Best Italian & Pizza in the Smokies

The Smokies corridor runs roughly 35 miles from Cherokee on the North Carolina side to Gatlinburg on the Tennessee side, with the national park occupying everything in between. Both towns have Italian restaurants worth a stop, but the right choice depends on which side of the park you're finishing the day on.

The six picks on this list split across both gateways: Anthony's and Brio are in Cherokee; Best Italian Cafe, Big Daddy's, Taste of Italy, and The Crazy Italian Eatery are all in Gatlinburg. Visitors entering via Oconaluftee on the North Carolina side will find Cherokee's options the more practical dinner stop. On the Tennessee side, all four Gatlinburg picks sit within walking distance of the main strip.

A few practical things before you go:

• Gatlinburg gets genuinely congested from late spring through October, and especially during peak leaf season. Arriving before 5:30 pm or after 8:30 pm cuts wait times significantly at the walk-in-only spots.
• Cherokee is considerably calmer, which makes Anthony's and Brio easier options when Gatlinburg crowd levels are a concern.
• Big Daddy's wood-fired brick oven sets it apart on cooking method alone — the clear pick if pizza is the priority rather than pasta.
• Best Italian Cafe's New York-style pizza is the choice for something closer to a proper city slice.

All six restaurants are priced in the $$ range, consistent mid-range for Smokies gateway towns. Reservations generally aren't available at the Gatlinburg locations; during peak season, waits of 20 minutes or more on weekend evenings are normal.

The list is ranked. The top picks represent the strongest overall options; if location or timing rules those out, the rest of the list holds.