New York Pizza

Top 10 Best Pizza Restaurants in New York

A curated ranking of the top pizza in New York, based on reputation, consistency, and standout local appeal.

New York is one of the world’s most important pizza destinations, with traditions ranging from coal-fired whole pies and classic foldable slices to carefully fermented Neapolitan pizzas, Buffalo-style cup-and-char pepperoni, and Utica’s distinctive upside-down tomato pies. While New York City naturally dominates the conversation, exceptional pizzerias can also be found in Western New York, the Capital Region, and Central New York. This Discovery Matt Food Map ranking highlights locally rooted New York pizzerias that stand out for dough, crust, sauce, cheese, ingredient quality, consistency, craftsmanship, historical significance, and overall dining experience.

1
Una Pizza Napoletana
New York City
Una Pizza Napoletana takes the top spot as one of America’s most respected examples of contemporary Neapolitan pizza. Anthony Mangieri prepares naturally leavened dough with painstaking attention to fermentation, shaping, balance, and baking. The small menu, carefully sourced ingredients, and intense focus on every individual pie make Una the strongest overall choice for No. 1.
Known for: Naturally leavened dough, Neapolitan pizza, minimalist toppings, Anthony Mangieri’s craftsmanship
2
Lucali
Brooklyn
Lucali has developed an almost mythical reputation from its intimate Carroll Gardens dining room. Mark Iacono’s thin, crisp-edged pies are prepared on a marble counter in view of guests and finished with tomato, multiple cheeses, basil, and a selection of straightforward toppings. The no-reservations format, limited seating, and consistently memorable pizza make the wait part of the experience.
Known for: Thin-crust whole pies, fresh basil, brick-oven pizza, intimate BYOB atmosphere
3
L’Industrie Pizzeria
Brooklyn
L’Industrie Pizzeria represents the modern New York slice shop at its most refined. Its long-fermented dough produces a thin, crisp, foldable crust that supports high-quality Italian cheeses, cured meats, vegetables, and signature toppings such as burrata. The original Williamsburg shop helped turn L’Industrie into one of the most influential names in the city’s current pizza generation.
Known for: Burrata slices, long-fermented dough, crisp crust, premium Italian ingredients
4
John’s of Bleecker Street
New York City
John’s of Bleecker Street is one of Manhattan’s defining old-school pizzerias. Its whole pies are baked in a historic coal-fired brick oven, producing a crisp, lightly charred crust beneath tomato sauce, mozzarella, and classic toppings. The carved wooden booths and enduring Greenwich Village atmosphere make the restaurant an essential New York pizza experience.
Known for: Coal-fired whole pies, crisp charred crust, Greenwich Village history, old-school dining room
5
Di Fara Pizza
Brooklyn
Di Fara Pizza remains one of the most influential neighborhood pizzerias in America. The late Dom DeMarco built its reputation by combining New York slice-shop structure with premium flour, tomatoes, mozzarella, Parmesan, olive oil, and freshly cut basil. His family continues serving the pizza from the original Midwood storefront, preserving one of Brooklyn’s most significant culinary traditions.
Known for: Fresh basil, premium cheeses, classic New York slices, Dom DeMarco’s legacy
6
Jay’s Artisan Pizza
Kenmore
Jay’s Artisan Pizza gives Western New York one of the country’s most acclaimed artisan pizzerias. Its focused menu includes airy Neapolitan-inspired pizzas, crisp-edged Detroit-style pies, locally sourced mozzarella, and creative Southern Italian toppings. International recognition and an uncompromising approach to dough make Jay’s one of the strongest pizza destinations outside New York City.
Known for: Neapolitan-inspired pizza, Detroit-style pies, locally sourced mozzarella, nationally recognized craftsmanship
7
Joe’s Pizza
New York City
Joe’s Pizza is the benchmark for a straightforward New York street slice. The original Greenwich Village shop serves thin, foldable pizza with a crisp underside, balanced tomato sauce, melted cheese, and no unnecessary complications. Although Joe’s has expanded to additional locations, the Carmine Street shop remains one of the city’s most recognizable pizza experiences.
Known for: Classic cheese slice, foldable crust, Greenwich Village location, late-night pizza
8
Pizzeria Florian
East Aurora
Pizzeria Florian has quickly turned East Aurora into an important stop for serious pizza enthusiasts. Its deck-oven pies combine the airy fermentation and flavorful crust associated with Neapolitan pizza with the crispness and stability of a New York-style pie. Creative topping combinations and careful dough preparation have earned Florian recognition well beyond Western New York.
Known for: Long-fermented dough, crisp artisan pies, creative toppings, East Aurora dining room
9
DeFazio’s Pizzeria
Troy
DeFazio’s is a Capital Region institution built around wood-fired pizza and a strong Italian family tradition. Its pies feature carefully developed crusts, quality cheeses, house-made ingredients, and topping combinations ranging from traditional margherita to locally inspired specialty pizzas. The adjoining Italian market and neighborhood setting make DeFazio’s one of Upstate New York’s most complete pizza experiences.
Known for: Wood-fired pizza, house-made ingredients, specialty doughs, Troy family tradition
10
O’Scugnizzo Pizzeria
Utica
O’Scugnizzo Pizzeria rounds out the ranking as one of New York’s most historically important regional pizza shops. Established in 1914, it is known for Utica-style upside-down pizza, where cheese and toppings are placed beneath tomato sauce and grated cheese. Its distinctive construction and more than a century of history give Central New York a worthy representative.
Known for: Utica-style pizza, upside-down construction, tomato sauce topping, century-old tradition

How this ranking was built

Discovery Matt Food Map rankings are curated using a mix of dough quality, fermentation, crust, sauce, cheese, ingredients, consistency, craftsmanship, signature style, historical significance, local reputation, and overall dining experience. For this New York ranking, extra weight was given to restaurants that have either influenced the state’s pizza culture or developed a distinctive style worthy of a special trip. Una Pizza Napoletana earned the No. 1 position because of Anthony Mangieri’s obsessive attention to fermentation, ingredients, and individual craftsmanship. Lucali ranked closely behind for its unmistakable atmosphere and beautifully balanced whole pies, while L’Industrie represents the highest level of New York’s modern slice-shop movement. New York City received most of the positions because it contains the state’s deepest and most historically significant pizza culture. Kenmore and East Aurora were included to represent Western New York’s nationally recognized artisan scene, while Troy and Utica provide important representation for the Capital Region and Central New York. Major national pizza chains were excluded. Locally founded businesses with a limited number of locations remained eligible when an original or flagship restaurant retained exceptional historical importance, local identity, and food quality.

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