Pizza has long been a fave of on-the-go New Yorkers. It’s divinely delicious and handheld. But when it comes to the best pizza in NYC, some neighborhoods are more delectable than others. Arthur Bovino, who runs foodie-favorite Instagram account @nycbestpizza, explains the key element to identifying a pizza neighborhood: “A pizza neighborhood’s a place that I wouldn’t need to leave for great pizza,” says the East Village resident. “That would mean at least one great spot, and then a couple other good or fun ones. I like the Williamsburg and Greenpoint area — I’d consider moving there to have L’Industrie as my local place. With a Joe’s outpost also nearby, plus Best and Paulie Gee’s, you’ve got good options.”
We followed our noses to neighborhoods with some of the best pizza in NYC. Here’s our list, complete with the median rental and sales prices for each area, and the best places to stop in for a slice.
Table of Contents
Harlem Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
South Harlem
227 Lenox Avenue
$2,450No Fee
Studio |
1
South Harlem
2166 Frederic Douglas Boulevard
$2,000No Fee
Studio |
1
South Harlem
2 West 120th Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
137 West 137th Street
$1,820No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
118 East 103rd Street
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
137 West 137th Street
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
229 West 136th Street
$2,321No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
339 East 118th Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
2190 Madison Avenue
$2,850No Fee
2 |
1
East Harlem
315 East 108th Street
$2,550No Fee
2 |
1
South Harlem
296 Manhattan Avenue
$2,550No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
225 East 118th Street
$2,275No Fee
2 |
1
Best Pizza in NYC: East Harlem in Manhattan, Patsy’s Pizzeria
They don’t call Patsy’s Pizzeria a “pizza dynasty” for nothing. Founded in 1933, this coal-oven joint was reportedly the first ever to start selling pizza by the slice, and New Yorkers couldn’t be more grateful. (Proof it’s old-school good: Frank Sinatra was a fan of this place). A few blocks west, Sam’s Famous Pizzeria specializes in surprising toppings. This is the place to try a gyro pie or even a Nutella pie! In addition, the brick apartment buildings on the surrounding blocks are home to a plethora of affordable apartments in NYC. Many are super-convenient to Central Park and Museum Mile if historic pizza isn’t enough culture for you.
Median Asking Rent: $2,275 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $720K as of November 2021.
Subway Info: The 4, 5, and 6 trains can deposit you in Midtown in 30 minutes (or less, if you catch the express).
Downtown Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
East Village
413 East 9th Street
$2,541No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
71 First Avenue
$2,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Chelsea
221 West 15th Street
$2,695No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
324 East Sixth Street
$2,850No Fee
Studio |
1
West Village
47 Jane Street
$2,800No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
131 East 7th Street
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
248 East 2nd Street
$2,600No Fee
1 |
1
Chelsea
307 West 29th Street
$2,950No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
543 East 5th Street
$2,950No Fee
2 |
1
Gramercy Park
210 East 21st Street
$2,850No Fee
Studio |
1
Gramercy Park
335 East 21st Street
$2,226No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
337 Grand Street
$2,300No Fee
Studio |
1
Best Pizza in NYC: Nolita in Manhattan, Lombardi’s
New York’s obsession with pizza makes perfect sense. After all, the first pizzeria in the nation was reportedly born here — at Lombardi’s, founded by Naples expat Gennaro Lombardi back in 1905. The place is still thoroughly old school, with a whisper of char on their coal-oven-baked crusts. There are just a handful of truly unforgettable topping options, including their worth-the-wait famous clam pie. (It boasts Romano cheese, parsley, garlic, and some three dozen fresh-shucked clams — lemon on the side.) Nolita itself is just as palatable, with cinematic streets and jaw-dropping architecture. You may recognize the 1885 Puck Building — built in Romanesque Revival style, complete with a golden Puck statue — from the sitcom “Will & Grace.” And the nearby beaux-arts Police Building had a star turn in Martin Scorsese’s film “Gangs of New York.”
Median Asking Rent: $3,695 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $7.2M as of November 2021.
Subway Info: The Broadway–Lafayette Street station is home to four lines: B, D, F and M. Hop on the D here and you’ll be in Times Square in 11 minutes.
Astoria Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Astoria
32-49 43rd Street
$2,650No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
31-35 30th Street
$1,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Astoria
25-95 37th Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
26-36 Fourth Street
$2,123No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
31-05 21st Street
$2,271No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
31-20 32nd Street
$2,313No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
22-11 Steinway Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
23-24 37th Street
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
2-24 26th Avenue
$2,950No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
24-26 41st Street
$2,799No Fee
3 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
24-05 28th Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
25-18 18th Street
$2,400No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria, Queens: Basil Brick Oven Pizza
That’s right, Astoria! “No matter where in Astoria you live, you’re bound to have a favorite neighborhood pizzeria,” says Mevy F. Rim, a broker with Modern Spaces. “My personal favorite is Alba’s on Ditmars Boulevard. Aside from being just a delicious slice of pizza, it brings back so many fun childhood memories.” Other area faves? Rose & Joe’s Italian Bakery, where broker George Halvatzis of Halvatzis Realty often stops in for a Sicilian slice. (Heads up: They also stuff their cannoli fresh upon your order!) At Basil Brick Oven Pizza, the addictive pies emerge from a 900-degree wood-burning oven. Try the Pizzucca, with herbed pumpkin-walnut sauce, pancetta, basil, mozzarella, and Parmigiano Reggiano. Astoria locals love that they can walk off their pizza indulgences in the 60-acre Astoria Park, where you’ll find an Olympic-size pool and one of the most postcard-worthy panoramas in the outer boroughs.
Median Asking Rent: $2,200 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $817,200 as of November 2021.
Subway Info: The N and W trains beeline to this part of Queens and can take you to the East side of Manhattan in 15 minutes. (As the saying goes here, “Fifteen minutes to Bloomingdale’s.”) The M60 bus also stops here — and then heads to Laguardia Airport.
Bensonhurst Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Bensonhurst
8411 14th Avenue
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
8419 19th Avenue
$1,749No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
8201 19th Avenue
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
1365 West 7th Street
$1,749No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
1402 West Fourth Street
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
1804 Bayridge Avenue
$1,875No Fee
Studio |
0.5
Bensonhurst
1516 West 9th Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
6801 Bay Parkway
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
1970 85th Street
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst, Brooklyn: L&B Spumoni Gardens
In 1938, an Italian immigrant with six kids to support sold pizza most unexpectedly: hawking it from a horse-drawn wagon. The horse, Babe, carried the pizza wagon through the streets of Bensonhurst and Gravesend, Brooklyn. Now, the L&B Spumoni Gardens family’s fourth generation is running its brick-and-mortar empire. Don’t miss their “World Famous L&B Sicilian Pie,” with the crispy crust of your dreams. And end your meal with a scoop of spumoni, an Italian ice cream made using the founder’s own recipe. It’s so delish they named the place after it! You’ll find great and relatively affordable NYC apartments throughout Bensonhurst, including 1920s brick buildings with leafy inner courtyards.
Median Rent: $1,699 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $1.4M for the same time period.
Subway Info: The D train will get you to midtown in about 55 minutes.
Staten Island Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Dongan Hills
160 Liberty Avenue
$2,500No Fee
3 |
1
Shore Acres
179 Hope Avenue
$2,400No Fee
2 |
1
Port Richmond
195 Jewett Avenue
$2,525No Fee
Studio |
1
West Brighton
75 Lawrence Avenue
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Grasmere
138 Fayette Avenue
$1,550No Fee
1 |
1
Saint George
30 Daniel Low Terrace
$1,498No Fee
1 |
1
Grasmere
65 Parkinson Avenue
$2,500No Fee
3 |
2
Stapleton
8 Navy Pier Court
$2,255No Fee
Studio |
1
Stapleton
7 Navy Pier Court
$2,395No Fee
Studio |
1
Staten Island: Joe & Pat’s
Often the “forgotten borough,” Staten Island boasts a unique housing stock, and lots of great restaurants to boot. There’s a 1,778-acre Greenbelt with myriad hiking trails, and most of the island offers great value with a small-town feel. And, of course, drool-inducing pizza options. Joe & Pat’s Pizzeria & Restaurant serves an ultra-thin-crust pie that’s been downright legendary since 1960. Over at Lee’s Tavern, the Italian shredded pork pizza is beloved. (Another must: breadcrumb-stuffed marinated artichokes.)
Median Asking Rent: $2,000 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $692,500 for the same time period.
Subway Info: There are no subways to Manhattan from Staten Island. But the Staten Island Ferry can get you to Whitehall Terminal at the foot of Manhattan in 25 minutes. (And it’s famously free!)
Bushwick Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Bushwick
886 Flushing Avenue
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
949 Willoughby Avenue
$2,950No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
10 Montieth Street
$2,680No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
1354 Jefferson Avenue
$2,718No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
69 Cooper Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
1354 Jefferson Avenue
$2,920No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
345 Eldert Street
$2,925No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
603 Bushwick Avenue
$2,749No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
311 Grove Street
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
293 Grove Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
296 Harman Street
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
279 Himrod Street
$2,552No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick, Brooklyn: Roberta’s
Everyone from Bill and Hillary Clinton to Marnie on HBO’s “Girls” (also known as actress Allison Williams) has eaten at Roberta’s. It’s arguably home to the best pizza in NYC. Sam Sifton, Food Editor of the New York Times, deemed its pies “marvelous things.” We love their inventive combinations, like the Bee Sting, with mozzarella, tomato, soppressata, chile, basil, and drizzles of honey. And don’t forget dessert (try the geranium mascarpone gelato). The surrounding neighborhood, Bushwick, is an affordable place for renters with lofts built into former warehouses, plus sundry two-family clapboard and limestone homes.
Median Rent: $2,800 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $1.1 million for the same time period.
Subway Info: If you head to the L it will take you to Midtown in about 30 minutes, but buses may get you where you’re headed faster.
Lower East Side Rentals Under $3,100 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Lower East Side
337 Grand Street
$2,300No Fee
Studio |
1
Two Bridges
52 Henry Street
$2,650No Fee
2 |
1
Lower East Side
147 Orchard Street
$2,450No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
96 Orchard Street
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
70 Orchard Street
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Two Bridges
21 Catherine Street
$2,750No Fee
2 |
1
Two Bridges
251 East Broadway
$2,996No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
165 Ludlow Street
$2,929No Fee
1 |
1
Two Bridges
102 Madison Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Lower East Side
261 Broome Street
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
Two Bridges
41 Henry Street
$2,521No Fee
1 |
1
Two Bridges
239 Henry Street
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side, Manhattan: Scarr’s Pizza
If you believe that beauty is in the details, Scarr’s Pizza may be your definition of the best pizza in NYC. Why? Scarr’s churns out pies with practically Michelin-level chef skills within their standard-issue storefront, complete with a neon beer sign. That includes stone-milling their own grains right on-site. Choices include everything from the Hotboi Original Pie, with beef pepperoni, jalapenos, and Mike’s Extra Hot Honey, to a vegan pie topped with NUMU vegan cheese. Their cocktails alone — like the guava margarita — are worth moving to the neighborhood for. The area is chockablock with history, too. Former tenement buildings still have their century-old architectural flourishes, like rounded windows and Italianate friezes and cornices.
Median Rent: $3,595 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $1.1 million as of November 2021.
Subway Info: Here, the F train is your friend. And the D will get you to Times Square in 25 minutes flat.
Greenwich Village Rentals Under $3,500 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Greenwich Village
118 West Third Street
$3,095No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
177 Thompson Street
$3,250No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
50-54 East 8th Street
$3,300No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
50-54 East 8th Street
$3,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
1 University Place
$3,295No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
173 Bleecker Street
$3,307No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
63 West 8th Street
$3,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Noho
6 Bleecker Street
$3,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
125 Macdougal Street
$3,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
55 East 9th Street
$3,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
177 Thompson Street
$2,890No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
1 University Place
$3,195No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village, Manhattan: Arturo’s
Arturo’s opened in Greenwich Village in 1957, and we can’t help but imagine young Bob Dylan, Count Basie, and Jackson Pollock stopping in for a slice to fuel their artful endeavors. It certainly ranks among the best pizza in NYC, in part because of what it’s not: trying too hard. Neighbors are willing to wait in line for their simple coal-oven pies with traditional toppings (anchovies with mozzarella; a sauceless sausage-and-onion “bianca”) and a heaping portion of live jazz. Even better? Knowing the timeless romance of Greenwich Village is right outside your door. Where else do Federal-style townhomes from the 1700s mingle with night-owl haunts like the subterranean Comedy Cellar? (Big names like Dave Chappelle and Colin Quinn often pop in to do a set.)
Median Asking Rent: $4,250 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $1.8M for the same time period.
Subway Info: There’s a veritable alphabet of choices at West 4th Street: A, B, C, D, E, F, and M.
Upper West Side Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Upper West Side
349 Amsterdam Avenue
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
38 West 85th Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
330 West 101st Street
$2,950No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
308 West 105th Street
$2,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
209 West 80th Street
$2,379No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
118 West 109th Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Manhattan Valley
929 Amsterdam Avenue
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Lincoln Square
160 West 71st Street
$2,700No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
646 Amsterdam Avenue
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
215 West 101st Street
$2,900No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
102 West 80th Street
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
267 West 90th Street
$2,950No Fee
1 |
1
West Harlem, Manhattan: Harlem Pizza Co.
“Bono Trattoria’s wood-fired oven makes the perfect thin crust, with not too much sauce or too much cheese,” says Kimberly T. Hastie, a broker with Brown Harris Stevens. “One of the best restaurants Harlem has to offer, in my view!” But it’s not the only one. The neighborhood is home to multiple spots that lay claim to the best pizza in NYC, including the family-style offerings at Harlem Pizza Co. They use seasonal and local produce for their show-stopping pies. Try the Ooey Goey (with burrata, pecorino, and white truffle oil) and the Hangover (sweet fennel sausage, broccoli rabe, taleggio, pecorino, and basil). Bonus: this corner of Harlem has tons of great apartments, too. Many are tucked into the area’s trademark architecture: Italianate and Gothic-era brownstones and rowhouses. It’s no wonder history buffs love the neighborhood as well. You can pay your respects to General Ulysses S. Grant at his tomb in Riverside Park. And definitely stop in at Alexander Hamilton’s own 1802 house, Hamilton Grange, now a National Memorial with free admission.
Median Asking Rent: $2,400 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $489,500 in the same time period.
Subway Info: Hop on the 1 train here and you’ll be at Columbus Circle in just 25 minutes. Ditto for the A and C trains.
Bronx Rentals Under $2,500 on StreetEasyArticle continues below
Crotona Park East
1425 Longfellow Avenue
$1,699No Fee
1 |
1
Bedford Park
2855 Grandconcourse
$2,200No Fee
3 |
1
Norwood
3291 Hull Avenue
$1,772No Fee
1 |
1
Melrose
413 East 154th Street
$1,875No Fee
1 |
1
North New York
472 East 138th Street
$1,795No Fee
1 |
1
Longwood
1039 Simpson Street
$2,292No Fee
2 |
1
East Tremont
612 East 180th Street
$1,700No Fee
1 |
1
Bedford Park
2851 Valentine Avenue
$1,949No Fee
1 |
1
Tremont
2095 Grand Concourse
$1,800No Fee
1 |
1
Pelham Parkway
2157 Wallace Avenue
$1,750No Fee
1 |
1
Bronx
745 East 242nd Street
$1,850No Fee
2 |
1
Fordham
2763 Morris Avenue
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Arthur Avenue, Bronx: Zero Otto Nove
Let the tourist throngs descend on Little Italy. Real New Yorkers know Italian delights galore await them in the Bronx on Arthur Avenue. Tuscany-inspired Zero Otto Nove has some of the best pizza in NYC, bar none. On the lineup here? The La Riccardo, topped with butternut squash puree, smoked mozzarella, pancetta, and basil, and the carbo-licious Patate Salsiccia e Provola, with potatoes, sausage, and smoked mozzarella. The surrounding Belmont neighborhood is home to plenty of great housing options, including Tudor-style apartment buildings and row houses. And it’s close to both the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, which has a completely intact old-growth forest within its 250-acre grounds.
Median Rent: $2,250 as of November 2021.
Median Sales Asking Price: $405K in the greater Bronx for the same time period.
Subway Info: Expect a 50 minutes trip via the D.
More of the Best Pizza in NYC
If none of these neighborhoods sate your cravings, don’t fret! New York City has some 334 pizzerias worthy of checking out, according to Bovino, from Midwood, a very affordable neighborhood for renters and buyers to Yonkers. Should we change our nickname from the Big Apple to the Big Pizza? Food for thought.