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
East Harlem
328 East 106th Street
$2,275No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
338 East 116th Street
$2,400No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
102 East 116th Street
$1,875No Fee
Studio |
1
Central Harlem
2490 Fred Douglas Boulevard
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
2490 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
$2,525No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
203 West 144th Street
$2,400No Fee
3 |
1
Manhattanville
3333B Broadway
$2,195No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
327 East 101st Street
$2,650No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
1998 Second Avenue
$2,561No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
1908 Third Avenue
$2,410No Fee
1 |
1
South Harlem
207 West 115th Street
$2,785No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
163 West 126th Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
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
Chinatown
172 Hester Street
$2,399No Fee
1 |
1
Two Bridges
56 Henry Street
$2,950No Fee
2 |
1
Lower East Side
136 Orchard Street
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
NoMad
115 East 27th Street
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
45 First Avenue
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
1
Gramercy Park
330 East 15th Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
41 Essex Street
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
413 East 9th Street
$2,676No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
199 East 7th Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
168 East 7th Street
$2,995No Fee
Studio |
1
West Chelsea
411 West 24th Street
$2,325No Fee
Studio |
1
Chelsea
261 West 29th Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
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
32-73 34th Street
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
23-15 Astoria Boulevard
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
25-44 Crescent Street
$2,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Astoria
25-22 14 Place
$2,200No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
30-91 Crescent Street
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
25-40 Shore Boulevard
$2,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Astoria
25-56 33rd Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
31-80 36th Street
$2,850No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
34-34 33rd Street
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
30-15 34th Avenue
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
21-57 33rd Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
21-47 27th Street
$2,300No Fee
1 |
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
1930 Bay Ridge Parkway
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
6601 17th Avenue
$2,299No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
1478 83rd Street
$1,800No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
1779 81st Street
$2,475No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
7115 21st Avenue
$1,800No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
1750 68th Street
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
1472 Bay Ridge Avenue
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
2061 76th Street
$2,100No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
1513 83rd Street
$1,899No Fee
Studio |
1
Bensonhurst
1518 83rd Street
$1,900No Fee
Studio |
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
Saint George
224 Richmond Terrace
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1
Saint George
36 Hamilton Avenue
$1,975No Fee
2 |
2
Saint George
36 Hamilton Avenue
$1,600No Fee
1 |
1
Saint George
36 Hamilton Avenue
$1,750No Fee
2 |
1
Saint George
80 Bay Street Landing
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1.5
Saint George
5 Stuyvesant Place
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Saint George
5 Stuyvesant Place
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
Shore Acres
39 New Lane
$3,000No Fee
4 |
2
Saint George
30 Daniel Low Terrace
$1,650No Fee
1 |
1
Saint George
119 Winter Avenue
$2,700No Fee
2 |
1
Dongan Hills
192 Raritan Avenue
$2,850No Fee
3 |
1
Saint George
36 Hamilton Avenue
$1,700No Fee
1 |
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
184 Noll Street
$2,452No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
467 Central Avenue
$2,700No Fee
3 |
1.5
Bushwick
589 Knickerbocker Avenue
$2,888No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
1106 Bushwick Avenue
$2,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
379 Knickerbocker Avenue
$2,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
379 Knickerbocker Avenue
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
358 Grove Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
2
Bushwick
671 Bushwick Avenue
$2,750No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
1165 Decatur Street
$2,999No Fee
3 |
1
Bushwick
618 Bushwick Avenue
$2,778No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
500 Hart Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
2
Bushwick
310 Menahan Street
$2,995No 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
Two Bridges
56 Henry Street
$2,950No Fee
2 |
1
Lower East Side
136 Orchard Street
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
41 Essex Street
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
101 Clinton Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Two Bridges
117 Henry Street
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
294 Broome Street
$2,829No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
156 Orchard Street
$2,350No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
247 Broome Street
$2,991No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
48 Allen Street
$2,975No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
165 Attorney Street
$2,795No Fee
1 |
1
Two Bridges
25 Market Street
$2,799No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
3 Clinton Street
$3,100No 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
234 Thompson Street
$3,250No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
20 East 9th Street
$3,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
110 Macdougal Street
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
226 Thompson Street
$3,300No Fee
2 |
1
Greenwich Village
27 East 13th Street
$3,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
167 Bleecker Street
$3,295No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
176 Thompson Street
$3,295No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
160 Bleecker Street
$3,495No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
124 Mac Dougal Street
$3,500No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
167 Bleecker Street
$3,295No Fee
1 |
1
Noho
308 Mott Street
$3,100No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
194 Bleecker Street
$3,250No Fee
1 |
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
Manhattan Valley
850 Amsterdam Avenue
$2,850No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
230 West 105th Street
$2,700No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
328 West 83rd Street
$2,780No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
78 Manhattan Avenue
$2,470No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
255 West 91st Street
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
262 West 73rd Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
250 West 105th Street
$2,295No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
70 West 109th Street
$2,999No Fee
2 |
1
Manhattan Valley
202 West 106th Street
$2,150No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
40 West 75th Street
$2,950No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
115 West 106th Street
$2,499No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
101 West 77th Street
$2,975No 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
Norwood
3105 Decatur Avenue
$1,725No Fee
1 |
1
North New York
133 Brown Place
$2,275No Fee
2 |
1
North New York
417 East 135th Street
$2,275No Fee
2 |
1
North New York
109 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,275No Fee
2 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,378No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Concourse
975 Sherman Avenue
$1,918No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,340No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,354No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
40 Bruckner Boulevard
$2,396No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,414No Fee
2 |
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.