By Greensboro takes its pizza seriously, and the result is a scene with real range: wood-fired Neapolitan pies blistered in 900-degree ovens, foldable New York slices the size of a dinner plate, and clay-oven artisan pizzas built on locally sourced toppings. Whether you are a visitor hunting for one great meal downtown or a local trying to settle the great Gate City pizza debate, this guide covers the spots worth knowing, with addresses, hours, and the details you need to plan a visit.
Cugino Forno: Greensboro’s Neapolitan Standard-Bearer
If you want authentic, certified-style Neapolitan pizza, start at Cugino Forno inside the historic Revolution Mill. Run by three cousins (the name means “cousin oven” in Italian), the kitchen fires soft, charred, leopard-spotted pies in a wood-burning oven in roughly 90 seconds. The dough ferments slowly, the San Marzano-style tomatoes and fior di latte mozzarella keep things classic, and the Margherita is the pie to order if you want to judge a place by its fundamentals. Finish with house-made gelato.
The setting is half the appeal. Revolution Mill is a restored 1899 textile mill turned dining and arts campus, so you can walk the grounds and the surrounding greenway before or after your meal. Cugino Forno has grown into a regional favorite with multiple Triad-area locations, which makes it an easy fallback wherever you happen to be.
Plan your visit: 1160 Revolution Mill Dr., Greensboro, NC 27405. Phone: (336) 897-7920. Details and ordering at cuginoforno.com. You can also find the listing on Visit Greensboro. Hours vary by location, so confirm before you go.
Sticks & Stones Clay Oven Pizza: The Walker Avenue Favorite
Tucked along Walker Avenue near the UNC Greensboro campus, Sticks & Stones Clay Oven Pizza has earned a loyal local following for a reason. The clay oven produces a char and crust texture that gas ovens simply cannot match, and the kitchen leans on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients to build its pies. The vibe is cozy and a little rustic, the kind of neighborhood spot where students, families, and date-night couples all feel at home.
Beyond pizza, you will find appetizers, salads, a solid draft and can beer list, wines, and craft cocktails, so it works equally well as a quick weeknight dinner or a longer hang. If you are new to town and want one pizzeria that locals will nod approvingly at, this is a safe pick.
Plan your visit: 2200 Walker Ave., Greensboro, NC 27403. Phone: (336) 508-7750. Menu and ordering at sticksandstonesclayoven.com. See also the Visit Greensboro listing.
For the New York Slice: Mario’s Pizza and Slices by Tony
Sometimes you do not want artisanal. You want a big, foldable, grease-at-the-tip New York slice. Greensboro delivers on that front too.
Mario’s Pizza
Mario’s Pizza is the go-to for huge, authentic New York-style slices and whole pies. The owners are brothers from Brooklyn, the birthplace of the style, and it shows in the thin, pliable crust and generous portions. Mario’s runs several Greensboro locations, which makes it convenient whether you are near Friendly Center, the New Garden Road corridor, or West Wendover.
Locations: New Garden at 1575 New Garden Rd., (336) 316-1119; Friendly Center at 3354 W. Friendly Ave., Suite 142, (336) 303-1999; and West Wendover at 4215 W. Wendover Ave., (336) 632-0072. Menus and hours at mariosbigpizza.com.
Slices by Tony
On Tate Street, in the heart of the UNCG-adjacent arts-and-eats district, Slices by Tony serves hand-tossed Italian slices with creative toppings in a casual, family-friendly room. Look for Sicilian, Buffalo chicken, BBQ chicken, and meat-lover’s options, plus pasta and zeppole for dessert. It is a great pre-show or post-gallery stop when you are exploring the Tate Street scene on foot.
Plan your visit: 401 Tate St., Greensboro, NC 27403. Phone: (336) 378-1932. Open Monday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (closed Sunday). Menu at slicesbytonygso.com.
Downtown and Westover: Crust & Craft and the Elm Street Crowd
Crust & Craft over on Westover Terrace pairs wood-fired and brick-oven pizzas with a deep beer focus, making it a reliable choice when you want pizza and a pint in the same sitting. It keeps a full seven-day schedule, which is handy when other spots take Sundays off.
Plan your visit: 1424 Westover Terrace, Greensboro, NC 27408. Phone: (336) 500-8346. Generally open daily, 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.; confirm current hours before heading over.
Downtown along South Elm Street you will also find national favorite Mellow Mushroom, a dependable choice for groups with mixed tastes thanks to its stone-baked pies, big pretzels, and large craft-beer list. It sits within easy walking distance of the downtown hotels, the Greensboro Cultural Center, and the LeBauer Park area, which makes it an easy visitor pick.
How to Build the Perfect Greensboro Pizza Crawl
Greensboro is compact enough that you can sample several styles in a single day without much driving. Here is a simple framework:
- Neapolitan and atmosphere: Start at Cugino Forno in Revolution Mill, then walk the mill grounds and adjacent greenway.
- College-town casual: Hit Walker Avenue and Tate Street near UNCG for Sticks & Stones and Slices by Tony, both walkable from the campus area.
- Classic New York slice: Grab a folded slice at the nearest Mario’s, especially convenient near Friendly Center if you are already shopping.
- Pizza and beer: Close out at Crust & Craft on Westover Terrace or Mellow Mushroom downtown.
A few practical notes for both visitors and locals: weekend dinner rushes at the most popular spots (Cugino Forno and Sticks & Stones in particular) can mean a wait, so arrive early or be ready to put your name in. Several pizzerias here close on Sundays, so always check the day’s hours before you drive over. And because hours and locations can change, it is worth a quick call or website check the day of your visit.
Where to Stay While You Eat Your Way Through Greensboro
If you are visiting from out of town and planning a food-focused weekend, base yourself downtown for the easiest access to Elm Street dining and walkable nightlife. Greensboro offers a strong lineup of Expedia-bookable hotels, from full-service downtown properties to comfortable options near Friendly Center and the Wendover corridor, putting you within a short drive of every pizzeria on this list. For broader trip planning, neighborhood ideas, and seasonal events, the official Visit Greensboro site and the statewide Visit NC guide are both excellent resources.
Planning tip: Build your crawl around the Revolution Mill area first. Cugino Forno anchors the city’s best pizza-and-atmosphere experience, and the mill’s walking paths give you time to work up an appetite for slice number two on Tate Street or Walker Avenue.