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Brooklyn legend Domenico De Marco has been handcrafting pizzas with top-quality ingredients in this Midwood storefront since 1965, and even the locals wait upward of an hour (and sometimes two) for pizza that's a contender for best in the greater New York area. You can order a slice ($5), but you're better off with a whole pie, because the pizza maker waits until there are enough slice orders to complete a pie. The "classic" is topped with sausage, peppers, mushrooms, and onions ($33), but the "regular" ($29) lets you appreciate the pure goodness. The small, worn space has a handful of tables (no table service), so don't expect anything fancy. For a shorter wait, arrive well before they open at noon.
1424 Ave. J, Brooklyn, New York, 11230, USA
Known For
- Legendary pizza
- Classic toppings and quality ingredients
- Long lines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$ | West Village |
The specialties at this beloved Brooklyn pizzeria and Italian-ish eatery, named for its proprietor and situated on a charming block, range from Detroit-style grandma pies (think square instead of round, thick instead of thin) to wood-fired pizzas with ingredients like clams, anchovies, and Calabrian chiles. One item that might convince you to forego pizza, though, is the signature burger, an American cheese and caramelized onion–topped beef patty on a pretzel bun.
35 Downing St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Different kinds of pizza
- Great signature burger
- Brooklyn favorite
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The chefs here consider pizza-making both art and science, and their wood-fired creations prove just how deftly they balance the equation. The funghi misti—a white pie with mozzarella, wild mushrooms, and truffle oil—is downright irresistible. It’s no wonder locations in Brooklyn Bridge Park and Greenpoint have joined the original, which is casual in style but gourmet in quality. Check for seasonal specials, like the fig, Gorgonzola, and arugula pizza offered in summer.
291 Kent Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11249, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizza
- Casual vibe
- Great for families
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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Brooklynites make summertime pilgrimages to L&B's outdoor garden for squares of Sicilian-style pizza—the crunchy crust has a thin layer of mozzarella, tomato sauce, and just a drizzle of olive oil on top. L&B Spumoni's is three restaurants in one: a pizzeria, an informal Italian restaurant, and an ice-cream shop. The restaurant serves classics like fried calamari, Caesar salad, and marinara, Bolognese, carbonara, and Alfredo pastas. Whatever you come for, don't leave L&B without a scoop of spumoni ice cream.
2725 86th St., Brooklyn, New York, 11223, USA
Known For
- Old-style Brooklyn-Italian dining
- Namesake ice cream
- Sicilian square pizza
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$$$ | Carroll Gardens |
If you worship at the altar of Neapolitan pizza---thin-crust pies baked quickly in blistering brick ovens---Lucali is a worthy pilgrimage. Ordering is simple: there's one large pie and a choice of toppings from beef pepperoni to vegetables like grilled artichokes; and calzones in two sizes, which come with a side of marinara sauce. Pizzaiolo Mark Iacono opened his cozy restaurant in a former candy shop to insure his beloved neighborhood haunt wouldn’t turn over to a chain. Lucali quickly established itself as a top-ranked pizzeria. Arrive early and plan to explore Carroll Gardens. They'll call your phone when a spot is ready, which could be hours later.
575 Henry St., Brooklyn, New York, 11231, USA
Known For
- Thin, crispy crusts
- Hours-long waits
- Cash-only
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$ | Upper West Side |
One of the best pizza joints on the Upper West Side offers both traditional pie-shape slices and thicker square slices known as Sicilian style. There's often a long wait, whether you're there for takeout or for one of the few tables, so order online to save time.
2750 Broadway, New York, New York, 10025, USA
Known For
- Excellent pizza within walking distance of Central Park
- Cheese-stuffed garlic crescent rolls
- Pepperoni square pizza
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$$ | Greenpoint |
When it comes to pizza there’s stiff competition, but Paulie Gee’s serves outstanding gourmet pies with all kinds of creative toppings—the idea to put Mike's Hot Honey on pizza is just one of many strokes of genius. The extensive list of offerings includes the “Anise and Anephew” (Paulie Gee’s personal favorite) made with braised fennel, Berkshire guanciale, and fresh mozzarella, plus a full page of vegan pies. The handmade wood-fired oven is from Naples’s famed oven-maker Stefano Ferrara. The average wait time for a table on Friday or Saturday night is an hour.
60 Greenpoint Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11222, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizza
- Ample vegan options
- Cozy farmhouse design
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | Bushwick |
Roberta's completely transformed this industrial district in 2007 with its destination wood-fired pizzas topped with hyperlocal ingredients—many herbs come from their garden on-site, a former garage and yard. Their acclaimed pies with innovative combinations and signature crusts have wowed pizza connoisseurs so successfully, Roberta's has expanded well beyond this groundbreaking original location, with a frozen pizza line and outposts as far as Singapore. Here, where it all began, there are also pastas and mains, served in a room that extends to a patio and tiki bar.
261 Moore St., Brooklyn, New York, 11206, USA
Known For
- Internationally recognized pizza
- Patio with tiki bar
- Hyperlocal ingredients
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Pizza is the thing at Wheated, and the menu lists nearly 20 Neapolitan-style pies—all named after neighborhoods in Brooklyn, which is fitting for this laid-back, local's-favorite spot. There are several white (no sauce) and vegan options, but meat eaters should try one with Faicco’s sweet fennel sausage. Add a kick to your pie with locally produced Mike’s Hot Honey and the owner’s blend of ground, roasted Thai chili pepper. The cocktail menu has creative options that stand up to the pizza, so sipping drinks in the separate bar area is equally enticing.
905 Church Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11218, USA
Known For
- Brooklyn-named, sourdough pies
- Exceptional toppings
- Major bourbon menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No lunch
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$$ | Greenwich Village |
Few guidebooks list this classic New York pizzeria, yet the jam-packed room and pleasantly smoky scent foreshadow a satisfying meal. There's a full menu of Italian classics, but pizza is the main event, and the thin-crust beauties are cooked in a coal-fired oven, to emerge sizzling with simple toppings like pepperoni, sausage, and eggplant. Monday through Thursday, you can call ahead to reserve a table; weekends, be prepared to wait and salivate. If you like the whimsical paintings that plaster the walls, ask the waiter the price: they're for sale.
106 W. Houston St., New York, New York, 10012-2529, USA
Known For
- Classic Big Apple pizza
- Wacky art on the walls
- No reservations on weekends, so long waits
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$ | West Village |
You might recognize this Village institution from its frequent cameos in TV and film (in Spider-Man, Tobey Maguire's Peter Parker was a Joe's delivery boy). But it's the classic, gooey, New York slice, dripping melted cheese onto paper plates, that really makes the place famous. And in a city brimming with by-the-slice spots, the crispy-bottomed offerings here are the best.
7 Carmine St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- An excellent New York slice
- Cash only
- Gruff service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | DUMBO |
This authentic pizza joint has been serving arguably the best coal-fired pies on the block, ever since Patsy Grimaldi severed ties with the Grimaldi's location nearby. Juliana's—named in honor of Patsy's mother—has reigned as the Dumbo destination pizza place, and it's a local favorite for homemade soups, as well as their classic white and margherita pizzas. However, don't expect to stop in for a quick slice; it's personal to large pies only.
19 Old Fulton St., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Authentic Brooklyn pizza
- Family-friendly dining
- Crowds
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$$ | West Village |
At the back of this long, narrow restaurant is a beautifully tiled, wood-fired oven that is used to cook (at 1,000º F) what might be Manhattan's most authentic Neapolitan pies. Blistered and chewy around the edges, the margherita pie gives way to a softer center pooled with San Marzano tomato sauce and house-made mozzarella. There are numerous pizza options, including white pies and gluten-free crusts. This is a definite contender for best pizza in New York. The dining room is casual, and the location means it's almost always busy.
271 Bleecker St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Varieties of authentic Neapolitan pizza
- Gluten-free option
- Always busy
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations not accepted
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$$ | NoLIta |
Brick walls, red-and-white-checked tablecloths, and the aroma of delicious thin-crust pies emerging from the coal oven set the mood for dining on some of the best pizza in Manhattan, and Lombardi's has been serving it up since 1905 (though not in the same location). The mozzarella is always fresh, resulting in a nearly greaseless slice, and the toppings, such as meatballs, pancetta, or imported anchovies, are also top quality.
32 Spring St., New York, New York, 10012-4173, USA
Known For
- Traditional New York pizza
- Always busy
- Clam pizza
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations not accepted
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$$ | Astoria |
A hip, cozy place for pizza and small plates, all exposed brick and reclaimed wood, Milkflower certainly owes its popularity to Brooklyn mainstays like Roberta’s. Only here, you can actually get a table without a long wait, and what’s on offer is just as good, if not better. Neapolitan, 12-inch pies with charred crusts have playful names like “Chardie Sheen” and “Wu-Tang Clam,” and wood-fired veggies or tiger prawns are ideal accompaniments.
34--12 31st Ave., Queens, New York, 11106, USA
Known For
- Wood-fired pizzas with cute names
- Inventive vegetable small plates
- Good wine selection, including orange wines
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
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$$$ | Sunnyside |
One of an increasing number of artisanal pizza shops, Philomena's serves both squares and slices, Neapolitan- and New York–style. You can depend upon expert ingredients, thinly sliced and thickly layered. The squares are chewy and bouncy while the crust on those slices is crisp and nearly caramelized, but your best bet might be the 18-inch classic round pies, which provide more than enough crunchy, tomato-y gooeyness for a satisfying meal.
41--16 Queens Blvd., Queens, New York, 11104, USA
Known For
- Slices and squares
- Artisanal ingredients
- Caramelized crust
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
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$ | NoLIta |
Follow the line of people that often wends down the block to find this tiny counter-serve spot that serves some of the best pizza in downtown NY. Grandma slices (the square ones) are the thing to order here, and the pizza with 'roni cups (those little rounds of pepperoni) is what made this place IG-famous, but our favorite is the square margherita slice, which really showcases that delicious homemade tomato sauce.
27 Prince St., New York, New York, 10012, USA
Known For
- Usually a line but it moves fast
- Service can be brusque
- Just a couple of seats
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$$ | Lower East Side |
From the outside—and even on the inside—Scarr's looks like an old-fashioned slice joint, with fresh pies cooling in the display cases, a few counter stools, and booths with that uncomfortable, pre-formed formica seating. What sets this place firmly in the present is the high-end quality of the pizza, which incorporates locally sourced tomatoes and dough made with flour milled on-site, as well as the all-natural wine list, the upscale slushy cocktails, and the trendy patrons.
22 Orchard St., New York, New York, 10002, USA
Known For
- Serious retro look
- Pretty much always a crowd
- Beer and upscale slushy cocktails, along with the natural wines
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$ | Meatpacking District |
At a time when some pizzerias in the city are charging more than $25 for Neapolitan-style margherita pizza, Simò is a welcome bite of pizza dough. Most pies hover around the $12 mark, and here affordable does not mean bad quality. Simò's offerings, especially the margherita and the cacio e pepe pie, are excellent. In addition, there's wine and prosecco by the glass, also priced below $12. So stop in after a walk on the High Line and mangia, mangia! There's now a second location near Union Square on University Place and East 11th Street.
90–92 Gansevoort St., New York, New York, 10014, USA
Known For
- Affordable but excellent Neapolitan pizzas
- Nicely priced wine by the glass
- Pizzas cooked in less than 90 seconds
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$$ | Brooklyn Heights |
A hot margherita pizza cooked in a coal-fired oven with a dark, smoky crust is basically the taste of Brooklyn. Stop by Table 87, "Home of the Coal Oven Slice," for the quintessential Brooklyn snack (a plain slice costs $4), or get a table in the casual back room for a simple but delicious meal.
87 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, New York, 11201, USA
Known For
- Coal oven pizza
- Slices
- Iconic Brooklyn taste
