Tallahassee might not be the first city that springs to mind for pizza pilgrimages, but the capital’s dough game has quietly leveled up. Forget the late-night slices of college lore—today, you’ll find Neapolitan pies with leopard-spotted crusts, Detroit-style squares with caramelized cheese frico, and New York folds that could hold their own in any borough. Here are the 15 spots where the crust is king.
Blaze Pizza
$ | (850) 536-6325 | WEBSITE
Blaze Pizza is a fast-casual pizza spot with a fantastic assembly-line setup. Both the menu and atmosphere make you feel as if you’re dining in some trendy, modern pizzeria in a bustling city center. When you go during the lunch rush, the options will include things like fresh vegetable toppings, cheesy bread, and a gluten-free crust that you’ll immediately want to go back for. It’s worth a visit at least once every week as it’s one of the city favorites for quick, customizable pizza.
Momo’s Pizza – Pensacola Street
$ | (850) 900-5784 | WEBSITE
Momo’s Pizza – Pensacola Street, a Brooklyn-style pizza joint with a lively, family-friendly atmosphere, embodies the same hearty charm as your favorite uncle who insists everyone leaves the table stuffed. The popular stop has the “come-as-you-are” energy of classic Tallahassee pizza spots like the ones you grew up with. Start with the tangy Greek salad, which is huge. Then pair their nice beer and mixed drink selection with solid slices even picky eaters will dig.
Think the Meaty MoMo loaded with meat, or cheese bread with goat cheese and balsamic. Grab a seat in the always-busy dining area, which is a great place to chill and soak up the great ambience. Or, hang out near the counter where you can watch the attentive staff bop to the tunes and don’t forget to ask for crushed peppers and Parmesan cheese on your pizza!
Isabella’s Pizzeria Napoletana
$ | (850) 558-6379 | WEBSITE
Isabella’s Pizzeria Napoletana is a culinary gem. The cozy, intimate space is filled with warm lighting, rustic wooden tables, and dangling shapes that look like hanging herbs. But it’s also just a handful of tables. So, even with patrons sprinkled about the room at lunch and dinner, the area can still feel personal. The menu isn’t quite as expansive, but that won’t stop the tempting roster of wood-fired pizzas and fresh salads from flooding your or your indecisive friend’s brain.
When that happens, help them find their way by suggesting the Diavola pizza bursting with spicy salami or a Margherita that pairs perfectly with a crisp, fresh salad.
Chuck E. Cheese
$$ | (850) 422-0366 | WEBSITE
The person you promised a birthday party to your six-year-old told you they want Chuck E. Cheese. If you’re not thrilled about arcade noise and pizza, don’t give up on family fun just yet, just plan your celebration at Chuck E. Cheese, where parents and kids can find happy common ground in a kid-friendly environment full of games and food that meets (or exceeds) all party needs.
Go for the pizza, which is good and plentiful, and the various drinks, or during the peak hours for the helpful staff and, our favorite, when Chuck E. Cheese himself comes out to meet and greet. If the excitement of games isn’t enough to make you enjoy the experience, perhaps their attentive service will.
Coach’s Pizza
$ | (850) 895-9337 | WEBSITE
Even for Tallahassee, everything about Coach’s Pizza is cozy. There are warm wooden booths and checkered tablecloths lining the dining area that have us reminiscing about classic family pizzerias (yes to red sauce, but et tu, Tallahassee?). Coach’s humble interior edges the city’s many chain spots, but their food stands out from the pack, thanks to excellent takes on pizza staples like Chicago-style deep-dish, impossibly gooey cheese garlic knots, and perfectly hearty meatball subs.
Milano Pizza
$ | (850) 320-6772 | WEBSITE
When you’ve been eating the same frozen pizza for long enough that you can recite the cooking instructions from memory, and your last three Friday nights have all been spent staring at a cardboard box, it’s time for something else. That’s where Milano Pizza comes in. It’s a spot packed with families you want to envy, hungry types who feel extra satisfied because they’re getting real value, and friends grabbing a quick, reliable meal.
Milano serves some of the best pizza in town, so prepare to enjoy yourself here—you can order by the slice, but if you’re there to have a really good dinner, go for one of their whole pies, which start at around $18. The Margarita with pineapple is a fresh, vegetarian option that hits all the right notes.
Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs
$ | (850) 671-3400 | WEBSITE
Swing by on a casual Friday night and Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs will be buzzing. Yes, even when most folks should be winding down, the pizza joint will be full of hungry families, college students celebrating the weekend, and locals looking for a reliable meal piling into the welcoming restaurant. But what really makes this place stand out from the typical pizza spot is the food.
The dishes arrive with “my favorite neighborhood joint perfected this recipe” flavor—the Mac and cheese pizza comes loaded with creamy cheese sauce, the Meatball sub dripping in marinara, the cheese bread that’s stuffed with gooey mozzarella. The menu is varied and everything is on point here, so it’s worth the occasional wait (so calling ahead is always smart).
Five Star Pizza
$ | (850) 361-3661 | WEBSITE
Five Star Pizza is a welcoming neighborhood spot with tasty pies and a friendly, laid-back vibe that makes grabbing a slice feel more like hanging out with friends. We’ve never been invited to a cozy family gathering where everyone’s favorite comfort food is on the menu, but we imagine it would feel like this dining room—warm lighting all around with a touch of charm courtesy of red-and-white checkered tablecloths that add a classic, homey touch.
We like the classic Pepperoni pizza, which is a solid choice with just the right amount of grease and spice. Also get the Jalapeño and Pineapple combo, which is a menu standout with stretchy, melty cheese that won’t leave you disappointed. If they have it, cap your meal with a slice of their gluten-free option, a satisfying and tasty alternative that comes with vegan cheese. And vegan cheese options sound on-brand for our inclusive, friendly gathering, too.
Papa Johns Pizza
$$ | (850) 386-1222 | WEBSITE
From a national pizza chain, this Tallahassee location is another solid pizza option in the area, but it throws in fresh pepperchinis as well. Located on N. Monroe, the restaurant rarely draws large, chaotic (and perhaps critical) crowds—perfect for grabbing a quick carry-out order without the usual fast-food frenzy. Most of the menu items are straightforward but satisfying takes on the usual pizza varieties, sides, and drinks.
We like the pepperchinis with their fresh crunch, and the service experience has noteworthy moments of friendly and helpful staff (think Zachary saving the day and that polite young lady at the counter) that can help you salvage an otherwise uneven visit.
Gaines Street Pies
$ | (850) 765-4120 | WEBSITE
Gaines Street Pies is the spot you picture when you hear pizza done right, from the creative, perfectly cooked pies and fresh Moz to the lively bar area and comic book-themed decor. Bring your crew for a casual night out or take your friends who think they’ve had the best slice (they haven’t). This laid-back joint is a sure thing because no matter which pie you pick (but do grab The White Album if it’s on), it’ll hit the spot. Just try not to get too much sauce on the table, OK?
Your friends will judge.
Little Italy
$ | (850) 878-7781 | WEBSITE
Finding parking near Little Italy feels like it could be a suspenseful opening scene in a neighborhood drama, but when you step inside, you’ll find a setting better suited to those cozy Italian family tropes, where the main character casually shares homemade bread with friends just before the extraordinary mahi piccata arrives at their table. At dinner, you can order delicious pizzas, tasty pastas, seafood and other items from the attentive servers. We love their classic margherita pizza.
Definitely return for the restaurant’s casual date night vibe, where you can decide on your own trope over calamari, spaghetti, and tiramisu. Don’t forget the family-run feel.
Hunt Brothers Pizza
$ | WEBSITE
When Hunt Brothers Pizza landed in Tallahassee, all the big chain pizza spots in the area immediately felt the heat—and rightly so. There’s a straightforward counter-service setup where you’ll want to grab a pepperoni slice and a soda all afternoon, and they offer the same high-quality pies with toppings included in the base price that earned their loyal customers’ praise for over four years.
With great dough, sauce, and cheese, Hunt Brothers Pizza has won over even the most discerning pizza lovers.
Bagigio’s
$ | (850) 329-2970 | WEBSITE
Bagigio’s warm dining space is anchored by an open kitchen with a massive, roaring oven that adds both visual drama and authentic aroma. But their most impressive feature might be their extensive menu, which offers page upon page of Italian classics and a generous section dedicated to family-friendly options.
By the time you navigate through the menu choices, you’ll likely appreciate the straightforward pizza selections that can help you decide more quickly, which should definitely include the superb white pepperoni pizza, and the divine coconut gelato.
Newk’s Eatery
$ | (850) 329-7162 | WEBSITE
You’re bound to see interstate travelers stopping for a quick bite off the highway. Ignore them, because we’d say there are more important things to get into at this exit, and Newk’s Eatery is one of them. The roadside eatery serves satisfying options like the praised Shrimp Po’Boy and Cheesesteak. The menu largely revolves around crowd-pleasers with limited vegetarian choices, but the delightful Strawberry Cake has become a signature.
So, expect a menu that keeps things simple, but we’ll bet favorites like the Newk’s Q pizza with cauliflower crust will be a mainstay. The customer service shines, with the cashier taking time to guide first-timers and manager Richard listening to feedback. While the bathroom cleanliness needs attention, the overall experience delivers good food and commendable service in a wheelchair-accessible space.
Marco’s Pizza
$ | (850) 422-3200 | WEBSITE
Since its opening, this pizza spot (with bright red accents everywhere you look) has quietly remained a reliable takeout staple for college crowds and regulars with a favorite order. The menu is heavy with a variety of pizza options like a classic pepperoni. But because their cheesesticks are so hit-or-miss, we often share a pizza and opt to create a side dish dinner.
We’re talking: crispy cheesesticks that sometimes arrive burnt, a pizza with not enough sauce, and a service that’s friendly but occasionally inconsistent with phone order totals.