Maybe it's the water, maybe it's the generations of Italians who've lived here, or maybe it's just New York. With all due respect to the mother country, New York is one of the world's great pizza towns. It's hard to go wrong with even a humble corner slice here, but if you're feeling ambitious, we've got the ten best pizzas in New York City every visitor should try. If you can’t get them all in one go, it's all the more reason to come visit again…
1. Joe’s Pizza (West Village)
Joe’s Pizza serves up the quintessential New York slice. Where this eatery trumps all others is in its ability to make a classic, mozzarella cheese pie. Of course, you can always go for a multi-topping slice, but we recommend starting with the basics here. The turnover is phenomenal, meaning the 'za is always fresh here.
2. Di Fara Pizza (Brooklyn)
Di Fara's photo by Olaf/flickr
Dom DeMarco, the pizza master himself, makes every single pizza that goes into the oven at this Midwood, Brooklyn legend. While there may be a longer wait time because of this, it’s completely worth it, as this man knows how to perfectly balance the pizza’s flavors. A family-run business, these guys hand-cut fresh basil onto every pie.
3. John’s of Bleecker Street (West Village)
What makes John’s pizza so memorable? Hands down, it’s the sauce, which they definitely don’t skimp on. There’s a unique tangy taste to the marinara that puts this pizza in a class of its own—a must for anyone visiting the city.
4. Rubirosa (Nolita)
Thin crust lovers will have a heyday at Rubirosa, where the crispy base of the pizza is about as thin as it gets. The sauce is sweet and the mozzarella is plentiful, making this pie an absolute favorite of locals and visitors alike.
5. Lombardi’s Pizza (Nolita)
Lombardi's photo by Simon Doggett/flickr
Lombardi’s claim to fame is that it’s “America’s First Pizzeria.” Established in 1905, this pizza joint clearly knows what it’s doing. The Original Margherita pizza is the way to go, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try out their famous Clam Pie.
6. Roberta’s (Brooklyn)
Roberta’s makes a solid Neapolitan-style pie, undoubtably. However, it’s really their unique specialty pies that keep customers coming back again and again. Specifically, the Bee Sting pizza is one you can’t forego, topped with spicy salami and a few drizzles of sweet honey. Note that this industrial-chic haunt is a bit of a ride, in the up and coming neighborhood of Bushwick.
7. Keste Pizza & Vino (West Village)
It’s the ingredients that really make this pizza pie what it is: from the San Marzano tomatoes to the doppio zero flour, it's all about quality. The lead pizza chef also formerly worked as a mozzarella cheese maker, meaning there’s not one aspect of this pie that isn’t well executed.
8. Grimaldi’s (Flatiron, Brooklyn, Queens)
Grimaldi's Pizza photo by m01229/flickr
Cooked in a stone oven and topped with fresh mozzarella and basil, Grimaldi’s makes a delicious pie, no matter whether you're at an outpost in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or Queens. Its crust is not to be reckoned with, and you can feel free to pile on the toppings for a customized delight.
9. Patsy’s Pizzeria (East Harlem)
Patsy’s Pizzeria uses a coal-fired oven that puts out some of the most mouth-watering pies in the city. The slices here may be smaller than usual, but that just means you can scarf down twice as many!
10. Franny’s (Brooklyn)
This Park Slope/Prospect Height joint’s pizza is always cooked to perfection, which includes just enough of those charred, black dough spots without burning the actual pie. Franny’s also serves up one of the most beloved clam pies in the city.
If you'd like some expert guidance on a pizza tour of New York, check out A Slice of Brooklyn, which cruises through essential New York neighborhoods, movie sites, and pizza places. The tour runs daily at 11am and yes, it does come with pizza.
