13 Hidden Florida Restaurants With Pizza That’s Seriously Delicious

Florida is famous for its sunshine and sandy beaches, but buried beneath the tourist spots are some pizza joints that locals guard like secret treasures.
These hidden gems aren’t just places to grab a slice — they serve up pies with crusts so crispy and toppings so fresh, you might forget you’re not in New York.
If you’re ready to go off the beaten path and discover Florida’s best-kept pizza secrets, get ready for a cheesy adventure that’s anything but ordinary.
1. Mister O1 Pizza (Miami Beach & multiple locations)

Star-shaped pizza? Yes, please! Mister O1’s claim to fame is their extraordinary star-point crust design that cradles ricotta cheese in each pocket.
Founded by an Italian master pizzaiolo who earned an O-1 visa (reserved for ‘extraordinary ability’) just to bring his pizza genius to America.
The thin, crispy crust achieves that perfect balance of chew and crackle. Don’t miss their Margherita with burrata—it’s simple perfection that’ll transport you straight to Naples without the jetlag.
2. The Underground Pizza (Palm Beach Gardens)

Blink and you’ll miss this basement-level gem tucked away in a Palm Beach Gardens strip mall.
The Underground Pizza earned its name literally—you’ll descend a small staircase to pizza paradise where New York-style pies reign supreme.
Owned by transplanted Brooklynites, they import water from NYC because they swear it’s the secret to authentic crust.
Their ‘Godfather’ pizza, loaded with every Italian meat imaginable, has developed a cult following. Locals know to call ahead—these pies sell out fast!
3. Prohibition Pizza (High Springs)

Moonshine and mozzarella make magic at this Prohibition-era themed pizzeria near Gainesville.
Housed in a restored 1920s building that once allegedly served as a speakeasy, the owners embrace the bootlegger vibe with vintage decor and pizzas named after famous gangsters.
Their sourdough crust ferments for 72 hours, creating bubbles that char perfectly in their wood-fired oven.
Try the ‘Capone’—topped with locally-sourced sausage, honey, and spicy chili oil. The password to the ‘secret’ dessert menu? Just wink at your server.
4. Gianni’s Pizza (Hudson)

Family recipes from three generations of Sicilians create pizza magic at this unassuming Gulf Coast spot. Grandpa Gianni’s picture watches over the tiny kitchen where his grandson still hand-tosses every pie.
The sauce—oh, that sauce!—simmers for eight hours with secret ingredients the family refuses to divulge.
Their signature square Sicilian slice weighs nearly a pound and requires two plates. Regulars swear by the clam pie, an unexpected Florida twist on an Italian classic.
5. Local Pizza (St. Petersburg)

Farm-to-table meets fire-kissed dough at this St. Pete hotspot where the menu changes weekly based on what’s fresh at nearby farms.
The owners, a husband-wife duo who met in culinary school, abandoned corporate chef gigs to pursue pizza perfection.
Their cornmeal-dusted crust provides the canvas for Florida’s bounty—think arugula picked that morning and Gulf shrimp caught hours before hitting your pie.
The restaurant’s tiny footprint (just six tables!) means reservations are harder to score than Bucs playoff tickets.
6. Pizza 14 (Windermere area)

Mathematicians will appreciate that Pizza 14’s name isn’t random—the owners calculated the perfect ratio of sauce to cheese using the first digits of pi (3.14).
This science-meets-culinary-art approach yields consistently magnificent pies from their copper-plated ovens.
Located in a converted gas station with mismatched furniture and string lights, the ambiance screams ‘quirky charm.’ Their pesto base with roasted mushrooms and truffle oil has converted many a red sauce loyalist.
Pro tip: order the off-menu ‘Einstein’—a pizza so complex it requires signing a non-disclosure agreement.
7. Dolce Salato Pizza & Gelato (Fort Lauderdale/Wilton Manors)

Sweet meets savory at this Italian husband-wife operation where homemade gelato and pizza coexist in delicious harmony.
The couple, both born in Naples, argue playfully about whose family recipe reigns supreme—his pizza or her gelato.
The Roman-style pizza is served ‘al taglio’ (by the cut) with scissors, allowing you to decide your portion size.
Their signature fig, prosciutto and gorgonzola slice pairs perfectly with a scoop of their balsamic strawberry gelato for dessert. The tiny shop has no sign—just look for the line of locals stretching down the block.
8. Ah-Beetz New Haven Pizza (Delray Beach)

Connecticut transplants rejoice! Authentic New Haven-style ‘apizza’ (pronounced ‘ah-beetz’ by those in the know) landed in South Florida when a Yale grad couldn’t find proper coal-fired thin crust after moving south.
The blackened, slightly charred crust achieves that perfect chewy-crispy contradiction that defines New Haven style.
White clam pie—fresh littlenecks, garlic, olive oil, no sauce—transports Nutmeggers back home instantly.
The owner’s collection of vintage Connecticut license plates decorates walls while Frank Sinatra plays perpetually overhead.
9. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (Delray Beach)

Pizza royalty arrived in Florida when this legendary New Haven institution (operating since 1925!) opened its first Sunshine State location.
The coal-fired ovens were built using bricks from the original Connecticut shop, ensuring that distinctive smoky flavor survives the southern migration.
Their white clam pizza—invented by Frank himself—remains the must-order item.
The pies emerge irregularly shaped with that signature char that pizza aficionados travel hundreds of miles to experience. Expect a wait, but also expect pizza that will ruin all other pizzas for you forever.
10. Madison Avenue Pizza (Dunedin)

Forget what you know about strip mall pizza joints. This Dunedin treasure, wedged between a laundromat and a vape shop, serves what locals passionately defend as the best NY-style pizza outside the five boroughs.
The owner, a third-generation pizzaiolo from Brooklyn, ships in water from New York weekly (seriously). His dough ferments for three days before being hand-tossed to that perfect thin-yet-foldable consistency.
The plain cheese slice—massive, greasy in all the right ways, with that signature orange oil—proves sometimes simplicity wins the pizza game.
11. Satchel’s Pizza (Gainesville)

Pizza served in a vintage VW microbus? Only at Satchel’s, Gainesville’s beloved eccentric pizza institution where the waiting area includes a junk museum and gift shop selling employee-made crafts.
The deep-dish style crust comes topped with their signature slightly-sweet tomato sauce that locals either passionately love or vehemently hate—there’s no middle ground.
The salad dressing alone has a cult following, with bottles sold to-go. Cash only, no reservations, and absolutely worth the inevitable hour-long wait for a table in the van.
12. Pizza Time (St. Augustine)

Voted #2 pizza in the entire country by TripAdvisor users (a fact the owners mention approximately every 30 seconds), this Historic District staple brings proper Brooklyn-style pizza to America’s oldest city.
The tiny counter-service spot features photos of famous visitors alongside handwritten notes from satisfied tourists.
Their signature ‘Upside Down’ pie puts cheese directly on the dough with sauce on top—blasphemy to some, revelation to others.
The garlic knots, drenched in enough butter and garlic to ward off vampires for eternity, are mandatory starters.
13. Mellow Mushroom (multiple Florida locations)

Don’t let the chain status fool you—this groovy pizza institution started as a single hippie hangout in 1974 and maintains its funky soul despite expansion.
Each Florida location features unique psychedelic art and sculptures you won’t find anywhere else.
The stone-baked crust, made with Appalachian spring water and molasses, creates a distinctively sweet foundation for creative toppings.
Their ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ pie with pesto base, mushrooms, feta, and jalapeños has converted countless pizza traditionalists.
The trippy atmosphere and extensive beer selection make this a perfect post-beach pizza pilgrimage.