Pizza is an essential part of any college student’s diet. Luckily, Harvard Square has every type of pizza you could imagine and more. Recently, Boston has been considered one of the top cities for pizza across the United States, and Harvard Square is no exception. From thin-crust ravioli slices at OTTO to thick classic Sicilian slices at Pinocchio’s, Harvard Square has endless options to satisfy any pizza craving.
To simplify the process of searching for prime pizza spots on Harvard’s campus, here is a list of some of the best finds.
Pinocchio’s Pizza
A unique corner spot that has been around since 1966, Pinocchio’s, or more commonly “Nochs,” is known for its deliciously fluffy and thick Sicilian slices. Famous for celebrity sightings, Nochs has seen the likes of Steve Carell and Mark Zuckerberg in addition to having been mentioned on the TV show Suits. Though widely renowned, Nochs remains a neighborhood gem loved by Harvard students as well as the surrounding Cambridge community. Topping all late-night pizza spots, Nochs is the most popular destination for midnight munchies. With its late-night closing times, you’ll find students packed inside waiting for a fresh warm slice in the wee hours. In addition to pizza, Nochs offers bob subs that you can’t miss out on, especially the meatball sub.
Address: 74 Winthrop Street, Cambridge, MA
Hours: Mon-Thurs 11am-1am, Fri-Sat 11am-2:30am, Sun 1pm-12am
OTTO
Born in Portland, Maine, OTTO is your destination for finding the most unique and delicious pizza combinations. A quaint store with only a standing bar inside to eat, OTTO also has tables set up outside on the sidewalk in the warmer months. In addition to the classic cheese and pepperoni slices, OTTO boasts mashed potato and butternut squash ricotta pizza. A universal favorite is their three-cheese tortellini pizza, pictured above. With a crisp, thin crust and adventurous toppings, you can never go wrong at OTTO.
Address: 1432 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA
Hours: Mon-Sun 10:30am-12am
&pizza
A place of endless options, &pizza is home to customizable personal pies. There is a menu of curated combinations, but you can also create your own pizza, taking advantage of their unlimited choices for sauces, cheeses, veggies, proteins, and toppings. Two of the most popular pizzas are the Maverick, which is topped with every type of meat, including pepperoni, Italian sausage, and salami, and the American Honey, which is a spicy salad take on a pepperoni pizza, topped with hot honey, red pepper chili flakes, arugula, and goat cheese. With &pizza’s fast-casual format, you can watch your pizza cook in the oven that flash-bakes your pie within three minutes. &pizza not only has unique pizzas but also serves their homemade craft sodas, &soda, which includes flavors such as mango passion fruit, ginger berry lemonade, and dark cherry cola. In addition to using their website to order, &pizza also has an app that enables customers to order ahead of time for pick up and delivery to any dorm! You can text &pizza at 20003 with any questions, comments, or concerns.
Address: 3 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-9pm, Fri-Sat 11am-10pm
Upper Crust Pizzeria
Some Harvard students have never heard of or been to Upper Crust Pizzeria because of its distance from central campus, but students who live in the quad know how delicious Upper Crust is. Born in Boston in 2001, Upper Crust is a prime pizza joint selling traditional slices. Watch out, though, as their slices are huge! Upper Crust is known for its fresh out-of-the-oven pies, such as the traditional cheese and pepperoni slices in addition to the rotating slice of the day, which are perfect for any college party. To top it off, they also have delicious salads, meatballs, and wings as sides. And you cannot miss out on the cheezy bread!
Address: 1782 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11am-11p
Whether you’re a Harvard student or a tourist passing through the Square, keep this list of the best pizza on Harvard’s campus in your back pocket so you can always have a slice on-call.
For more of the best of Harvard Square, check out:
∙ Best Desserts in Harvard Square
∙ The Handy Harvard Hotlist: Hot Chocolate
∙ The Best Coffee Shops for Studying in Cambridge
∙ 7 of the Most Loved Coffee Shops in the Greater Boston Area