A true New York City style slice of pizza is a thing of nearly alchemical beauty. Crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings fuse centuries of tradition with modern know-how to provide a symphony equally at home at a fine restaurant or on a grease-spotted paper plate. Best of all, it provides us with something to argue over forever. No true New Yorker will ever back down from their favorite slice joint.
We’ve rounded up some of our favorite slices within walking distance of our Tasting Room here in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. We polled our team, debated over sauces, and ate plenty of slices in the name of research. There’s no way to ever represent all of the wonderful slices near our home, but we promise these are excellent places to start.
Vinnie’s Pizzeria
148 Bedford Ave (between 8th and 9th Street), Brooklyn, NY 11211
The Go-To: Snag one of their justifiably famous specialty slices, including the Mini Vinnie or the Mac Attack (above), or grab one of their top-notch vegan slices
The Rundown: Vinnie’s has been serving Williamsburg since 1960, but in recent years they’ve gained followers from around the world thanks to their inventive specialty slices and hand drawn daily special boards that run the pop culture gamut. Bring cash and a few friends so you can try as many slices as possible.
Joe’s Pizza
216 Bedford Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249
The Go-To: A plain or pepperoni slice. Other slices are available, but Joe’s is renowned for acing the staples.
The Rundown: An outpost of the original Joe’s Pizza in Greenwich Village, this spot continues decades of tradition in every remarkably consistent and crave-inducing pie. Don’t be fooled by imitators— make sure the sign specifies “The Greenwich Village Institution”— and don’t settle for just one slice. They’re dangerously snackable and perfectly suited to eating a couple while you walk.
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza
148 N 7th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
The Go-To: The artichoke slice to understand the hype, or the sleeper hit pepperoni slice for fans of true pep cups
The Rundown: Artichoke arose from Staten Island to establish storefronts around the city, all brimming with crowds driven by the gloppy, decadent artichoke slice that gives the mini-empire its name. For obvious reasons this spot is particularly popular with late night crowds, but makes for an excellent no-wait lunch stop as well. Don’t miss out on the other slices boasting just as much care, flavor, and high potential for ending up on your shirt.
Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop
110 Franklin St, Brooklyn, NY 11222
The Go-To: The Hellboy, featuring perfectly cupped pepperonis and a healthy drizzle of Mike’s Hot Honey, or the simple but incredible Freddie Prince square slice
The Rundown: When Paulie Giannone announced that his already-prized traditional pizza shop would be joined down the block by a dedicated slice joint, it was the biggest pizza news in the city. The decor is straight out of a collective memory of a pizza parlor, complete with wood-paneled walls and welcoming orange booths. Get your slices to go, or post up in the back bar area to give the toasty sesame seeds of the Freddie Prince slice their due reverence.
Best Pizza
33 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211
The Go-To: An exemplary plain slice with a fresh basil leaf, or the surprisingly light white slice with caramelized onion and sesame seeds
The Rundown: Naming yourself “Best Pizza” is a bold choice, but the pizzaiolos behind the counter work with top-notch ingredients and a distinctive brick oven (and founder Frank Pinello’s own pizza show on Munchies) to make a fair shot at the title. The basil on the plain slice may make your Instagram senses tingle, but don’t sleep on the unique white slice while you’re at it.
Williamsburg Pizza
265 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
The Go-To: The comforting Grandma slice is a hit, or go wild with classic and inventive toppings
The Rundown: Choose your own crust adventure: Brooklyn Round, a sterling example of the standard circular treatment, or Grandma Square, a pan-shaped square pie with a pleasantly crunchy bottom. From there, go as traditional or as wild as you’d like with your toppings. If you’re stuck, go with the Grandma slice and be introduced to another New York institution.