7 Places to Find the Best Pizza in Cleveland [2023]

Whether you’ve lived in Cleveland for decades and are looking to try something new for dinner tonight, or you’re visiting for the first time and want to sample the local food scene, you’ll find what you’re looking for here. We’ve pulled some of the most popular and highest rated pizza restaurants in town for you today.

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Here’s a preview of what we have in store:

• Cheesy NYC-style pizza in Cleveland’s Little Italy neighborhood
• Local pizza shops serving up huge portions of all your favorite Italian food
• National pizza chains making it easy to eat pizza in-restaurant or at home

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Plus, we’ve indicated all of the best pizza restaurants in Cleveland that currently accept GiftYa.

What’s GiftYa, you’re wondering?

GiftYa is a convenient digital gift card option for people in Cleveland and all over the country. Just choose from thousands of local and national brands to get started, including plenty of the best pizza places in town. 

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In just a couple of clicks, you can customize, schedule, and send your gift to anyone you choose. The recipient can use the GiftYa app, link their gift to a physical credit card they carry with them every day anyway to rack up those rewards points, or exchange/regift their card in just a few taps.

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Head over to GiftYa to learn more and check out the entire catalog.

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Now that we’re on the same page, let’s get to the good stuff and talk about the best pizza Cleveland has to offer!

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1 - Il Rione

Bringing a Taste of Italy to Cleveland’s West Side Neighborhood

1303 W 65th St | Detroit-Shoreway | ilrionepizzeria.com

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Many major cities have Little Italy neighborhoods, and for Cleveland, it’s the area from West 65th Street to West 70th Street on Detroit Avenue. The name Il Rione, which translates to “the neighborhood” pays homage to the unique spirit and traditions of Cleveland’s Little Italy.

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The tastes and smells of Il Rione will transport your taste buds to NYC with delicious brick-fired pies. Choose from fresh ingredients to build a pizza exactly the way you want it, or choose one of their speciality pies like the Roseanna (white pizza with red onion, prosciutto, and arugula) and the Diavolo (red sauce, mozzarella, calabrian chiles, spicy salami, and red onions). 

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“New York-style pizza in Cleveland?!....I'm all for it. I've had Il Rione on my list for a little while, so I was looking forward to it when I made dinner plans one weeknight. It's a cute spot near Gordon Square with dim lighting, dark wood accents, a visually appealing bar, open kitchen, and a lively but cozy atmosphere. Overall, we had a lovely evening at Il Rione. I felt like I was transported to a romantic  gem of a restaurant in East Village (NYC).” - Yelp Review 

2 - Athens Pizza

Cleveland’s Go-To Local Pizza Shop

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4341 Rocky River Dr | Cleveland | athenspizzeria.net

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When it comes to local pizza shops, the biggest point of comparison tends to be toppings. Luckily for Cleveland pizza lovers, the toppings at Athens Pizzeria do not disappoint. If anything, locals have noted that there can be too many toppings – but that doesn’t quite sound like a bad thing to the rest of Athens Pizzeria’s satisfied patrons. Pizza slices piled high with sausage, mushroom, bacon, olives, and all your other favorites.

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Athens Pizza offers your traditional small, medium, and large pizzas, but you can also buy full and half sheet pizzas (which include 16 and 30 slices respectively) to feed the whole crew.

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“Since moving to the Kamms area, this has been my go-to pizza shop! Pizza is always delicious! Ps... never thought I'd like gyro meat on a pizza. Try it, it's not so bad!” - Yelp Review 

3 - Crust

Giving Pizza the Time and Attention it Deserves for Over 10 Years

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2258 Professor Ave | Tremont | crusttremont.com

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Some people mistake pizza for fast food – after all, with dozens of pizza places in Cleveland just a phone call or a couple of taps on an app away, you can have it at your door within the hour pretty much any time of day or night. But pizza done right involves lots of time and attention – which is exactly the approach that Crust Pizza takes.

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The dough is made from scratch and hand-tossed, risen slowly, and carefully baked. The result? Pizza that locks in every bit of flavor the fresh ingredients bring to the table. With so much attention to detail, it’s no wonder Crust is celebrating 10 years in Tremont.

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“Excellent food and drink.  We ate on the back patio, where you can either order from the Crust menu or the BBQ place next door.  This is a great arrangement and we took advantage of it.  Service was great.” - Yelp Review 

4 - Emilio’s Pizza

Pizza, Salad, and Subs in Strongsville

Send an Emilio’s Pizza gift card

20934 Drake Rd | Strongville | emilios-strongsville.com

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Emilio’s Pizza is one of the local go-tos in Strongsville. Why? For starters, the pizza is delicious. Cheesy, generous toppings, big flavors – but that’s just the beginning. Emilio’s is your one stop pizza shop for all of your dining needs. Their wings, salads, and subs also get rave reviews, so even if everyone in your party is craving something different, they’re sure to leave satisfied.

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Plus, don’t forget to check out Emilio’s website for the latest specials. Whether you’re just looking for a deal on lunch for one or you have a whole house full of hungry partygoers to feed, you’ll get a good deal on some great food with Emilio’s coupons and deals.

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“Love this place! Best pizza in Strongsville easily. The Popeye salad is so yummy. I get their lunch specials from work a couple times a week and it's fast, fresh and always friendly delivery. Great menu variety, vegetarian options if you want those as well.” - Yelp Review 

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Send an Emilio’s Pizza gift card

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5 - Teresa’s Pizza

The Self-Proclaimed Best Pizza in Cleveland’s Mayfield Heights

Buy a Teresa’s Pizza gift card

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6010 Mayfield Rd | Mayfield Heights | teresaspizza.com

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The word that comes to mind when someone mentions Teresa’s Pizza is quality – quality ingredients, quality service, and a quality experience. The staff at Teres’as is fast and friendly. The menu is pretty self explanatory, but if you do have questions, they’re happy to help. 

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Teresa’s pizza is known for being loaded with cheese, so if you prefer a more sparsely toppinged pie, Teresa’s may not be the place for you. Even if you venture out from pizza to try some of their other offerings, you’re sure to be satisfied. Locals love that the wings are big, juicy, and have plenty of meat on them – plus they come in a variety of finger-lickin’ flavors.

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“The pizza was amazing!!!!!! Always good customer service was awesome. Friendly employees. I always get a large pizza with pepperoni and ham which always makes it perfect!!!” - Yelp Review 

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Buy a Teresa’s Pizza gift card

6 - Sambino’s Pizza

Italian Cuisine in Cleveland’s Elyria and North Ridgeville Area

Grab a Sambino’s Pizza gift card by following the link!

360 Cleveland St | Elyria | sambinospizza.com

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Sambino’s is the self-proclaimed home of the finest pizza, pasta, and subs in the Elyria area, but if the abundance of 5-star reviews are any indication, locals have found a lot more to love on their menu, too. Sambino’s also serves up wings and ribs, sides and salads, drinks (including beer), and dessert. Since 2003, they have been the neighborhood’s go-to spot for delicious Italian cuisine.

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Visit hungry, and try Sambino’s famous Big Sambino offer. This dinner special includes an XL two topping pizza, 10 wings, cheese bread, and a two liter of Coke for just $31.95. You can even get the offer for free if you build up enough points in Sambino’s rewards program.

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The other prizes available range from small (free breadsticks or two liters) to extra large (tickets to Cedar Point and even a free 52” television). Once you try Sambino’s Pizza, we’re sure you’ll be back soon, so those points should start adding up fast.

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“Sambino's is the best pizza in Elyria. My husband and I recently moved to this community and, as pizza fanatics, have been trying lots of local pies to find our favorite. Once we had Sambino's we knew the search was over.” - Yelp Review 

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Grab a Sambino’s Pizza gift card by following the link!

7 - California Pizza Kitchen

The Legendary Pizza Kitchen Comes to Cleveland

Grab a California Pizza Kitchen gift card by following the link!

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25365 Cedar Rd | Lyndhurst | cpk.com

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If none of the other local pizza spots on this list have quite hit the spot, consider picking up a pie from a national favorite like California Pizza Kitchen. The brand's origin story may surprise you – while it was founded in 1985 in Beverly Hills, the friends responsible for the pizza brand known for its creative flavor combinations started out as federal prosecutors. After combing their passion for fresh ingredients and delicious food, they invented The Original BBQ Chicken Pizza and have been pushing culinary boundaries ever since.

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Today, California Pizza Kitchen has approximately 200 restaurants located all over the world, including this location in Lyndhurst. Enjoy a tasty hand-tossed pizza, try a big plate burger or salmon dish, savor some sauce-tossed pasta, and don’t forget to save room for dessert. 

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No time to stop in? You can even take all of the CPK goodness to go with their take and bake pizzas in some of their most popular flavors, including their Hawaiian pie and Tostada style pizza.

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“We love the pizza and desserts here!! Everytime I visit this location I am greeted with a smile and the service is always great! I love the variety of pizza, pasta, sandwiches and desserts. The pizza is always super fresh and the crust is perfect! If you've never been, be sure to check this place out!!!” - Yelp Review 

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Grab a California Pizza Kitchen gift card by following the link!

There you have it! From NYC-style to California-style, these are some of the best pizza shops in Cleveland.

Not all pizza is created equal. From crispy thin crust pizza to saucy deep dish with its flaky pastry crust, flavorful brick-fired pizza dough to simple slices loaded with greasy cheese, there’s no wrong way to enjoy a slice. The pizza shops we’ve covered here all have their own unique approach to building the perfect pie, and the fact that they’re all ranked among the best pizza in Cleveland shows you how versatile a dinner option pizza truly is.

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We hope you’ve found the perfect place to grab a slice tonight, but if you’re still searching for something to eat in Cleveland, be sure to explore the rest of our blog. We’re always adding guides to restaurants and attractions in Cleveland and all over the country, so check back soon! 

And don’t forget to check out the GiftYa catalog next time you want to send a slice of the best pizza in Cleveland to someone you care about or treat them to any other restaurant or attraction in Fifth City. Cleveland and GiftYa always have something to offer.