Blog · The Best Bite · East Village · November 2026
The 4 Best Pizza Places in the East Village, Manhattan
A Staten Island classic's cracker-thin vodka pie, Detroit-style squares, a wood-fired Neapolitan standby and a late-night square-slice shop. We pulled picks from The Infatuation, Time Out and EV Grieve, checked ratings and recent reviews, and ranked them.
How we score: Tommy Shark Score (out of 10) = Google rating 35% · Yelp rating 25% · review volume 15% · critics' and local guides 25%, using numbers we checked on Nov 4, 2026. Yelp doesn't let us read its star ratings, so this round uses Google, review volume and guides. Places without a Google rating we could verify are listed last as Not yet scored. We read the ratings and reviews; we haven't eaten at every spot.
- Best overall: Joe & Pat's (Score 8.7; cracker-thin vodka pie)
- Best for a sit-down Neapolitan pie: Motorino (not yet scored; wood-fired, since 2009)
- Best late-night slice: Village Square Pizza (not yet scored; squares until 4am on weekends)
The list
Joe & Pat's
Thin crustOpen
Google 4.4 (722) · Yelp rating unavailable · On 2 critics' or local guides · checked Nov 4
The first Manhattan outpost of the Staten Island pizzeria that has made cracker-thin pies for more than 60 years, on 1st Ave since 2018. Get the vodka pie, which The Infatuation singles out, and add the chicken parm or baked clams if you're with a group.
What people like: Super thin, crispy crust · Old-school room with wooden tables · Fast service that handles groups Watch out for: Loud music and dim lighting
Picked by: The Infatuation · EV Grieve
Emmy Squared East Village
Detroit-styleOpen
Google 4.5 (771) · Yelp rating unavailable · On 0 critics' or local guides · checked Nov 4
Detroit-style square pies with crisp cheese edges and a grandma-pie streak, on 1st Ave since 2018. The Skinny Square uses half the dough, and the Le Big Matt burger has its own fans. Reviewers also rate the gluten-free pie.
What people like: Airy, chewy crust with quality toppings · Well-rated gluten-free pie · Easy online pickup Watch out for: Can run oily
Motorino
NeapolitanOpen
Google rating not verified for this location · Yelp rating unavailable · On 2 critics' or local guides · checked Nov 4
A wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria on E 12th St since 2009, and a regular on critics' Neapolitan lists. Order the buffalo-mozzarella margherita, the broccoli rabe Pugliese or the Brussels sprouts and pancetta white pie. Time Out praises its blistered, elastic crust.
What people like: Blistered, chewy Neapolitan crust · Creative toppings
Picked by: Time Out · The Infatuation
Village Square Pizza
Square slicesOpen
Google rating not verified · Yelp rating unavailable · On 1 local guide · checked Nov 4
A square-slice shop on Avenue A since 2019 that has grown to four Manhattan locations. Try the grandma, vodka and pepperoni squares; there are plenty of vegan options. It's open until 4am on Friday and Saturday.
What people like: Wide range of square slices · Lots of vegan and vegetarian options · Open late Watch out for: Mostly standing room
Picked by: EV Grieve
New in 2026: Pizza Studio Tamaki on St Marks is too new to rank here. See it in our East Village roundup.
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What is the best pizza in the East Village?
Joe & Pat's at 168 1st Ave tops our list (Score 8.7) for its cracker-thin vodka pie. Emmy Squared (Detroit-style), Motorino (Neapolitan) and Village Square Pizza (square slices) round out the list.
Where can I get Neapolitan pizza in the East Village?
Motorino at 349 E 12th St has made wood-fired Neapolitan pies since 2009. Pizza Studio Tamaki on St Marks Place, which opened in 2026, makes Tokyo-style Neapolitan pizza.
Where can I get pizza late at night in the East Village?
Village Square Pizza at 147 Avenue A stays open until 4am on Friday and Saturday nights, with grandma, vodka and pepperoni squares.
Sources: The Infatuation; Time Out; EV Grieve; Emmy Squared. Google ratings and review counts via Wanderlog's Google data (Joe & Pat's, Emmy Squared); checked Nov 4, 2026. Hours and menus change, so check before you go.