Looking for the most popular pizza places in Manhattan? Start with these five. Then bring napkins.
This isn’t some ChatGPT-generated fluff. It’s a firsthand guide from someone who knows the neighborhoods, knows the ovens, and knows when a slice is worth sitting down for—or sprinting across town before they close.
Some of these spots don’t even sell slices. Some only sell slices. But they all have one thing in common: New Yorkers go out of their way to eat here. Still. In 2025.
🍕 1. John’s of Bleecker Street – A Classic Among the Most Popular Pizza Places in Manhattan (West Village)
Why it’s popular in 2025: Because the coal oven hasn’t cooled since 1929.
Forget delivery. Forget slices. You come to John’s for a full pie, blistered in a coal-fired oven that’s older than your grandma. It’s loud, it’s crowded, and it’s perfect. This is the place you bring someone when you want them to fall in love—with pizza, or you.
🔥 Pro tip: Sausage and mushroom. Don’t overthink it.
📍 Find John’s Pizza on PizzaCloseToMe.com
🍕 2. Don Giovanni’s – One of the Most Popular Pizza Places in Manhattan (Hell’s Kitchen)
Why it’s popular in 2025: Because not all theater district pizza is trash.
Tucked between Broadway chaos and residential calm, Don Giovanni’s is a low-key, sit-down favorite. You don’t go here because you saw it on TikTok. You go because it’s consistently good, open late, and feels like a pizzeria that somehow survived the Manhattan real estate apocalypse.
🕒 Ideal for post-show slices of sanity.
📍 Visit Don Giovanni’s now
🍕 3. SottoCasa Pizzeria – A Neighborhood Staple Among the Most Popular Pizza Places in Manhattan (Harlem)
Why it’s popular in 2025: Because it turns Harlem into Napoli for 90 seconds at a time.
This is the spot for those who think crust should taste like something. SottoCasa’s wood-fired Neapolitan pies don’t come by the slice, but you won’t miss them. The ingredients are fresh, the dough is rested, and the execution is beautiful. Quietly one of Manhattan’s most consistent pizza experiences.
🔥 Order the Prosciutto e Rucola or Tartufo. Trust.
📍 Find SottoCasa in Harlem
And while whole pies might dominate the uptown scene, when it comes to slices, the most popular pizza places in Manhattan are often packed at 2am with locals, not tourists.
🍕 4. Mimi’s Pizza – UES Classic Serving Slices for Decades
Why it’s popular in 2025: Because locals eat here. Regularly.
No neon signs. No social media hype. Just excellent slices—crisp, balanced, and made with zero ego. Mimi’s has held it down on Lexington Ave for decades. And in a city where the UES gets overlooked for food, this joint quietly delivers New York classics on paper plates with zero pretense.
🍕 Go with a regular slice and garlic knots. Then go again tomorrow.
📍 Find Mimi’s Pizza
🍕 5. Upside Pizza – A Modern Favorite Among the Most Popular Pizza Places in Manhattan (SoHo)
Why it’s popular in 2025: Because it’s what every slice shop wishes it was.
Upside is the evolution of the classic New York slice: naturally fermented dough, locally sourced ingredients, and a crust that crackles when folded. This isn’t dollar-slice slop. It’s a modern pizzeria built for people who still want to eat with their hands and walk fast while doing it.
🌙 Open late. Always crowded. Always worth it.
📍 Explore Upside Pizza Now
🍽 Final Slice
These aren’t algorithm picks—they’re lived picks. Real crust, real lines, real loyalty. Whether you’re folding a slice on the Upper East Side or splitting a coal-fired pie downtown, these are the most popular pizza places in Manhattan in 2025.
Want more proof? Even Eater NYC and The Infatuation have backed several of these joints over the years. But this list wasn’t built in a conference room. It was built bite by bite.
Want to see what’s open now, near you?
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Have a favorite you swear belongs here? Let me know. I’ll try it—unless it’s pineapple. Then we talk.
This isn’t some ChatGPT-generated fluff. It’s a firsthand guide from someone who knows the neighborhoods, knows the ovens, and knows when a slice is worth sitting down for — or sprinting across town before they close.
Some of these spots don’t even sell slices. Some only sell slices. But they all have one thing in common: New Yorkers go out of their way to eat here. Still. In 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is John’s in Times Square the same as John’s on Bleecker Street?
They’re related, but not identical. John’s of Bleecker Street is the original, with a no-slices, cash-only policy and a smaller, old-school vibe. The Times Square location is larger, licensed, and more tourist-friendly. Both serve coal-fired pies, but locals tend to prefer the original.
Does SottoCasa have any additional locations?
Yes — SottoCasa also operates a location in Brooklyn. While the menu and quality are consistent, the Harlem shop offers a cozy, residential vibe and stands out as one of uptown’s best-kept pizza secrets.
What about Mimi’s Pizza?
Mimi’s is a one-location favorite on the Upper East Side. Known for its traditional slices and standout Sicilian pies, it remains family-owned and hasn’t expanded — which might explain its loyal following.
I thought Don Giovanni’s was in Chelsea. Why do you list it as Hell’s Kitchen?
Don Giovanni’s has two locations — one in Chelsea and one in Hell’s Kitchen. We’re highlighting the Hell’s Kitchen spot on 44th and 10th Ave, which is bigger, open later, and a favorite for theatergoers and late-night food runs.
How many locations does Upside Pizza have? Where are they?
Upside Pizza has three Manhattan locations as of 2025 — in Midtown (8th Ave & 40th), SoHo (Spring & Lafayette), and the Garment District (38th & 7th). All serve their signature sourdough-based slices and stay open late.
Hungry for Pizza Right Now?
Skip the guesswork — see what’s open near you right now on PizzaCloseToMe.com. Whether you want a late-night slice or a full pie, we’ll point you to the best spots nearby — hot, fresh, and open for business.
🍕 Got a favorite we missed? Tell us here so we can share the love (and the sauce).
