The Ultimate Pizza Pilgrimage Through Tennessee Makes For One Delicious Adventure This Spring

Tennessee has barbecue, hot chicken, biscuits, and a food culture so strong it draws people from across the country. But pizza?

That conversation is just getting started. All across this state, from Memphis to Knoxville and everywhere in between, independent pizza makers are doing things with dough, sauce, and toppings that will completely reframe what you thought you knew about pizza in the South.

Wood-fired ovens. Sourdough crusts.

Slices so good that New Yorkers go quiet after the first bite. Spring is the perfect excuse to hit the road and eat your way across Tennessee one extraordinary slice at a time.

1. High Point Pizza, Memphis

Some restaurants earn their reputation quietly, one loyal customer at a time, and High Point Pizza at 477 High Point Terrace in Memphis is exactly that kind of place. Reviewers do not just recommend it, they insist on it, telling friends and strangers alike that they have never tasted pizza this good anywhere else.

That level of devotion does not happen by accident.

The toppings here are strikingly fresh, the kind that actually taste like the ingredients they are supposed to be rather than the frozen or canned versions you find at chain spots. Every bite carries a brightness that reminds you why quality sourcing matters so much in a dish this simple.

The crust holds everything together beautifully without overpowering the flavors on top.

The staff treats regulars and first-timers with the same warmth, and the laid-back vibe makes it easy to linger over a second slice. If you are starting your Tennessee pizza pilgrimage in Memphis, this is the right place to begin your journey and set the bar high.

2. Little Bettie Pizza And Snacks, Memphis

Little Bettie Pizza and Snacks at 398 S B.B. King Blvd in Memphis is the kind of place that makes you rethink everything you thought you knew about pizza.

Featured on the Food Network, this creative spot has built a reputation that stretches well beyond Memphis city limits, and one visit tells you exactly why that attention is well deserved.

The menu leans into unexpected combinations with total confidence. Toppings here are not just unusual for the sake of being different, they are carefully chosen to work together in ways that genuinely surprise your taste buds.

The charred crust is a masterpiece on its own, crispy and slightly smoky with just enough chew to keep things interesting through every single bite.

Then there is the homemade ranch. People genuinely stop mid-conversation when they try it for the first time, reaching for more before they have even finished processing how good it is.

Sitting on B.B. King Blvd adds a layer of Memphis soul to the whole experience, putting you right in the heart of a city that has always known how to do things its own way.

Little Bettie earns every bit of its buzz.

3. Mike’s Pizzeria, Murfreesboro

About 35 miles southeast of Nashville, Murfreesboro holds one of the most quietly celebrated pizza spots in the entire state. Mike’s Pizzeria at 1612 Memorial Blvd is a wood-fired Neapolitan operation where the oven does most of the talking, producing pies with blistered, airy crusts and toppings that taste like they were chosen with genuine care rather than convenience.

What sets Mike’s apart beyond the pizza itself is the owner’s personal involvement with every table. Guests consistently mention feeling looked after in a way that big-city restaurants rarely manage, where the person behind the concept actually shows up and makes sure your experience is right.

That human touch transforms a good meal into a memorable one.

Reviewers have gone on record calling this the best pizza in the Nashville area, which is a bold claim given the serious competition just up the road. The quiet, relaxed setting feels almost Italian in its unhurried pace, encouraging you to slow down, order another round, and actually enjoy the meal rather than rushing through it.

For anyone making the drive from Nashville, Mike’s Pizzeria is an essential detour that rewards every mile of the trip without question.

4. Five Points Pizza, Nashville

East Nashville has a personality all its own, and Five Points Pizza at 1012 Woodland St fits right into that creative, unpretentious energy. The slices here are enormous in the New York tradition, foldable and satisfying, with a tomato sauce so well-balanced that it could stand alone as a reason to visit.

This is pizza that does not need to dress itself up because the fundamentals are simply that good.

One reviewer made a comparison that has stuck around in food circles ever since, suggesting that if Five Points were placed next to Joe’s Pizza in Times Square, Joe’s would be out of business. That is a bold statement from a city that takes its food seriously, and regulars here tend to nod in agreement rather than debate the point.

The crust has that perfect outer crisp with a soft interior that New York style demands.

The atmosphere is casual and energetic without being chaotic, making it equally comfortable for a solo slice or a group hangout after exploring the neighborhood. Five Points Pizza has become a true institution in East Nashville, the kind of spot that locals genuinely worry about when they travel, because nothing quite scratches the same itch anywhere else in town.

5. Sho Pizza Bar, Nashville

Chef Sean Brock is a name that carries serious weight in Southern food culture, so when he turns his attention to pizza, the result is exactly as extraordinary as you would expect. Sho Pizza Bar at 1309 McGavock Pk in Nashville has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation, placing it among a very select group of restaurants in the entire state recognized for outstanding food at a reasonable value.

The wood-fired oven at Sho produces crusts with a depth of flavor that reflects real technique and genuine care. Toppings are chosen to complement rather than compete, creating a balanced bite every time.

Reviewers have described meals here as among the best dining experiences they have ever had in Nashville, which in a city packed with talented chefs is saying something substantial and meaningful.

The bar program adds another dimension to the visit, making Sho feel like a complete evening rather than just a quick stop for food. The space itself is thoughtfully designed, with an energy that is lively but never overwhelming.

Sitting down at Sho Pizza Bar feels like being let in on a secret that the rest of the country has not fully discovered yet, even though the Michelin recognition is slowly changing that.

6. Carlsbad Pizza, Nashville

A perfect 5.0 rating is nearly impossible to maintain in the restaurant world, but Carlsbad Pizza at 5702 Ohio Ave in West Nashville has somehow managed to hold onto exactly that. This small slice shop has developed a following that travels across the city and, in some cases, across the country specifically to try the pesto artichoke pizza that has become the stuff of local legend.

Self-described pizza snobs have walked through the door skeptical and walked out converted. The pesto here is bright and fresh, the artichoke adds an earthy richness, and the combination sits on a crust that provides the perfect foundation without stealing attention.

It is the kind of pizza that makes you pause between bites to actually think about what you are tasting, which does not happen often enough.

West Nashville has a slower, more residential feel compared to the busier parts of the city, and Carlsbad fits that vibe naturally. The shop is unpretentious and focused entirely on the product, which is refreshing in a food scene where atmosphere sometimes overshadows the actual cooking.

Carlsbad Pizza proves that a flawless rating can be earned honestly, one incredible slice at a time, in a neighborhood that is proud to call it their own.

7. A Dopo Sourdough Pizza, Knoxville

Trust is a big ask in a restaurant setting, but A Dopo Sourdough Pizza at 516 Williams St in Knoxville has built enough of it to offer a genuinely unique experience: let the server choose your meal for you. That kind of confidence in your own food speaks volumes before a single bite even arrives at the table.

Forbes has taken notice, recognizing A Dopo as a standout worth knowing about.

The sourdough crust is the foundation of everything here, naturally fermented and wood-fired into something with real character and complexity. It has a chew that is satisfying without being tough, a slight tang that makes each slice feel alive, and a char pattern that tells you the oven was working at exactly the right temperature.

Seasonal ingredients keep the menu fresh and constantly worth revisiting throughout the year.

Reviewers consistently call A Dopo the best pizza in East Tennessee, a title that carries more weight when you consider how many solid options exist in and around Knoxville. The restaurant sits in a neighborhood that rewards exploration, and the meal itself rewards patience.

Letting go of control and trusting the server might feel unusual at first, but most people leave grateful they took that small leap of faith.

8. Pizzeria Nora, Knoxville

Pizzeria Nora at 2400 N Central St in Knoxville operates on its own terms, open only on Fridays and Saturdays, available exclusively for pick-up, and consistently selling out before most people even realize the window has closed. That kind of scarcity could feel frustrating, but the pizza is so good that regulars simply plan their weekends around it without complaint.

New Yorkers who have relocated to Knoxville are some of Pizzeria Nora’s most passionate advocates. They will tell you plainly that this is what they have been missing since leaving home, the real thing, executed with the kind of precision and care that makes a New York slice unmistakable.

The crust has that thin, foldable quality with a crisp bottom and a soft interior that is genuinely difficult to replicate.

There is something admirable about a place that refuses to scale up or compromise its standards for the sake of convenience or higher volume. Pizzeria Nora has found its audience, and that audience shows up loyally every single weekend.

Planning ahead is absolutely necessary, but the reward for that small effort is a pizza experience that feels exclusive in the best possible way. Knoxville is lucky to have it.

9. Cruze Farm Pizza Barn, Knoxville

Cruze Farm at 2723 Asbury Rd in Knoxville is already known across the region for its dairy products, but the Pizza Barn adds a whole new reason to make the trip out to this working farm. Eating pizza here means eating food where the connection between the land and the table is not just a marketing phrase, it is something you can actually taste in every single bite.

The crust comes out perfectly crispy with enough substance to carry the fresh local toppings without buckling. Cruze Farm uses milk from their own cows to make a buttermilk ranch that has developed its own devoted fanbase, the kind of condiment that makes you wonder why you ever settled for anything store-bought.

Specialty pies like the Cowgirl’s Dream have become signatures that keep people coming back season after season.

The atmosphere at the Pizza Barn is exactly what it sounds like, relaxed, unpretentious, and genuinely connected to the land around it. Reviewers consistently describe it as feeling like a true local favorite rather than a curated tourist experience, which in the current food landscape is a real and meaningful distinction.

Spring is an especially beautiful time to visit when the farm itself is at its most lively and green.

10. Community Pie, Chattanooga

Chattanooga deserves a final stop that feels worthy of everything that came before it on this road trip, and Community Pie at 850 Market St delivers exactly that. Sitting in the heart of downtown, this restaurant brings together New York style and Detroit style pizzas under one roof, both wood-fired and both made with locally sourced ingredients that give each pie a distinctly Tennessee identity.

The open kitchen is part of the experience, letting you watch the process unfold from your seat and building anticipation in a way that closed kitchens simply cannot match. Detroit style fans will appreciate the caramelized cheese edges and the thick, airy interior that somehow manages to feel indulgent without being heavy.

New York style fans will find the familiar foldable slice done with real skill and attention to detail.

The energy on Market St adds to the experience, with Chattanooga’s vibrant downtown scene surrounding you as you wrap up what has been one extraordinary pizza adventure across Tennessee.

Ending here feels right, not because it is the last stop, but because Community Pie genuinely earns the honor of closing out this delicious journey.