Best Pizza in NYC

According to 509 New Yorkers

March 04, 2025

New Yorkers are fiercely opinionated about pizza.

Some will fight you over the best slice, others swear by their neighborhood joint, and then there are the diehards who have tried every top-rated spot just to crown a winner.

But what if we let the people decide?

We analyzed popular online forums and surveyed over 2,000 of our subscribers to determine NYC’s best pizza—no bias, just the spots that kept coming up over and over again.

The responses were all over the place—some were nostalgic picks, others were based purely on quality.

But certain names kept coming up again and again. These are the pizzerias that New Yorkers, en masse, consider the best of the best.

So, if you’re looking for the definitive answer to the city’s best pizza, here’s what the people had to say.

The 5 Best Pizzerias in NYC

1. Joe’s Pizza

📍 Carmine Street, Greenwich Village & Others

Joe’s Pizza has been slinging classic New York slices since 1975, and its reputation hasn’t faded. It’s the kind of spot where you know exactly what you’re getting—hot, cheesy, foldable perfection.

Why People Love It:

  • Consistently great slices, no matter when you go.

  • Simple, no-frills pizza that nails the fundamentals.

Notable Response:

🗣 "There might be technically better pizzas, but Joe’s just hits different after a long day."

2. L’Industrie

📍 Williamsburg Brooklyn & West Village

L’Industrie isn’t your typical NYC slice shop—it’s a mix of traditional New York-style and Italian craftsmanship, using high-quality ingredients like burrata and prosciutto. In the last few years, it has surged in popularity, and for good reason.

Why People Love It:

  • Super thin, crispy crust that’s perfectly balanced.

  • Creative toppings that elevate the classic slice.

Notable Response:

🗣 "If you haven’t tried L’Industrie, you’re missing out on a top-tier NYC slice."

3. Denino’s

📍 Staten Island

Denino’s is a legend. Open since 1937, it has a cult following among Staten Islanders, but those willing to take the ferry know it’s worth the trip. Their thin-crust pizza is beloved for its crispiness and flavor-packed sauce.

Why People Love It:

  • A classic, family-run operation that hasn’t changed.

  • Thin-crust pizza with a perfect crunch.

Notable Response:

🗣 "Maybe it’s nostalgia, but Denino’s will always be my #1."

4. Scarr’s Pizza

📍 Lower East Side

Scarr’s feels like a throwback, but it’s actually one of NYC’s most modern old-school slice shops. They mill their own flour, use organic ingredients, and serve pizza in a 1970s-style setting that just feels right.

Why People Love It:

  • Old-school vibes but high-quality, modern ingredients.

  • The perfect mix of crispy and chewy crust.

Notable Response:

🗣 "Scarr’s is proof that a great slice can be both classic and elevated."

5. Lucali

📍 Brooklyn

Lucali is hard to get into—it’s a BYOB, no-reservations spot where people wait for hours. But once you get a table, it’s easy to see why. Their pies are ultra-thin, perfectly charred, and handmade with obsessive attention to detail by Mark Iacono.

Why People Love It:

  • A legendary Brooklyn spot that lives up to the hype.

  • Thin-crust pizza that’s as close to perfect as it gets.

Notable Response:

🗣 "Lucali is a must-try. There’s nothing else like it in NYC."

Honorable Mentions

A few other names kept coming up in the discussion, proving NYC has no shortage of great pizza:

  • Paulie Gee’s (Brooklyn) – Inventive toppings, incredible crust.

  • John’s of Bleecker Street (Manhattan) – A coal-fired classic.

  • Prince Street Pizza (Manhattan) – Famous for its pepperoni squares.

  • Patsy’s (Harlem) – One of NYC’s oldest pizzerias.

Any of these could have made the top five, but in the end, the people had spoken.