NEWSLETTER
The only activity that’s more quintessentially New York than eating pizza is hunting down the best pies. We've got the crunchiest, cheesiest, freshest options from all over the state, from beloved slices in Brooklyn to cup-and-char pepperoni in Buffalo.
Originally published 11/14/2022; updated 12/6/24
New York City
Paulie Gee's
Credit: @mariemerica on Instagram
Pizza maker Paul Giannone opened the smartly designed Paulie Gee's in Greenpoint, Brooklyn in 2010, starting a new era for New York's favorite food. Outfitted with a massive custom-designed pizza oven, the restaurant helped elevate New York pizza from a by-the-slice proposition to the centerpiece of a thoughtfully prepared meal accompanied by great wine (or craft beer) and farm-to-table salads and side dishes. Paulie Gee's became a success, expanding to other cities and turning Giannone into a celebrity pizza chef. The original in Greenpoint remains and an offshoot slice shop a few blocks away offers whole pies or a quick bite. You can even grab a slice at Madison Square Garden! Either way, you'll love the chewy, charred crust, tangy sauce, and high-quality cheese that signify a Paulie Gee pizza! Brooklyn
John’s of Bleecker Street
Credit: @bobspizzatour on Instagram
John’s of Bleecker Street has been a New York City staple since 1929 when it was founded by Italian immigrant Giovanni "John" Sasso. The establishment still serves up some of the best pizza in the city with the signature coal-fired brick oven churning out hundreds of the crispy world-famous pies daily. Take in the old-school ambiance of the dining room and enjoy a signature slice. You won’t be disappointed. Manhattan
Hudson Valley
Pizzeria Posto
The family that owns Pizzeria Posto cooks their pizza in a wood-fired oven that was delivered from Italy and reassembled in-shop. Maybe that’s why it’s so common to hear knowledgeable diners liken their pies to the ones made back in the Boot. Pizzas come with only a few toppings each, but a great deal of attention goes into composing unique flavor combinations, such as the Morandi, which comes with pistachios(!), or their Mama-Mia with smoked mozzarella, wood-roasted onions, and fennel sausage. Rhinebeck.
Cascarino’s Pizzeria
Credit: @cascarinos_montgomery on Instagram
Cascarino’s Pizzeria has been serving up delicious pizzas in Orange County since 2001. Voted best pizza in the Hudson Valley for 2021 and 2022, this family-owned and operated establishment has a menu filled with homemade delights like baked ziti and calzones, but the hand-tossed pizzas are the true star of the show. Each one is made with homemade sauce (which can be purchased by the jar) and gluten free dough is also available. Don’t miss out on specialty pie options like the baked ziti pie or fan favorite, chicken bacon ranch. Montgomery
Finger Lakes
Apizza Regionale
Credit: @apizza_regionale on Instagram
Apizza Regionale is a true New York pizza, not just because of the style but because almost all the ingredients are sourced from New York. The dough is made from stone-ground wheat from Trumansburg. The Calabrian pie is topped with chili-infused local honey, and they even cure their own olives. Gourmet toppings are kept light and don’t overload the crust. If you think the idea of potatoes on a pizza sounds too heavy, their Patata pie with Yukon golds, caramelized onion, aged gouda, and fresh rosemary will convince you otherwise. Syracuse
Aniello’s Pizzeria
Credit: @itshonee on Instagram
Since 1972, Aniello’s Pizzeria has been serving up the best pies in Corning. Aniello’s story began when Aniello Ruocco first moved to Corning from New York City, bringing with him recipes for the perfect New York pizza. Cheesy slices made with homemade sauce and dough are the star of the menu, but specialty pies like the pickle pizza and Aniello’s special, a tasty combination of sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, peppers, and onions, are also must-tries. Corning
Chautauqua-Allegheny
Andriaccio’s
Andriaccio’s has been a staple for the pizza-lovers of Chautauqua County since the early ’80s. If you’re lucky enough to visit on a warm day, there is ample outdoor seating, which gets pretty cozy at night thanks to the glow of string lights. The most popular item on their menu is their Neapolitan Pizza with spinach, mushrooms, sweet peppers, and three kinds of cheese. If you want to mix things up, we’ll set aside the rivalry just this once and admit their Chicago-style is seriously delicious too. Mayville
Coppola’s Pizzeria
Credit: @chautauquafoodie on Instagram
“Eat pizza, live longer” is the motto over at Coppola’s Pizzeria in Bemus Point. While we can’t confirm that pizza will actually make you live longer, a slice from Coppola’s will make you happy (and happy people do live longer). On the menu, you’ll find delicious specialty pies like the Godfather, that’s brushed with two types of sauce and topped with mozzarella, fontanella, roasted peppers, bacon, capicola, and ham. Bills fans will want to order the Bills Sheet Pizza for game day which is shaped like the Buffalo Bill and topped with your choice of toppings. If that doesn’t make you happy, then we don’t know what will. Bemus Point
Adirondacks
Caffé Rustica
The next time you visit Lake Placid, do yourself a favor and head to a strip mall about a mile west of Main Street where you’ll find a hidden gem called Caffé Rustica. The menu has plenty of delicious high-end Italian dishes, but the star of the show is the pizza, with a perfectly crispy crust made in the wood-fired oven. If you’re a meat-eater—the sausage and meatball toppings are made fresh in-house. Lake Placid
Canepa's Pizza Shop
This isn’t your typical pizza shop, it’s Canepa's Pizza Shop! Voted best pizza in the region five years in a row and featured on the Rachael Ray Show, this Warrensburg pizzeria truly lives up to the hype. Authentic pies made from 40-year-old Italian family recipes, high-quality ingredients, and daily-mixed dough make up this mouth-watering menu. There’s something for every kind of pizza lover from classic New York thin-crust slices to decadent gourmet pies. Warrensburg
Capital-Saratoga
Defazio’s
There are so many reasons why this little Troy eatery is a favorite of pizza fanatics, starting with the crust. Or rather, the crusts—you can choose from one of six dough options, including one that’s made with locally-sourced brown ale. Add that to the plentiful topping combinations and high-quality cheeses and you’ll understand why Defazio’s is regarded as one of New York’s best. Troy
Romo’s Pizza
Credit: @perfectcrustpizzaliners on Instagram
Homemade sauce, 100% Grande cheese, and dough that’s made fresh daily is the standard for an award-winning slice at Romo’s Pizza in Glenmont. Constantly topping Capital Region pizza lists, this establishment was voted best pizza by Capital Region Living Magazine and more impressively (and globally) won the 2023 Pizza World Cup in Naples, Italy! The specialty pie menu is seemingly endless with everything from classic margherita and five cheese to unique creations like bruschetta and steak & cheese pizzas. Glenmont
Thousand Islands-Seaway
Wood Boat Brewery
Overlooking the beautiful St. Lawrence River in Clayton you can find an excellent selection of craft beer to pair perfectly with the wood-fired pizza at the Wood Boat Brewery. The more adventurous should try one of the unusual specialty pies, such as the BLT Pizza or the Reuben Pizza, which comes with Thousand Island dressing, swiss and mozzarella cheese, corned beef, and sauerkraut. Plus, it's across the street from the Antique Boat Museum (open seasonally), a great place to explore before or after pizza-time. Clayton
Wise Guys Ristorante
Beautiful sunsets and delicious pizza can be found at Wise Guys Ristorante in Chaumont. This family-owned and operated establishment has an entire menu dedicated only to pizza with hand-tossed New York-style pies and specialty creations like the garlic and feta made with bacon, tomato, and a spinach and garlic sauce base. Chaumont
Catskills
Oakley’s Place
When you’re out in the mountains, there is nothing as satisfying as eating food that’s been cooked over an open fire. That’s exactly what you get at Oakley’s Place in the Catskills. The enormous wood-fired oven adds a subtle smokiness to the homemade tomato sauce and the 24 topping options. Plus, the outdoor seating is the perfect place to sit and enjoy nature while you eat—if you’re not too distracted by the glorious pizza. Arkville
Phoenicia Pizza 28
On your next Catskills road trip, be sure to make a stop at this mom and pop pizza shop. Located in the heart of the Catskills (and conveniently less than a minute from the Phoenicia Diner), Phoenicia Pizza 28 serves up all kinds of delicious food. On the menu, you’ll find creative specialty pies like the Catskill Mountain with ricotta, broccoli, and cheddarella, but the true star of the show is the Popeye Deluxe pie. This pizza features a spinach sauce base and is topped with artichoke and mozzarella. Phoenicia
Long Island
Donatina
Credit: @donatinapizza on Instagram
Topping the charts in Newsday Long Island's Top 10 Best Pizza list in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. Donatina has swiftly made a name for itself since its debut in Patchogue, Long Island. John Peragine's pizzeria has delivered on a mission to do it all, from its wall of deck ovens serving up traditional New York and Detroit-style pies with crunchy crusts and thick toppings of mozzarella, Cheddar and Wisconsin cheeses, to a wood-burning oven for fresh and flavorful Neapolitan pies and open-faced calzones. Patchogue
Saverio’s Authentic Pizza Napoletana
Get a taste of Napoli in Massapequa at Saverio’s, which was rated one of the best places to get authentic Neapolitan pizza in New York by the Washington Post. Owner and pizzaiolo Saverio is certified by the Association of Neapolitan Pizza-makers, which means you’ll get a taste of Italy in every bite. Each pie is made with the highest-quality ingredients like homemade mozzarella from Buffalo milk and San Marzano tomatoes, imported from Naples. Plus, all pizzas are drizzled with 100% extra virgin olive oil and baked in an authentic Neapolitan wood-fired oven. Massapequa
Greater Niagara
Bocce Club Pizza
We have Buffalo to thank for its signature style of “cup-and-char” pepperoni, that’s specially made to curl into a little cup that holds all the delicious juices on top of the pizza. And if you want the best example, head straight to Bocce Club Pizza in Amherst. The dough is fluffy, the tomato sauce is just the right amount of sweet, the mozzarella is made in-house, and the pepperoni is cuppy, charry perfection. Amherst
Jay’s Artisan Pizzeria
Credit: @tasting_buffalo on Instagram
Southern Italian pizza and a laid-back vibe can be found at Jay’s in Kenmore just outside of Buffalo. This delicious pizza joint isn’t only a local favorite. It’s ranked 28th in the world for 2023 and 8th in the U.S. by 50 Top Pizza, an Italian guide that evaluates pizza from around the world. If these impressive rankings don’t have you convinced, its menu will. The Pesto pie is worth a try made with fresh New York-sourced mozzarella, or the ‘Nduja pie (pronounced doo-ya) with a spiced pork spread from Southern Italy. If you’re craving a taste of Buffalo, don’t worry. They’ve still got classic cup-and-char pies. Kenmore
Central New York
O'Scugnizzo Pizzeria
Credit: @tapasfor2 on Instagram
Meet the oldest pizza shop in New York—and second oldest in the country—O’Scugnizzo Pizzeria in Utica, which opened its doors in 1914. If 100+ years of business doesn't convince you to try it, consider the pizza that made it famous: the tomato pie. For those who are unfamiliar, tomato pie, sometimes called “upside-down pizza,” is made by placing the toppings directly on the uncooked crust followed by a layer of mozzarella. After it’s baked, the pie is then smothered in a layer of delicious tomato sauce and dusted with freshly grated parmesan cheese. It might sound strange until you try it, but the Uticans are definitely on to something. Utica
Tino’s Pizzeria
Credit: @haileyisamazingdotgov on Instagram
40 years ago at Tino’s Pizzeria in Oneonta, a delicious new pizza creation was born, the Cold Cheese Pizza. For those who are unfamiliar, this lesser-known New York slice is a regular slice of cheese pizza that’s then topped with cold shredded cheese, creating a protective layer so you can bite into your pizza without burning the roof of your mouth, and Tino’s is the place to get it. Aside from the cold cheese slice this shop also serves up a variety of tasty specialty pies (including vegetarian and gluten free options) and features an entire menu of specialty chicken pies. Oneonta
Share your New York State adventures with us on Instagram and Twitter with #iSpyNY and tag us on Facebook!