Tennessee might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think about world-class pizza, but the Volunteer State has quietly built one of the most exciting pizza scenes in the South. From wood-fired Neapolitan pies in Knoxville to New York-style slices in Nashville and creative chef-driven creations in Memphis, Tennessee’s pizza makers are serving up pies that rival anything you’ll find up north.
Whether you’re a local looking for your next favorite spot or a visitor ready to be surprised, these thirteen pizza places prove that great pizza isn’t just a Northern thing anymore.
1. City House — Nashville
When The New York Times calls your pizza some of the best in America, you know you’re doing something right. City House in Germantown has been turning heads since it opened, blending Italian wood-fired technique with ingredients that could only come from the South. Chef Tandy Wilson’s approach isn’t about copying anyone else’s playbook—it’s about creating something entirely new.
The belly pizza is the one that put City House on the map, topped with house-cured pork belly, mozzarella, and a farm egg that breaks into a rich, golden sauce when you cut into it. It sounds wild, but somehow it works perfectly. The crust comes out of the wood-fired oven with those signature leopard spots and just enough char to give it a smoky depth…