Best pizza on the Upper West Side, 2026.

Using a long fermentation sourdough base and imported Italian flours, this Upper West Side pizza joint specializes in Roman-style square slices. The variety spans the gamut!

From tried-and-true staples like pepperoni to the signature cacio e pepe slice, the hardest thing about visiting is narrowing down the options. There’s also an enticing pizza sandwich on the menu I’ve been meaning to try, it looks delicious but I’m always too tempted by the slices to commit.

Serving New Yorkers for more than 65 years, Sal and Carmine Pizza is a neighborhood institution. The passion-project of two brothers, Sal and Carmine Malanga, this no-frills establishment takes pizza seriously, making constant appearances on numerous “best NYC slices” lists.

It’s not hard to see why, the recipe has been perfected over six decades. When Sal passed away in 2015 his grandson, Luciano Gaudiosi, took over the business. Thankfully, Gaudiosi inherited his grandfather’s tenacity and steadfast commitment to making the best pizza slices on the Upper West Side.

As to be expected, everything is made in house daily. The plain slice is my favorite because the dough, cheese and sauce ratio is perfectly balanced. It’s hard to think of a better slice in the neighborhood, which is why Sal and Carmine’s is my first stop with out-of-town visitors.

Initially opened in 1933 in Harlem, Patsy’s dishes out some of the best pizza on the Upper West Side. Part-pizzeria, part-Italian restaurant, make no mistake, pizza is the thing to get here. This my go-to spot for. We opt for a plain pie (just cheese) and Italian sausage. In my opinion, the sauce-to-topping ratio is executed perfectly, this pie is an easy crowd-pleaser.

New York City has more pizza joints than some states have people, but only a handful are worth the trip.

Motorino’s serves the best Neapolitan-style pizza on the Upper West Side pizza. My husband I are big fans of their “order two pizzas for delivery/takeout by phone & get a third pizza free” special, especially when hosting friends.

This relaxed sit-down restaurant has a more polished vibe than most of the places mentioned on this list, making it perfect for impromptu date nights in the neighborhood. With a baby on the way, we plan to swing by more often.

I’m a sucker for the Soppressata Piccante (tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, soppressata, chili flakes, oregano). But my husband swears by the stracciatella white pie (stracciatella, cherry tomatoes, basil, olive oil). Word to the wise. Skip the clam pie.

With wait times exceeding an hour during weekends, Mama’s Too is one of the most popular pizza spots on the Upper West Side. An extension of Mama’s Pizzeria, Mama’s Too is tasked with bringing a family-run pizza joint into the next generation.

Established in 2017 by Frank Tuttolomondo (whose grandmother owned Mama’s Pizzeria), the family’s unquestionable pizza-making knowledge goes back decades. Not to be outdone, Tuttolomondo set out to perfect the family recipe with his new outpost, to much fanfare from locals.

The Sicilian-style square slices steal the show. What stands out is the Angry Nona is my favorite, the combo of hot salami with Calabrian chili oil & hot honey hits the spot every time. The only drawback is the lack of seating, plan to eat your slice on the go, the inevitably long lines are worthwhile.

Unpopular opinion. I’ll die on this hill, coal-fired > wood-fired > gas oven, and I don’t care who disagrees.

Made in New York Pizza has two pizzerias on the Upper West Side. It wasn’t until the second location opened two blocks from my apartment that I popped in for a visit. Offering slices and squares, I’ve tried a few creative toppings over the past year, but always return to the spicy pepperoni square slice and traditional margherita.

The feel here is warm and unpretentious, the kind of place where you can settle in and lose track of time. If it’s your first time, I’d recommend starting with their house special, it’s what they’re known for and it won’t disappoint.

Consistently serving hot pies to locals, Freddie & Pepper’s has been around since 1978, but it got a bit of a boost five years ago when Dave from One Bite Pizza Reviews added them to his exclusive 8 club (pizza joints that score above 8/10).

In addition to classic choices like pepperoni and cheese, you’ll be privy to unique combinations like chicken tex-mex (bacon, salsa, jalapeño, cheddar) or nacho (salsa, meat, jalapeño). Better still, Freddie & Pepper’s offers gluten-free, dairy-free, and whole wheat options as well.