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
Central Harlem
2847 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
$2,678No Fee
2 |
1
South Harlem
42 West 120th Street
$2,375No Fee
Studio |
1
East Harlem
2146 Second Avenue
$2,395No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
316 West 139th Street
$2,379No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
217 West 145th Street
$2,300No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
250 West 138th Street
$2,782No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
215 East 110th Street
$2,145No Fee
1 |
1
South Harlem
2166 Fred Douglas Boulevard
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
25 West 126th Street
$1,900No Fee
Studio |
1
West Harlem
371 West 126th Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
190 East 104th Street
$2,875No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
66 West 138th Street
$2,475No 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
17 Essex Street
$1,995No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
751 E 6th Street
$2,895No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
249 East 2nd Street
$2,325No Fee
Studio |
1
Little Italy
163 Mott Street
$2,450No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
238 East 6th Street
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
413 East 9th Street
$2,795No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
76 Forsyth Street
$2,700No Fee
1 |
2
East Village
517 East Fifth Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
166 Suffolk Street
$2,450No Fee
Studio |
1
Chelsea
335 West 29th Street
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
Two Bridges
164 Henry Street
$2,475No Fee
Studio |
1
West Village
177 Waverly Place
$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
2-24 26th Avenue
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
32-60 41st Street
$1,950No Fee
Studio |
1
Astoria
26-41 3rd Street
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
19-15 80th Street
$2,150No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
30-96 12th Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
37-01 30th Avenue
$1,900No Fee
Studio |
1
Astoria
32-27 46th Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
26-16 30th Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
2
Astoria
32-06 29th Street
$2,100No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
31-42 45th Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
28-16 21st Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
21-21 35th Street
$3,000No 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
1836 76th Street
$1,800No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
1958 80th Street
$2,295No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
1516 West 9th Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
7714 Bay Parkway
$1,800No Fee
Studio |
1
Bensonhurst
1804 Bayridge Avenue
$1,875No Fee
Studio |
0.5
Bensonhurst
6801 Bay Parkway
$2,400No 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
Saint George
5 Stuyvesant Place
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1
Saint George
30 Daniel Low Terrace
$2,195No Fee
2 |
1
South Beach
128 Mills Avenue
$2,650No Fee
3 |
2
Saint George
5 Stuyvesant Place
$2,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Eltingville
147 Cortelyou Avenue
$2,395No Fee
1 |
1
Mariners Harbor
24 Continental Place
$2,762No Fee
2 |
1
Grasmere
148 Fayette Avenue
$1,600No Fee
1 |
1
Westerleigh
212 Manor Road
$2,800No Fee
3 |
1.5
Westerleigh
212 Manor Road
$1,850No Fee
1 |
1
Saint George
141 Saint Mark’s Place
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1.5
Grasmere
65 Parkinson Avenue
$2,500No Fee
3 |
2
Stapleton
8 Navy Pier Court
$2,255No 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
115 Stanwix Street
$2,913No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
11 Arion Place
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
10 Montieth Street
$2,965No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
453 Irving Avenue
$2,999No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
223 Troutman Street
$2,650No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
1218 Bushwick Avenue
$1,950No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
774 Bushwick Avenue
$2,800No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
1098 Bushwick Avenue
$2,999No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
353 Linden Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
635 Bushwick Avenue
$2,100No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
10 Montieth Street
$2,460No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
115 Suydam Street
$2,995No Fee
3 |
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
106 Norfolk Street
$3,025No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
76 Forsyth Street
$2,700No Fee
1 |
2
Lower East Side
166 Suffolk Street
$2,450No Fee
Studio |
1
Two Bridges
164 Henry Street
$2,475No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
25 Clinton Street
$2,625No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
63 Clinton Street
$2,895No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
127 Rivington Street
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
172 Delancey Street
$2,750No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
144 Orchard Street
$2,695No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
152 Orchard Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
161 Attorney Street
$2,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
79 Rivington Street
$2,857No 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 3rd Street
$3,150No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
50 Greenwich Avenue
$3,395No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
224 Sullivan Street
$3,195No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
224 Sullivan Street
$3,395No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
50 East Eighth Street
$3,300No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
106 Mac Dougal Street
$3,250No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
178 Thompson Street
$3,250No Fee
1 |
1
Noho
2 Cooper Square
$3,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
60 West 8th Street
$2,900No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
201 Sullivan Street
$3,395No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
1 University Place
$3,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
110 Macdougal Street
$3,000No 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
142 West 109th Street
$2,950No Fee
2 |
1
Upper West Side
310 West 101st Street
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
132 West 109th Street
$2,221No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
240 West 73rd Street
$3,000No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
102 West 79th Street
$2,750No Fee
Studio |
1
Lincoln Square
2020 Broadway
$2,600No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
214 West 102nd Street
$2,395No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
316 West 81st Street
$2,575No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
66 West 106th Street
$2,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
250 West 105th Street
$2,745No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
929 Columbus Avenue
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
70 West 83rd Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio |
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
Kingsbridge
4582 Manhattan College Parkway
$1,895No Fee
1 |
1
Kingsbridge Heights
3451 Giles Place
$2,400No Fee
2 |
1
Concourse
215 East 164th Street
$2,400No Fee
2 |
1
Fordham
2763 Morris Avenue
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Williamsbridge
830 Magenta Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Westchester Village
2200 Powell Avenue
$1,620No Fee
1 |
1
Soundview
1364 Bronx River Avenue
$1,870No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
112 Lincoln Avenue
$2,450No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,337No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,365No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,232No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grandconcourse
$1,998No Fee
Studio |
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.