Where To Get Pizza In New York City: A Local’s Guide to the Best Slices and Pies

Looking for the best pizza in New York City? You’re in the right place.

After living in NYC for eight years (and basically injecting marinara into my bloodstream), I’ve eaten my way through the city’s pizza scene from $1 slices to legendary pies. There’s something in the New York water that makes the crust perfectly chewy with just the right amount of salt. The sauce tastes like it was made by Nonna herself, not too sweet or chunky, the cheese isn’t too salty and the pepperonis are perfectly crisped. There are little secret ingredients in a great New York slice that make it unforgettable, even if you can’t quite put your finger on why. It may seem simple, but there’s a lot that goes into the perfect pie, at least one I’ll be excited to eat again and again.

In this guide, I’ll break down my top picks for where to get pizza in NYC, whether you’re visiting with friends, ordering delivery for a party, or just looking for a life-changing slice at midnight.

My Favorite Pizza in NYC Overall: Inatteso 

  • Order: Pizza Della Nonna with added pepperoni (pictured above).
  • Why I love it: Perfect chew, ideal sauce-to-cheese ratio, and just straight-up addicting.
  • Location: Battery Park City

Best NYC Pizza Spots for Groups

1. Kesté Pizza & Vino

  • Great for: Big groups, outdoor seating, wine lovers
  • Each person gets their own personal pie = no sharing fights.

2. Rubirosa (Little Italy)

  • Great for: Celebrations, out-of-towners, date nights
  • Order the Tie Dye pizza (vodka sauce + pesto swirl)
  • Pro tip: Make a reservation weeks in advance or try for a bar seat.

3. Adrienne’s Pizza Bar (Stone Street)

  • Great for: Outdoor dining, group happy hours
  • Vibes: European alleyway meets NYC pizza party.
  • Signature pie: Grandma-style square pizza

4. Lombardi’s Pizza (Nolita)

  • Claim to fame: America’s first pizzeria
  • Try the clam pie or keep it classic.
  • Fun, casual, and perfect for tourists.

Bougie but worth the hype: Emily

  • Order: The MVP (marinara, vodka, pesto), yes, it’s as good as it sounds.
  • Known for: Pizza and their burger (though I’m not into the burger sauce).
  • Vibe: Perfect for birthday dinners or a nice night out with friends.

Most Famous Slice in NYC: Prince Street Pizza

  • What to expect: A line. A crowd. A heavenly slice.
  • Order: Spicy Pepperoni Sicilian Slice
  • Pro tip: After your slice, walk across the street to Little Cupcake Bakeshop for the best chocolate cake in America.

Best Pizza in NYC After a Night Out: Artichoke Basille’s Pizza

  • Order: Artichoke slice (creamy, rich, satisfying) or pepperoni
  • Why I love it: Open late, hearty slices, unforgettable.
  • Best enjoyed: After 11 PM, on the sidewalk, post-party.

Best Pizza Delivery for Parties

Need pizza for a crowd? These places never miss:

Office Pizza or Last-Minute Party Hack: $0.99 Slice Shops

When you need quick, budget-friendly pizza for an office happy hour or last-minute party, I don’t hate on the 99 cent slice shops. Ordering three pies for just $5 each makes feeding a crowd super easy and convenient, perfect for events like fantasy football drafts or whiskey tastings. The crust might be basic, but when you’re balancing cost and convenience, these spots get the job done without sacrificing that classic New York slice vibe.

Final Thoughts: What Makes NYC Pizza So Special?

Is it the crust? The chew? The sauce? The cheese-to-bread ratio? Yes to all of it.

There’s a magic formula that makes New York-style pizza iconic, and each of these spots hits the mark in their own way. I hope this guide helps you discover your new favorite slice.

Bonus Resources:

Want to explore more? I’ve compiled my full NYC food recs in a:

Itinerary Of My Solo Trip To Southern Italy: Rome, Positano, Naples & Palermo

Planning a solo trip to Southern Italy? Here’s my detailed 11-day itinerary covering Rome, the Amalfi Coast (Positano), Naples, and Palermo, perfect for first-time visitors or solo travelers looking for inspiration!

Overview: Southern Italy Solo Travel Itinerary

In June 2021, I had the opportunity to take a six-week sabbatical through work, and I spent ten days of it on a solo trip through Southern Italy, exploring cities that had been high on my travel wish list for years. With the world just starting to open up again post-COVID, it felt like the perfect time to experience these incredible places without the usual crowds. I had an amazing time wandering through historic streets, relaxing on beautiful beaches, and eating some of the best food of my life. Along the way, I met so many kind and curious locals who were surprised (and happy!) to see an American girl traveling solo again after such a long pause. This itinerary includes:

  • Rome (2 nights)
  • Naples (1 night)
  • Amalfi Coast – Positano (3 nights)
  • Palermo, Sicily (3 nights)

For an easy-to-use version, you can view this itinerary and others in a spreadsheet format here.

Day 1-2: Exploring Rome

I flew overnight from NYC to Rome, landing with a mandatory COVID test at the airport. I stayed at Rhea Silvia Luxury Navona, right in the heart of Piazza Navona, which is my favorite spot in Rome and a perfect base for exploring. My room overlooked the fountains, and I could hear the church bells ringing on the hour.

Must-see spots in Rome:

I enjoyed meals at Al Tre Tartufi for classic cacio e pepe and Aperol spritz, pizza at La Montecarlo, and a food tour in Prati where I was able to meet fellow travelers and try a variety of local dishes.

Though I skipped the Colosseum, Vatican City, and the Roman Forum this trip (visited before), these remain top attractions for Rome visitors.

Day 3: One Night in Naples

A short one-hour train ride brought me to Naples, home of world-famous pizza. I stayed at La Ciliegina Lifestyle Hotel, which offered stunning views of Plaza Municipio and Mount Vesuvius.

I took a walking tour through Naples’ historic streets, ending at a charming waterfront walkway with boats.

I had a delicious pizza dinner at Ristorante Pizzeria 7 Soldi. The best crust, perfect cheese, and a generous drizzle of oil made this one of my favorite meals in Italy. I also thoroughly enjoyed the perfect little jug of wine just for me. Be prepared to eat pizza with a fork and knife!

Day 4-6: Positano and the Amalfi Coast

To reach Positano, I took a hydrofoil ferry from Naples to Sorrento, then a taxi due to a bus strike. The drive to Positano is along tall, steep cliffs, and the views keep getting better and better, but I felt in good hands driving with someone who knows the area. The taxi dropped me off on the side of the road because my hotel was down a steep staircase, which was an adventure with my suitcase.

My hotel, Miramare, had a balcony with spectacular views of the sea and town. It was everything that I wanted and more. I had a balcony overlooking the city and water, a living room with a couch, and a bathtub with ocean views. Positano was very beautiful and romantic. I was here for three nights, and it was the only time I was lonely on the trip being solo somewhere so romantic with a crowd that’s mostly fancy couples. When I arrived, I went to a little beach around the corner from my hotel , Fornillo Spiaggia, which was a fun walk along the water. I had dinner at Le Tre Sorelle and had yummy spaghetti with mussels and white wine. I love how every dish in Italy has a maximum of four ingredients, and they are all highlighted so well. So simple, pure, and delicious. Positano is stunning but steep and pricey, so be ready for lots of uphill walks!

Hiking Path of the Gods

For my next day in Positano, I wanted to hike Sentiero Degli Dei, or the Path of the Gods. I took the public bus to a nearby town, Praiano, and then walked up, up, up, keep walking up, 1,000 steps until you get to the top of the mountain to the trailhead. It was beautiful, but for some reason I was incredibly slow. It was hot and dusty. You can see all the way down the Amalfi coastline to Capri in the distance, and there were lots of flowers along the walk. The hike was about five miles, then you walk 1,500 steps down back to Positano. Don’t miss the frozen lemonade stand on your way down! I was out on this adventure from 12:30pm – 5:30pm. Dinner was seafood risotto and a dirty martini.

Day Trip to Capri

I had one more free day in Positano, so I asked my hotel what I should do to further explore the Amalfi coast. They recommended I take a boat to the island of Capri. They booked it for me and I walked down to the friendly group ready to head to Capri. It was a fun and beautiful boat ride, and took about 45 minutes to get to Capri. When we arrived, we had four hours to explore the island of Capri. I took a public bus to the town Anacapri and walked around admiring the shops, and then took the chairlift to the top of Monte Solaro, which was beautiful and I definitely recommend it. Then I took another public bus from Anacapri to Capri, and the spent the rest of my afternoon exploring the main town, window shopping, admiring the white walls and bougainvillea, and tasting pastries. On our way out, the boat parked in the water and we went swimming. There were two other couples on the boat, and no one spoke much English, but they were all so nice and it was a really fun day exploring Capri and the Amalfi Coast! We were gone 9:30am – 6pm.

Overnight Ferry to Palermo

The next day I was going from Positano to Palermo in Sicily. I took a public bus from Positano to Sorrento, and had amazing gnocchi alla Sorrento while waiting for my ferry. I then took the hydrofoil ferry from Sorrento to Naples, and boarded an overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo. I booked a private room on the overnight ferry which had two small beds and a private bathroom with a shower. I enjoyed walking around the ship at takeoff and seeing the sunset before getting a few hours of sleep in my room.

Day 7-10: Palermo, Sicily

The overnight ferry pulled into Palermo, Sicily early in the morning, and I walked from the ferry to my hotel, DeBellini Apartments. My room was very nice and had a small kitchen. I was excited to explore the street markets, including Mercato di Ballarò, where I bought cherries, tomatoes, and basil, and Mercato del Capo. I lingered by the fruit stand with a sweet smile on my face to be offered un assaggio (a taste) of whatever they thought I should try, and discovered a new type of melon. I walked laps down the main street, Via Maqueda, and enjoyed getting glimpses of the impressive Mount Etna in the background. I then stumbled upon the Palermo Cathedral, Villa Bonanno, and the Botanical Gardens, which has one of the oldest and largest trees in Europe – a 173-year-old Moreton Bay fig. I was impressed by the Baroque architecture and vibes of Quattro Canti, and had two meals at Bisso Bistrot right next to it, particularly enjoying a pasta with green sauce and mussels. The opera house, Teatro Massimo, is the second largest opera house in Europe, but was closed when I was there due to Covid. If you get a chance to take a peek while you are in Palermo, I’m sure it would be worth it! By the time I got to Palermo, I was very tired from my trip so I mostly just ate dessert on Via Maqueda. If I had the energy to figure it out, it would have been nice to take a trip to a nearby town and explore a beach. I was glad the town was flat after so many steep hills at the other Southern Italy cities I had been to. I was surprised that not a ton of people knew English in the hotels and restaurants, so that was a slight challenge when trying to explain things, even in a large city. The food in Sicily was a little different than what I had seen before, so I wasn’t sure what to eat on menus, although I tried to do research and be adventurous. There is a lot of farming in Southern Italy, and they are very proud of their agriculture.

Enjoying Italy

Wandering around Italy is literally my favorite thing in the world. I love the wine and Prosecco. The prosciutto and cheese. The intricate buildings and stone roads. So much history happened there, yet it is so well preserved for millions of visitors a year to enjoy. I had never been south of Rome before, so I had a great time exploring these new Southern Italy cities! I wasn’t too lonely on my trip traveling solo, and there can be benefits to not having to compromise your itinerary with someone or feel guilty for sleeping in. I was pretty busy and chatting with people for most of the trip, so there was not as much quiet, reflective time as I was expecting. I planned the trip to Southern Italy last minute and asked a few people if they would like to come with me, but they weren’t able to so I am glad it was not a deal breaker for me to decide to go solo for a trip that I wanted to take. I never felt unsafe, although I stayed in crowded areas and was not out too late. Everyone in Southern Italy was very nice and helpful to explain things to me or show me around. Due to Covid, indoor dining was closed while I was there, and there was a 11:00pm curfew every night across all of Italy.

When planning a trip with this many stops in this amount of time, something I have learned the hard way is to be mindful of how long you are staying at each place. For this Southern Italy itinerary, I stayed 2 nights in Rome, 1 night in Naples, 3 nights in Positano and 3 nights in Palermo. I have made the mistake of moving around a lot more than this, which is exhausting to have so many travel days. This allowed enough time for me to get familiar with somewhere, but still see several places. It is also tiring to have ten days of doing something big to do every day because you want to get the most out of your time, so just know what to expect and plan for rest and minimal travel days accordingly. I hope you have a fun trip exploring the beautiful sites, delicious food, and infamous history throughout Southern Italy!

How I Planned A Bachelorette Party In Napa Valley

A few months ago, I was asked to plan a bachelorette party for one of my best friends in Napa Valley, California! I used to live in San Francisco, and the bride and her other guests are from the East Bay, so we are a little familiar with the area and logistics involved with pulling it off. If you are wondering how to plan a Napa Valley wine trip or wanting to put together a Napa bachelorette itinerary, below is what we did to celebrate our bachelorette weekend in Napa, as well as some additional ideas for things that we considered doing in Napa Valley:

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Additional Things To Do In Napa Valley For A Bachelorette Party

Here is some additional research I did before our trip of things that sounded fun for a Napa Valley bachelorette party so I had some ideas to pull out if we were in a pinch, not necessarily things we did:

Napa Valley is a wonderful destination for a bachelorette party, with perfect weather year round, a range of options for things to do within a close proximity, and it’s not too difficult to get to with the San Francisco airport nearby. I hope you enjoyed reading through these Napa bachelorette party ideas, and I hope you have a great trip enjoying the beautiful region and delicious wine!

7 Places To Get Cocktails In New York City

New York City is a cocktail town. It’s the bread and butter of what we love. We love it so much, we might not even realize how ingrained it is in us. Vodka runs in our blood. The best dinners start with dirty martinis and finish with espresso martinis. Whether you want to drink on a rooftop in the clouds or in a dark underground speakeasy, below are a few places that I love to get cocktails in New York City:

Dead Rabbit (Lower Manhattan)

I’ll start with the best, most obvious place to get cocktails in the entire world, Dead Rabbit. Dead Rabbit’s reputation proceeds it. It has won numerous awards, including World’s Best Bar and Best Bar in North America. The bar can be crowded but there is space upstairs to sit if you have a small group and want to grab food. You will find Dead Rabbit on any list of the best bars in NYC.

Employees Only (West Village)

This is a fun stop for a special night when you want to impress a friend or out of town visitor. I like to channel my best fancy while sipping the Billionaire Cocktail, which has bourbon and absinthe. There is often a long line to get in and I have run out of patience and moved on on more than one occasion, so either decide if you want to commit to waiting in line, or get reservations and have dinner there as well. As far as a list of best bars in NYC go, this is one of the fancier options I would recommend for yummy drinks and great vibes.

Bathtub Gin (Chelsea)

I love how creative the drinks are at Bathtub Gin. It’s one of the only places I allow to put egg whites in my drinks, trusting that the foam is a craft. Although it might just be because it’s so dark I pretend I’m chic enough to pull it off. I love to go to Bathtub Gin when I’m looking for a cozy date on a rainy night with someone I feel like talking really close to. This is the best place to get a cocktail in Chelsea thanks to its ambiance and intriguing menu.

The Garrett (West Village)

Hidden behind the cash register of Five Guys you will find a small staircase leading to a crowded bar. They serve yummy drinks at fair prices, and I always seem to make a friend or two. Although the bar kind of smells like fries, you know there is late night food waiting for you on your way out. This is a fun hidden speakeasy in NYC!

The Tippler (Chelsea)

The Tippler is an easy go-to when you’re looking for somewhere to go with friends. Located beneath Chelsea Market, there is usually plenty of space and options for people who are feeling indecisive. The building used to be the Nabisco factory, so it’s fun to picture people packaging Oreos and Nilla wafers there in the early 1900s.

Dante (For Negronis) (West Village)

If you like Negronis, Dante has an extensive menu! Chocolate Negronis. Negronis with tequila. Negroni flights. Extra dry. Extra bitter. Extra old. You want it, they got it. They are also a full restaurant so you can get dinner or yummy snacks. Dante is a well known restaurant in New York for fun drinks and the dinner vibes your NYC dreams are made of.

Overstory (Lower Manhattan)

For a sky high, in the clouds type of cocktail experience with phenomenal views of Manhattan and beyond, Overstory delivers. We love rooftop bars in NYC, so it’s always a winning idea to pick a tall rooftop bar with water views when sifting through a list of the best cocktail bars in NYC.

I hope you enjoy your drinks and your experience at some of the best bars in NYC!

A Review Of My Virgin Voyages Cruise in the Adriatic Sea

Click here to see this itinerary (and other itineraries) in a spreadsheet format.

Stops we made on our cruise:

  1. Athens, Greece
  2. Split, Croatia
  3. Dubrovnik, Croatia
  4. Kotor, Montenegro
  5. Corfu, Greece

In October 2023, my husband and I went on a Virgin Voyages cruise in the Adriatic Sea for our tenth wedding anniversary. We have played with the idea of going on a cruise before, but hubby is prone to motion sickness and we have always opted to put together our own agenda. We decided to try a cruise because we wanted to see many places with limited time, we wanted something that felt luxurious without having to do much research, and we were looking to be pampered. Pampered to me means pool, sun, champagne, delicious food anytime I want, room service, no screaming children (this is an adults only cruise line), jaw dropping views, ocean I can swim in, and bonus points for a massage and pedicure. As you may have guessed, the Virgin Voyages cruise was exactly what we were looking for and more!

Arriving in Athens

We took an overnight flight from NYC to Athens, and arrived in Athens in the afternoon the day before our cruise. We stayed the night at the Electra Metropolis for it’s convenient location, and enjoyed the rooftop pool in the morning. Our hotel recommended a yummy dinner at Old Ithaki. We have been to Athens before, so we skipped the Parthanon. It was a Sunday, so I wanted to explore the neighborhood Plaka for some souvenir shopping. We also enjoyed wandering around the National Gardens and Temple of Zeus in Athens before boarding our cruise around 5pm.

When the boat is taking off, the sail-away party is tons of fun! Think 1,000 of your new best friends dancing on couches holding champagne with nothing but anticipation ahead of us. For our first dinner, I booked reservations at the Korean BBQ restaurant, Gunbae. We joined a table with two other couples who quickly became our new best friends for the rest of the trip. After some drinking games and delicious food, we went to see a show called Persephone. The acrobatics and talent in the show was very impressive!

For our first full day at sea, we booked a couples massage. I enjoyed relaxing in the spa and using the sauna and steam room while looking at the ocean with hubby. So romantic! We spent the afternoon at the pool, and had dinner at the Test Kitchen which is almost a science themed restaurant. Then we went to see a show called The Miss Behave Show that was like a comedy audience game show. After that we went to a 80s themed dance party in The Manor.

Stop One: Split, Croatia

Our first stop was in Split, Croatia. We booked an excursion through the cruise to go to Krka National Park. They are known for beautiful waterfalls, so we thought that was worth seeing while we were there. It took about an hour to drive there, and then we did a small loop walking tour of the park. I would recommend this with your time in Split if you enjoy seeing the country and national parks. After the excursion, we had time to explore Old Town Split. The main thing to do in Split is to walk through Diocletian’s Palace, so we wandered through the free portions. For dinner, we went to a dinner show on the ship called Another Rose. They hold it in The Manor and make it interactive moving the audience around. We paid extra for it, but it included drinks and was a fun experience!

Stop Two: Dubrovnik, Croatia

Our second stop was Dubrovnik, Croatia. This was my favorite stop. Very King of Thrones vibes (because they filmed most of it there). We played with the idea to buy a ticket to walk on top of the city walls, and gave in at the end of the day. I am very glad we did! It took about 1.5 hours to walk the perimeter on the walls, and I loved the different view of the city and the surrounding mountains and ocean. We stopped at a restaurant on the wall with a pretty ocean view and had a drink. I wish we would have done something in the ocean here, like brought my swim suit (next time!) or kayaked. We didn’t book an excursion in Dubrovnik because we wanted to explore Old Town all day on our own. For dinner we went to Razzle Dazzle, a healthy American restaurant.

Stop Three: Kotor, Montenegro

Our third stop was Kotor, Montenegro. This was our actual wedding anniversary day. When the ship pulls into the port in the morning, it weaves through tall jagged mountains (hence it’s name) that are worth waking up early to see. Because the bay is so shallow, small boats need to take you from the ship to land, but it was not a challenge to coordinate how to get off the boat at all. We went on an excursion this day that took us on a boat on the water to a few stops further away, mainly a church on an island called Our Lady of the Rocks and then a medieval town called Perast where we had cake and coffee before exploring on our own. Our tour guide was knowledgable and personable. This was the night of the famous scarlet party. We had so much fun dressing up and had dinner at the steakhouse, The Wake. Then we went to the party in The Manor where we danced. I think the party is usually by the pool, but ours was moved indoors due to weather.

Stop Four: Corfu, Greece

For our last stop, we went to Corfu, Greece. The excursion we booked this day was cancelled so we took a different one that drove us all around the island. I enjoyed Paleokastritsa Beach, which is apparently where Odysseus got shipwrecked in the Odyssey. After the excursion, we explored Old Town, and swam in the ocean! In hindsight, I would have preferred to explore some of the beaches on our own instead of spend all day in a bus. For dinner, we went to Extra Virgin, the Italian restaurant. I was pleasantly surprised by the yummy food and cocktails.

When we woke up in the morning, our ship was docked at Athens. We were so sad the cruise was over and we were back to reality. Our flight was leaving late that night, so we decided to hop on a Double Decker Bus Tour that was in the parking lot when we got off the ship and drive around Athens for a few hours. It was fun seeing the water and coast, as well as listening to the audio tour of everything we were driving past. It was a great way to spend a few hours instead of sitting in an airport. We grabbed lunch at The Greco’s Project and enjoyed our last bits of gyros and wine before hopping on the metro to the airport.

A Beautiful Ship and Fun Itinerary

The ship, The Resilient Lady, was new and nice. Virgin Voyages cruises is also a new cruise line, so everything about the experience feels fresh and luxurious. Our room was an XL Sea Terrace room, and I was glad to have a little extra space for a seven night cruise. I didn’t use the balcony as much as I thought I would because it was October so it was a little cold and windy out there. Also I wasn’t in my room much during the day and then the sun set early, but it was still a nice option when I was able to enjoy it. I couldn’t figure out how to comfortably hang out in the hammock out there. I think it’s a chair but then I didn’t really fit under the metal of the boat when I sat in it. I liked all of the food options and I appreciated that there were so many choices of where to go at all hours. I loved hanging at The Dock on the back of the boat and buying bottles of sparkling rose. We also had fun playing board games at night in The Social Club.

I booked all of the dinner reservations and excursions through the Virgin Voyages app as soon as they opened up months before our trip. The boat wasn’t super full, but I wanted to make sure we were able to eat where and when we wanted because I’m a proud control freak. When we needed reservations last minute, there were limited options so you should probably book what you want before your trip.

One thing I was pleasantly surprised by regarding the itinerary for the trip was that all of our stops were close to Old Towns that we could explore. They were all so medival feeling and surrounded by tall city walls for protection back in the day. It reminded me of being in Aladdin. I didn’t realize there would be these Old Towns at each stop right by the port for us to wander through, and getting to explore four different ones in a row was a spectacular addition.

By the end of the week, everyone on the ship was familiar with each other on a “smile as you walk by” basis. I’d say over half of them were from the UK, and a little under half were American. Everyone was very nice, and like I’ve mentioned twice already, we all became besties by the end of the week. We had a great time on our Virgin Voyages cruise for our romantic couples getaway, and it was the perfect way to spend our anniversary. If you have a cruise or trip planned to any of these places, I hope you have an amazing time!