We love pizza. And we love sharing it with friends. But to lure us away from our own kitchen, we need more than just another ordinary pie joint. Fortunately, Columbus is proving its pizza scene can be truly exceptional. Whether you’re celebrating a promotion or craving a late-night slice, these are the Columbus pizza spots you need to try.
Hounddog’s Pizza
$ | (614) 261-4686 | WEBSITE
Hounddog’s Pizza is the anti-pizza joint pizza joint. There’s probably a family sharing memories in the corner of this cozy interior in Columbus and most people inside will be talking about the Backyard Dog they’re currently devouring and not the beer they’re sipping. But you can still expect fantastic pizza, along with a wide variety of beer on tap and a sides menu that has no business being as great as it is.
East Coast Pizzeria
$ | (614) 885-0101 | WEBSITE
There are a lot of things New Yorkers do better than us. One of them is pizza. So East Coast Pizzeria, a local gem known for its true NY-style pies and kind hospitality, is always an excellent choice. The menu highlights include the East Coast Bourbon Chicken Pizza with its well-toasted crust and flavorful sauce, along with favorites like Chicken Bacon Ranch pizza and Philly Steak Rolls. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, just go with whatever’s fresh—they sell out often, so keep that in mind.
Accessorize your slices with a cold beer or soda, gluten-free pies are available for those who need them—Yankees caps are optional (but suggested).
Casa Di Pizza
$ | (614) 586-1342 | WEBSITE
Tucked into a cozy storefront with checkered tablecloths and a warm glow from the oven, Casa Di Pizza stands out from your typical pizza joint. By day, this family-run Columbus spot serves up amazing thin and crusty pizzas with freshly cut ingredients, but the real draw comes from their Indian styled flavored pizzas like Panner Tikka and Panner Masala.
The friendly staff keeps the atmosphere welcoming while crafting build your own pizzas with toppings like pepperoni, feta, and jalapeños, plus they offer a pizza flight of their four most popular pies every Thursday night for $25. From veggie options to all meat pizzas, loaded tater tots to the highly recommended onion petals, the menu has something for everyone in this clean, go-to spot that maintains fantastic customer service.
Aracri Pizzeria
$ | (614) 224-3013 | WEBSITE
Many pizza spots think they’re great because they pile on toppings and attract families who eat pepperoni like candy. Aracri Pizzeria in Columbus is great because it’s unlike anything else we’ve come across. This warm, casual restaurant does a good job of shutting out the outside world. Walls are decorated with fun decor, great music echoes from the speakers, and this oddly comforting glow comes from the open kitchen.
We should also mention that the pizza selection is exceptional, as are the vegetarian options. Show up, lean into the cozy booths, and snack on garlic knots as you enjoy a fluffy calzone.
Paulie Gee’s Short North
$$ | (614) 808-0112 | WEBSITE
This Short North pizza spot is a hybrid restaurant-slash-bar, complete with a cozy dining room where you can catch the lively buzz of happy hour deals. The entire space glows warm like a rustic Italian kitchen and the pizza-loving clientele treats the roomy booths like a neighborhood hangout.
At Paulie Gee’s, the varied menu is filled with tempting options like the Cacio e Pepe Square Pizza and vegan ricotta pies, but you can also snag that Neapolitan-style round you already love from the classic lineup for around $20. They’ve also got delightful salads you can snack on while enjoying the friendly service from the comfort of a well-worn wooden table.
JT’s Pizza, Pub, & Patio
$ | (614) 718-9110 | WEBSITE
After a brief closure for renovations last year, JT’s Pizza, Pub, & Patio is back in action—and back to serving the best pizza in Columbus, too. If you’ve been to this neighborhood standby, you probably remember the dive bar interior that felt like a rec room in a friend’s basement. It’s a space that invites you to settle in for the evening with a cold beer and something from their classic pizza menu.
JT’s also has a collection of daily drink specials you can enjoy on the patio, which makes it a great place to unwind with a superior pie without breaking the bank.
Adriatico’s New York Style Pizza
$ | (614) 421-2300 | WEBSITE
Compared to trendy pizza joints that smell of burnt crust and industrial cleaner, Adriatico’s New York Style Pizza is wonderfully authentic. This Columbus spot is a relaxed backdrop for a casual meal, with great build-your-own pizza options and an extensive menu (which the friendly staff will eagerly help you navigate). And though we’ve also always been fans of Adriatico’s impressive Sicilian pizza, we like eating here more once we discovered their gelato.
Order the hot honey pepperoni pizza if you’re in the mood to splurge: it’s perfect for sharing and comes with that sweet-touch bread and a scoop of peanut butter cup gelato.
GoreMade Pizza
$$ | (614) 725-2115 | WEBSITE
On weekends, the back patio of this Neapolitan-style pizzeria in Columbus is a local favorite hangout. So don’t be surprised if you spot people lingering over slices of Clintonvillian pizza until closing time. But you can also usually walk right up and claim a wooden table inside their shaded outdoor space. Pizzas by the slice span from chef’s choice specials to classic vegetarian options, with nothing on the small but delicious menu priced over $18.
Because the place uses fresh farm-to-table ingredients from local sources, count on GoreMade’s friendly staff to talk you through the beer selection.
Luna Pizza Kitchen – Bethel Road Columbus
$ | (614) 525-0004 | WEBSITE
Luna Pizza Kitchen on Bethel Road in Columbus offers a unique specialty: halal pizza. Lots of halal pizza in fact, with creative combinations on the menu. But if you aren’t someone whose eyes light up at halal pepperoni, head to this solid, no-frills spot for a quick lunch. The pizza selection is full of flavorful options, including an excellent Super Moon pie and reasonably priced slices by the slice. Make sure to try the all meat Stromboli served with a side of tasty marinara for dipping.
Rubinos Pizza
$ | (614) 235-0712 | WEBSITE
Rubinos Pizza is a classic pizza joint in Columbus celebrated for its thin-crust pies with flavorful sauce and plenty of toppings. The cash-only spot has a warm, lived-in feel with very kind service, like you’re in a neighborhood kitchen with checkered tablecloths, vintage pizza memorabilia on the walls, and the scent of baking dough in the air.
It’s a family-friendly place that doesn’t take reservations, so your best bet is to bring the kids or a few friends who appreciate crispy crust and snack on a few of the classic options, like first-class pepperoni pizza or veggie pizza with tasty meatballs.
Pies & Pints – Columbus, OH
$ | (614) 478-7437 | WEBSITE
When at Pies & Pints, do as the pizza lovers do: order a large pie split into two different halves, snack on crispy charred wings, and drink plenty of good beer. This relaxed pizza spot in Columbus is regularly filled with people sharing pitchers of craft brews and enjoying thin-crust slices until closing.
There’s also a friendly staff who can recommend pairings from their solid beer list while you dig into a spread of pies (the kitchen offers standout options like the chipotle chicken and Thai pies, so there’s plenty to try). And with its pizza-focused menu, Pies & Pints’ atmosphere is chill, reasonably priced, and consistently tasty.
Mama Mimi’s Take ‘N Bake Pizza – Clintonville – Columbus, OH
$ | (614) 261-0080 | WEBSITE
We often debate whether this welcoming Clintonville spot is more of a pizza shop, takeout haven, or neighborhood gathering place. The answer is it’s all three—and that’s why we keep coming back. Stop by any afternoon and you’ll see regulars browsing the gorgeous plants while picking up their Marmaletta Amore pizzas, families grabbing freshly prepared salads and breadsticks for dinner, and first-timers marveling at the take-and-bake concept that delivers that perfect home-baked taste.
The whole experience feels less like a traditional pizza joint and more like stepping into a friend’s kitchen where someone just happened to make the world’s best cinnamon rolls.
Cardo’s Pizza
$ | (614) 409-9229 | WEBSITE
When it comes to the demographics of people who frequent Columbus pizza joints, some spots cater to college students on a budget, others draw families celebrating birthdays, and a few attract late-night crowds after the bars close. Then there’s Cardo’s Pizza, the reliable, no-fuss antidote to all of the above. Sure, the building itself looks like it could be a standard strip-mall storefront from the outside.
But inside, they’re serving up loaded pepperoni pies, tossing fresh salads, and the service is friendly. This is a great spot to pick up a quick dinner or feed the kids when you want good food, but also want to feel like you’re supporting a local staple. Come by for a pizza and you’ll probably leave with a coupon for next time.
Terita’s Pizza
$ | (614) 475-2100 | WEBSITE
At first glance, Terita’s Pizza looks and feels like many other classic Ohio pizza joints around town. There’s a straightforward menu centered on their award-winning Columbus-style, square-cut, thin-crusted pizzas, a no-frills space that feels like a neighborhood spot right as the dinner rush is starting to peak, and a selection of toppings you want to eat while grabbing a fresh slice. But what makes this place truly recommendable is the quality.
No pizza here is ordinary, even if you’re just getting pepperoni. As far as the food goes, their handmade sausages and special cheese blend on a 14-inch pizza are a standout. And though it’s not technically the only option, be sure to try their meatball sub, which some call the best they’ve ever had.
Slammers
$ | (614) 221-8880 | WEBSITE
Amid the bustling strip malls, family minivans, and other telltale signs of suburban sprawl on the stretch of Columbus between downtown and the suburbs, Slammers stands out as being pretty lively. The space had been a neighborhood spot for years, serving great pizza and screening sports for locals stopping somewhere before heading home from work. The current owners have kept the loud TVs, fun atmosphere, and amazing pizza.
And they’ve also added pickle pizza, pretzel sticks, and given the self-serve ice-cold water a convenient touch. Slammers is a total scene on weekends (in case you need to wait in a narrow entrance to feel something). On weeknights, it’s a tame spot for a catch-up with friends or family, with bartender Alden serving drinks like the best in the country.