Pizza is almost a sacred thing in New York and a must when you visit. This city has endless options for pizza spots and picking a place can be somewhat overwhelming. That’s why we have done the work for you and gathered the 20 best pizza spots in New York City. This list includes everything from New York classic slice spots to cozy, sit-down Italian restaurants. Enjoy!
Roberta’s
Roberta’s is located in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and makes amazing Neapolitan-style wood oven pizzas. Their pizza pies with the perfect chewy-fluffy crust are one of the best spots for pizza in New York City.
Address: 261 Moore St, Brooklyn NY 11206
Joe’s Pizza
Joe’s Pizza is the perfect place to go if you’re looking for that classic New York slice. Joe’s has been around since 1975 and is one of the most popular pizza places in New York City. The original owner Joe Pozzuoli from Naples, Italy still runs the pizza shop today.
Address: 7 Carmine St, New York NY 10012 (multiple locations)
Patsy’s Pizzeria
Patsy’s Pizza was originally opened in 1933 which makes this one of the oldest and also best pizzerias in New York. Their coal-fire oven is what makes these pizzas so delicious. This is a great sit-down Italian restaurant with a great atmosphere. There is a rumor that Frank Sinatra considered this one of his favorite spots for the best pizza in the city.
Address: 2287 1st Ave, New York, NY 10035 (multiple locations)
Scarr’s Pizza
Scarr’s Pizzas opened on the Lower East side in 2016 and has quickly built up a strong reputation in the city. A reason why their pizza is one of the best in the city is that they mill their own flour in their basement to create their pizza dough.
Address: 22 Orchard St. New York, NY 10002
John’s of Bleecker Street
John’s of Bleecker Street is an iconic pizzeria that was founded in 1929 by an Italian immigrant named John Sasso. It’s not only one of the oldest pizzerias in New York but also in the whole country. John’s is a sit-down restaurant and not one of those eat-while-standing pizza spots and they only serve whole pies. Their coal-fired brick oven method is what makes their pizzas one of the best in the city – perfectly crispy, chewy, and charred.
Address: 278 Bleecker St. New York, NY 10014
Mama’s Too!
Mama’s Too! opened in 2017 and has been super popular since then. This spot is a small hole-in-the-wall pizzeria located on the Upper West Side. Come here to enjoy their gas-oven Sicilian square slices but be prepared to wait. You can always order online and skip the line.
Address: 2750 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Una Pizza Napoletana
Una Pizza Napoletana serves some of the best Neapolitan pizzas in New York City. Their small, delicious wood-fired pizza pies are definitely worth a visit. It’s located in Lower East Side.
Address: 175 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Juliana’s
If you’re looking for one of the best pizza spots in NYC, Juliana’s is for you. This is a second-generation coal oven pizzeria located in Dumbo, Brooklyn. They are known for their thin-crust pies which are perfectly charred in the oven you can see back in the restaurant.
Address: 19 Old Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Paulie Gee’s
This Greenpoint pizzeria is known for its tasty pizzas but also for its unique pizza toppings. For example, one pizza has mozzarella, bacon, and hollandaise sauce as toppings and another one has cheese, spinach, olive oil, and pickled red grape halves. Paulie Gee’s also offers vegan pies here. You can also visit their slice shop down the street.
Address: 60 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222
L’Industrie Pizzeria
This Williamsburg location is known for its Italian and New York-style pizza slices. When it comes to one of the best New York slices, they have set a new standard. L’Industrie Pizzeria values high-quality ingredients and some are even imported from Italy.
Address: 254 S 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Rubirosa Pizza
Rubirosa Pizza has been one of the best Italian restaurants in NYC for some time now. The wait might be long but it’s worth it! They are known for their thin-crust pizzas with their signature vodka pizza sauce. Rubirosa also has a great gluten-free pizza.
Address: 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
Kesté
Kesté is a great spot if you’re into Naples-style small pies and is one of the best in the city. Their menu has pizza made with fried dough and many more options including gluten-free alternatives.
Address: 77 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038
Ops
Ops is arguably the best pizza spot in Bushwick. Visit this comfy pizzeria to try their delicious puffy-crusted, wood-fired pies with a sourdough crust. Pair the pizza with some of their natural wines.
Address: 346 Himrod Street, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Prince Street Pizza
Prince Street Pizza’s family recipe stemmed from the genius idea “if you can put it on pasta then you can put it on pizza”. Come here to enjoy a classic cheese slice, the pepperoni square, or even their Vegan option. Their recipes have been in the family for generations and it’s definitely one of the best pizza slices in New York City.
Address: 27 Prince St, New York NY 10012
Lombardi’s
First opened in 1905, Lombardi’s is officially the first pizzeria in America. Visit this Little Italy restaurant to enjoy their smoky-crusted coal oven-baked pizza.
Address: 23 Spring St, New York, NY 10012
Best Pizza
Best Pizza opened in Williamsburg by Frank Pinello in 2010. This place is one of the most popular places to grab a slice in Williamsburg. They serve the most delicious pizzas, but also salads, hero’s, and gluten-free options.
Address: 33 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
Ribalta
Ribalta is a spot where you can actually hear Italian chatter in the restaurant. That’s how you know it’s really good. They serve a truly authentic Neapolitan pizza, since they import all of their ingredients directly from Italy, even the yeast. Ribalta also has vegan and gluten-friendly alternatives.
Address: 48 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
Louie & Earnie’s Pizza
Louie & Earnie’s was founded in 1947 in Harlem, before heading up to the Pelham Bay area in 1959. They serve both slices and pies and are known for their calzones and their white and sausage-topped pizzas.
Address: 1300 Crosby Ave, Bronx, NY 10461
Lucali
Lucali is a very cozy sit-down restaurant located in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. Their thin-crust pizzas are made with imported mozzarella and locally sourced ingredients. Lucali makes both pies and calzone pizza.
Address: 575 Henry St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Di Fara
Di Fara has made legendary Neapolitan pies ever since they opened in 1965. Almost all ingredients are imported from Italy topped off with their signature fresh basil. Yes, you may have to wait in line for a while, but it’s totally worth it! A visit to Di Fara is a must for all pizza lovers.
Address: 1224 Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY 11230
More pizza spots in New York worth mentioning:
- Koronet Pizza
- Song’E Napule
- Leo
- Motorino Pizzeria
- Bellucci Pizza
- NY Pizza Suprema
- San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina
- Pasquale Jones
- Zero Otto Nove
What is the first pizza place in New York?
Gennaro Lombardi was the first to serve pizza in New York, but also in America. He opened his spot in Little Italy more than 100 years ago. He was a grocery from Naples who moved to New York to open up a store in the late 1800s.
What is a New York-style pizza?
A New York-style pizza is known for having a thin crust and is often sold by the slice. They are also known for being extremely large which is why New Yorkers fold their pizza while eating it.
Does NYC water affect pizza?
The presence of magnesium and calcium in the water strengthens the dough’s gluten, making the finished product stronger.