New York pizza is a sacred thing, so we took coming up with a list of the best pizza in NYC very, very seriously, and we don't think you'll be disappointed.
Claire Leaden - Editor•
Good pizza is no joke! From traditional Neapolitan-style pies to pizzerias that put an Italian-American twist on the classics, these are our go-to spots for the absolute best pizza in NYC to visit when you’re itching for a slice.
*Note: the numbers on this list do not rank quality!
1. Di Fara Pizza, Midwood
If you love Lucali, you have to check out where Iacono learned some of his signature pizza-making techniques, Di Fara. This old-school joint was opened by Italian immigrant Domenico De Marco, better known as “Dom,” in 1965 in Brooklyn and is still family owned and operated. This was also one of Anthony Bourdain’s favorite New York picks!
What We Recommend: Square Pie
📍 1424 Ave J
2. Patsy’s Pizzeria, Turtle Bay/UWS
One of NYC’s premier brick-oven pizzerias, Pasquale Lancieri opened his first pizza shop in Harlem in 1933 (though his pies can trace their origins back even farther to the Lower East Side). Often credited with inventing the New York slice itself, the shop with locations in Turtle Bay and the Upper West Side is now owned by the fourth generation of family pizza-makers.
What We Recommend: Old School Round Pie
📍 801 2nd Ave. (Turtle Bay), 61 W 74th St. (UWS)
3. L’Industrie Pizzeria, Williamsburg & West Village
Many New Yorkers will claim that L’Industrie Pizzeria in Brooklyn has the best pizza in NYC, particularly in Williamsburg, and if not the whole borough. Thanks to their fresh ingredients directly imported from Italy, along with their signature dough fermentation process, everything is as fresh as it gets! Their red pizzas are great here but they also have yummy white pizzas too, like the white truffle pizza. They also recently opened a West Village location too.
What We Recommend: Signature Burrata pizza
📍 Williamsburg – 254 S 2nd St
📍 West Village – 104 Christopher St
4. Joe’s Pizza, Greenwich Village
Joe’s Pizza has been a Greenwich Village institution since 1975. The original owner Joe Pozzuoli from Naples, Italy still runs the pizza shop. It’s been named the “best authentic slice” in NYC by multiple media outlets (GQ, New York Magazine, LIVE! with Regis and Kelly and more!).
What We Recommend: Keep it simple–plain cheese or fresh mozzarella
📍 7 Carmine St. (though there are now multiple locations throughout the city, see here)
5. Prince Street Pizza, SoHo
Prince Street’s famous “SoHo Square” slice with tiny, thick slices of pepperoni was a viral trend, but also one that rightfully lives up to the hype. This pizza has the perfect ratio of doughy to crunchy to sweet to spicy (it does have a kick!). But expect to wait on a very long line, especially on the weekends or during lunch time.
What We Recommend: SoHo Square Pepperoni
📍 27 Prince St A
6. John’s of Bleecker St., West Village
John’s of Bleecker was started by Italian immigrant John Sasso way back in 1929, arguably one of the first pizzas joints in NYC (and the country!). It moved locations in 1954 and has since had different owners, but is still run by a family. You have to get a full pie (no slices), but its coal-fired brick oven method is what makes it so famous. It’s also a sit-down restaurant, not one of the usual eat-a-slice-while-standing-outside joints like a lot of the other NY pizza spots.
What We Recommend: Ricotta/basil pie
📍 278 Bleecker St.
7. Lucali, Carroll Gardens
You can often find chef/owner Mark Iacono slinging pies at this coveted pizza spot in Brooklyn. Known for delectable thin-crust pies and BYOB attitude, it’s been rated the “best pizza in NYC” again and again. Since it’s walk-in only be prepared to WAIT, especially on a weekend.
Hey, if it’s good enough for Jay-Z, it’s good enough for us.
*Cash only
What We Recommend: Both the pizza and the calzone (those are your only choices, with a few toppings selections)
📍 575 Henry St.
8. Paulie Gee’s, Greenpoint
Though you can visit its slice shop right down the street, it’s best to get the full experience by sitting down at Paulie Gee’s and getting a pie piping hot out of their legendary wood-fired ovens in Brooklyn. There are endless options for pies (from the Marcella Matriciana to the Ricky Ricotta)–just get there early because there’s always a line when it opens right at 5 p.m.!
What We Recommend: Hellboy® (can never say no to hot honey!)
📍 60 Greenpoint Ave.
9. Lombardi’s, Little Italy
Known as “America’s first pizzeria,” Lombardi’s is as much of a U.S. institution as it is a New York one. What began in 1905 by Napolitan immigrant Gennaro Lombardi is still a Little Italy staple, promising “smoky-crusted coal oven baked pizza, topped with purist tomato sauce, fresh whole milk mozzarella, and basil.”
*Cash only
What We Recommend: Meatball slice or Margherita with pepperoni
📍 32 Spring St.
10. Zero Otto Nove, The Bronx
Zero Otto Nove is located in the “Little Italy of the Bronx,” Arthur Avenue. Known for its brick-oven pizzas and homemade pastas, you’ll definitely get a taste of Napoli from Salerno-born owner Roberto Paciullo. They don’t take reservations so you may (very likely will) have to wait! In the warm weather, the outdoor courtyard will have you feeling like you’ve traveled to Italy midday. Fun fact: it’s named after the area code of the owner’s hometown.
They also have locations in Flatiron and Westchester.
What We Recommend: Classic Margherita
📍 2357 Arthur Ave, The Bronx
11. Ribalta, Union Square
Ribalta is another truly authentic Neopolitan pizza restaurant. They import all of their ingredients directly from Italy, and “only use the mixture of flours for pizza certified by the Italian flour mill ‘Le 5 Stagioni’ and the natural yeast coming from Italy, which makes the pizza light and easy to digest,” according to their website. They also have gluten-free and vegan options.
What We Recommend: The “DOC”
📍 48 E 12th St.
12. L&B Spumoni Gardens, Bensonhurst
This is a very particular style of pizza that originated in Brooklyn, with an emphasis on the sauce! L&B style is almost a pizza in reverse: they layer the mozzarella cheese first on the dough so it’s under the homemade tomato sauce. It started as a horse-and-wagon operation in 1939, and now is an iconic brick-and-mortar in Brooklyn (with a second location in DUMBO).
What We Recommend: The classic L&B Sicilian slice
📍 2725 86th St, Brooklyn
13. Rubirosa, Nolita
More Italian-American than Italian, Rubirosa was created by the son of Giuseppe Pappalardo, who founded Joe & Pat’s on Staten Island. Reservations are highly recommended online here. It’s a bit tight inside, but that just makes it especially cozy, right?
What We Recommend: The TIE DYE™ Pizza (vodka, tomato, pesto, fresh mozzarella)
📍 235 Mulberry St.
14. Fumo, Harlem
Head uptown for a cozy atmosphere and delicious brick oven pizza right across the street from City College. Lots of candlelight and a gorgeous marble bar add a classy vibe, perfect for date night. And wine bottles are half price on Mondays!
What We Recommend: Vodka pie
📍 1600 Amsterdam Ave.
15. Rizzo’s Fine Pizza
An Astoria staple since 1959, Rizzo’s has been serving up pies like nobody’s business. They’re famous for their original thin crust and they have endless specialty pies, such as Cara Vecchia with mozz, arugula, prosciutto, parmesan, and olive oil, and the Ditta with sausage, mushroom, pepperoni, pesto, bacon, sauce, and mozz.
What We Recommend: Classic square cheese pizza
📍30-13 Steinway St
16. Roberta’s, Bushwick
Roberta’s wood oven pizzas helped make a name for Bushwick, Brooklyn, and has been known as one of the top pizzas in NYC. Their pies are individual and light and pillowy, and meats and salumi are cured in-house.
What We Recommend: For weekend brunch, get the breakfast pizza with drippy egg!
📍 261 Moore St. (see all locations on their website here)
17. Scarr’s Pizza, Lower East Side
Scarr’s was opened by Scarr Pimentel on the Lower East Side in 2016. It quickly grew in popularity and became a staple on the New York pizza scene, getting included on many best-of lists (including ours!) for serving some of the best pizza in NYC. They use 100% all-natural and stone milled flour (done on-site), and you can taste the difference.
What We Recommend: Classic Plain Slice
📍 35 Orchard St
18. Denino’s, Staten Island & Greenwich Village
Denino’s started on Staten Island in 1937, mainly serving as a tavern hangout for dock workers in Port Richmond. It’s grown exponentially in popularity since then, as word of their delicious thin-crust pizza spread. The newer Greenwich Village location is surprisingly just as tasty as the original!
What We Recommend: White Clam Pie
📍 524 Port Richmond Ave. (Staten Island), 93 Macdougal St. (Manhattan)
19. Koronet Pizza, Upper West Side
Koronet’s is known for its jumbo-sized slices, which especially hit the spot after a night out on the town…and when you’re biting into some of the best pizza in NYC why wouldn’t you want your slice to be huge?! It’s open until 2am on weeknights and 4am on weekdays, and each enormous slice only costs around $5.
What We Recommend: Anything that’s ‘jumbo’
📍 2848 Broadway (multiple locations, see all here)
20. Eleven B Pizza, Lower East Side
Come to Eleven B for good old-school New York pizza. The owner Vincent Sgarlato is almost always there, just as he’s been since his family brought their pizza recipe to the Lower East Side almost 50 years ago. There’s an express side just for pizza or a sit-down restaurant side with pastas and more if you have a little more time to spend.
What We Recommend: Sicilian
📍 174 Avenue B
21. Song’ E Napule, SoHo/Greenwich
If you’re looking for the closest thing to Neapolitan pizza from Italy in NYC, Song’ E Napule is your place. It was awarded “Pizzeria of the Year” by Gambero Rosso International, a prestigious Italian food, drink, and travel company. Though their classic margherita pizza is to die for, we adore the Calzone Classico. It’s not the Americanized version of a calzone though, chewy dough overstuffed with cheese. Instead, the folded-over dough is filled with mozzarella (fiordilatte di agerola), spicy salami, ricotta, tomato sauce (san Marzano DOP eccellenze nolane) and basil.
And if you still have room for dessert, you’ve got to try the gigantic Pallone di Maradona overflowing with Nutella.
What We Recommend: Margherita or the Calzone Classico
📍 146 W Houston St.
22. Fini Pizza, Williamsburg
This pizza parlor is still relatively new to the bustling Williamsburg pizza scene, but it’s definitely worth trying out once! Fini is owned by the same person as one of our favorite Italian restaurants, Lilia, so you know the flavors are incredible! You won’t find any outrageously unique types of pizza here, but you can find other nice touches like Italian ice and gelato for dessert!
What We Recommend: Long hot pepper and shallot slice
📍 305 Bedford Ave.
23. Bleecker Street Pizza, West Village
There’s a reason why Bleecker Street Pizza has been recognized as serving some of the best pizza in NYC by the Food Network and New York Times! This cute pizza counter will deliver all of the classics, with a few hidden gems of their own. The Nonna Maria (Thin crust with fresh mozzarella, homemade marinara sauce, the finest Parmesan and fresh basil) and Grandma (Homemade marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, olive oil and fresh garlic on a thick old-world crust) are the best, but everything is tasty.
What We Recommend: Nonna Maria slice
📍 69 7th Ave S
24. Louie & Ernie’s Pizza, The Bronx
Louie & Ernie’s started in 1947 in Harlem, but has been serving the Schuylerville neighborhood of The Bronx since 1959. And this highly coveted pizza spot has made headlines more than once. They cook up delicious pies–with the most mouthwatering doughy and thin crust–and an endless list of calzones, but that’s all you’ll find here.
What We Recommend: White pie and sausage pie
📍 1300 Crosby Ave.
25. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza, Multiple Locations
Since opening their first shop in the East Village back in 2008, owners Fran and Sal have expanded to over 18 locations across the US, and for good reason–they serve some of the best pizza in NYC! No matter what you order here it’ll always be good, but of course we have to recommend their specialty artichoke slice…I mean come on, it’s right in the name!
What We Recommend: Artichoke slice (Artichoke Hearts, Spinach, Cream Sauce, Mozzarella, and Pecorino Romano Cheese)
📍 Find your nearest location here
26. Emmy Squared Pizza, Multiple Locations
Emmy Squared combines New York style grandma pie with Detroit style pizza to create fluffy focaccia-like dough topped with sauces and toppings! There’s multiple locatoins across Brooklyn and Manhattan, making it easy to find one near you. If pizza isn’t your thing, they’re also known for their burgers…which are also cooked to perfection.
What We Recommend: Roni Supreme (red sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, calabrian chili)
📍 Find your nearest location here
27. Speedy Romeo, Clinton Hill
Named after a race horse, this former automotive shop-turned pizza shop is pretty damn good. Their unique pizza combinations will have you trying something new every time, and their kitschy interior makes for a great dining experience.
What We Recommend: Kind Brother (bechamel, wild mushrooms, smoked mozzarella, farm egg, sage)
📍 376 Classon Ave, Brooklyn
See also: 20 Raw Bars And Happy Hours With The Best Oysters In NYC
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