Pizza is essential to Hartford. It’s the late-night slices that fuel our students through finals, the family pies at weekend gatherings, and the brick-oven spots where you can find the best Neapolitan-style pies in New England (quiet down, New Haven). With Connecticut’s rich Italian heritage, we have countless pizzerias to choose from. Here are the ones to prioritize.
Kinder Pizza and Ranch House
$ | (860) 461-1626 | WEBSITE
Here’s my late-night rule: swing by after midnight, pull up to the parking spot right out front, and order the breakfast sandwich. It’s a hefty creation with eggs, cheese, and your choice of meat on a toasted roll. This sandwich is substantial, and unlike typical breakfast fare, it doesn’t skimp on the fillings. This might seem unusual, but it’s the perfect food to satisfy and fuel you after a long night out.
If it’s not breakfast hours, order the super jacked grinder—a loaded sub packed with cold cuts and fixings.
Sampizza Bar
$ | (860) 461-1669 | WEBSITE
It’s not usually a good sign when you see families with screaming kids and awkwardly juggling pizza boxes outside a pizza joint. But it turns out that Sampizza Bar isn’t just popular because of its updated ownership—the food here is very good. Service is super friendly and welcoming (unlike nearby chain restaurants) and the strawberry and passion fruit caipirinha cocktails are fantastic. You’ll find some other creative dishes, like delicious vegetarian pizzas made with fresh ingredients.
And although the Brazilian pizzas look like the standard variety, they taste amazing with their fantastic flavors. Just make sure to try the appetizers so you get the full lively atmosphere experience.
Chris’s Pizza & Deli
$ | (860) 296-0511 | WEBSITE
Pizza here has a thin crust, but it’s also chewy in the middle. There’s no other slice like it, and this Hartford spot specializes in everything pizza-related. Their slices are the size of your plate. It doesn’t just satisfy when you bite into it. It plays your taste buds like a symphony, yet remains balanced and flavorful beneath the surface. The sandwiches are good too. They even make lemon cake out of it—sweet citrusy cake with a refreshing taste that lingers.
It looks like a simple dessert, but it’s pretty amazing. If that sounds rich, just get the grinders.
NY – NY Pizza Restaurant
$ | (860) 296-1177 | WEBSITE
One week, we ordered pizza from NY – NY Pizza Restaurant seven times. After that delicious research, we officially declared their New York-style slice the best in Hartford. But that’s not the only reason to head to this family-friendly spot. Save some stomach space for their perfectly crunchy wings. And never skip the slightly thicker crust that gives each bite that satisfying chew. A strong knock on the delivery box will send your hungry family running to the door.
Infinity Music Hall – Hartford
$$ | (860) 560-7757 | WEBSITE
Infinity Music Hall is Hartford’s more intimate concert venue, and we like the atmosphere better. While some arenas have a corporate feel, this hall is more personal. The space is lined with warm wood paneling, the staff wear casual black attire, and it’s more relaxed. The venue is spacious—and so is the dance floor. The sound quality is crystal clear, and the seating is excellent with no bad views. Their bar service is efficient, and the drinks are so reasonably priced, it feels like a steal.
Next time someone visiting Connecticut insists on going to a stadium show, take them to the downtown garage for parking and then walk two doors down to experience Infinity Music Hall.
A-1 Pizza
$ | (860) 525-6666 | WEBSITE
A-1 Pizza is one of the most fun pizza spots in Hartford, which is why you’ll find people here celebrating game nights or families with kids in tow looking to eat burgers and wings. We don’t blame them. The turkey grinder is fresh and the vegan pizza gets the job done. But food isn’t quite the point of this spot. It’s the electric energy of the friendly restaurant. Your cue to start smiling is when the staff whips out generous sausage appetizers and treats you like family.
First and Last Tavern Hartford
$$ | (860) 956-6000 | WEBSITE
The atmosphere isn’t flawless, but First and Last Tavern Hartford delivers classic Southern Italian dishes, including the city’s most comforting eggplant rollitini. If you’re craving something hearty, order the shells with sausage in homemade Puttanesca sauce. It’s savory sausage nestled in a tangy tomato sauce—the epitome of Italian cuisine’s love of rich and bold flavors—and the great grandfather of all those pasta dishes we adore.
Grab a seat at a wooden booth near the brick walls and you’ll feel like you’re in a cozy neighborhood trattoria.
The Brownstone
$ | (860) 969-6128 | WEBSITE
You need two very important things to eat at this pizza spot in Hartford. First, patience—the place gets packed. Second, bring your appetite for crispy crust. The pies here satisfy you for hours. We really love the Margherita pizza. The cheese on this classic melts like a dream. But our favorite dish is the wings. The Brownstone is also great for lunch. You’ll notice a friendly bartender and quick service—enjoy it with your beer (or anything).
The Irish pub feel and quirky vibe remind us of the neighborhood joints we grew up with.
Pietro’s Pizza
$ | (860) 722-9514 | WEBSITE
If you grew up in Hartford, there’s a good chance you formed core memories here, tearing into those warm garlic knots before your pizza even arrived, leaning over the counter to watch them load up the buffalo chicken pie with extra toppings, and grabbing a booth by the window while your family decided on dinner. Since then, a lot’s changed in Connecticut, but not at Pietro’s. The Cajun Shrimp Alfredo is always creamy and generous, and we’re never disappointed by the chicken Parm grinder.
No visit to Pietro’s is complete without an order of those wings.
Sorella
$$ | (860) 244-9084 | WEBSITE
Sorella is known for their chicken parm. Unlike a lot of chicken parms we’ve tried, Sorella’s isn’t just breaded poultry. Biting through the crispy crust reveals tender organic chicken with just the right amount of cheese. Their wood-fired pizzas are also cooked perfectly—crispy, smoky, and flavorful. And the garlic cheese bread comes with that addictive garlic butter sauce.
The dining room is always bustling, and they also have the most Hartford (it’s a vibe too) view, with Pratt Street’s pedestrian mall providing constant entertainment while you enjoy those appetizers.
Fat Franks Pizza
$ | (860) 296-3111 | WEBSITE
Why are we telling you to head to Hartford? Because it’s where the best square-cut pizza we’ve ever eaten is. Fat Franks Pizza offers a variety of delicious pizza options, including a large veggie and pineapple pizza, a chicken pizza, and specialty pizzas like the Meat Lover’s and Fat Frank’s Specialty. The pizza, while not traditional New York-style, is still tasty, and the wings are also well-received. Everything is hyper-convenient.
Delivery is fast, and the square-cut slices make the pizza kid-friendly. Plus, portions are huge. They give you so much shredded chicken on the chicken pizza, it’s hard to close the cardboard box it comes in. End your meal with the pineapple pizza with sweet fruit chunks that burst when you bite them.
HFC Chicken & Pizza
$$ | (860) 246-0111 | WEBSITE
There are plenty of solid pizza joints in Hartford, and this is one of them. HFC Chicken & Pizza is known for their Tikka and Triple cheeseburgers, which are good, but we really love their Vegie Pizza and salad. Order the Vegie Pizza with extra sauce. Then dip that fresh crust in the flavorful sauce and enjoy it with a bite of salad in one go. And if you order the salad, ask for it with the house dressing instead of the standard vinaigrette. Is it still technically a salad?
We bet the welcoming staff, who are all about generous portions, would say so.
Mr Pizza House
$ | (860) 242-9771 | WEBSITE
Mr Pizza House is a straightforward name, and there are plenty of pizza spots in Hartford. But this is our go-to for late nights. It’s a convenient place with decent reviews that serves some of the most reliable pizza in the area. The crust is a highlight, with the right balance of crispiness and softness. The sauce and cheese are well-proportioned, making each slice satisfying.
Their friendly staff, especially the attentive young woman at the counter, adds to the experience, though service can be slow at times. If you’re not in a hurry, it’s worth the wait for a solid pie.
George’s Pizza Restaurant
$ | (860) 232-5565 | WEBSITE
This Hartford pizza joint is known for one thing: the large pepperoni and bacon pizza. It’s a generous pie with one giant side of melted cheese. It’s why people come here—a blanket of cheese so abundant it makes you question if there really is a crust under all that dairy. But it’s there, lighter than traditional Greek style, and topped with plenty of pepperoni and bacon. Some people like to add extra sauce all over the top, but this is not a saucy pizza.
The sauce is mild so you can taste the cheese and toppings together. George’s meatball and garlic bread with cheese also ranks in the top of our side dish power ranking.
Angelina’s Pizzeria
$ | (860) 232-4080 | WEBSITE
Lots of people come to Angelina’s for their cheese pizza. But they have other great things that involve dough. You can order a thin-crust pie with fresh ingredients for a satisfying dinner, or grab a veggie grinder at their counter for lunch. But what truly makes Angelina’s so special is its atmosphere—welcoming and friendly, with staff who make customers feel like family. Angelina’s is one of those reliable spots that’s sure to impress, whether you’re ordering for a small group or a large party.
Pitta Gourmet
$ | (860) 527-7380 | WEBSITE
For as much as the pizza scene has evolved in Hartford, its neighborhood institutions still define the city’s comfort food. Pitta Gourmet is a prime example of the sort of family-run spot that could only thrive here for over forty years. Their party-size pizzas come with a perfectly crispy crust, and their barbecue wings carry a unique sweetness. But they win us over with a meatball grinder. If you’re from Hartford, you’ve seen a local joint serve up a hearty sandwich that hits just right.
That’s exactly what their grinder is—the kind of straightforward, satisfying meal you’d only find at a trusted neighborhood place. We order ours with extra cheese.
Woodland Pizza Restaurant
$ | (860) 293-1059 | WEBSITE
Think of Woodland Pizza as Hartford’s version of a classic neighborhood pizzeria. But instead of flashy toppings, there’s a consistently impressive cheese pizza on the menu. And their version of a perfect slice is all about balance—the best in town. This pie features a crispy crust, tangy sauce, and quality mozzarella that melts just right in every bite. We like to order ours fresh from the oven, which means it arrives piping hot and directly translates to pure comfort.
And that cheese stretches, unlike the hurried service at chain spots, which we’ve never actually experienced here thanks to their warm and friendly staff.
Kent Pizza 3
$ | (860) 247-1966 | WEBSITE
Kent Pizza 3 is a pizza spot that makes the best feta cheese and onion pizza in Hartford—specifically the version with high-quality ingredients that holds up even cold. We know this because we once ordered a dozen pizzas for a late-night gathering and didn’t stop eating until every slice was gone. It has a balance of sharp feta and sweet onion that’s more savory than greasy. Most pizzas around town get soggy when they cool, but Kent’s maintains a perfect crisp crust. Brilliant.
ABC Pizza House
$ | (860) 247-0234 | WEBSITE
This pizza spot is actually in Hartford, not some chain joint. If you have a big party, bring them here. Its limited seating area is filled with the sort of red-checkered tables you might find in an old-school pizzeria—and have a way of making the host of a gathering feel like a hero. The menu is straightforward and filled with classics. The Philly cheese steak grinder should always be on the order.
The savory meat comes in a soft roll that soaks up all the juices and is topped with melted cheese. The red sauce pizza is also excellent, and the crust is crispy and chewy. For about $15 for a large pie and $10 for a grinder, you get plenty of food that keeps everyone happy, especially the kids who always ask for seconds.
Al’s Pizza and Deli
$ | (860) 216-6568 | WEBSITE
If you want to see the hardest working pizza oven in Hartford, go to Al’s Pizza and Deli and watch them pull out a meatball calzone. They know how to use that oven—always brushing their dough with sauce before filling it with fresh meatballs and cheese. The result is a large calzone that tastes like it was made minutes ago.
They make an excellent hamburger and veggie sandwich, but there’s a reason why this is our undisputed favorite quick meal spot in Hartford (and why there’s often a line at the counter). To avoid that line, try calling ahead or visiting during off-peak hours.
