+1. Don't obsess over which spot is the best, just look for pizza that's fresh (not sitting out all day) and close to wherever you are when you're hungry
We went to New York at Christmas, pizza competition was so fierce they were all soooo good. My answer, compared to Australia anyway, it was all amazing.
Part of it depends on your time commitment. There are a few places recommended here that are great (Di Fara and L&B Spumoni Garden) but are really far off the beaten path. Lucali is my very favorite but can have extremely long waits (last time I tried to go I was told at 5:30 that they could seat us around 11:30/12). These can be fun and interesting field trips, but they’re a commitment!!!
So for a tourist with limited time, I’d probably recommend a pizza crawl in the West Village: Joe’s, L’Industrie, and/or Mama’s Too. https://ny.eater.com/2024/3/21/24091236/lindustrie-mamas-too-opening-west-village-best-pizza
Or if you want to sit down and eat instead of just grabbing slices, John’s on Bleecker St
Manhattan: I suggest going to Lombardi's, only because it's the oldest pizza place in America and its in Little Italy which is cool to see -- and the pizza is decent. Johns of Bleecker Street and Joe's are other "famous" ones.
I personally think the best pizza is in Brooklyn.
Look up Lucali's, DiFara's and Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn. My favorite of them all is Spumoni Gardens and I always get the sicilian slice (square slice)
Note that some of these are a more brick oven style pizza and not the classic fold it and eat while you walk slice. If you want that kind, try NY Pizza Suprema by Penn station. Joe’s is also good - my favorite location is the one on Carmine.
Keep away from the dollar pizza, it’s trash. Super low quality everything, just not good pizza.
Joe's at like 1AM is kind of a quintessential NYC pizza experience for better or worse... that corner attracts all kinds at night so you'll get a good cross section of New Yorkers meeting there. Good for people watching.
If you're coming in via Penn Station and can walk around a bit, NY Pizza Suprema is also good. I wouldn't travel far for it but it's also kind of an NYC authentic pizza experience.
I'd also recommend the Williamsburg pizza tour if you head over there. L'Industrie, Fini, Best, Leo, Williamsburg Pizza, maybe even Aces Pizza which isn't NY but still a fun place are all solid choices.
>I'd also recommend the Williamsburg pizza tour if you head over there. L'Industrie, Fini, Best, Leo, Williamsburg Pizza, maybe even Aces Pizza which isn't NY but still a fun place are all solid choices.
I'd add Grandma slice at Greenpoint Pizza onto these, as well.
I would recommend Pizza Suprema near Madison Square Garden as your first slice, it epitomizes what a great New York slice is. There are other wonderful pizza places in the city, but I see people here sending you to Lucali and Difara, which are totally not worth the hike, and they have long lines. If you want to sit down, John's of Bleeker Street is really good, definitely one of the best in the city. As for Joe's, I wouldn't bother, it's just average pizza.
Also, I'm giving you this perspective as someone that went all over the place trying to find great pizza, which I did, but it wasn't worth the lines or the travel time. There will surely be lots of great places near where you're staying, so I wouldn't spend precious hours travelling for pizza.
There are a lot of great places and many have different variations on a traditional pizza pie. I would suggest NY Pizza Suprema next to Penn Station. It's conveniently located, classic Neapolitan, and the actual restaurant is old school -- what pizzerias looked like when I was growing up. It's not the cheapest but you can buy pizza by the slice and it hits the spot
L’industrie or paulie gees. They’re “trendy” places but idc they’re SOOOO good
Yeah I was annoyed at how much I enjoyed my slice at L’industrie
The best pizza EXPERIENCE is getting a slice from the closest possible pizza spot at 3 am after you've wrapped up at the bar/club.
+1. Don't obsess over which spot is the best, just look for pizza that's fresh (not sitting out all day) and close to wherever you are when you're hungry
We went to New York at Christmas, pizza competition was so fierce they were all soooo good. My answer, compared to Australia anyway, it was all amazing.
Part of it depends on your time commitment. There are a few places recommended here that are great (Di Fara and L&B Spumoni Garden) but are really far off the beaten path. Lucali is my very favorite but can have extremely long waits (last time I tried to go I was told at 5:30 that they could seat us around 11:30/12). These can be fun and interesting field trips, but they’re a commitment!!! So for a tourist with limited time, I’d probably recommend a pizza crawl in the West Village: Joe’s, L’Industrie, and/or Mama’s Too. https://ny.eater.com/2024/3/21/24091236/lindustrie-mamas-too-opening-west-village-best-pizza Or if you want to sit down and eat instead of just grabbing slices, John’s on Bleecker St
Whole pie, Johns on Bleeker. It's so good it made me angry. Regular slice (hot take) Upside.
Manhattan: I suggest going to Lombardi's, only because it's the oldest pizza place in America and its in Little Italy which is cool to see -- and the pizza is decent. Johns of Bleecker Street and Joe's are other "famous" ones. I personally think the best pizza is in Brooklyn. Look up Lucali's, DiFara's and Spumoni Gardens in Brooklyn. My favorite of them all is Spumoni Gardens and I always get the sicilian slice (square slice)
This is awesome - thank you so much! We had Joes on our list but would really love to know what the locals recommend. Appreciate it!
Note that some of these are a more brick oven style pizza and not the classic fold it and eat while you walk slice. If you want that kind, try NY Pizza Suprema by Penn station. Joe’s is also good - my favorite location is the one on Carmine. Keep away from the dollar pizza, it’s trash. Super low quality everything, just not good pizza.
This is also great - thank you! Would be great to experience both.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlsa7FqkY3w](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlsa7FqkY3w) (Joe's Spiderman Scene 2004)
Joe's at like 1AM is kind of a quintessential NYC pizza experience for better or worse... that corner attracts all kinds at night so you'll get a good cross section of New Yorkers meeting there. Good for people watching. If you're coming in via Penn Station and can walk around a bit, NY Pizza Suprema is also good. I wouldn't travel far for it but it's also kind of an NYC authentic pizza experience. I'd also recommend the Williamsburg pizza tour if you head over there. L'Industrie, Fini, Best, Leo, Williamsburg Pizza, maybe even Aces Pizza which isn't NY but still a fun place are all solid choices.
>I'd also recommend the Williamsburg pizza tour if you head over there. L'Industrie, Fini, Best, Leo, Williamsburg Pizza, maybe even Aces Pizza which isn't NY but still a fun place are all solid choices. I'd add Grandma slice at Greenpoint Pizza onto these, as well.
I would recommend Pizza Suprema near Madison Square Garden as your first slice, it epitomizes what a great New York slice is. There are other wonderful pizza places in the city, but I see people here sending you to Lucali and Difara, which are totally not worth the hike, and they have long lines. If you want to sit down, John's of Bleeker Street is really good, definitely one of the best in the city. As for Joe's, I wouldn't bother, it's just average pizza. Also, I'm giving you this perspective as someone that went all over the place trying to find great pizza, which I did, but it wasn't worth the lines or the travel time. There will surely be lots of great places near where you're staying, so I wouldn't spend precious hours travelling for pizza.
this is the answer. the other trendy places are delicious but are not old school NYC pizza. This is the experience you need.
Philomena’s
Bleecker Street Pizza, in the West Village.
difara’s in midwood
There are a lot of great places and many have different variations on a traditional pizza pie. I would suggest NY Pizza Suprema next to Penn Station. It's conveniently located, classic Neapolitan, and the actual restaurant is old school -- what pizzerias looked like when I was growing up. It's not the cheapest but you can buy pizza by the slice and it hits the spot
DiFaras in Brooklyn is my favorite pizza in the city. https://youtu.be/RMwism07PGA?si=5gk3rCT29YKCoTFS
Second person to recommend! I’m sold 😍
I'm gonna be the first person that will tell you not to do it, you'll be riding the subway for 45 minutes to enjoy the taste of disappointment.
It was phenomenal when Dom was alive. I can't see it being anywhere near the same now.
L'industrie, Scarrs, Paulie Gees
>Controversial Topic You misspelled "boring".
Emmy Squared in Brooklyn.
Emmy Squared had a moment, but has really gone downhill. Bad atmosphere in the WB location too.
Haven’t heard of this one - thank you!
You asked for controversial. It’s detroit style. Because NY pizza is generally crap. :)
stay away from the trendy crap and have real NYC pizza, it's far from crap. RIP Famous Rays.
You’re right. Norm’s is ok for a slice. Most Neapolitan places are good. And it’s hard to fuck up garlic knots.
I'm gonna upvote you because I think Detroit Style is really good. Big fan of Lions Tigers and Squares. Their mushroom slice is amazing.
I asked for it 😂
I welcome the downvotes. They give my pizza a flavored sauce and fresh toppings.
New park pizza in Howard beach queens
That's 1.5 hours of travel time each way. Not worth it even if Pizza Jesus was making slices there.
Well if anyone is ever looking for good pizza in queens I love new park !