Boulder argues about a lot of things, but never about whether there's good pizza here. The argument is only ever about which kind: a blistered Neapolitan pie you eat with a fork and knife, or a floppy slice at 1am on Pearl Street. This guide covers both ends and everything between, checked and updated for 2026.
Pizzeria Alberico
The Frasca team's pizzeria at 1730 Pearl Street spent a decade as Pizzeria Locale before relaunching in 2023 as Pizzeria Alberico, named for Bobby Stuckey's Italian in-laws. Same corner, same wood-fired ambition, open for lunch and dinner daily. If you want the closest thing to Naples in Boulder County, start here.
Basta
Kelly Whitaker's Basta has been hiding at 3601 Arapahoe in the Peloton complex since before hidden-gem was a cliche, and now it has a Michelin Guide listing to show for it. The oven-fired pies share the menu with some of the best vegetables in town. Dinner only, so plan accordingly.
Audrey Jane's Pizza Garage
North Boulder's neighborhood counter at 2675 13th Street, near the rec center, has been turning out chewy, blistered pies since 2015 and shows up in every local's short list for a reason. It's the answer to "great pizza without a scene."
Barchetta
Barchetta at 1644 Walnut Street does a light, airy crust that got it featured on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. Downtown location, patio weather most of the year, and a wine list that takes the pizza seriously.
Backcountry Pizza & Tap House
Backcountry at 2319 Arapahoe pairs its pies with one of the biggest beer programs in the city: dozens of rotating drafts and a bottle list that runs into the hundreds. Closed Mondays, open through 10pm the rest of the week.
Cosmo's Pizza
The Hill location that generations of CU students grew up on closed in 2021 when the building came down, but Cosmo's still has Boulder covered from 659 30th Street and a north Boulder shop at 3117 28th Street. Giant slices, ranch on the side, no apologies.
Abo's Pizza
Abo's has been folding New York style slices in Colorado since 1977, and the north Boulder shop at 2761 Iris is the reliable old friend of this list. When you want a hot slice in hand within five minutes of walking in, this is the move.
Slice House by Tony Gemignani
The newest arrival: 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani opened Slice House at Twenty Ninth Street in early 2026, serving New York thin, Sicilian, Grandma, and Detroit styles by the slice. Boulder suddenly has a legitimate style-nerd pizza counter, and the lines say people noticed.
Pizza Colóre
For the classic Pearl Street Mall slice, Pizza Colóre at 1336 Pearl has been feeding shoppers and bar crowds for more than twenty years. It fills the walk-up niche the Hill's departed slice shops left behind.
Gone but remembered: Pizzeria da Lupo closed in 2017 and Milo's Pizza & Po' Boys before that. Boulder pizza turns over like everything else here. The good news is what replaced them is better than what we had in 2014.
