Got a hankering for pizza?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top pizza hot spots in Denver, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to grab a slice or a whole pie.
1. Hops & Pie
Topping the list is Hops & Pie, which was named the best pizza spot in Denver by the Food Network. Yelp reviewers agree, giving the eatery 4.5 stars out of 795 reviews. Expect made-from-scratch, hand-tossed crusts with an array of toppings like white anchovies, beer-braised brisket, chorizo, arugula, caramelized onions and cherry tomatoes, to name a few.
Pair your pizza with a selection from the beer menu. Peruse the famous Trapper Keeper notebook of craft beer, which includes everything from whiskey barrel-aged sour beer to farmhouse ales with fruit. Located at 3920 Tennyson St. in Berkeley, it is the highest rated pizzeria in Denver.
2. Esters Neighborhood Pub
Next up is Virginia Village's Esters Neighborhood Pub, situated at 1950 S. Holly St. Another beer-friendly eatery ("esters" refer to a product of fermentation), you'll find pizza combinations like The Bliss, a vegetarian pizza of olive oil, gouda cheese, potatoes, pesto, truffle oil and red pepper flakes, or the Catapult, with housemade marinara, mozzarella, sausage, caramelized onions and red peppers. Of course, you can also design your own. With 4.5 stars out of 492 reviews on Yelp, this pub has proven to be a local favorite.
3. Blue Pan Pizza
West Highland's Blue Pan Pizza, located at 3930 W. 32nd Ave., is another top choice. Led by award-winning pizza maker Jeff Smokevitch, the eatery specializes in Detroit-style pizza, which is baked in a square pan and features cheese that's caramelized on the thick crust. Other styles of pizza are also available. The pizzeria has a second outpost in Congress Park.
Among the pizza options are the Brooklyn Bridge, which won first place at the International Pizza Challenge in 2014, with its mozzarella and brick cheeses, pizza sauce, creamy ricotta, pepperoni, Italian sausage, chopped garlic, oregano and pecorino romano cheese. Yelpers give the spot 4.5 stars out of 399 reviews.
4. Ian's Pizza
Ian's Pizza in Five Points is another much-loved go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 383 Yelp reviews. Across from Coors Field, this Ian's (there are also locations in other states) provides pizza by the slice or as a whole pie. The long list of specialties includes the self-explanatory Mac N' Cheese and the Maui Wowie, with marinara, mozzarella, ham, pineapple and house-pickled jalapeños. Head over to 2210 Blake St. to see for yourself.
5. LowDown Brewery
Finally, over in Capitol Hill, check out LowDown Brewery, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 337 reviews on Yelp. The house-brewed beers accompany a menu of sandwiches, soups, salads and, of course, hand-rolled pizzas. The El Luchador combines chorizo with roasted corn, roasted poblano peppers, queso fresco, mozzarella, avocado crema and hot sauce for a Mexican-style pie, while the LowDown does it Italian style, with Italian sausage, mozzarella, pepperoncini, caramelized onion and red sauce. You can find the pizzeria at 800 Lincoln St.
