Brought to Boulder by Frasca Food and Wine owners Bobby Stuckey and Lachlan MacKinnon-Patterson, Locale is a contemporary pizzeria inspired by the regional flavors and traditions of Napoli, Italy. The pies are a must but don't miss the small plates and desserts like the creamy, Budino, a butterscotch pudding.

Pizzeria da Lupo is run by Jim Cohen, a James Beard Foundation nominee who hails from New York. This casual eatery offers affordable ($10-15 per pie), crispy crust, artisan pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. When you enter the small shop, it makes you feel like you’re in a version of your Italian Grandmother’s kitchen, with exposed brick and photos of Italian families and heirlooms lining the wall.

Nestled off the beaten path in East Boulder within the Peloton Building sits Pizzeria Basta. Inspired by Naples, chef-owner Kelly Whitaker builds his hand-tossed pies with domestic flour topped with local ingredients, some of which he grows right on the restaurant patio. His 1000 degree oven is the source for all they cook there, with no stove tops or fryers. You can find a carefully curated, seasonal beverage and wine list, making for the perfect pizza and beverage combo.

Lucky Pie Pizza and Taphouse’s original location is in Old Town Louisville, just up the way from Boulder; there is a second location in downtown Denver. Owner Brendan McManus ensures the pizzas are topped with unique, creative combinations - think: acorn squash puree and fig gastrique. The pies are baked in a handmade brick oven. Try one of the seasonal antipasti and one of the many local beers on tap.

Beau Jo's Pizza is known for its classic Colorado Style Mountain Pie. With multiple locations around the state, the pie shop dishes this thick, deep-dish like pizza alongside honey for dipping the pizza "bones." The Colorado 14er, another specialty pie, was featured on Pizza Paradise on The Travel Channel.

Abo's Pizza has been offering New York style pizza for 30 years, starting first in Boulder and growing to 13 locations around Colorado. Abo's dough is made fresh daily, with a thin crust and that notorious large slice loved by college students and families alike.

Cosmo's Pizza is a well-loved, casual pizzeria with locations around Colorado's front range. Popular with the late night crowd, Cosmo's is open everyday until 2 a.m. Insider tip: order the famous spicy ranch alongside your slice.