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. From places where you can grab a quick slice to an authentic restaurant: see here is my personal list of the best pizza in New York. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

Eric's Index
John’s Pizzeria of Bleecker Street (278 Bleecker Street)

The wood panelling, traditional niches and colourful wall art make John’s Pizza 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 only get 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! 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 US $21. The pizzeria is great for lunch and dinner but expect a queue.
Joe’s Pizza (7 Carmine Street)

Joe’s Pizza 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)

You wouldn’t expect 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 over two years. NY Pizza Suprema received a great score, so when I last had the chance to try a slice 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. There are also several vegan pizza options.

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!
Lions & Tigers & Squares Detroit Pizza (268 West 23rd Street)

Francis Garcia and Sal Basille made a TV program about pizza businesses in America, which included a visit to Buddy’s Pizza in Detroit. The men were so impressed that they decided the Detroit-style pizza should come to New York. What makes it iconic is the fact that it’s a pan pizza.

The Detroit pizzeria baked the first square pizza in 1946, using steel trays from local car manufacturers. This allowed them to make a very light and crispy crust, which is one of the reasons why this pizza is so delicious to me! At Lions & Tigers & Squares, you can get a slice, ideal as a quick lunch or snack.
Lucia Pizza of SoHo (375 Canal Street)

Sal, the son of Greek and Sicilian immigrants, always had a passion for New York-style pizza, but of course also for Sicilian pizza. What started as a brick-oven pizza in the backyard has now grown into a pizza shop in Brooklyn and SoHo, bringing together the flavours of New York and Sicily. Lucia comes from Latin, meaning light, which is a reference to all the fresh and light ingredients in the pizza. And you can taste it! Lucia’s pizza tastes super fresh, thanks in large part to the balsamic and fresh basil. Besides, it is located in TriBeCa, making it a good place to grab a slice while exploring this neighbourhood.
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 have a thick, 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 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 tablecloths, 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 its thick and dark crust, topped with mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil. On top of that, you can choose lots of different sorts of toppings, including homemade meatballs.
Pizza Tour in New York

On a New York pizza tour, you will discover more than just delicious pizza. It’s a tasty tour of New York. Together with a guide, you’ll visit different local pizzerias to learn more about the city and the secret of New York pizza with its unique styles and flavours. I definitely recommend this tour!