The Best Pizza in New York

New York: a city for and of pizza lovers. Every New Yorker has their favourite addresses to get a slice or ‘pie’ (the whole pizza). A couple of pizzerias have almost been declared as holy dining spots. Here is my personal list of the best pizza in New York, trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

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John’s Pizzeria of Bleecker Street (278 Bleecker Street)

John’s Pizzeria of Bleecker Street, also known as John’s Pizza is my number 1. The wood panelling, traditional niches and colourful wall art make this restaurant an experience in itself – free with your slice of pizza. This spot draws the attention of all sorts of people, hipsters, struggling artists, old Italian gentlemen and even many celebrities (at least on the wall). You can’t buy individual slices, just whole pizzas, which are big enough to share between two or three people. Baked in a brick oven, pizzas have a dark, crispy, thin crust. John’s praise themselves for the classical preparation of their pizza and rightly so!

These pizzas are more sophisticated than most American variations. Ingredients are fresh, the sauce is spicy and the cheese is premium quality. Cheese pizza is standard here but there are countless possibilities for toppings. You can also order a bottle of wine at a reasonable price. You won’t go bankrupt eating here: The prices for a pizza start from around $20. The pizzeria is great for lunch and dinner, but expect a queue.
Joe’s Pizza (7 Carmine Street)

Finding Joe’s Pizza from subway stop West 4th Street is easy; just follow the smell! This place is always packed, with businessmen, residents and workers eagerly enjoying their slices. Order your slice at the ‘bar’, where you’ll be handed a paper plate with your selection. Devour it straight away, at one of the standing tables on the side. These pizzas are topped to perfection and very good. You can order a cheese pizza, a margarita (with mozzarella) or a Sicilian. All have a thin, crispy crust and a large amount of cheese. For most, the high point is Joe’s tomato sauce: the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. You can also add a range of toppings, like pepperoni. You pay a little extra for that, but at a few dollars a slice, it’s not a big deal. Who knows, you may be rubbing shoulders with Leonardo DiCaprio, who frequents Joe’s. The pizza place has a few locations in New York, the one on Carmine Street is my favourite.
NY Pizza Suprema (413 8th Avenue)

This pizzeria is actually located in a bit of a weird, or at least unexpected place in Manhattan. You wouldn’t expect for one of the best pizzerias to be located next to Penn Station. I only know about it because I read about a boy who tried out all of the pizzerias in Manhattan during the course of two years. NY Pizza Suprema received a great score, so when I last had the chance to try it myself, I of course did. And? Well, he was right! The pizzas have a good crust and are perfectly lightly baked. But it’s the sauce that makes the pizza, and that’s fantastic. It’s tasty, spicy – but not too spicy. The sauce is really what makes the difference. Try at least one margarita slice before you go crazy with, for example, pepperoni.

Although there is enough seating, this is not a place to go for the atmosphere but purely for the pizza! NY Pizza Suprema is great for grabbing lunch or, because of its location (near Penn Station/Madison Square Garden), perfect for a snack before or after a Knicks or Rangers game for example!
Prince Street Pizza (27 Prince Street)

Prince Street Pizza is the perfect place to grab a slice after a night out or while shopping in SoHo. This hip pizzeria was founded in 2012 by a father and son who have their roots in Italy. They use Sicilian recipes that have been in the family for generations. The pizzas are made with fresh ingredients and from a thick but crispy and airy crust. I always find it difficult to find a good pizzeria in this area, but this one is definitely worth adding to my list. I have my own favourite pizzerias all over New York.
Lombardi’s (32 Spring Street)

For a slice of history, visit Lombardi’s. In contrast to Joe’s Pizza, Lombardi’s was not designed for a quick bite. In 1905 this pizzeria was given planning permission by the municipality of New York, making it the oldest pizzeria in the city. The décor hasn’t changed much since: wooden tables, red and white check table cloths and murals of the Italian countryside. Everyone comes to Lombardi’s – from glamorous couples to large families. In the restaurant, you can’t order slices, only whole pizzas and they are not for those on a diet! Lombardi’s is known as the pizzeria that introduced the New York-style pizza: with it’s thick, dark crust, topped with mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil. On top of that, you can choose lots of different sorts of toppings, including home-made meatballs. It’s a great spot for lunch and dinner but you can expect long queues.
Two Boots (101 7th Ave S and 42 Avenue A)

Two Boots was established in 1987 by two film-makers that love pizza and beer (like many American men). The name references the form of both Italy and Louisiana as they both look like boots. With an original name and creative entrepreneurs, it’s no wonder that Two Boots serves special pizzas. At the locations, you can order a cheese pizza that can be dressed up with toppings inspired by Southern food. The names of the pizzas are inspired by films and tv shows: The Dude, The Newman, Mr Pink and Cleopatra Jones. If you don’t feel like anything too ‘exotic’, you can also just choose pepperoni, anchovies or olives.
Pizza Tour to Brooklyn and Coney Island

On a pizza tour to Brooklyn and Coney Island you will discover more than just delicious pizza. With a guide, you’ll drive past famous filming locations, admire the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn Bridge Park, and stroll the Coney Island boardwalk. Along the way, you can sink your teeth into the tastiest slices to be found in these New York neighbourhoods. I definitely recommend this tour!