The Best Pizza in Austin

This Austin classic brims with hungry locals who crave hand-tossed pizzas just like Mama used to make. Located in a 19th-century building a stone's throw from the Capitol, this family-run pizzeria boasts wooden beams, spacious tables, and lots of cozy corners, providing some much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown. Dig into the lasagna pizza, topped with meatballs, ricotta, and creamy mozzarella, or the restaurant's signature calzone, which comes with ricotta, spinach, and Berkshire soppressata. Wash it all down with a glass of red from the sizable wine list.

Nestled in the leafy Hill Country, a 10-minute drive from downtown, this authentic Tuscan bistro fuses seafood and pizza in a casual, quiet setting. Try the grilled‎ flatbread pizza, topped with chunks of sausage and goat cheese and smothered in a tangy Pomodoro sauce. It's Tuscany in the heart of Texas. Locals also talk about the sauteed shrimp, which comes with scallops, mussels, and crushed tomatoes. But it's all about happy hour (Monday through Friday, 5-6:30 p.m.), where thirsty guests can slurp craft cocktails and wolf down a light bite based on authentic North Italian recipes.

This busy bistro, located behind Parkside, bustles with the clatter of wineglasses. Here, guests gorge on thin-crust pizza cooked in a brick oven and served on a slab of wood. This urban space belongs to chef Shawn Cirkiel, whose menu features modern takes on Italian classics. Try the fennel sausage pizza with mozzarella, garlic, and roasted pepper, or the three-ingredient "Bianca" — arugula, mozzarella, ricotta. Passers-by can walk in, but it's best to make a reservation, especially for happy hour (Monday through Friday, 5-6:30 p.m.) when the beer's half price. Mamma mia!

Smack bang on 2nd Street, with its flagship fashion stores and boutique hotels, this buzzy trattoria fuses healthy north Italian grub with contemporary interiors. Here, gigantic light bulbs hang from the ceiling and brick-exposed walls entice health-conscious foodies who crave the best pizza in Austin. There's the standard Margherita, with fresh basil and olive oil, and the gut-busting "Pig," which combines spicy pepperoni, soppressata, and Italian sausage on a crunchy base. Diners should also try the restaurant's signature, the meatball sandwich, which comes with braised meatballs, marinara, and cheese on two wedges of bread. Finish up with a glass of bubbles.

In historic Hyde Park, this pizzeria welcomes locals with fresh Italian flavors. Much-loved starters include chicken-mushroom soup on garlic toast and semolina-fried calamari. The main attraction? The signature Soprano, which blends sausage, mushrooms, smoked provolone, and tomato on a pizza base, is a show-stopper, while the lamb bolognese with sweet peppers and mint gremolata always delights. Good for groups, this place buzzes during happy hour (Monday through Friday, 4-6 p.m.) when diners devour reduced-price snacks and slurp cheap white wine.

This neighborhood Italian serves handcrafted pizza fresh out of a wood-burning oven, just like they do in Naples. There's an emphasis on the classics like Margherita with its mozzarella circles and red sauce, and Funghi with mushrooms, mozzarella, and black pepper. For dessert, sweet-toothed diners gobble down scoops of ice cream — salty, bitter, and sweet and sour are the three flavors — in a light, bright, casual space in downtown. Polish it off with a glass of wine from the on-site cellar or a colorful cocktail.

Wood-fired pizza is the star attraction at this uber-contemporary downtown bistro, with specialty pasta and fresh seafood making up the rest of the menu. Get stuck in! Do-it-yourself pizzas attract the more creative guests — toppings include crispy bacon, spinach, and caramelized onion — but the tried-and-tested creations are just as popular. The Classico, mixes sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, mozzarella, red onion, and green pepper on a pizza base with red sauce. For dessert, try the house-made ice cream.

Breathing distance from downtown Austin, this brand-spankin' new trattoria has everyone talking. Perhaps it's the piping thick-crust pizza, which fills the plate and satisfies the stomach. The Wild Mushroom is top dog, with its peppadew peppers, truffles, arugula salad, and roasted garlic on a perfectly circular base, making it a contender for the best pizza in Austin. Room for more? Sample the sea scallops — they're gluten-free — with fried sunchoke, tomato relish, green herbs, and seared Yukon gold spuds. With its soft lights and cozy corners, this place makes the ultimate date night.

Located in the Hotel Granduca in West Lake Hills, with its meticulously manicured gardens, Visconti Ristorante serves north Italian cuisine inside a grand dining room and, if it's warm enough, on the patio. Here, the emphasis is on flavors, not fads. Authentic, no-thrills Margherita with tomato, mozzarella, and basil delights diners, just like it has done for generations. But arrive early — it's only available on the lunchtime menu (Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) At dinner time, chomp on the fettuccini with its Roman artichoke hearts and crunchy capers, or the shrimp risotto with redfish and toasted breadcrumbs. Want to splash the cash? The 16-ounce ribeye steak with charred green onions is worth the splurge.

Step inside this red-and-white-table-clothed restaurant chain for Italian fare, and wolf down ample portions of pizza and pasta close to Arboretum Crossing. All the classics are on the menu, from lasagna to spicy chicken rigatoni, while the Supremo Italian pizza fits as many ingredients as it can into its perfect circle — there's pepperoni, sausage, green peppers, and much more. Diners gather here on Meatball Mondays, when it's 50% off spaghetti and meatballs (dine-in only), while Sunday staff serve up a classic Italian Sunday dinner with all the trimmings.

Grab a slice of New York-style Margherita at this no-thrills pop-up in the North Loop. Eat in or carry out; it tastes the same — hot, fresh, and just like Manhattan. Feeling experiential? There's the white clam pizza with fresh oregano sprinkled on the top and extra virgin olive oil drizzled on top of that. It's pricey, but it could be the best pizza in Austin. For the less adventurous, the pepperoni and mushroom pizza fills a hole in the stomach. Alternatively, diners can create their own blend. Toppings include black olives, broccoli, extra cheese, and hot cherry peppers. Less is more, say the owners.