If you’re in New York City or are planning to visit the city, you need to prioritize having at least one New York slice (but preferably multiple). I’ve tried my fair share of pizza in New York City, and there are so many great places with even greater slices.
Although it was difficult to narrow down my list to only seven restaurants, these are the places I think are an absolute must for any person craving a slice, whether that be a classic slice with mozzarella and some marinara sauce or a loaded specialty slice.
Visiting other destinations in the region? Check out our other delicious guides:
- 5 Must-Try Vegan Pizza Brooklyn
- 10 Must-Try Jersey City Restaurants
- 10 Must-Try Restaurants In Rochester NY
- 5 Best Restaurants in LeRoy, New York
- 7 Must-Try Batavia Restaurants
- The 7 Best East Tremont Restaurants
While in New York City don’t miss out on activities that will help immerse yourself with the city (hurry while they’re hot!):
- New York Greenwich Village Secret Food Tour with Private Tour Option
- New York’s West Village Food Tour
- New York Experience: Brooklyn Food, History & Culture Tour
The Best Pizza In New York City
Da Nonna Rosa
140 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215 // +17187886225
If you’re looking for some great pizza In New York City, you should head over to Da Nonna Rosa. I love this restaurant because it is casual yet elegant. In addition to the incredibly nice team members, Da Nonna Rosa serves a variety of incredible specialty pizzas, traditional NY-style pizza, and pizzettas.
Some of the specialty pizza offerings include “vodka ravioli pizza,” “vegan vegetable pizza,” and “Bianca pizza.” My favorite is the “white eggplant pizza, ” made up of breaded eggplant, creamy ricotta, plum tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Da Nonna Rosa also offers a variety of Pizzettas or personal small pizzas: Neapolitan Pizzetta, Nonna Pizzetta, Gluten Free Neapolitan Pizzetta, and the Cauliflower Crust Pizzetta. I am a huge cauliflower crust fan, so I recommend trying that if you haven’t before.
La Villa Pizzeria
261 5th Avenue Brooklyn, NY // +17184999888
La Villa is a higher-end pizza restaurant, but definitely worth it. They have so many pizza toppings one can choose from, including “sweet fennel sausage, pepperoni, homemade meatball, sautéed mushrooms, roasted peppers, caramelized onions, sliced country ham, black olives, imported anchovies, sautéed broccoli, sautéed spinach, fried eggplant” as well as specialty toppings including “prosciutto di parma, speck prosciutto, sautéed broccoli Rapa, organic grilled or breaded fried chicken. Fresh chopped garlic & EVOO”.
If you’d rather go with one of their speciality pies, the menu has a variety of options such as the “Prosciutto E Rocchetta” which is made from herb crusted focaccia with homemade mozzarella, layers of prosciutto di parma or speck (smoked prosciutto), wild arugula, shaved parmigiano reggiano & drizzled EVOO. This pizza is wood-fired.
However, some pizzas can be served “deep dish” style, including the “Sottosopra,” which is made of “ ‘upside down’ Layers of homemade mozzarella topped with marinara sauce or tomato & basil sauce, pecorino romano, & extra virgin olive oil.”
Pasta-Eria
440 S Oyster Bay Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801 // +15169381555
The name might be misleading, but Pasta-Eria has some of the best pizza In New York City. Located in Hicksville, Pasta-Eria is a wonderful spot to grab pizza to-go or to dine in and enjoy. Pizza pies offered include the White Pizza (Neapolitan), described as “lots of pizza cheese and homemade mozzarella with spotted ricotta, grated romano cheese and a whisper of garlic oil.
”Their “Special” pie is on the heavier side and consists of “A hearty combination of sausage, meatball, pepperoni, peppers, onion and mushrooms over mozzarella and tomato sauce.” If you’re a meat lover, then the “Special” pie is definitely something you should consider ordering. In addition to the great pizza, the team of servers and those making the pizza are super friendly. This restaurant is great, so make sure to schedule some time into your day if you plan on dining in, especially on a weekend around dinner time, because it can get a bit crowded.
L&B Spumoni Gardens
2725 86th St, Brooklyn, NY 11223 // +17184491230
If you’re looking for a quality pizza In New York City, head over to L&B Spumoni Gardens, and you won’t be disappointed. L&B Spumoni Gardens is known for its “World Famous L&B Sicilian Pie.” Although this pie costs $30, it is worth it for its deliciousness. If you’re looking for one slice, you can also get one for $4.
However, toppings are only available for whole pies only. If you’re looking to add a topping to a pie, the available topping options include extra cheese, mushroom, sausage, pepperoni, or anchovies for $7.75 Each. Although you may think that a limited pizza menu sounds crazy for a world-famous pizza place, I find that the quality of the pizza is so amazing because it is their specialty.
This place does not need to offer extravagant slices because their simple Sicilian slices are so delicious. Although there are two locations throughout NYC: Bensonhurst and Dumbo (which are both in Brooklyn), I would recommend visiting the first location in Bensonhurst, which has been serving people since 1939.
Emmy Squared Pizza
1426 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10028 // +19175999594
Although Emmy squared has a variety of menu options, they have some amazing pizza, so that I would define this place as a pizza restaurant. What makes this restaurant unique is that they can make all of their pizzas gluten-free upon request with CUP4CUP GF Flour. Therefore, this makes for a great option for those who may have dietary restrictions. Definitely some of the best pizza In New York City.
Emmy Squared offers some unique pizza pies with toppings that I had not seen paired together on a pizza before dining here. For instance, the “Big Al ” pizza consists of red sauce, burrata, basil, sausage and Calabrian chilies, and “Colony” is topped with red sauce, Ezzo pepperoni, pickled jalapeños, and honey. I particularly like the pizza at Emmy Squared because it is served square and the pies are the perfect size for sharing with a group for an appetizer or enough for one person to have as their entree.
Although this place offers specialty pies, my favorite is the “Classic” pie with red sauce and mozzarella. In addition to the great pizza, the staff is really friendly, and the restaurant’s ambiance is modern, which I particularly like. There are 4 locations in New York City: Upper East Side, Theater District, East Village, and Williamsburg.
I have only ever been to the Upper East Side and East Village locations. However, since I had a great experience at both on multiple occasions, you would likely have a similar experience at any of the restaurants. I would recommend making a reservation if you plan on dining at Emmy Squared to be seated in a timely fashion.
The Sicilian
229 Prospect Park W, Brooklyn, NY 11215 // +19294376714
The Sicilian is probably the pizza place I’ve frequented most often. Located in Park Slope, Brooklyn, this restaurant is fast casual and without servers which is nice if you’re looking to grab a slice quickly and get on with your day. It has one of the best pizza In New York City.
What I love about the slices is how enormous they are. I like to eat when I’m hungry, so whenever I go to The Sicilian, I know that I will never leave hungry. I have so many different favorite slices from here, but I would say my number one is definitely the “Buffalo Pizza” that is topped with boneless chicken breast sauteed with spicy buffalo sauce, blue cheese, and scallions. Other favorites include the “Eggplant Pizza” and the “Chicken Marsala Pizza.” Make sure to ask for extra napkins as these slices can get quite messy.
Emmett’s
50 MacDougal St, New York, NY 10012 // +19176393571
If you’re hungry and craving some savory pizza, you should head over to Emmett’s in SoHo for a slice or two of deep-dish pizza. Emmett’s is known for their Chicago-style deep dish pizza. When I dined at Emmett’s, I went all out and ordered “The Cheese Louise” with their signature caramelized cheese trust. This was a slice of pizza I will never forget. As a cheese lover, this was such a treat. As it was also my first time trying deep dish pizza, I made sure to come hungry, but even then, I couldn’t stomach two slices, although it was so good.
Luckily, the server was kind enough to grab us a box so I could have leftovers for lunch the next day. In addition to “The Cheese Louise,” there are a variety of specialty pizzas you can choose from, including “The Big O” and “This Buds For You.” The pies come in a variety of sizes at different price points. A 10-inch serves two people and costs $22, a 12-inch serves three and costs $26, and a 14-inch serves 4-5 people and costs $30. However, specialty pizzas are more expensive, such as “The Cheese Louise,” which costs $26 for a 10-inch.
If you’re looking to dine with a group of friends or a large party, Emmett’s can be a cost-efficient place if you’re looking to split the cost. In addition to the pizza being delicious, the staff was extremely kind and accommodating when we arrived an hour early for our reservation and seated us immediately. Because we sat outside, I could not speak about the restaurant’s interior. However, the outside seating area was very nice and allowed for people watching, which I always enjoy while eating.
Which of these NYC pizza restaurants will you try first? Let us know in the comments section below!
