Best Places for Pizza in Akron, Ohio
Akron’s pizza scene stretches far beyond the usual pepperoni slice. From family-run delis to inventive pie makers and neighborhood stalwarts, the variety here rivals that of larger cities. What makes it special isn’t just the flavors, it’s the textures, the local ingredients, the smiles behind the counter, and the way every place carries a bit of Akron pride.
This roundup gathers pizza spots that deliver something memorable whether through crust, sauce, toppings, or atmosphere. Every location chosen offers more than just food; each delivers an experience. Whether craving classic Italian, bold flavor combos, or late-night comfort, there is a pie here for every mood in Akron.
Vaccaro’s Trattoria
Image from: Official FB Page
Elegant Italian Ambiance & Hand-Tossed Pizza Perfection
Vaccaro’s Trattoria in Ghent is one of those Akron gems that instantly makes you slow down. As a native, I’ve walked past it a hundred times and always felt the pull to stop in. Inside it feels polished yet warm. Soft lighting, well-chosen artwork, comfortable booths and tables, and a thoughtful bar area invite you to linger. The staff treat you like family without ever being overbearing. They want you to enjoy your full evening, a great cocktail before your pizza, sharing plates, dessert or two.
Now about the pizza. The dough is made fresh daily, hand-tossed, and the toppings are top notch. My favorites include the Aged Pepperoni with thick slices of house pepperoni, aged provolone and oregano. The Fra Diavolo is a spicy knockout, with stuffed banana peppers, smoked fennel sausage, fresh mozzarella and just enough heat to make you sit up and notice. If you lean lighter you’ll love the Sicilian Nostra, fresh tomato sauce, basil, olive oil and Romano that tastes like summer in your mouth. Everything feels intentional, the texture of the crust, balance of sauce, that melty‐stretch of cheese.
Why We Picked It: Vaccaro’s puts real care into both the food and the atmosphere. This is pizza you take your time with, not just grab on the go.
Insider’s Tip: Go on a Tuesday for the half-off wine special and pick a lighter pizza so you have room for dessert and a glass of something red.
Vaccaro’s Trattoria
1000 Ghent Road
Akron, Ohio 44333
(330) 666-6158
www.vactrat.com
Totally Baked Pizza
Image from: Official FB Page
Edgy Flavor Combos + Crafty Late-Night Vibes
Totally Baked Pizza feels like somebody dared flavor and creativity to show off and it nailed the challenge. The moment I stepped inside I was struck by how playful the place is—with funky names on the menu, a casual but vibrant atmosphere, and listings like “Mother Kluckers” wings and “Hybrid Pizzas” that make me smile before the food even arrives. Every pizza is treated like an experiment in joy with sauce, cheese, and dough treated as holy trinity. Their veggie-heavy Mary Jane pie or the bold “Fat Joe” with jalapeños and habanero bacon jam proves they aren’t here to play it safe.
The service leans friendly and fast and the spot works great whether you’re grabbing a late-night bite, ordering delivery, or dropping in with friends after hours. Their hours are generous too, they open late most nights, only closing earlier on Sundays. The pricing feels fair for how ambitious the menu is. If you are with someone who loves trying odd flavor combos this is your playground. The garlic knots (G-Knots) are toothsome, cheesy, and just the right companion to share.
Why We Picked It: Totally Baked brings energy, creativity, and bold flavors to Akron’s pizza scene in a way that feels unique and fun. It’s not just good pizza—it’s pizza with personality.
Insider’s Tip: Order the “Hybrid Pizzas” when you want something wild and unexpected. Save room for the G-Knots, especially if you love garlic.
Totally Baked Pizza
18 N High St,
Akron, OH 44308
(234) 678-0421
www.totallybakedpizza.net
Pierre’s Brooklyn Pizza & Deli
Image from: Official FB Page
A gem of contemporary Italian, where classics get polished to perfection
Kenmore Blvd feels full of hidden gems, but Pierre’s Brooklyn Pizza & Deli stands out like a fond memory you keep returning to. This cozy mom-and-pop spot serves up real New York-style pizza with fresh ingredients, warm service, and a genuine slice of Brooklyn locked into every pie. The dining room is small, the owners are hands-on, and everything feels lovingly made, you can taste that in their dough, their sauce, and in the way people around you are clearly enjoying themselves.
Pierre’s Pizza (their signature) is the one you order when you want garlic that makes a statement without taking over, fresh tomato brightness, crisp New York-style crust, and a cheese pull that still lets the garlic and tomato show off. The balance is beautiful: you get chew, just the right edge crisp, and that classic thin-fold that says “yes, this is a great slice.” Service is fast, prices fair, and slices big, perfect for lunch, takeout, or a casual evening when you want great pizza minus fuss.
Why We Picked It: Pierre’s is proof that Akron doesn’t need big frills to deliver big flavor. Their pizza embodies what makes local spots shine: care, balance, and ingredients that speak for themselves.
Insider’s Tip: Go early on a Saturday, slices disappear fast and sometimes ingredients run out. Grab a slice, pair it with one of their subs, and sit in if you can snag a table (though take-out works too when your cravings hit).
Pierre’s Brooklyn Pizza & Deli
964 Kenmore Blvd
Akron, OH 44314
(330) 745-7900
www.pierrespizzaanddeli.com
Luigi’s Restaurant
Image from: Official FB Page
Classic Akron Institution with Generous Pies & Old-School Charm
Luigi’s feels like home the moment you walk through the door. Big red booths, a scent of garlic and sauce hanging in the air, servers who know your family name before you even say it, this is pizza and Italian done with nostalgia and heart. As an Akron native I’ve seen it across generations, feeding late-night cravings, family dinners, and even those Solo pizza nights when you just need something familiar. The vibe is always relaxed but full of life, full of laughs, full of the small talk that roots a place in a neighborhood.
Now about their pizza: it’s hearty, it’s cheesy, and it delivers. Their “Pizza Bianco,” a white pie with three cheeses, garlic, and onions, is a standout. Their red-sauce pies, classic pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, mushrooms always hit just right, with crust crisp on the edges and soft inside. Portions are generous, prices reasonable. Late night or family night, Luigi’s handles it.
Why We Picked It: Luigi’s is more than a pizza place. It’s Akron history you can taste, big enough to share, cozy enough for you to want to go back when you need comfort.
Insider’s Tip: Bring cash or check. Luigi’s still operates “old-school” in payment, so prep in advance (they have an ATM but trust me you’ll feel better not depending on it).
Luigi’s Restaurant
105 N Main St,
Akron, OH 44308
(330) 253-2999
www.luigisrestaurant.com
Big Star Pizza
Fresh Dough Daily + Many Pizza Styles in One Spot
Big Star Pizza in Copley is the kind of place that hits every crust-sweet spot. It’s casual, welcoming, and has enough variety to please someone who loves thin New York slices, someone craving a thick Sicilian square, or someone who wants deep dish pan. The dough is made fresh daily, which you can taste in how crisp the edges are, how soft and airy the centers, and how well all the toppings meld without drowning the crust. The thin crust New York pies are foldable and satisfying. The Sicilian style brings that delightful chew and sturdiness. And their deep dish is comfort food at its most indulgent.
Inside, Big Star is neighborhood friendly: quick for takeout, solid for delivery, and comfortable if you want to dine in. The prices are reasonable, especially given how generous the portions are. They also have a full menu beyond just pizza: calzones stuffed just right, strombolis that fold in flavor, subs, salads, rolls, and sides to share (or hoard, no judgment). Hours vary; weekdays tend to close earlier, but weekend evenings are full-throttle pizza mode. It’s the kind of spot you take someone visiting Akron to so they get a true local pie experience.
Why We Picked It: Big Star Pizza balances variety, quality, and value in a way that makes you feel like every crust, slice, and topping is made with respect for pizza tradition and a bit of freedom to enjoy.
Insider’s Tip: Try going just before peak dinner time to avoid a wait and still get your pie piping hot. And if you can, order by the slice first to taste which style you want to go all-in on.
Big Star Pizza
1372 S Cleveland Massillon Rd
Akron, OH 44321
(330) 666-0700
www.bigstarpizzacopley.net
Talamo’s Pizza
Neighborhood Feast Combinations + Dough Made Fresh Daily
Talamo’s Pizza on Kenmore Boulevard feels just like one of those spots you’ve known forever even if you’ve only been going a few times. Walking in you’re hit with friendly energy and the warmth of garlic and sauce in the air. It’s casual, loud in the best way, and made for sharing. The dine-in / take-out mix makes it perfect for family nights, game nights, or when you want a big, comforting meal without all the fuss. The staff move with practiced efficiency, the way folks who know their regulars well do.
The menu at Talamo’s is broad and generous. The dough is made fresh every day and you can taste it in the slightly chewy crust that still crisp-edges when baked right. Their Specialty Pizzas like the Chef’s Special (pepperoni, sausage, onions, banana peppers, fresh tomatoes) or the Steak & Mushroom pie deliver bold flavor. If you like more texture and heat go for the Jerk Chicken or Buffalo Chicken pizzas. Don’t skip the sides: their JoJo potatoes are a must (crispy, seasoned, addictively good) and the Garlic Knots are perfect for dipping. Prices feel fair for Akron, and portions are forgiving enough that leftovers are part of the appeal.
Why We Picked It: Talamo’s gives you everything Akron pizza lovers want, a real dough, bold specialty pies, hearty sides, and value all wrapped up with neighborhood warmth.
Insider’s Tip: Go for the “Family Deal” or “Specials Night” offers when you’re feeding more than one person. Order early in evening so your specialty pizza comes out hot.
Talamo’s Pizza
1195 Kenmore Blvd
Akron, OH 44314
(330) 578-7611
www.ordertalamospizza.com
Mr. Zub’s Deli & Bar
Image from: Official FB Page
Late-Night Bar & Pizza Mashup with a Deli Twist
Mr. Zub’s Deli & Bar is the kind of place Akron natives appreciate when dinner plans stretch into the night. It’s part deli, part bar, part pizzeria and when you combine all parts, you get something that’s deliciously eclectic. The moment you step inside you notice the long menu, the mix of folks, from post-work crowd to late-night wings seekers and the vibe that says “whatever your craving, we’ve likely got it.” Tables, bar seats, loud laughs and an energy that keeps going well into the evening.
Their pizza options are surprisingly broad and fun. You’ll find classic build-your-own pies alongside specialty pizzas like BBQ Chicken, Meat Lovers, Hawaiian, Philly Cheesesteak, and California Veggie, among others. Prices are friendly especially considering it’s open late and offers lots of shareable sides (jo-jo potatoes, wings, fried ravioli) so you can turn dinner into a full night out.
Why We Picked It: Mr. Zub’s is that dependable spot for when you want more than just pizza when you want pizza and wings and something bold, all late at night. It’s great for casual hangouts, unexpected cravings, and feeding a friend-group with mixed tastes.
Insider’s Tip: Order a medium specialty pie and a side or two of their jo-jo potatoes so you’ve got variety without overdoing it. Also try to hit them during happy hour or before the bar fills up, it’s quieter and service is quicker.
Mr. Zub’s Deli & Bar
795 W Market St
Akron, OH 44303
(330) 252-0272
www.mrzubs.com
Final Slice: Pick a Pie, Taste the Story
Pizza is more than dinner, it’s community, tradition, flavor, and joy baked into crust. These Akron pizzerias represent the city’s heart, showing how a slice can carry both bold and familiar in equal measure. The best choice depends on the moment: whether craving something comforting, something daring, or something meant for sharing.
Which of these pizzas will fill the next table or brighten the next night? Pick according to flavor, setting, or mood. Every one of these spots has something unique to offer.
