheat to sharpen the edge if you like extra crunch.Counter service moves briskly, and you can spot regulars by their confident orders. Grab extra napkins, because these slices wear their shine proudly.
Lunch, late afternoon, even after errands, this shop nails the whenever hunger hits vibe.
11. Begonias
Beauty meets bite at Begonias, where the dining room feels like a little celebration. The crust bakes to a gentle snap before yielding to a tender center.
Sauces show restraint, letting herbs, cheeses, and seasonal produce take the lead. You will notice balance in every slice, like a playlist with no skips. Plan a stop at 239 E Main St, McMinnville, TN 37110, and take a stroll before or after dinner.
Try a white pie with ricotta and lemon zest for a bright, creamy lift. The spicy soppressata version gives a confident kick without overpowering.
Ask about any farm partnerships, then let that guide your choice.Staff offer tasting notes like a wine bar, but the vibe stays easy. Pies arrive picture-ready, and the table goes quiet for a minute while everyone takes that first bite.
Leave a few crusts for dipping into chili-honey if you enjoy sweet heat at the finish.
12. Midnight Oil
Late hours suit a certain kind of hunger, and Midnight Oil speaks that language fluently. The crust skates thin with a smoky edge, perfect for toppings that like to crisp.
Sauces lean savory with a herbal backbone, and the cheese always lands evenly. You will taste restraint and confidence in equal measure. Find it at 1310 51st Ave N, Nashville, TN 37209, tucked into a neighborhood that appreciates good bite.
Order the hot sausage with pickled peppers for a bright snap of acidity. The mushroom pie feels foresty in the best way.
Ask the bar for a light, bitter cocktail to cut through the fat.Music hums, conversation rises, and plates empty quicker than expected. Service keeps pace without stealing the spotlight.
If you are a crust-end dipper, request garlic oil on the side and watch the last bites disappear.
13. Dukos
Creativity rules at Dukos, where the dough lifts high with an open crumb and drama. The first bite cracks, then softly bounces back like good focaccia met pizza.
Sauces range from traditional tomato to creamy garlic and even pesto. You will feel compelled to analyze, then stop and simply enjoy. Head over to 811 Dickerson Pike Suite F, Nashville, TN 37207, an address that draws flavor chasers.
Try the pepperoni cups with hot honey if you love crunchy edges and sweet heat. A roasted veggie pie with feta delivers bright, salty sparks.
Ask for a finish of flaky salt to make flavors pop.Counter staff guide well, so mention your heat tolerance. Pies arrive photogenic, and the aroma gets neighbors peeking at your table.
Save room for whatever seasonal dessert they are playing with, because the kitchen clearly has fun.
14. St.Vito Focacceria
Squares have a cult following for a reason, and St.Vito Focacceria proves it with olive-oil sheen and sesame crunch. The crumb runs airy yet satisfying, a gentle mattress for tomato, caciocavallo, and fragrant oregano.
You will meet corners that bite back and centers that sigh. Each square eats like a meal and a memory.Seek out 605 Mansion St, Nashville, TN 37203, and get there early because trays vanish fast.
The sfincione with anchovy and breadcrumbs brings briny depth and cozy texture. A potato rosemary option hits that comfort switch instantly.
Ask for a warm slice, not hot, so the flavors relax and open.Staff love to talk technique, and you might leave with olive oil recommendations. Seating is limited, but the takeaway box travels well.
If you are new to Sicilian styles, start here and let your pizza vocabulary grow happily.
15. Common John Brewing Company
Beer and pizza make classic partners, and Common John Brewing Company treats them like equals. The dough holds a steady crisp, letting toppings stay distinct while the cheese knits everything together.
Sauces lean savory with a hint of sweetness, friendly to a range of brews. You will want a flight to see how each slice behaves with different sips.Point your GPS to 210 Woodbury Hwy, Manchester, TN 37355, where the taproom buzz feels neighborly.
Order a pepperoni and jalapeno for heat, then chase it with a malty amber. The BBQ chicken pie plays nice with a citrusy IPA.
Ask the staff for pairing tips and be ready to be surprised. Tables fill quickly on weekends, but turnover stays fair. Outdoor seating shines on mild evenings, with laughter drifting across the lot.
Leave with a crowler and a plan to return, because good pairings are addicting.