Best Pizza in NYC (2026): 16 Slice Shops & Pizza Restaurants Worth Trying

Everyone has an opinion about the best pizza in New York City. Some people swear by the classic dollar-slice-style experience, others will wait hours for a table at Lucali, and some are convinced the best pizza is actually in Brooklyn.

The good news is that NYC has incredible pizza at pretty much every price point, whether you're grabbing a quick slice between errands or planning an entire dinner around it.

We've rounded up 16 pizza spots across Manhattan and Brooklyn, organized into two categories: casual slice shops and sit-down pizza restaurants.

If you're visiting NYC, this is a great starting point. And if you live here, you might discover a new neighborhood favorite.

The first thing to decide is what kind of pizza experience you're looking for.

For a classic New York slice: Start with Delizia 73, Scarr's, Made In New York Pizza or L'Industrie. These are the kinds of places where pizza is the main event, and you don't need to plan an entire evening around it.

For something a little different: Mama's TOO! is known for its thick, crispy square slices, while Artichoke Basille's serves its famous creamy artichoke pizza.

For a sit-down pizza dinner: Lucali, Rubirosa, Roberta's and San Matteo are all worth considering. These are restaurants where you're going for the full experience rather than grabbing a slice on your way somewhere else.

For a neighborhood pizza crawl: The West Village, Lower East Side and Greenpoint are particularly good places to start because you can combine multiple pizza stops without traveling all over the city.

One thing to keep in mind: some of NYC's most famous pizza restaurants have long waits or limited seating. Check their current policies before planning your night around a specific restaurant.

Sometimes you don't want a reservation, a waiter or a full dinner. You just want a really good slice.

These eight pizza shops are some of our favorite places for a casual pizza stop in NYC.

Delizia 73 is the kind of classic neighborhood pizza place that makes living in New York so great.

It's not trying to reinvent pizza or become the next viral TikTok restaurant. It's a straightforward Upper East Side pizzeria where you can grab a traditional New York slice.

If you're exploring the Upper East Side and want a casual, reliable pizza option, this is an easy one to save.

Best for: A classic Upper East Side neighborhood slice.

Made In New York Pizza is a popular Upper West Side option serving both traditional New York-style slices and thicker square pizzas.

It's a good choice if you're looking for something casual near the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park or the surrounding Upper West Side neighborhood.

The square slices are particularly worth considering if you like a crispier crust with plenty of cheese.

Best for: A casual Upper West Side pizza stop and crispy square slices.

L'Industrie has become one of the most recognizable names in the NYC pizza scene, and for good reason.

The pizzeria is known for its thin, crispy crust, high-quality ingredients and especially its famous burrata slice.

Unlike some of the city's more traditional slice shops, L'Industrie has a slightly more modern approach to New York pizza while still keeping the experience casual.

There's often a line, particularly during busy periods, but it's one of the spots worth trying if you're interested in NYC's most talked-about pizza.

Best for: A famous NYC slice, especially if you love burrata.

If your ideal pizza has a thick crust, crispy edges and lots of texture, Mama's TOO! should be on your list.

The pizzeria is particularly known for its square slices, which have a very different texture from a traditional thin New York slice.

The crust is thick and airy on the inside, with a crispy exterior and caramelized edges.

It's also conveniently located near L'Industrie, making the two an obvious pairing for a West Village pizza crawl.

Best for: Thick, crispy square slices and creative toppings.

Chrissy's Pizza is a Greenpoint spot that has attracted plenty of attention among NYC pizza enthusiasts.

The focus is on classic New York-style pizza rather than elaborate toppings or a more formal restaurant experience.

If you're exploring Brooklyn's pizza scene, this is one to add to your list, especially alongside the other Greenpoint spots in this guide.

Best for: A classic New York-style pizza experience in Brooklyn.

Scarr's is one of the Lower East Side's best-known pizza shops.

It serves traditional New York-style slices, with particular attention paid to the dough and ingredients. The pizzeria is known for milling some of its own flour.

The atmosphere is casual, and it's a great option if you're spending the day exploring downtown Manhattan.

This is one of those spots that feels distinctly New York without needing a formal dinner reservation.

Best for: Classic New York slices on the Lower East Side.

Artichoke Basille's is probably best known for one very specific thing: its artichoke slice.

It's thick, creamy, cheesy and much richer than a traditional New York slice. Think of it as a completely different pizza experience rather than a substitute for your usual cheese slice.

The slices are also famously large, so come hungry.

If you've never tried it, the artichoke slice is worth experiencing at least once.

Best for: An enormous, indulgent specialty slice.

Marinara Pizza is a convenient option if you're looking for a casual slice in Midtown East.

The menu includes classic New York-style pizza alongside specialty slices, making it an easy stop when you're in the neighborhood.

Not every great pizza outing needs to involve standing in a long line at one of the city's most famous restaurants.

Best for: A casual, convenient pizza stop in Midtown East.

Sometimes pizza deserves its own dinner reservation.

These eight spots are worth considering when you want to sit down, order a whole pie and make an evening out of it.

San Matteo is an Upper East Side Italian restaurant known for its Neapolitan-style pizza.

Unlike a traditional New York slice shop, the focus here is on whole pizzas with softer, airy crusts and Italian-style toppings.

It's a great option if you want a neighborhood Italian dinner where pizza is the main attraction.

Best for: Neapolitan-style pizza and a casual Upper East Side date night.

Lucali is one of the most famous pizza restaurants in New York City.

Located in Carroll Gardens, this intimate Brooklyn restaurant is known for its thin-crust pies, calzones and simple approach to pizza.

Part of the appeal is the atmosphere. It feels more like a neighborhood restaurant than a massive pizza operation, despite its enormous reputation.

The main downside is the wait. Lucali is notoriously difficult to get into, so don't expect to casually walk in and immediately sit down.

If you're willing to plan around the wait, it's one of NYC's most iconic pizza experiences.

Best for: A special Brooklyn pizza dinner and one of NYC's most famous pies.

Rubirosa is a downtown favorite known for its exceptionally thin-crust pizza.

The most famous order is the tie-dye pizza, which combines vodka sauce, tomato sauce and pesto.

Unlike a typical slice shop, Rubirosa is a full Italian restaurant, so you can order appetizers, pasta and other dishes alongside your pizza.

It's a particularly good option for a group dinner or date night in Nolita.

Best for: The famous tie-dye pizza and a lively downtown Italian dinner.

Roberta's helped make Brooklyn's modern pizza scene what it is today.

The restaurant is known for wood-fired pizzas with creative combinations and a more relaxed, casual atmosphere than some of NYC's other famous pizza destinations.

It's a great choice if you want excellent pizza without necessarily going for the classic New York slice experience.

Best for: Creative wood-fired pizza and a casual Brooklyn dinner.

Parla is an Upper West Side restaurant serving pizza alongside Italian-inspired dishes.

It's a good option if you're looking for a proper sit-down meal rather than a quick slice.

The Columbus Avenue location also makes it convenient for dinner after spending time around Central Park or the Upper West Side.

Best for: A relaxed Upper West Side pizza dinner.

Lombardi's is one of the most historic names in American pizza.

The restaurant traces its history back to 1905 and is famous for its coal-fired pies.

The pizza here is different from the typical New York slice-shop experience. Expect whole pies with a coal-oven-baked crust rather than individual slices from a counter.

It's especially worth visiting if you're interested in NYC food history as much as the pizza itself.

Best for: Historic New York pizza and coal-fired pies.

Norma brings a Sicilian approach to Italian dining in Murray Hill.

The restaurant serves pizza alongside a broader menu of Italian dishes, making it a good option if you're dining with people who want more than just pizza.

If you're looking for something a little different from the traditional New York slice, this is a good addition to your list.

Best for: Sicilian-inspired pizza and a sit-down Italian dinner.

Me and Paul's is a Greenpoint pizza spot to keep on your radar when exploring Brooklyn.

It's a neighborhood option that fits well into a broader Greenpoint food outing, especially if you're interested in trying more than one pizza spot in the area.

Pair it with Chrissy's Pizza for a Greenpoint-focused pizza crawl.

Best for: A neighborhood pizza stop in Greenpoint.

If you're serious about finding your favorite pizza in NYC, one of the best ways to do it is to try a few places in the same neighborhood.

Rather than traveling all over the city, pick an area and compare different styles.

1. The West Village Pizza Crawl

Stops: L'Industrie Pizzeria → Mama's TOO!

This is probably the easiest pizza crawl on the list.

Both pizzerias are located in the West Village, and they serve very different styles.

Start at L'Industrie for a thin, crispy slice, then head to Mama's TOO! for a thicker square slice.

It's a great way to compare two of NYC's most talked-about pizza spots without committing to a full sit-down dinner.

2. The Downtown Manhattan Pizza Crawl

Stops: Lombardi's → Rubirosa → Scarr's Pizza

This route combines three different NYC pizza experiences.

Start with historic coal-fired pizza at Lombardi's, try the famous thin-crust tie-dye pie at Rubirosa, and finish with a classic New York slice at Scarr's.

Because Lombardi's and Rubirosa are sit-down restaurants, this works best as a longer outing or a choose-your-favorites itinerary rather than trying to eat full pies at all three.

3. The Greenpoint Pizza Crawl

Stops: Chrissy's Pizza → Me and Paul's

Greenpoint is a great neighborhood for exploring Brooklyn's pizza scene.

Start with Chrissy's Pizza, then head toward Me and Paul's on Greenpoint Avenue.

It's a simple two-stop itinerary that gives you an excuse to spend some time exploring the neighborhood.

Check current opening hours and ordering arrangements before heading out.

16 pizza spots across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

There are so many great pizza places in New York that it's almost impossible to keep track of them all.

That's why we've put these 16 recommendations into one RoamRecs collection, organized by slice shops and sit-down pizza restaurants.

Save the full Best NYC Pizza map on RoamRecs to see every restaurant in one place, find pizza near you and share your favorites with friends.

And if there's a pizza place we absolutely need to add, let us know. We're always looking for more recommendations.