Pizza is always in season, and one could literally eat it all week and not have the same style twice. In Denver we see classic New York pies, Detroit-style masterpieces and wood-fired pizzas topped with an array of off-the-wall ingredients. No matter how you like your pizza, these five places should be on the top of your list right now.
Fat Sully’s
As a former New York resident, no pizza in Denver comes as close to the large, foldable slices of the city as those found at Fat Sully’s, operating under the Atomic Cowboy banner. Owner Drew Shader makes sure all seven of his locations serve the same pie, whether it’s as a slice or as a 26-inch, dine-in extravaganza. The latter makes the biggest splash, and each piece measures bigger than most hands. The large pizza proves affordable too, starting at $23.95 for a basic order. Add topping for $4.25 each, including Tenderbelly bacon, roasted onions, jalapenos, artichoke hearts and anchovies, to name a few. Various locations, theatomiccowboy.com/fatsullys
Cart Driver
Since 2014 Andy Niemeyer’s wood-fired pizza spot has drawn crowds into the small RiNo eatery. In 2019 he expanded to LoHi, though currently this location closed for renovations. Pizza lovers can still get perfectly cooked pies at the original Cart Driver. Try The White (mozzarella, castelvetrano olives, lemon, and basil) and The Clam (littleneck clams, pancetta, and roasted), a favorite of many. Gluten-free crusts and vegetarian meats are also available. Cap off the meal with a glass of wine, plate of fresh bread with tinned fish, and oysters on the half shell. 2500 Larimer St., Denver, cart-driver.com
Red Top Rendezvous
Get thick and cheesy Detroit-style pies in Jefferson Park thanks to the team behind the Culinary Creative Group (Bar Dough, Senor Bear, Tap & Burger locations, Kumoya, Mister Oso, and more). Red Top Rendezvous opened in 2022 and has been dishing out signature pies ever since. Dive into favorites including the Brick and Morty (mortadella, brick cheese blend, roasted balsamic onion, hot honey, and fresh arugula) and The Six Mile High (brick cheese blend, double pepperoni, local italian sausage, and red sauce). 2917 W. 25th Ave., Denver, redtopsrendezvous.com
Hops and Pie
Pizza and beer, a match made in dining heaven. But at Drew and Leah Watson’s Berkeley restaurant, both the pizza and the beer are elevated to a craveable level. For starters, they use beer in the sourdough crusts to give it something extra., which some people refer to as “Colorado style.” Each month Hops and Pie debuts a special pizza topping combo, which can be had in the Detroit and New York styles, as well as on a gluten-free crust. The kids’ menu proves perfect for the younger set, with 12-inch pies for just $5. 3920 Tennyson St., Denver, hopsandpie.com
Quinto Neighborhood Pizzeria
Not many people have hipped to this Westminster gem, but it’s worth visiting. We like it for the casual atmosphere and delicious lemon ricotta pizza. Each pie gets wood-fired, much like the rest of the Italian-Mexican-American menu. Think chimichurri-roasted cauliflower, chipotle meatballs, and sandwiches made on fresh bread straight from the oven. On the pizza side, aside from the aforementioned option, the Western Slope impresses with a combination of burnt ends, Spam, roasted peaches, and the house-made chipotle red sauce. Bonus, if you go on a Monday, kids eat free and there’s a weekly Mario Kart competition. 10443 Town Center Drive, Suite 600, Westminster, quintopizzeria.com
