Two Maryland pizzerias are once again being recognized among the best in the country, with both moving up on the newly released 2026 50 Top Pizza USA list.
Baltimore’s Angeli’s climbed from #47 to #44, while Gaithersburg’s Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana moved up from #21 to #20, continuing its steady rise on the nationally recognized rankings.
50 Top Pizza, an esteemed pizza evaluation site based in Paestum, Italy, near Naples, is known for its anonymous inspections and independent reviews. Inspectors pay for meals in full to ensure unbiased evaluations, and the annual rankings are widely regarded as one of the pizza world’s most respected honors.
Inferno Pizzeria Napoletana has now improved its ranking for five consecutive years, previously placing #25 in 2022, #23 in 2023, #22 in 2024, #21 in 2025, and now cracking the Top 20 in 2026.
Located at 12207 Darnestown Road in Gaithersburg, Inferno has become one of Maryland’s most sought-after dining destinations since opening in October 2015 by Chef Tony Conte following his tenure at DC’s Oval Room. While the restaurant is nationally known for its Neapolitan pizza, many regulars praise its appetizers and rotating specials just as highly.
Inferno currently operates Wednesday through Saturday from 5pm to 9pm, or until the dough runs out, which is not uncommon. Diners often line up before opening to secure a table, while call-ahead carryout orders are typically accepted earlier in the afternoon for pickup beginning at 5pm.
Meanwhile, Angeli’s continues to build on its growing national reputation in Baltimore’s Little Italy neighborhood. The restaurant debuted on the 50 Top Pizza list in 2025 at #47 before moving up three spots this year.
Angeli’s originally began in New Orleans in 1986 before eventually relocating to Baltimore. The family-owned restaurant describes itself as a small eatery focused on serving fresh, made-to-order food while maintaining a welcoming, neighborhood atmosphere.
Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the original New Orleans operation closed, but the family later revived the concept in Baltimore, bringing the same spirit and recipes to Little Italy.
The restaurant also received additional recognition last year after being named Maryland’s top New York-style pizza spot by The Washington Post.
With both restaurants moving up in the rankings once again, Maryland continues to strengthen its reputation as an unexpectedly elite pizza destination.
