Looking for quality pizza in downtown State College?
State College pizza hasn’t always been something to rave about, but some recent additions have made a huge impact on what downtown has to offer.
After trying six different locations, I was honestly impressed with how much the quality of pizza has improved since my freshman year in 2022, when the options were sparse.
6. Canyon Pizza
Canyon was the first pizza I tried when I arrived at Penn State — great after a long night out, and very inexpensive. But indoor seating is unavailable; Canyon is exclusively a take-out only establishment.
I ordered a slice of cheese pizza, and it was alright, but I did really enjoy the Cheese Stix and would recommend selecting those instead if you dare to frequent Canyon.
Canyon Pizza on Beaver Avenue in State College, Pa. on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2022.
Nick Eickhoff
5. Fresh Bite
Known for their Detroit-style deep dish pizza, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Fresh Bite.
With limited indoor seating offered, Fresh Bite is the perfect takeout option for watching a Sunday football game.
Notably, Fresh Bite does a great job with its crust and makes sure it is firm enough so the center of the pizza is not soft, and the marinara sauce is particularly flavorful.
4. Margarita’s Pizzeria
This hidden gem has such a quintessential pizza shop atmosphere to it, with its red booth seats and large table tops. The pizza itself did not disappoint.
I tried the cheese pizza and genuinely enjoyed it, various spices were utilized on top of the pizza, which added to its overall flavor.
The crust was perfectly cooked and had a surprisingly good taste to it. I would definitely recommend stopping by.
A sign outside Margarita’s Pizzeria and Italian Cuisine on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023 in State College, Pa.
Tyler Mantz
3. SNAP Custom Pizza
SNAP features custom pizzas and salads, as well as specific curated orders customers can choose from.
I personally love the Kennett Square Pizza (named after my hometown), which is a white pizza featuring mushrooms, truffle oil, baby arugula and goat cheese.
Perfect for curating a pizza to your specific taste, SNAP offers a large variety of toppings, and with its large amount of indoor and outdoor seating it’s a great place to visit with friends.
The signature pizza menu board at Snap Pizza on Sunday April 27, 2025 in State College, Pa.
2. Doggie’s Pizza
For the first time this semester, I tried Doggie’s Pizza attached to Doggie’s Pub, and I immediately loved it. I tried the pepperoni and cheese slices and thought both were delicious.
There is a mild, slightly spicy essence in the sauce which gives the pizza an added layer of flavor.
Personally, my favorite is the pepperoni — it’s usually crispy and well-baked, which gives a slight crunch when you bite into the pizza. However, unless you enter Doggie’s Pub, there is no seating available at their pizza establishment.
1. Giuseppe’s Pizzeria by Brothers
Hands down, my absolute favorite pizza place in downtown State College. So far, I have tried the white-veggie, plain cheese and the buffalo chicken.
The buffalo chicken is delicious and I cannot recommend it enough. It has a slight kick of spice to it while also having a creamy sauce drizzled on top that evens it out.
With plenty of dine-in seating, Giuseppe’s is perfect for sitting, staying and enjoying.
MORE BLOGS
Time for some coffee talk.
If you’re interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here.
Submit
Dining and Cooking