Skip the two-hour sidewalk lines. Sal & Carmine, Joe’s on Carmine Street, Mama’s Too, Prince Street Pizza, Scarr’s, and Rubirosa serve the best pizza in Manhattan right now. A mix of $4 corner slices, thick Sicilian squares, and sit-down pies that locals order weekly and never wait an hour for.
- Manhattan sits inside a city with roughly 2,000 pizzerias, so a line is never proof of quality.
- Lombardi’s opened in 1905 as America’s first pizzeria, and the foldable slice grew out of that era.
- Expect $4 to $6 for a standard pepperoni slice. Anything past $7 should earn it.
- Square Sicilian slices and thin round slices are two different foods. Order both.
- Off-peak visits (2–5 p.m.) get you a fresh pie instead of a reheated wedge.
How We Ranked the Best Pizza in Manhattan
Taste came first, then topping quality, wait time, serving temperature, crust structure, and price with tax. Travel writers at Condé Nast Traveler put it plainly: the real test is whether locals come back again and again, not whether a place trends online.
1. Sal & Carmine Pizza — Upper West Side
2671 Broadway, between 101st and 102nd Streets. A quiet neighborhood counter that beats famous names on flavor. The pepperoni is generous, the base crisp without turning to crackers, and slices run about $4. The blog I’m Just A Girl scored it a 9.3/10 after a 15-stop tasting tour, ranking it first overall.
Also Read: Visiting Manhattan’s Upper West Side: A First-Time Visitor Guide (2026)
2. Joe’s Pizza — Greenwich Village
Located at 7 Carmine St., it has been open since 1975 and is the slice most New Yorkers use as a measuring stick. Roughly $4.50 buys a thin, cheesy, fold-required classic, made famous by Spider-Man 2. Carmine Street is the original and still the best. Avoid the Times Square branch.
3. Mama’s Too — Upper West Side & West Village
2750 Broadway. Frank Tuttolomondo runs it, and the family story starts in 1959 when his grandmother Maria Nina opened the original Mama’s Pizza.
The airy Roman-style square slices are the draw: the Angry Nonna with hot soppressata, Calabrian chili oil, and aged mozzarella; plus vodka and cacio e pepe squares. Slices run near $5.75. Homemade gelato is worth saving room for.
4. Prince Street Pizza — Nolita
27 Prince St. It is home to the world’s most famous pepperoni square. The Sicilian slice bakes in an oiled pan for a crisp, airy edge, with cheese laid straight on the dough and sauce poured over top so nothing gets soggy. The pepperoni curls into little grease cups. Around $5.92.
5. Scarr’s Pizza — Lower East Side
22 Orchard St. Scarr Pimentel mills organic grain in-house, which gives the dough a nutty, wheaty backbone you can taste. Order the Hotboi—pepperoni, jalapeños, and hot honey. Slices land near $5.99, and the shop stays open toward 1 a.m. The pizza runs sloppy, so eat it fast.
6. Rubirosa — Nolita
235 Mulberry St. A sit-down favorite from the Pappalardo family, whose thin tavern-style crust traces back to Staten Island’s Joe & Pat’s.
The Tie Dye pie layers vodka sauce, marinara, and pesto. Reservations are limited, with walk-in spots held back. Food writer The Carboholic calls it one of the few hyped NYC restaurants that earns it.
7. L’Industrie Pizzeria — West Village
104 Christopher St. Opened in Williamsburg in 2017 and expanded here in 2023. The crust is ultra-thin with a caramelized edge. Get the burrata slice with fresh basil; the fig jam and bacon are the sleeper pick. Finish with pistachio soft serve, olive oil, and sea salt.
8. Una Pizza Napoletana — Lower East Side
175 Orchard St. Anthony Mangieri makes every pie himself and closes when the dough runs out. This is the city’s most serious Neapolitan pizza—soft, blistered, wood-fired, and priced accordingly. Travel duo Anders & Kaitlin rate it among the most authentic Neapolitan pizza anywhere in the world.
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More Manhattan Slices Worth Your Time
- Koronet Pizza — 2848 Broadway. Enormous slices near Columbia, about $4.66.
- Sofia Pizza Shoppe — 989 1st Ave. Greasy, cheesy, roughly $4.36.
- Baker’s Pizza — 201 Avenue A. Excellent when fresh out of the oven, $5.44.
- Emmett’s — 50 MacDougal St. Rare Chicago-style deep dish, heart-shaped around Valentine’s Day.
- Stromboli Pizza — 1st Avenue, East Village. No frills, sidewalk stools, and the correct amount of grease.
- Artichoke Basille’s — 321 E 14th St. Thick, creamy spinach-artichoke slices, about $5.45.
- 2 Bros. Pizza — 557 8th Ave. The famous dollar slice. Cheap, cold, and exactly what you paid for.
Prices reflect recent reporting and shift with inflation, so treat them as a guide.
FAQs
What is the single best pizza in Manhattan?
Sal & Carmine’s on the Upper West Side takes the top spot for a classic slice. For squares, Mama’s Too wins. For sit-down pies, Rubirosa is the pick.
How much does a slice of pizza cost in Manhattan?
Most plain slices run $3.50 to $5, and pepperoni slices cost $4 to $6. Specialty squares reach $7 or more at popular shops.
Where did New York’s first pizzeria open?
Lombardi’s opened at 53 Spring Street in Manhattan in 1905, making it the first licensed pizzeria in the United States.
Is Prince Street Pizza worth the wait?
Yes, if you want the pepperoni square. Go on a weekday afternoon, and the line usually clears in 10 to 20 minutes instead of an hour.
Which Manhattan pizzeria invented hot honey on pizza?
Hot honey on pizza started at Paulie Gee’s in Brooklyn, not Manhattan. Scarr’s and Prince Street now serve some of the best hot honey slices in Manhattan.
What is the difference between a New York slice and a Sicilian square?
A New York slice is thin, round, and foldable. A Sicilian square is thick, pan-baked, and crisp on the bottom with a chewy, airy center.
Sources & References:
- Conde Nast Traveler – The real test of pizzerias is whether locals come back again and again.
- The Carboholic – Rubirosa is one of the few hyped NYC restaurants.
- I’m Just A Girl – Sal & Carmine Pizza scored a 9.3 rating out of 10 after a 15-stop tasting tour.
- Anders & Kaitlin – Una pizza is the most authentic Neapolitan pizza anywhere in the world.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only. Pizza prices, menus, operating hours, wait times, and availability may change without notice. Rankings and recommendations are based on editorial research, publicly available information, and referenced third-party sources, combined with local reputation and customer experiences. Individual tastes and dining experiences may vary. Please check each restaurant’s official website or social media pages for the latest menus, pricing, hours, and reservation details before visiting.
