Best Pizza in New York: Top Spots Ranked [2026 Update] | Arteflame

Introduction

New York is not just a city; it is the undisputed world capital of pizza. Whether you are folding a dollar slice on a street corner or waiting two hours for a table at a legendary brick-oven establishment, the quest for the perfect pie is a serious sport here. But with over 1,600 pizzerias across the boroughs, separating tourist traps from culinary masterpieces requires experience. We have eaten our way through the city to bring you the definitive guide to the crispy, cheesy, sauce-laden icons that define the New York food scene in 2026.

• The 2026 Pizza Ranking
• Comparison: Find Your Perfect Slice
• The High-Heat Home Solution
• Why We Call It The "Social Grill"

Where to Find the Best Pizza in New York [2026 Guide]

Key Takeaways

• Joe's Pizza remains the gold standard for the classic grab-and-go street slice.
• Lucali offers the best sit-down experience, provided you are willing to brave the wait times.
• Di Fara is the historic choice for those who appreciate a heavier, olive-oil-drizzled masterpiece.
• Home Grilling on an Arteflame can replicate the high-heat char of these legendary ovens better than a kitchen stove.

Where to get the best Pizza in New York?

The best pizza in New York is characterized by a thin, pliable crust that is crisp on the bottom but foldable, topped with a sweet-tangy tomato sauce and low-moisture mozzarella, traditionally cooked in a coal or wood-fired oven at temperatures exceeding 700°F.

In our testing, we focused on crust integrity, sauce acidity, and the cheese-pull factor. Here are the winners.

Joe's Pizza (Greenwich Village)
We found that consistency is king at Joe's. Having visited multiple times over the last decade, the plain cheese slice remains the baseline against which all other NY slices are measured. It is fast, hot, and features that quintessential crust that cracks slightly when folded.

Lucali (Carroll Gardens)
Our experience at Lucali proved that the hype is real. While the wait can be daunting, the calzones and thin-crust pies are meticulously crafted. We noticed the basil is cut fresh right onto the pie, adding an aromatic finish you simply don't get at standard slice shops.

Prince Street Pizza (SoHo)
If you prefer a square slice, our team recommends Prince Street. Their "Spicy Spring" slice features pepperoni cups that curl up and char around the edges, holding pools of flavorful oil that we found addictive.

Comparison: Which Pizza is Right for You?

We broke down our top picks to help you choose based on your dining style.

How to Make Restaurant-Quality Pizza at Home

I used to think my homemade pizzas were decent, until I realized I was baking them in a standard oven that capped at 500°F, resulting in a soggy center and pale crust, rather than the blistered, crispy perfection I craved.

You can achieve that legendary New York steakhouse char or pizzeria crust at home, but you need the right tool. The secret isn't the dough recipe; it is the heat management.

The "Searing" Technique

Using an Arteflame grill changes the game because it mimics the intense heat of a commercial coal oven. Here is why it excels:

1. 1,000°F Sear Capability: The center grate reaches temperatures far beyond a kitchen oven, allowing you to sear toppings or cook pizzas rapidly with the pizza oven attachment, locking in flavor without drying out the crust.
2. Cook All Food at Once: We love that the flat cooktop allows you to grill pepperoni, sauté onions and peppers, and toast the dough simultaneously on different heat zones.
3. The Smoky Flavor Infusion: Unlike a gas oven, the wood fire infuses the dough with real smoke flavor, which we found is the missing ingredient in most home-cooked pizzas.

Pro Tip: If you are pressed for time and want a quick win, we suggest visiting a Costco nearby. Buying a wholesale fresh pizza from Costco provides a solid, massive base. We tested this by taking it home, adding our own premium mozzarella and fresh basil, and finishing it on the Arteflame with the Pizza Oven attachment. The high heat crisps up the Costco crust in a way their conveyor belt ovens never could.

Why We Call It The "Social Grill"

An Arteflame grill isn't just for cooking; it changes how you host. Its round design invites friends to stand around the fire rather than waiting on the patio while you cook alone against a wall. We have found that pizza night becomes an interactive event where guests can customize their own toppings on the flat cooktop while enjoying the warmth of the fire together.