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This Montrose spot is equal parts cool-kid hangout and comfort food haven; and, everything revolves around the glow of a wood-burning oven. The pies lean playful—think a fennel sausage “Rosie’s Supreme” or a sweet-heat corn pizza with Calabrian chili—and the vibe is as bubbly as the complimentary glass of sparkling wine you’re handed the moment you walk in. Night owls get the real prize—Tues.-Sun. from 9–10 p.m., all pizzas and booze are half off, making this one of Houston’s most stylish late-night steals.
Say the name twice and you’ll land in one of Houston’s quirkiest pizza-and-cocktail hangouts. Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is equal parts neighborhood bar and cosmic fever dream, with locations on Washington Avenue and Montrose Boulevard. The vibe? Weird in the best way—think sci-fi bathroom hallways, karaoke nights, and bartenders who make you feel instantly like a regular. The Ironclad-style pizzas are the anchor, piled high with house-made ingredients, while the drink list leans creative with cocktails, natural wines, and local brews. Don’t skip the cheeky Space Balls appetizer—pillowy house-made dough balls drenched in garlic butter, parmesan, and served with marinara for dipping.
And if you’re at the Montrose location, wander into the brand-new speakeasy, Endless Bummer. It’s a tiki bar for the afterlife—a “goth tropical purgatory” where drinks arrive smoking, frozen, or flaming. Cheers to the weird!
Dark, loud, and effortlessly cool. The name nods to the tiny microbes that give us bread and wine, which tells you everything you need to know about their priorities: fermentation, flavor, and fun. The vibe is buzzy with a sprawling patio, but the real action is on the menu, which shifts often with the seasons.
On the menu: a salami piccante with hot honey pie brings the heat, while the mortadella pie goes rich with tallegio, fig-and-plum mostarda, and shallots. For the anchovy lovers, theirs comes with salsa verde and plenty of garlic.
Toss in $8 Detroit-style slices on Wednesdays and half off select pizzas from 5-6pm Mon.-Thur., and you’ve got one of the most satisfying hangs in EaDo.
Before Houston was a pizza town, there was Star. Family-owned and operated since 1976, Star Pizza has been fueling locals with thick, cheesy pies for nearly five decades. The secret? Everything is made in-house—from the daily pizza dough to the scratch-made sauce to a proprietary cheese blend mixed up by a crew that’s been with the company longer than some customers have been alive. That consistency has kept Star at the center of Houston’s pizza universe.
The menu covers all the bases, but Star is especially beloved for its hearty deep dish Chicago-style pizzas, piled high with toppings and baked until golden. With locations on Upper Kirby, Washington Avenue, and Katy, Star is still family-owned and still local.
Bollo is one of those neighborhood spots you almost don’t want to tell people about—except it’s already been crowned one of the Top 10 Pizza Restaurants in the Country by Gayot.com and routinely lands on Houston “best of” lists. Tucked in Upper Kirby, Bollo fires its Neapolitan-style pies in an 800-degree oven.
The menu splits into Bianco (white pizzas, no tomato sauce) and Rosse (red-sauce classics). On the Bianco side, the Shrimp Scampi Pizza—with Gulf shrimp, thin-sliced lemon, and a hit of red pepper—is a standout. Over on the Rosse side, the Carne Trio piles on prosciutto, sausage, and pepperoni, or the Diavola adds just the right kick with spicy salami and roasted peppers.
At Pizaro’s, the only thing more impressive than the 900-degree wood-fired oven is the family story behind it. What started in a small Memorial City shopping center as Bill Hutchinson’s weekend hobby quickly turned into a Houston institution—complete with a certification from the Verace Pizza Napoletana association. These days, his kids run the show as they’ve opened their flagship Montrose location.
Plus, Pizaro’s is also one of the few places where you can take a pizza class and learn how to stretch dough, or even master your own oven. Between the chewy Neapolitan crusts, the caramelized edges on the Detroit squares, and the crisp folds of a New York slice, it’s no wonder Pizaro’s has been a fixture on “best of Houston” lists for more than a decade.
Sometimes you just need a proper New York slice—and Russo’s has been tossing them sky-high in Houston since 1999. Founded by Chef Anthony Russo, this hometown brand has grown from one neighborhood shop into a global franchise, with more than 50 locations stretching from Montrose to the Middle East.
Pizza may be the star, but Russo’s doesn’t stop there. The menu leans into Italian comfort food—baked ziti, chicken parm, calzones, and plenty of pasta. With multiple Houston locations, from Memorial to Sugar Land, it’s an easy go-to for everything from a quick slice to a full family dinner.
Seasonal, shareable, and rooted in the garden, Coltivare is a Heights staple. This Agricole Hospitality spot (the same folks behind Eight Row Flint and EZ’s Liquor Lounge) is equal parts rustic and refined, with a menu driven by Houston’s growing season. The restaurant itself is cozy, so reservations are smart, but the best seats are outside in the garden where some of the produce is grown.
The pizzas here lean inventive. A lamb merguez and feta pie comes layered with roasted eggplant and peppers, while the mushroom version keeps it earthy with crescenza and a white sauce. Other standouts include chicken with prosciutto, sage, and saba, or the cheese pie topped with ricotta, parmigiano, and Point Reyes blue.
Also in the Heights, Trattoria Sofia is a Berg Hospitality spot that leans rustic Italian with a seasonal spin. The space feels like a hidden garden with its covered, climate-controlled terrace, perfect for Houston’s not-so-predictable weather.
The Quattro Formaggi e Prosciutto pizza layers four cheeses, lemon zest, and spicy honey for a sweet-savory bite, while the Funghi piles on mushrooms, caramelized onions, and tarragon. And, for something classic, the Margherita uses mozzarella di Bufala and Calabrese peppers.
