These 8 Colorado Pizza Joints Fire Up Pies Travelers Say Are The Best They’ve Ever Had

Colorado has quietly built a pizza scene that surprises people who came for the mountains and stayed for the pies. From wood-fired Neapolitan spots to thick pan-style slices and mountain-town favorites, this state knows how to feed hungry travelers.

If you are road-tripping through Denver, Boulder, or the high country, these eight spots are worth planning a stop around. Here is where to find pizza that keeps folks talking long after they head home.

1. Pizzeria Locale, Boulder, Colorado

Fast-casual and Neapolitan pizza do not usually share a sentence, but Boulder pulled it off. Pizzeria Locale started here with a simple idea: authentic Naples-style pies baked quickly in a very hot oven.

The margherita is the classic order, built on a soft, blistered crust that cooks in a matter of minutes. You can also build your own or grab one of the house combinations.

I like this spot because it moves fast without feeling rushed, which is handy when you are passing through town. The setting is casual and modern, so it works well for a quick lunch break during a busy travel day.

2. Blue Pan Pizza, Denver, Colorado

Square pizza with crispy, caramelized cheese edges has a serious following in Denver, and Blue Pan is a big reason why. The shop is known for Detroit-style pies baked in seasoned pans that give the crust its signature crunch.

Beyond Detroit style, the menu also includes Sicilian and thin-crust options, so groups with different tastes can share a table happily.

The Congress Park location has become a go-to for people who want that thick, cheesy corner piece everyone fights over. It is a great pick when you want something heartier than a standard slice.

3. Basta, Boulder, Colorado

Wood-fired cooking sits at the heart of everything at Basta, a Boulder restaurant that leans into seasonal ingredients and Mediterranean flavors. The pizzas come out of a wood-burning oven with a rustic, charred crust.

Toppings change with what is fresh, so the menu shifts through the year rather than staying frozen in place.

I would save this one for when you want a sit-down meal instead of a grab-and-go slice. The kitchen treats pizza as part of a larger, thoughtful menu, which makes it a good stop for travelers who care about where their food comes from.

4. Cart-Driver, Denver, Colorado

Housed in a compact space in the RiNo neighborhood, Cart-Driver keeps its menu tight and its wood-fired pizzas the star. The Roman-style pies come out thin and crisp from the oven.

The spot also serves oysters, which is not what most people expect from a pizzeria, and that combination has helped it stand out in Denver.

Seating is limited, so this is a good choice when you want a lively, small-scale experience rather than a big dining hall. The original River North location put it on the map for people exploring Denver’s art-filled corridors.

5. Beau Jo’s, Idaho Springs, Colorado

Ask about Colorado-style pizza and someone will point you toward Beau Jo’s. The Idaho Springs flagship has been serving mountain pies with thick, braided crust edges for decades.

Here is a fun part of the tradition: tables come with honey, and drizzling it on the leftover crust is basically expected.

The location sits right along the route toward the high country, which makes it a natural stop on a ski trip or a summer drive into the mountains. It is filling, family-friendly, and unmistakably tied to Colorado’s pizza identity.

6. Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza, Denver, Colorado

Coal-fired ovens burn hotter than most, and Marco’s built its reputation on that intense heat. The Denver pizzeria turns out Neapolitan-style pies with a deeply charred, blistered crust.

The margherita and other classic combinations are certified in the Naples tradition, which is a rare badge to earn.

Because the crust cooks so quickly at high heat, the texture leans crisp and chewy at the same time. It is a solid pick when you want that old-world, wood-and-coal char that thinner ovens cannot quite match.

7. Hops & Pie, Denver, Colorado

Creative toppings and rotating specials keep regulars coming back to Hops & Pie on Tennyson Street. The kitchen is known for pies that go beyond the usual, including inventive combinations that change from time to time.

Detroit-style options add another texture to the lineup, so you are not locked into a single crust style.

The neighborhood setting in the Berkeley area gives it a friendly, low-key feel that fits a casual dinner. I like this stop for travelers who want something a little more adventurous than a plain cheese pie.

8. Brooklyn’s Finest Pizza, Frisco, Colorado

Craving a proper New York slice in the mountains? Brooklyn’s Finest brings that East Coast thin-crust style to Frisco, right in the heart of Summit County.

The pies are wide and foldable, the way a classic New York slice should be, which is a nice change of pace at high elevation.

Frisco sits close to several ski areas, so this is an easy refuel stop after a day on the slopes or a hike near the lake. It is the kind of place that hits the spot when you want familiar, dependable pizza in an unexpected setting.