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Our Favorite Pizzerias in NYC

New York City is one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s the Big Apple! The “city so nice, they named it twice.” If you’re planning a trip to New York City, you have to have pizza on the menu. 

Variety of NYC pizzas in a shop display, street food. Kitchen workers arranging the pizzas.

NYC and pizza seem almost as inseparable as Bert and Ernie or salt and pepper. Most people think of the classic “dollar slice” shops with traditional thin-crust New York City pizza. But New York City delivers pizza in nearly every style, shape, and flavor imaginable. Whatever your pizza preferences, NYC has it, thick to thin crust, meat-lovers to vegan, and everything in between. To make the pizza search easier for your next visit, we’ve rounded up the best pizzerias in Manhattan. You’ll find a wide variety of restaurants, from counter-serve to formal, and in nearly every neighborhood. Check out our list of the best pizza in NYC below!


Joe’s Pizza

Multiple locations
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Joe’s Pizza is one of the most famous pizzerias in the city. Established in 1975 by Joe Pozzuoli, Joe’s Pizza is locally known as a “Greenwich Village institution.” Greenwich Village is the heart of Manhattan’s artistic scene. The neighborhood is a must-see for visitors, hosting fine dining, piano bars, Washington Square Park, Comedy Cellar, and a buzzing LGBTQ+ social scene. Since 1975, Joe’s Pizza has dealt up the quintessential “New York slice.” New Yorkers who moved away from the city come back for a bite of Joe’s iconic thin-crust, melt-in-your-mouth pies. You won’t find any frills here, just classic cheese, pepperoni, and build-your-own slices. You won’t forget that flavor.


Roberta’s Pizza

Multiple locations
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In a place as trendy as Brooklyn, restaurants can have a hard time standing out – especially pizzerias. But Roberta’s is an icon in the up-and-coming neighborhood of Bushwick. Young people are flocking to Bushwick, and new restaurants and cafes pop up every week. Roberta’s provides a quirky, street-smart vibe, spacious back garden, great drinks, and homey Italian cuisine. They serve the classics like the Rosso and Margherita but also have pizzas with a fresh spin. The Artie Bucco has cream, cynar, mozzarella, Parmigiano, speck, and broccolini, and the humorously named Normcore features Sungold tomatoes, locally sourced.


Rubirosa Pizza & Ristorante

235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212-965-0500
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Rubirosa is a hip pizzeria in the posh Manhattan neighborhood of Nolita – North of Little Italy. The area is a little bit quieter than neighboring SoHo, yet has all the charm of its more famous sister. You’ll find bookstores, gardens, cafes, bars, and ultra-trendy restaurants. Rubirosa has been a Nolita staple for some time, and you’ll always find it a fun place to see and be seen. The menu focuses on excellent Italian cooking, with an extensive list of charcuterie, salad, paninis, pizzas, and pasta. You can choose from nine house pizzas or build your own with an array of toppings and even vegan options. 

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Mama’s TOO!

2750 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Phone: 212-510-7256
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Locals and tourists alike flock to this small but mighty counter-serve pizzeria on the Upper West Side. Located near the Columbia University campus and between Central Park and Riverside Park, it’s the perfect pitstop on your way to your next sightseeing gig. The brick-lined walls, copper ceiling, and bright red garage door give it a unique vibe. The ingredients also keep people coming back for more. Mama’s TOO has the best pepperoni I’ve had in years, with a punch of spice and flavor in every bite. My favorite pie is the pepperoni squares, but you can also branch out with creative flavors like poached pear or build your own.


Denino’s Greenwich Village

93 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012
Phone: 646-838-6987
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Denino’s pizzeria has been a city classic since 1937. Denino’s Greenwich Village is on world-famous MacDougal Street, a city treasure to this day. The pizzeria is steps away from the star-studded Comedy Cellar and a few blocks from Washington Square Park. The vibe is cozy and homey, and the food is stellar. The menu includes a range of classic Italian dishes with a New York twist. Of course, though, we come for the pizza. The menu has over 15 signature pies, from vegan to their #1 voted Clam Pie, or build your own option by choosing from 19 toppings. 


Pizza Loves Emily: West Village

35 Downing St, New York, NY 10014
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Just a few blocks away from Denino’s, Emily – West Village offers a more sophisticated take on pizza. While the restaurant has more than one location, we love the one in the Village. It’s close to cultural icons like Washington Square Park, the Stonewall Inn, and several comedy and jazz clubs. The pizzas come Detroit-style, which means they’re square with a thick crispy-chewy crust. At Emily’s, you can choose from an assortment of creative toppings like pickled chili, honey, radishes, Korean Wing Sauce, and truffle. Emily’s is also famous for their Pat Lafrieda burger, so if someone in your group isn’t a pizza-lover, tell them to give the burger a try! 


Patsy’s Pizzeria

Multiple locations
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Patsy’s is a prime NYC pizzeria with locations all over the city, including Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center and Manhattan’s Midtown, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and East Harlem neighborhoods. Each spot offers a slightly different vibe, but all of them are casual and comfortable with excellent pizza. The first Patsy’s opened in Harlem in 1933, with classic Sicilian, coal-oven pizzas. Now Patsy’s is a local staple, still serving up oven-fresh, perfect pies. You can opt for a square pie or a round pie, a red pie or a white pie, but all of them are delicious. Choose from over 15 different toppings. 

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Prince Street Pizza

27 Prince St A, New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212-966-4100
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Not a day goes by when there isn’t a line out the door of Prince Street Pizza in Manhattan’s trendy Nolita neighborhood. You’ll see locals, tourists, and celebrities alike lined up to get a slice. Prince Street is counter-serve only, with most of the space taken up by enormous pizza ovens. They have a few standing shelves inside and outside. Like any classic NYC joint, you have to say your order fast when you get to the front of the line! I highly recommend going with their signature square pie with pepperoni cups. The crispy, chewy crust tastes like heaven, and the pepperonis practically melt in your mouth.  


Koronet Pizza

2848 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Phone: 212-222-1566
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Koronet Pizza sits only a block away from Manhattan’s beautiful Riverside Park and three blocks from the Columbia University Campus. It’s a favorite with Columbia students and locals alike. Koronet is a counter-serve takeaway spot, open late, where you can get an individual slice or a whole pie. The pies are enormous, the portions are enormous, and the prices are great.  Our two favorites are the classic cheese pizza slice or a pie of the Buffalo Chicken Pizza. NYC pizzas can get expensive. If you want a budget-friendly option with great serving sizes and great taste, Koronet is the perfect pitstop.


Kesté Pizza & Vino

66 Gold St, New York, NY 10038
Phone: 212-243-1500
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Kesté Pizza & Vino is a “shoebox”-sized NYC restaurant that packs a surprisingly flavorful punch. Located in downtown Manhattan’s Financial District, it’s within walking distance of South Street Seaport, Wall Street, the Stock Exchange, and the Statue of Liberty views. The area has an excellent after-work crowd and a lot of finance professionals networking and socializing. Kesté has a cozy, casual vibe and solid food options. It’s great for a quick lunch or a happy hour bite. The wood-fired pizzas are fresh to order in the Neapolitan style. You can also order great drinks and gluten-free options. 


Motorino

Multiple locations
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Motorino is a New York staple – known by some as the best pizza in NYC – with multiple locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Our favorite is the original East Village outpost. It’s perfect for any occasion, and the only issue is it’s so popular you might have to wait a long time for a table. It’s worth the wait! Motorino specializes in Neapolitan pizzas, focusing on puffy, cloud-like crusts with just the right amount bubble and char. The crust itself is worth writing home for, but Motorino doesn’t stop there. The gourmet toppings include brussels sprouts, capers, meatballs, and every cured Italian meat you want. 

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John’s of Bleecker St.

278 Bleecker St, New York, NY 10014
Phone: 212-243-1680
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Though there’s no way to know which NYC pizzeria was the first, John’s comes close. They’ve been serving brick-oven pies in the West Village since 1929. The restaurant is still family-owned and hosts guests in a funky, colorful, tiny space with customers’ signatures etched into the wooden walls. John’s is very clear that they don’t do slices – they do whole pies, and it’s worth every bit. You can also order pizzeria classics like mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, salads, and pasta. The pizza is classic NYC thin-crust, and whichever kind you get, you’ll love the taste of NYC history.


Ribalta Restaurant

48 E 12th St, New York, NY 10003
Phone: 212-777-7781
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Ribalta is a hip, modern space only two blocks from Union Square in Manhattan. The high ceilings, clean white architectural lines, and minimal leather and red accents elevate the casual space. They also feature a large screen to watch Italian football, and the place is a blast during football (aka soccer) games. But don’t forget the pizza! While they feature plenty of Italian dishes, Ribalta’s pizza is the best part of the menu. Their puffy Neapolitan-style crusts are delicious, and their specialty toppings don’t disappoint. My personal favorite is the Ribalta, with mozzarella, Italian sausage, and broccoli rabe. 


Scarr’s Pizza

22 Orchard St, New York, NY 10002
Phone: 212-334-3481
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Scarr’s is a retro pizzeria on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Grab a slide with friends before a night out in the neighborhood’s buzzy club and bar scene, or go during the day for a quieter meal. The restaurant has old-fashioned vinyl-topped stools and diner-style seating that feels like a trip back in time. Scarr’s makes their pizzas in multiple styles, but our favorite is the Sicilian with a focaccia crust. The crust is crispy, just greasy enough, and super chewy. They offer about 20 topping options, too, including vegan cheese, and it’s the perfect pit-stop on a night out. 

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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