Attention: Hot Springs, Arkansas, Is a Pizza Haven

This article first appeared in the April 14, 2023, issue of Dinogo Travel, a biweekly newsletter from Dinogo’s team about exploring destinations where food takes center stage. Subscribe today.

From the early 1900s to the 1950s, Hot Springs, Arkansas, was a hotspot for baseball players, wealthy patrons seeking spa treatments, presidents named Roosevelt or Truman, and gangsters involved in illegal betting and bootlegging.

I visited expecting to enjoy nature and the thermal springs at bathhouse row, which I did. What I didn’t anticipate was being amazed by the local pizza scene. But that’s exactly what happened.

The standout pizza experience was an unexpected discovery, not part of our initial plans. After a 102-degree soak and the best massage of our lives, my travel companion noticed a local magazine in the Quapaw Bathhouse’s waiting area featuring Deluca’s Pizzeria as one of the top dining spots in town. Coming from Dallas, where I edit Dinogo Dallas, I mistakenly thought we needed to reserve a table — which turned out to be unnecessary as they don’t accept reservations. However, we were advised about the crucial reservation to make: the restaurant prepares a limited amount of dough each day, closing once it runs out. Reserving our dough ensured we would actually get to enjoy a pizza.

The reservation was definitely worthwhile. The crust was light, reminiscent of New York style, and baked in a brick oven at high temperatures. Ours had those desirable charred bits. We chose a pizza that was half Sarah Meadows, topped with garlic, chili flakes, oregano, and basil, and half adorned with seasonal vegetables like arugula, peppadews, and jalapeños. The owner, Anthony Valinoti, opened the restaurant a decade ago after years in Brooklyn, where he fell in love with New York pizza, and later in Vegas, Miami, and California, where he struggled to find a good substitute. Upon arriving in Hot Springs, he decided to create that substitute himself, naming the restaurant after his grandfather.

Deluca’s new location has a unique charm (it moved to a larger space next door earlier this year): Elizabeth Taylor and Eddie Fisher’s bar. This striking bar area in the corner of the restaurant invites patrons to enjoy a beer, cocktail, or even a whole pizza. It was a gift from James Beard Award-winning chef John Currence, adding an extra layer of ambiance to this surprisingly fantastic pizzeria, steeped in a town rich with glamorous history.

Before leaving town, we visited SQZBX Brewery & Pizza, located in a former piano repair shop just down the street. After discovering pizza perfection at Deluca’s, we were eager to see if we’d strike gold again — and we did. We shared cheesy garlic knots made with a fluffy crust and topped with crispy, oven-baked cheese, evoking a Detroit-style feel. The Greek salad was spot on (the restaurant’s decorated with old musical instruments, so I couldn’t resist a pun), and a veggie sub on a soft, house-made roll had the perfect balance of filling to bread. A bottle of local Mountain Valley Spring Water completed our delightful lunch in Hot Springs.