The list in my order
9 I’d go back to and 1 only if it suits you. My verdict on every one, and the ones nearby from my other lists.
Emmy Squared Pizza
- Address1426 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10028
Emmy Squared looks like a modern, trendy restaurant rather than a hole-in-the-wall Upper East Side pizza joint. They specialize in Detroit-style pizza, which is square and with a thick crust, and extremely satisfying if I do say so myself.
Word to the wise, thisn’t the place to come to if you’re after a quick slice. Emmy Squared is one of the best sit-down pizza spots on the UES. Getting a table at Emmy usually isn’t an impossible task, but if you’re planning to visit on the weekend I’d still encourage reservations.
Patsy’s Pizzeria
- SubwayM, Q to Lexington Av/63 St, 7 min
- Address1279 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065
Originally opened in 1933, the original Patsy’s (located in Harlem) is a grandfathered coal-oven pizzeria living up to the responsibility of churning out exceptional pies. While the UES doesn’t have the coal oven, the pie is almost just as good.
Also worth mentioning – while most of the other places mentioned on this list of pizza joints on the Upper East Side or just places for pizza, Patsy’s bills itself as an Italian restaurant that just so happens to serve pizza.
We always order the original pie and are always taken aback by the rich complexity of three simple flavors (dough, sauce, and cheese).
The crust is thin and the sauce-to-cheese ratio is executed perfectly. My favorite part is the flavor of the sauce, it’s so memorable.
Fun fact Frank Sinatra considered the Harlem location as one of his favorite pizzas in New York City, it’s delicious!
Williamsburg Pizza
- Address1617 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028
Don’t let the name throw you off. Williamsburg on the Upper East Side is in fact some of the best pizza in the neighborhood. The friendly and extremely efficient staff do a great job at creating a welcoming environment for folks to enjoy a classic slice of NYC pizza. Those who are partial to a bit of a crispy, crunchy crust should make a beeline here.
Fans of thicker crusts need to try the grandma square-style pizza. Another stand out at this UES pizza joint is the garlic knots (give me some now). Although they look more like a cinnamon bun, the flavor and garlic punch are *chefs kiss* and deserve all the love they receive.
Nick’s Pizza
- Address1814 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128
If you’re searching for one of the best pizza spots in the Upper East Side for a date night you should consider Nick’s Pizza. The service is friendly and the food is satisfying, what more can you ask for? It’s far from a Michelin Star restaurant but when it comes to an impromptu dinner date you won’t find much better.
The brick walls and wood tones give the restaurant a homey feel and the food is reasonably priced compared to other Upper East Side pizza joints. Not to mention Nick’s Pizza has the added benefit of a wood-fired oven. Electric and gas ovens can try their best but the char from a wood-fired oven on a thin-crust pie will always be elite in my book.
San Matteo Pizzeria e Cucina
- SubwayQ to 86 St, 5 min
- Address1559 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028
- Health gradeA, city inspection
Upon first glance, it’s hard to believe that this unassuming corner restaurant is responsible for some of the best pizza on the Upper East Side. After San Matteo (on 81st Street) opened in 2010 it didn’t take long for locals to start singing the praises of the wood-fired pizzas and house-made pastas made here.
Their dedication to the craft translates with every bite and even though you’re stuffed it’s hard to put the slice down. These Neapolitan pies are masterfully created to be thin, flavor-loaded, and with the perfect soupy middle. The buffalo mozzarella and prosciutto pie is an absolute joy to indulge in and one of my personal favorite pies in all of New York City.
And for those of us who like to enjoy our dinner with wine, San Matteo has more than a few bottles to choose from. This robust selection of quality wines. You can place an order online but the best experience is when you visit the charming little restaurant with a friend, clinking glasses and sharing pies.
Famous Famiglia
- Cost$3 a slice
- Subway4, 5, 6 to 86 St, 2 min
- Address1248 Lexington Ave #2012, New York, NY 10028
Sometimes all you need for a feast is a greasy slice of cheese pizza along with a cold beverage. If you can relate to this, may I suggest the UES’s Famous Famiglia Pizzeria? I’ll be honest, there isn’t any one thing that makes this one of the best pizza spots in the Upper East Side.
Rather, it’s a combination of the family-business atmosphere, the convenient location with a great, neighborhood feel, and the simple yet flavor-filled pies that make the joint memorable. Not to mention you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better value pizza on the Upper East Side.
And no, I don’t mean dollar pizza, but I’m not mad paying $3 for a cheese slice when it tastes like this! When I’m in the neighborhood at a friend’s place or a bar it’s easy to pop in for one of the best pizza slices in the UES.
Mariella Pizza
- Subway6 to 68 St-Hunter College, 2 min
- Address965 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10021
- Health gradeA, city inspection
Simple and unfussy, Mariella Pizza makes some of the best pies you’ll find in the Upper East Side. If there’s a slice Mariella’s is known for, it’s the cheese.
Like most classic Upper East Side pizza joints, there’s a variety of pies for you to choose from. I like to mix and match, so I’ll often order their famous cheese-slice and a fun, out-of-the-ordinary slice to keep things interesting.
Delizia 92
- SubwayQ to 96 St, 4 min
- Address1762 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128
- Health gradeA, city inspection
For over 30 years, Delizia 92 has been a local favorite for comforting Italian cuisine. Whether you’re dining in their cozy space or grabbing takeout, you’re in for some of the best pizzas on the Upper East Side.
Their Margherita pie is a standout, leaving you craving more with each bite. Don’t miss their scrumptious grandma slice. Plus, they offer a variety of other delicious Italian dishes, like their chicken parm.
Saba’s
- Subway4, 5, 6 to 86 St, 3 min
- Address1217 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10028
Finally a Kosher pizza spot on the Upper East Side! Serving some of the best pizza on the Upper East Side, Saba’s has created a loyal fan out of me and half the neighborhood apparently. The simple flavor that comes from the tomato sauce alone is enough to bring me back.
It’s both sweet and savory and pairs heavenly with the cheese. The classic margarita slice can turn even the most ardent critic into a fan.
With limited seating inside I recommend ordering your pizza to-go. Saba’s also makes some of the. A flavor I have yet to try anywhere else is the falafel slice. Made with cucumbers, red onion, tomatoes, and falafel… don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. As odd as it may sound it’s surprisingly delicious and one go my go-to’s!
Salvo’s Pizzabar
- SubwayQ to 72 St, 8 min
- Address1477 York Ave, New York, NY 10075
Salvo’s Pizzabar has been around since 2012 and has provided the neighborhood with some of the best pizza in the Upper East Side for over a decade. The place is exactly what it sounds like, a laid-back pizza parlor offering beers that pair nicely with Italian dishes. Think of it as if a sports bar and a pizzeria had a baby.
At this UES pizza joint, you can order by the slice or a full pie. I have yet to try the pasta dishes but the pies are some of the best pizza on the Upper East Side when I’m in a pinch. On a sunny summer day, grabbing a couple of slices and settling by the East River is one of the best ways to savor both the scenic views and the incredible pizza.
