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
16 East 105th Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
South Harlem
504 Manhattan Avenue
$2,700No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
163 East 99th Street
$1,925No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
164 East 112th Street
$2,990No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
133 West 132nd Street
$2,350No Fee
1 |
1
South Harlem
132 West 117th Street
$2,450No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
2647 Frederick Douglass Boulevard
$2,150No Fee
1 |
1
South Harlem
3 East 115th Street
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
South Harlem
13 East 117th Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
1
Central Harlem
51 East 131st Street
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
East Harlem
414 East 120th Street
$2,940No Fee
1 |
1
Central Harlem
117 West 132nd Street
$2,850No 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
East Village
273 East Tenth Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
153 Avenue A
$2,745No Fee
Studio |
1
Chelsea
240 West 16th Street
$2,285No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
60 West 8th Street
$2,750No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
112 East 7th Street
$2,500No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
112 East 7th Street
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
431 East Ninth Street
$2,990No Fee
2 |
1
East Village
101 Saint Mark’s Place
$2,785No Fee
1 |
1
East Village
149 First Avenue
$2,550No Fee
Studio |
1
Soho
38 Grand Street
$2,895No Fee
Studio |
1
Chelsea
320 West 20th Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio |
1
East Village
542 East 11th Street
$2,595No 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
30-18 43rd Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
31-29 30th Street
$2,250No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
14-45 31st Avenue
$2,600No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
25-27 32nd Street
$3,000No Fee
2 |
2
Astoria
2-24 26th Avenue
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
23-80 28th Street
$2,900No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
43-14 28th Avenue
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
32-73 37th Street
$2,300No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
22-12 Hazen Street
$2,000No Fee
1 |
1
Ditmars-Steinway
37-09 23rd Avenue
$2,500No Fee
1 |
1
Astoria
25-23 43rd Street
$2,699No Fee
2 |
1
Astoria
28-34 42nd Street
$2,700No 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
105 Avenue O
$2,200No Fee
2 |
1
Bensonhurst
6521 14th Avenue
$1,950No Fee
1 |
351
Bensonhurst
1405 71st Street
$1,795No Fee
1 |
1
Bensonhurst
1516 West 9th Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
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
Princes Bay
91 Finlay Avenue
$1,999No Fee
2 |
1
Grasmere
65 Parkinson Avenue
$2,500No Fee
3 |
2
Saint George
5 Stuyvesant Place
$2,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Saint George
30 Daniel Low Terrace
$1,500No Fee
1 |
1
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
1258 Decatur Street
$3,000No Fee
3 |
1
Bushwick
1399 Myrtle Avenue
$2,695No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
379 Harman Street
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
703 Hart Street
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
798 Knickerbocker Avenue
$3,000No Fee
3 |
1
Bushwick
109 Troutman Street
$2,900No Fee
Studio |
1
Bushwick
275 Schaefer Street
$2,500No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
537 Central Avenue
$2,750No Fee
2 |
1
Bushwick
503 Evergreen Avenue
$2,900No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
1109 Halsey Street
$2,650No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
340 Evergreen Avenue
$2,731No Fee
1 |
1
Bushwick
74 Bleecker Street
$2,894No Fee
2 |
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
67 Pitt Street
$2,383No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
248 Broome Street
$3,100No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
63 Clinton Street
$2,895No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
141 Essex Street
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
122 Orchard Street
$2,850No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
76 Forsyth Street
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
200 Allen Street
$2,400No Fee
Studio |
1
Lower East Side
158 Rivington Street
$3,095No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
49 Clinton Street
$2,995No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
95 Orchard Street
$2,495No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
168 Ludlow Street
$3,095No Fee
1 |
1
Lower East Side
42 Clinton 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
60 West 8th Street
$2,750No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
193 Bleecker Street
$3,300No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
203 Bleecker Street
$3,150No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
224 Sullivan Street
$2,995No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
29 West 12th Street
$3,200No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
11 Waverly Place
$3,010No Fee
Studio |
1
Greenwich Village
230 Thompson Street
$3,350No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
29 West 12th Street
$3,200No Fee
1 |
1
Greenwich Village
120 West 3rd Street
$3,450No 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
Upper West Side
171 West 83rd Street
$2,275No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
109 West 106th Street
$2,995No Fee
2 |
1
Lincoln Square
68 West 69th Street
$2,495No Fee
Studio |
1
Manhattan Valley
11 West 103rd Street
$2,800No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
216 West 100th Street
$2,000No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
102 West 80th Street
$2,750No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
35 West 89th Street
$3,000No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
790 Amsterdam Avenue
$2,315No Fee
Studio |
1
Upper West Side
273 West 73rd Street
$2,975No Fee
1 |
1
Manhattan Valley
4 West 103rd Street
$2,888No Fee
1 |
1
Lincoln Square
244 West 64th Street
$2,600No Fee
1 |
1
Upper West Side
131 West 81st 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
Pelham Parkway
2160 Matthews Avenue
$2,166No Fee
1 |
1
Concourse
731 Gerard Avenue
$1,525No Fee
1 |
1
Morris Park
1614 Haight Avenue
$2,295No Fee
2 |
1
Bedford Park
222 East 202nd Street
$1,625No Fee
1 |
1
Riverdale
5730 Mosholu Avenue
$1,750No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
224 East 135th Street
$2,400No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,415No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
276 Grand Concourse
$2,343No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
228 East 135th Street
$2,277No Fee
1 |
1
Tremont
2020 Grandconcourse
$1,775No Fee
Studio |
1
Mott Haven
228 East 135th Street
$2,254No Fee
1 |
1
Mott Haven
228 East 135th Street
$2,430No 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.