11 Best Pizza Spots In New York City You Can’t Afford To Miss
Pizza in New York City isn’t just food but an institution. The city is packed with everything from century-old icons to trendy artisanal spots, each offering their own take on the perfect pie. Craving a classic foldable slice or an authentic Neapolitan creation?
These legendary pizzerias have nailed the holy trinity of crust, sauce, and cheese, keeping both locals and visitors coming back time and time again.
1. L’Industrie Pizzeria (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)
Tucked away in Williamsburg, L’Industrie serves slices that make pizza purists weak at the knees. The magic happens when traditional Italian toppings meet New York-style pizza techniques, creating something entirely unique.
Each slice boasts a thin, crispy crust that somehow stays sturdy under premium ingredients. Recently named Best Pizza Slice in America by 50 Top Pizza, this modest storefront consistently draws lines around the block.
2. Una Pizza Napoletana (Lower East Side)
Flour dust dances in sunbeams at this Lower East Side gem, where pizza is elevated to an art form. Owner Anthony Mangieri crafts each Neapolitan masterpiece by hand, using techniques passed down through generations.
I still remember my first bite here—the pillowy crust with that perfect char, the bright tomato sauce that tastes like Italian sunshine.
No wonder it was crowned Best Pizzeria in the USA by 50 Top Pizza through anonymous expert tastings.
3. Lucali (Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn)
Candlelight flickers across red-checkered tablecloths as Mark Iacono works his magic at the brick oven. This Carroll Gardens institution doesn’t take reservations, explaining the nightly lines of devoted fans waiting for a table.
My birthday tradition involves joining that queue at 4 pm, bottle of wine in hand. The paper-thin crust, fresh basil, and perfectly balanced sauce make the wait worthwhile every time.
Even Jay-Z and Beyoncé have been spotted skipping fancier options for Lucali’s simple perfection.
4. Di Fara Pizza (Midwood, Brooklyn)
Time stands still at Di Fara, where founder Dom DeMarco personally crafted each pizza until his passing in 2022. Now his children continue his legacy, snipping fresh basil over pies and drizzling imported olive oil with the same meticulous care.
The slightly charred, irregular crust tells the story of handmade perfection. Located in unassuming Midwood, this pizza pilgrimage site has drawn devoted fans since 1965, with many declaring it worth every minute of the notorious wait.
5. Scarr’s Pizza (Lower East Side)
Revolutionary yet nostalgic, Scarr’s looks like a 1970s pizza joint but tastes like the future. Owner Scarr Pimentel mills organic grain in-house daily, the only NYC slice spot with this dedication to flour quality.
The result? A nutty, complex crust that forms the foundation for perfectly balanced slices. The retro wood-paneled interior might fool you, but one bite reveals why food critics can’t stop raving about this Lower East Side gem.
6. Mama’s Too! (Upper West Side)
Square slices reign supreme at this Upper West Side sensation where tradition meets innovation. The pepperoni cup-and-char square has achieved Instagram fame, but the real star might be their cacio e pepe pizza—a brilliant Roman pasta-inspired creation.
Last winter, I ducked in during a snowstorm and found myself in pizza nirvana. The focaccia-like dough, crispy bottom, and airy interior create textural magic that’s earned Mama’s Too! a permanent spot on Eater’s best-of lists.
7. L&B Spumoni Gardens (Gravesend, Brooklyn)
Family recipes and old-school charm define this Brooklyn institution since 1939. L&B’s signature Sicilian squares feature an unconventional approach—cheese first, then sauce on top—creating a unique textural experience.
The outdoor tables fill with generations of Brooklyn families enjoying thick, doughy squares. The recently opened DUMBO location brings these legendary pies to a new neighborhood, but pizza purists still make the pilgrimage to Gravesend for the original experience.
8. John’s of Bleecker Street (Greenwich Village)
Coal-fired magic happens inside this Greenwich Village institution, housed in a former church since 1929. The ancient ovens reach temperatures that create the distinctive charred, crisp-yet-chewy crust impossible to replicate elsewhere.
Graffiti-covered wooden booths tell stories of decades past. Remember—John’s famously serves whole pies only, no slices!
My grandmother first brought me here 30 years ago, and the taste remains unchanged—perhaps the highest compliment for a classic New York pizzeria.
9. Joe’s Pizza (Greenwich Village)
Pizza simplicity reaches its zenith at Joe’s, where the classic New York slice has been perfected since 1975. Founder Joe Pozzuoli, a Naples immigrant, created the quintessential NYC slice experience: thin, foldable, with the perfect cheese-to-sauce ratio.
The tiny original location on Carmine Street sees constant turnover, with everyone from tourists to celebrities to late-night revelers seeking pizza perfection.
No seats, no frills, just consistently outstanding pizza that defines what a New York slice should be.
10. Patsy’s Pizzeria (East Harlem)
Pizza history was made at Patsy’s in 1933 when founder Patsy Lancieri pioneered selling pizza by the slice. The original East Harlem location remains a time capsule with its coal-fired oven producing impossibly thin, crispy crusts.
The walls display photos of famous patrons from Frank Sinatra to Francis Ford Coppola. While various Patsy’s locations exist citywide, pizza historians make pilgrimages to this original spot, where the coal-fired technique launched a New York pizza tradition that continues to influence.
11. Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitano (Coney Island)
Coney Island holds a pizza treasure that’s survived since 1924. Antonio “Totonno” Pero, who learned his craft at Lombardi’s (America’s first pizzeria), established this landmark where pizza traditions remain unchanged nearly a century later.
The coal-fired oven produces distinctively salty, crisp crusts topped with tangy sauce and creamy fresh mozzarella.
Hurricanes and fires have temporarily closed Totonno’s doors, but the Pero family always rebuilds, preserving a piece of pizza history that’s worth the subway journey to Brooklyn’s famous boardwalk.