Rubirosa Pizza.

With roots dating back to 1960, Rubirosa is the quintessential New York City pizza joint folks envision when they visit NYC for the first time. Part Italian restaurant, part pizza shop, the homey wood-paneled walls and red checkered tablecloths ooze old-world charm.

But the biggest draw isn’t the cozy ambiance, no, that title belongs to Rubirosa’s tie dye pie (vodka, tomato, pesto and fresh mozzarella). Simplicity at its finest, it’s clear this joint has perfected the art of tomato sauce, but the locally-sourced toppings don’t hurt either.

Another menu highlight is the spaghetti and meatballs (arguably the best meatballs in the city). But honestly, everything on the menu is delicious, which makes this a great place to go with large groups if you’re lucky enough to score a reservation.

Rubirosa is a classic New York pizza joint beloved by locals and tourists alike, for good reason. They have perfected the art of tomato sauce. The best thing on the menu is the tie dye pizza (vodka, tomato, pesto and fresh mozzarella).

Rubirosa doubles as an Italian restaurant (their meatballs are some of the best in NYC). The use of fresh and local high-quality ingredients shines through in the food, everything is delicious. Between the old-school vibes and top-notch pizza, there’s no guessing why locals consider grabbing a pie here one of the best things to do in Manhattan.

Rubirosa is a classic New York pizza joint beloved by locals and tourists alike, for good reason. They have perfected the art of vodka sauce, so much so, that I’d eat it by the spoonful if it were on the menu. Luckily for you, they also make some of the best gluten-free pizza in NYC. The quality is uncompromised, regardless of dietary conditions.

The reason I think Rubirosa is the BEST pizza in New York City is simple. I get excited by the simplest pizza known to man. The famous tie-die pizza. I mean, how can a combination of thin crust, vodka sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pesto be so memorable? I’m guessing the secret is in the quality ingredients. I can’t recommend this place enough!

Rubirosa is a classic Italian restaurant in SoHo beloved by locals and tourists alike, for good reason. They make some of the best pizza in New York City, perfect by all standards. The crust is perfectly thin and charred, the sauce is on the light side and there are generous globs of chewy cheese.

There’s also pasta, salads, heros and more traditional Italian fare. The one thing to bear in mind is that reservations at Rubirosa can be hard to secure, so be patient. If all else fails, arrive at the popular SoHo restaurant and put your name on the list, then go kill some time in the neighborhood.