Self Guided NYC New York City Pizza Tour

One of the must do things when visiting New York City, especially for foodie travelers, is to taste NYC style pizza. 

But, why? What is so special about New York City pizzas? 

Juliana's Pizza in NYC New York ☏ +1718 596 6700

Juliana's | 19 Old Fulton Street, Brooklyn, NYC, New York ⏰11:30am to 9pm ☏ +1718 596 6700

When it comes to great pizza, New Yorkers are truly spoilt for choice. There are many big names with long histories, all with their own loyal following.

One of the biggest names in NYC pizza is Juliana's. Juliana's owner is Patsy Grimaldi, the original owner of Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Brooklyn. Patsy sold Grimaldi's Pizzeria to its current owner and later opened Juliana's (named after his mum) next to Grimaldi's.

Original Location of Spider-Man Joe's Pizza @ Carmine St. Greenwich Village NYC New York ☏ +1212 366 1182

Joe's Pizza | 7 Carmine Street, NYC, New York (near the junction of 6th Avenue and Bleecker Street) ⏰10am to 4am ☏ (212) 366-1182

Joe's Pizza in Greenwich Village is a famous pizza shop (founded 1975) that serves pizzas NYC style by the slice (as well as pies, of course). 

In the 2004 movie Spider-Man 2, when he is not saving the world, Spider-Man is a delivery man for Joe's Pizza :-D

Prince Street Pizza in SoHo NYC New York • Best Pepperoni Sicilian Slice ☏ +1 212 966 4100

Prince Street Pizza | 27 Prince Street, NYC, New York ⏰ 10am - 3am ☏ +1 212 966 4100

One of the best food experiences I like about New York City is to dart into the warmth of a hole-in-the-wall pizza shop and take out a slice of pizza. Yes, many pizza shops in NYC sell pizza by the slice. There is no need to buy a whole pie.

This tiny pizzeria along Prince Street in SoHo, simply named Prince Street Pizza is typical of ubiquitous small pizza joints in NYC.

Founded in 2013. In 2014, there wasn't the constant line that loops around the block that we find today (2025).

 

Lombardi's Pizza in NYC New York Food Review • Oldest Pizzeria in USA Founded 1905

Lombardi's Pizza | 32 Spring St, NYC, New York, USA (at the junction with Mott Street) ⏰ 12 noon to 10pm ☏ (212) 941-7994

Lombardi's Pizza is on every list of top New York City pizzerias. As the first pizzeria established in NYC in 1905, Lombardi's is also on many tourists' bucket list.

A tourist trap for sure but I had to look up the historic New York City institution ;-D

At Lombardi's door, you will be greeted by a famous smiling Italian while you wait to enter the restaurant :-)

Original Artichoke Basille's Pizza in NYC New York +1212 228 2004

Artichoke Basille's Pizza | 328 E 14th St, NYC, New York (original shop) ⏰ 11:00am to 5:00am ☏: 212-228-2004

After tasting coal baked New York pizzas, I thought that it would be hard for me to enjoy pizzas baked any other way. Artichoke Pizza proved me wrong.

Wikipedia Commons

Yes, a pizza with artichoke heart topping.

 

Originally from Staten Island, Artichoke Basille's Pizza opened in NYC in 2008 at this humble 14th Street shop (East Village). Artichoke Pizza now has several branches across USA including at 17th Street (Chelsea, NYC), Greenwich Village (NYC) and Berkeley, California.

Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Brooklyn • A Top Pizza in NYC New York ☏ 718-858-4300

Grimaldi's Pizzeria | 1 Front Street, Brooklyn, New York, USA  ⏰ 11:30am - 9pm ☏ 718-858-4300

One of New York City's most famous, Grimaldi's Pizzeria is located right at the foot of the iconic Brooklyn Bridge at 1, Front Street on the Brooklyn side.

John's Pizzeria of Bleecker Street, NYC New York

John's Pizzeria established in 1929 is one of the famous pizzerias of New York City that still bake their pizzas with coal fired brick ovens.

Generally speaking, there are 3 ways to bake a pizza. Most places use modern electric ovens which can do a good job. Some higher end places use wood to fire their brick ovens which often produce a better pizza. In New York City, there are still old school pizzerias that fire their brick ovens with coal which produce the best pizzas. (Coal fired ovens are the best because they can reach temperatures of 850+ °C.)