Madison Food Guide: The best pizza

It’s not terribly difficult to locate a pizza parlor, but it can be incredibly difficult to find a quality pie that blends a pillowy crust, tangy tomato sauce, and gooey mozzarella. Of course, you might want to find a pie that is a little out there, more untraditional. Well, the votes have been cast for our 2025 Madison Food Guide, and we’ve found the four best pizza places in Madison for you to try.

Sugar River Pizza

Sugar River Pizza is an ultimate Madison favorite. Their pizzas are innovative and their house made ranch is recommended by the restaurant’s most loyal visitors. You can build your own pizza or try one of their specialty pies. If you go the specialty route, the Mac N’ Cheese is the way to go. This pie is often recommended by regulars. However, you can’t go wrong 

Salvatore’s 

Salvatore’s won Best Pizza in 2024, and it’s back on our list for 2025. Chef Patrick is clearly doing something right. Coming from an Italian American immigrant family, Chef Patrick’s restaurant is an homage to his grandfather, and his pizza is a reflection of his Italian heritage intermingling with Wisconsin’s finest cheeses. Salvatore’s Jersey-Style pizza boasts local ingredients and patrons love the texture of the thin crust. 

Glass Nickel Pizza Co.

With nearly thirty years of experience and eleven different locations, Glass Nickel Pizza Co. has been determined to achieve “Best Pizza” status. Since opening their original location, Glass Nickel has made their dough fresh and chopped their veggies daily. They seek to use local ingredients, specifically Wisconsin cheese, and they’re proud that all of their Glass Nickel locations are owned and operated by previous employees. If you’re not sure where to start with their menu, the Thai Pie is one of their most highly recommended items.

Pizza Brutta

Using local ingredients from Wisconsin and the nearby region, Pizza Brutta aims to make the best Neapolitan-style pizza. Best known for their woodfired margherita pizza, Pizza Brutta is a casual neighborhood spot where locals love to visit after a stop at the free zoo. With fresh ingredients and a perfectly chewy crust, it’s not hard to imagine why Pizza Brutta is voted as one of the Best Pizza places in Madison.

READ MORE: The best cheese shops in Madison, according to our readers