From beloved traditions that stand the test of time to legends in the making, Iowa City knows pizza and knows how to do it well.
From chewy wood-fired crust to no frills, Iowa City has it all no matter the occasion, whether it is game day, a night out on town for a celebration or something that is satisfying on a night you can’t be bothered to cook.
Here are five Iowa City pizza spots that bring their own personality to the table.
A & A Pagliai’s
Pagliai’s Pizza is such a staple that the City of Iowa City made its building a landmark. Now a part of the National Hall, Slezak-Holub Complex, Pagliai’s is an Iowa City tradition. For more than 60 years, Pagliai’s has been turning out no-fuss handcrafted pizzas with thin, crispy crusts that are baked in a traditional stone hearth. The standard single crust offers a satisfying crunch, while a double crust option is available for customers who prefer a thicker bite. Diners can see the pizzas being made while they wait in the din of the cozy dining room.
Details: 302 E. Bloomington St., Iowa City, 319-351-5073, pagliaisic.com
The Wedge
The Wedge is quintessentially Iowa City, and since its return to downtown Iowa City in 2025, it has become a part of the rhythm of the downtown corridor despite its history of serving Iowa City for more than 25 years when it first opened in 1999 on Riverside Drive.
The local spot opened a second storefront in 2008 in the Pedestrian Mall, which ultimately closed in 2016 to make way for MERGE. Offering single slices and whole pies with original or thin crusts made with a blend of semolina and whole wheat flour, The Wedge offers a variety of pizzas, from its spin on classic flavors with the Red Barron to the inventive flavors of The Nutcracker, a mix of mozzarella, Parmesan, gorgonzola and fontina cheeses, sprinkled with pistachios and roasted peppers, and topped off with The Wedge’s house basil pesto.
Details: 113 Iowa Ave., Iowa City, thewedgepizza.com or 319-337-6677
Wig and Pen Pizza Pub
While Chicago is best known for its deep dish pizza, the next best thing might be Wig and Pen’s take on the Chicago-Style pizza. Straddling the city limits of Iowa City and Coralville, Wig and Pen makes its rendition of the classic style with two layers of homemade pizza crust and toppings covered in a layer of sweet marinara, or customers can try it flying tomato pan-style with Italian sauce and shredded mozzarella, topped with slices of fresh tomato. For those not keen on deep dish or pan style, Wig and Pen also offers a thin crust for all its classic pies along with build-your-own varieties.
Details: 220 US-6, Iowa City, 319-354-2767, wigandpenpizza.com
Maggie’s Farm Wood-fired Pizza
What started as a family tradition to share a love of farm-fresh produce and the craft of wood-fired pizza has now turned into one of the Iowa City corridor’s top dining destinations. Maggie’s leans into local ingredients, such as mushrooms and house-made basil pesto, to bring a fresh influence on the Italian classic. Maggie’s serves a traditional Neapolitan-style wood-fired pizza, made using Italian “00” flour and baked at a very high heat (around 900 degrees) in a wood-fired oven, yielding a smoky, slightly doughy and authentic Napoli-inspired crust. From seasonal pizza varieties to mainstay classics like classic pepperoni to the soppressata, Maggie’s has big energy.
Details: 1308 Melrose Ave., Iowa City, 319-351-4588, maggiesfarmpizza.com
Stella
Just steps away from Kinnick Stadium, Stella might not be the first place that comes to mind when diners are craving pizza. Don’t be fooled; the longstanding contemporary Cajun restaurant turns it out when it comes to pizza. From classics like the Margherita pizza to the full works of the Italian pizza that is topped with sausage, bacon, roasted red peppers and mozzarella to more inventive pies like Southwestern pizza that is dressed with black beans, tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, red onions and mozzarella, there is a pie for all palates at Stella.
Details: 1006 Melrose Ave., Iowa City, 319-887-5564, facebook.com/iowacitystella
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Five locally owned Iowa City pizza spots defining the dining scene
Reporting by Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jessica Rish, Iowa City Press-Citizen | USA TODAY Network
