5 best pizza places in Gainesville area 

Ask people in Gainesville where the best pizza is and you are bound to hear a different answer from each one. With endless options, styles and toppings, it can be hard to choose a favorite.  

Here are the top five best places to grab a slice in Gainesville (and the surrounding area).  

Scuola Pizza  

Still rather new to the Gainesville food scene, Scuola Pizza opened in March of 2021. The owners moved from Greece to Gainesville and started a restaurant that mixes European cuisines. However, pizza is Scuola’s bestselling item, and for good reason.  

The dough is made in house with fresh ingredients and flame baked. Reviews rave about how the pizza is light, crispy and boasts a tangy and flavorful sauce.  

Fan favorites are the Scuola Pizza, topped with pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, mushrooms, onions, bell peppers or Big Nick’s Pie, which is Frank’s Buffalo Sauce, ranch, chicken and bacon for a less traditional take.  

• Location: 5240 NW 34th Blvd, Suite A 
• Hours: 4-9 p.m. Sun., closed Mon., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tues.-Thur., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat 

Satchel’s Pizza  

It seems since Satchel’s Pizza first opened its doors in 2003 it has been in everyone’s top five for pizza in Gainesville. Named on our date night list, Satchel’s combines artisanal pizza and fun like no one else.  

For the full Satchel’s experience order the pan pizza, which is soft on the inside and has caramelized edges. You can customize your order with over 35 ingredients, including vegan and vegetarian options.   

• Location: 1800 NE 23rd Ave.   
• Hours: 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Tues.-Sat. 

V Pizza  

Since its inception in Jacksonville in 2014, V Pizza has brought a taste of Italy to Florida.  

The pizza is a traditional Italian style made with sourced Italian ingredients. Even the brick pizza ovens that V Pizza uses are shipped in from Italy. The results? A crispy (slightly burnt) quality pizza.  

V Pizza also has a special pizza of the week that alternates on new creations submitted from the team.  

• Location: 115 SE 1st St. 
• Hours: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sun., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-12 a.m. Fri.-Sat.  

Blue Highway Pizzeria 

Blue Highway Pizzeria started in Micanopy and has since opened another location in Tioga Town Center in Jonesville.  

The restaurants have a large following. Blue Highway uses organic and local ingredients when the two are available, and the pizzeria offers gluten free and vegetarian options.  

Choose from a variety of house-made sauces and fresh ingredients on a build your own pizza or pick one of the pre-selected options that range from classics like margarita to creative options like scampi pizza (Garlic butter, mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano, fontina, shrimp, roasted shallots, parsley).  

Micanopy location: 204 NE US Highway 441 

• Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Sun.-Mon., closed Tues., 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Wed.-Thur., 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Fri.-Sat.  

Tioga location: 13005 SW 1st Rd.  

• Hours: 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Mon.-Wed., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thur.-Sun. 

Peppino’s Pizza and Pasta 

For a taste of authentic New York pizza, try Peppino’s, a small family-owned business. The owner is from Queens and brings over 17 years of restaurant experience.  

All of the dough is made in house daily, and Peppino’s uses the freshest ingredients. The results? Reviews rave about the authentic New York pizza flavor with some saying its better than a New York or New Jersey slice.  

Try Joe’s Favorite, based on the owner’s preferences for the perfect slice, which includes bacon, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, fresh basil and ricotta cheese.  

• Location: 3731 West University Ave. 
• Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Sun., closed Mon., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tue.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri.-Sat.