When visiting New York City this fall, I knew I had to honour this season of reading season by visiting all the Best Book Stores in New York City. I felt like Kathleen Kelly herself as I made my way across the city. Searching out the most enchanting and adorable bookshops along the way. They all filled me with anticipation to get cozy and do some reading when I got home. Like I was bringing those autumnal vibes from the city that never sleeps home with me! One of the reasons I love buying books when on vacation is that it feels like they embue a sense of the place they came from. And memories you’ll never forget.

Before Halloween, fall is the season for getting cozy. Light a few candles and cuddle up under a warm blanket. And to perfect the evening, grab a good book for the ultimate autumnal night in. And there is no where better to find that ideal fall novel, than in New York City itself!

Table Of Contents

1. Books are Magic
2. The Strand Bookshop
3. POWERHOUSE @ IC
4. Spoonbill & Sugartown Books
5. Albertine
6. The Morgan Library Shop
7. Mysterious Book Shop
8. Sweet Pickle Books
9. Rizzoli Bookstore
10. McNally Jackson Books
11. The Corner Bookstore
12. Three Lives & Company
13. Desert Island
14. The Center for Fiction
15. The Drama Book Shop

Books are Magic

Walking along the charming streets of Cobble Hill, you might almost miss the rather subtle exterior of my favourite bookshop! Found on the corner of Butler and Smith Street in Brooklyn. Emma Straub, an award-winning author, founded the Book Are Magic bookshop in 2017. This shop is designed in the industrial Scandinavian style, which lends itself to being a little bit more relaxed and unassuming. But stepping inside, the fantastical colourful books lining the shelves makes any chance a subtly an impossibility.

Perhaps because the store is run by an author herself, the collection’s curation is unrivalled! I always come here with nothing in mind to buy. Instead, I leave it up to the recommended section. And I’ve never ever come away disappointed. One of the cutest parts of the shop is the mural on the side of the building. I stellar place to get your defacto Instagram shot with your newest literary purchase!

Address: 225 Smith St, Brooklyn, NY

The Strand Bookshop

Back in the 1890s, fourth avenue was chock-a-block filled with bookshops. Forty-eight different bookstores once lined this stretch of New york City. It was nicknamed “Book Row.” It flourished for years but after the Great Depression, many of these bookshops were forced to close. Later one, the ones that remained were driven out by rising rental prices in the 1960s. Eventually, every single one of these bookstores on Book Row closed down. Every single shop, but one. And that was Strand Books. 

Strand Books first opened here in 1927 by Lithuanian immigrant Benjamin Bass. Bass opened the store with just $300 in his pocket. During the first year, Bass slept on a small cot inside the store to save money. Such was his dedication to his store and his love of books. Bass was close with several influencial members of the Stuyvesant family. The Stuyvesant’s owned a massive swath of land throughout New York. It was this lucky relationship with the Stuyvesants, that kept Bass afloat during the depression. After making it through tough times, the Strand became a historic staple of the neighbourhood. Growing in popularity year over year.

The Strand Today

Today, the bookshop remains loved by locals and tourists alike. The company’s slogan is “18 Miles Of Books” as you’ll find the shelves inside stocked with over 2.5 million books. Stepping inside can be an overwhelming experience at first. But eventually, the waves of books on the shelves almost lull you into a gentle rhythm. One of my favourite parts of the store are the themed tables in the centre of the store. The different categories allow you to discover the best of the best of these other subjects. As curated by expert bookworms at the Strand. Since the Strand is a pretty famous New York institution, there is also a plentiful selection of signed author copies of new publications! So if you’re a collector this is a must-see spot for you.

Address: 828 Broadway, New York, NY

POWERHOUSE @ IC

POWERHOUSE @ IC is located inside one of my favourite new spots in Brooklyn; Industry City. Industry City, as the name states, was constructed inside a series of old industrial buildings. Set outside a historic intermodal shipping and warehousing complex. The decor of the new POWERHOUSE @ IC shop fits well within this industrial complex. Bright yellow paint highlights the store shelves and flooring, while the rest of the interior features exposed cement walls. It’s rather austere but makes the books on the shelves works of art on display.

POWERHOUSE @ IC prides itself on featuring a wonderfully curated selection of books that focus on design, art, DIY, food, drink, and entertaining. Each of these categories is distinctly representative of the creative spirit of Industry City. Their selection of art books was incredible. I have a growing collection of Frida Kahlo books, and I was amazed to find several books I had never seen before! Situated inside the food hall, it is very appropriate that they feature an exclusive collection of gorgeous cookbooks. If you are travelling with kids, check out their charming children’s book area. Its’s ideally set up for kids to browse and features some beautifully illustrated books for kids.

220 36th St Building 2, Brooklyn, NY

Spoonbill & Sugartown Books

Stumbling onto Spoonbill & Sugartown Books, while wandering in Williamsburg, was a real pleasant surprise. This cozy independent bookstore specializes in rare art, architecture and design titles. All things that are right up my streets! I was overwhelmed by the gorgeous titles pouring off the shelves when I stepped inside. Set up within this old brownstone, complete with vintage tin ceiling, it feels like the bookshop grew around this new trendy neighbourhood.

While most of the books at the front of the store are new, they also have a smaller selection of used books at the back . These are always filled with treasures, so don’t skip that section over. They have a wonderful selection of LGBTQ+ stories and a superb poetry collection. The translated poetry being my favourite. They also sell a small but fabulous sampling of independent magazines representing New York City’s culture, fashion and art.

Albertine

There is no more magical bookstore in New York City than Albertine. Walking in here feels like entering the Divination classroom in Hogwarts. The bookshop is located inside the upscale Payne Whitney mansion on the upper east side. A building that also houses the French Embassy. As part of the French Embassy’s commitment to intellectual exchange, they opened this bookstore that specializes in French & English language books. Inspired by the historic ceilings of French cathedrals, the most iconic part of this bookshop is the incredible ceiling mural. The mural features rich French blue paint covered in golden constellations and planets.

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The spaces inside features cozy reading areas where you can lounge on the sofas, taking in the scenery. A great way to spend a rainy afternoon. While many people might not be able to read French and not see a reason to visit the shop, I would advise still checking it out. They have an unparalleled selection of stellar French cookbooks (which are written in English.) And if you’ve ever been interested in learning French they have some amazing books to get you started!

The Morgan Library Shop

The Morgan Library & Museum is one of my favourite hidden gems in New York City. The library features the personal literary collection of financier and cultural benefactor Pierpont Morgan. Morgan’s shelves feature illuminated literary and historical manuscripts, early printed books, and old master drawings and prints. And the entire collection is set inside his majestic Madison Avenue mid-nineteenth-century brownstone. Styled to resemble an Italian Renaissance palazzo, the library is one of the most spectacular places in the city. Admission to visit the library is required (and highly recommended), but you can always step in and visit the gift shop and bookstore for free!

The bookshop is set inside the same gorgeous building, and it feels like walking inside a precious work of art. And what many people don’t know is that the Morgan Library Bookshop is home to one of the city’s best collections of art books. And I was shocked at the discounted books they seem to always have on offer. There is also a vast collection of gifts and stationery if you’re into that kind of thing. If you’re a library lover, this is the place to come to get some pieces that will make a statement on your shelves.

Mysterious Book Shop

Fall is inherently a “spooky season,” and there is no better place to go during this scary time of year than the Mysterious Book Shop. The Mysterious Book Shop is New York’s oldest bookstore specializing in crime and mystery novels. The shelves reaching all the way to the ceiling are stocked to the gills with spine-chilling and intriguing tales. The walls of books act almost like wallpaper, creating this cozy atmosphere.

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If you’re into Agatha Christie, Sherlockiana, or just looking to discover a juicy new crime author, this is the place to go! The staff are SUPER knowledgeable and also keen to discuss their new favourites. Their New York City-based mystery section is incredibly cool since you can pick up a book set right in this city. Even long after your vacation, you can pick it up to feel like you’re right back on the streets of New York. They also have a gorgeous selection of rare books, which are a treat to wonder at.

Sweet Pickle Books

Sweet Pickle Books, located in the lower east side, is probably one of the most uniquely themed bookstores in the city. As the name states, they are indeed both a bookstore but also a pickle shop! The store’s concept was inspired by owner Leigh Altshuler‘s mother’s favourite movie Crossing Delancey. The 1988 movie is about a pickle peddler who falls in love with a book dealer. All set in the Lower East Side. Altshuler opened her store during the pandemic after losing her marketing job. She started selling homemade pickles from her apartment, but in 2021, when rental places became more affordable, she switched to a brick-and-mortar location. Since pickles were always such an essential part of the Lower East Side’s Jewish immigrant cusine, Altshuler also feels like her store is an homage to the neighbourhood.

But pickles couldn’t support her business entirely. When she saw how many people were simply giving books away in estate sales, she bought and resold them here. The result is the most haphazard collection, and I meant that in the most endearingly way. Searching the shelves here is a means of discovery, and since her prices are so low, you can find treasures for almost nothing! You never know what you’ll find, except for the pickles, which are always an absolute treat! Don’t miss out on the spicy ones, delicious!

Rizzoli Bookstore

Walking into Rizzoli Bookstore, you feel like you are entering an elegant Italian palazzo. The gorgeous chandeliers, marble floors, rich oak bookshelves and handpainted frescos on the walls make shopping here a luxurious experience. Rizzoli Bookstore has been open in New York for 50 years, although it has only spent half that time in this location on Broadway.

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Rizzoli is notable for its incredible collection of independent texts specializing in fantastically illustrated books. If you’re interested in architecture, interior design, fashion, photography, cooking, and applied arts, this is the place for you! Exploring these captivating collections can get you lost for hours. If you’re looking for an extra special gift to get someone, this is the place to go!

McNally Jackson Books

The soaring bookshelves of this two-storey shop in Brooklyn is one of the most beautiful visions a book lover will ever see. It reminds me of so many baroque libraries I’ve visited around the world. McNally Jackson Books is a New York independent bookseller with four locations across the city. Their shop in Brooklyn is my favourite as it blends modern interior design with classical bookshop vibes. Their curation, especially about hyper-specific categories, is terrific, and there is always something new to discover here.

If you’re a journaler, you will definitely appreciate their gorgeous selection of stationery. Hundreds of different pens in every rainbow colour and various leather notebooks are needed to jot down all those precious messages and memories.

The Corner Bookstore

The darling Corner Bookstore, on the literal corner of Madison Avenue, is set inside an old 1890s brick brownstone. Their window displays are filled to the brim with vivid book covers demanding you to come inside. Stepping into this storied building with charming tin ceilings feels quintessentially New York. This neighbourhood mainstay has been open here since 1978. They even still have the original manual cash register. A memento of the olden days.

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This store was actually one of the few iconic locations in New York scouted by the set designers for the film, You’ve Got Mail. Despite being a smaller store, they still have a beautifully curated selection of literary fiction, history, biography and children’s works. 

Three Lives & Company

This enchanted corner of New York City is home to the beloved Three Lives & Company bookstore. This legendary spot has stood here for over 40 years in the heart of historic Greenwich Village. You can spot the shop from down the street by the shockingly red door painted to match the red bricks of the old building.

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One of the best things about this shop is the staff. I always come here with NOTHING in mind to buy. Instead, I love chatting with the staff to see what they recommend in whatever category I seem drawn to that day. Inside this cozy interior, you can while away the afternoon simply by peering through their fantastical collections.

Desert Island

Walking down this street in Brooklyn, you’ll see the gorgeous retro signage for an old bakery. But inside, you’ll find something altogether different. I wanted to be sure to add a bookshop to this list that specializes in graphic novels. And this is THAT shop. Over the years, graphic novels have become one of the most exciting and captivating forms of literature and stepping into Desert Island books, you’ll know why! Desert Island is decorated with handmade ice-blue stalactite sculptures and gorgeous tapestries hung all over the interior. These decorations are meant to wrap up the visitors in a wonderfully imaginative environment in which to browse their books. The shelves are stocked with thoughtfully curated graphic novels, comic books, sweet treasures and one-of-a-kind prints!

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In addition, this store also sells some awesome zines made by local artists. These zines are such a hyper-niche thing. Usually, one-offs are only found here, so grabbing one is like buying up a piece of ephemeral New York art. Desert Island also publishes its own yearly all-illustration newspaper, “Smoke Signal.” These local oddities make the store unique and unlike anything else you’ll find.

The Center for Fiction

In the centre of Brooklyn, you’ll find this monolith to literature; the Center for Fiction! The walls are toweringly high, with a huge ladder required to access the books on the tallest shelves. Like a modern-day version of Beauty and the Beast‘s library. The Center for Fiction is the only nonprofit literary organization in the US. And this store is their first brick-and-mortar bookshop, which opened in 2019. The window side of the shop features floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing light to stream inside in the most heavenly way. Compared to some of the other bookstores on this list which are more dark academia, this place is contemporary chic! 

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In addition to their incredible selection of books, they also frequently hold panels, lectures, seminars, reading groups, and conversations led by some of the nation’s most beloved writers. Their cozy cafe and bar is a fantastic spot to come and grab a bite to eat while enjoying your newest book purchase. There are so many people here writing away on notepads and computer screens. Like you can feel the next big novel being written right in the room! The vibes here are unrivalled, and it is one of the most peaceful places in the city to come and shop.

The Drama Book Shop

As New York City is home to Broadway and one of, if not the BEST, places to see live theatre, visiting the Drama Book Shop feels like a truly New Yorkian outing! Open since 1917, the Drama Book Shop has been a mainstay of the New York theatre scene and a cultural institution for theatrical works. One of my favourite parts of going inside is admiring the decor. They always go all out with the store’s styling, and I’m sure they get some set decorators to help them create these fantastical displays. The most impressive is the “book tornado” that spirals all around the store. Whirling you into a dizzying book-buying frenzy!

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Although the shop has been open for over 100 years, it only recently moved to this new location. The new shop was designed by “Hamilton” set designer David Korins. It was created to pay homage to twentieth-century European cafes and reading rooms. So, in addition to all 8,000 playbooks, they also have a full-service cafe! Historic posters from Broadway’s past line the walls. If you are a thespian book lover, you’ll be in heaven. But it’s not just playbooks and musical scores that you’ll find here. There are many books about acting, non-fiction about the famous plays that made Broadway what it is today, and a fantastic collection of biographies from renowned actors and writers. If you ever wanted to know the secrets of the stage, you’ll find them in the books here.

I hope you enjoyed this literary shopping tour of New York City Bookshops! Let me know in the comment which one was your favourite or any that I might have missed!

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post The 15 Best Bookshops in New York City, a Bookworms Guide to NYC first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

After a week-long search across the city, I bring you this self-guided pizza tour! With this guide, you find and eat all these delicious slices on your next visit to the Big Apple! Don’t get me wrong, I love a triangle slice, but there are lots of those food tours out there! And I wanted to create something a little different. And trust me, you’ll totally fall in love with the grandma pizza if you’ve never had one before.

Table Of Contents

1. What is Grandma Pizza?
2. Anatomy of a Grandma Pizza
3. TIPS
4. Map of New York City Pizza Tour
5. Sal's Pizza, Brooklyn
6. Di Fara Pizza, Brooklyn
7. Table 87, Brooklyn
8. Gravesend, Brooklyn
9. Best Pizza, Williamsburg
10. Williamsburgh Pizza, Williamsburg
11. Screamer’s Pizzeria, Williamsburg
12. Kiss My Slice, Manhattan
13. Vito's Slices and Ices, Manhattan
14. Corner Slice, Manhattan

What is Grandma Pizza?

A Grandma Pizza is a distinctly New Yorkian invention. It made a name for itself on Long Island in the 1970s. Back then, restaurants were tired of making trendy circular pies and longed for a slice of nostalgia. So what did they do? Go back to the cookbooks and memories they cherished of their grandmother’s home-cooked pizza. 

Long Island Grandmas

A massive congregation of Italian immigrants arrived to Long Island in the 1880s. When these women landed on these new shores, they didn’t have almost anything to their name. Knowing cooking was the best way to preserve their heritage, they longed to whip up a traditional pizza to have a slice of home. But they didn’t have access to a coal pizza oven. And without the ovens, they couldn’t make the traditional round pies they used to cook back home in Italy.

But, they would not let this lack of tools defeat their quest. Instead, they used simply what they had at home. A sheet pan and a regular oven. The ingredients on top of the pizza were also humble. Homemade tomato sauce was the star of the show, along with fresh cheese and a green leaf of basil. These were the pizzas many restaurant owners grew up eating before opening their own joints. In the 1970s, they wanted to bring these slices back. And this time, sell them to everyone to let them get a taste of grandma’s delicious pizza. Hence the name. So before you tell me that these slices aren’t “traditional” New York pizza, I’d say that the grandma slice is even more hyper-local than the triangle street slices. One was brought to New York from Italy, the other was born right here in NYC.

Anatomy of a Grandma Pizza

As mentioned, grandma pizzas are made not in circular pans but in deep sheet trays. The dough for a grandma’s pizza is nice a thick! Almost like focaccia. This is the slice for you for someone who loves the bread part of pizza! The thick dough is instrumental in soaking up all that delicious tomato sauce they pile onto the pizza. You will find some grandma pizzas made in the Sicilian style, with thin crusts, but those are just as delightful.

To me, a great-tasting sauce is another key element that takes the grandma pizza to another level. Tangy and fresh, with nice dollops of sauce. Unlike regular triangular slices, the cheese is there to compliment the sauce, not overwhelm it.

Lastly, a serving of basil freshens the entire dish and lightens the heaviness you sometimes get with thick pizzas. Once cooked, the grandma’s pizza is served in rectangular slices. The corner slice is the most coveted of all the parts of the pizza as you get that nice crispy edge on two sides, a real pièce de résistance.

TIPS

Despite being one of the original dishes introduced by Italian immigrants, the grandma pizza has really only caught on throughout the city in the last 20 years. In the 70s, it stayed mainly on Long Island, but today, you can find it everywhere! And it is one of the city’s most popular slices in pizza shops. Often selling out long before the other pies. This Pizza Tour of New York will show you where to get the best grandma slices in the city. I’ve organized the different stops into their various neighbourhoods so you can plan your day around them. Spend a day in Brooklyn or an afternoon in Williamsburg. Use these locations to etch out your rough itinerary. And use the time between meals to explore the neighbourhoods more for yourselves!

Individual Slices

All the pizza stops on this list sell individual slices of pizza. I went through many other guides of the best pizza in New York that only featured whole pies. And while I’m sure they’re delicious, whole pies almost always mean a sit-down experience. Or just the need to eat an entire pizza. If you’re travelling with a big group, this might work. But smaller groups will find it harder to fit in as many stops if they’re required to eat an entire pizza every time.

Buying individual slices also means these stops on the New York City Pizza Tour can be as quick as you want. If you want to down your pizza and get on the road, so be it! But if you’d rather sit down for a bit, you can do this too! Options for all! If you’re not a huge eater, get one slice, and share it between two people. That way, you can easily fit more slices from different locations across town in one day. We would frequently order just one slice to share and almost everywhere we went offered to slice it down the middle for us!

Rating Your Pizzas

One of the things that really took our pizza tour to the next level was rating them along the way! Who had the best crust, the tastiest sauce, the perfect atmosphere, and the most unique toppings? After making a little scorecard we could determine which places were whose favourites! It’s such a fun way to get the conversation going and make more of an event out of the entire tour! Obviously, everyone will have their own opinion about their favourite kind of pizza, and these were just my favourites. But hopefully, you will love the ones we found for you!

The Prices

Another huge bonus to this type of tour is the price! New York City is an expensive best to travel. But all of these slices on tour are under $6. So it’s easy to get really full for really cheap!

Map of New York City Pizza Tour

Sal’s Pizza, Brooklyn

Brooklyn is my favourite place in the city to come for pizza. The streets are such a dream to walk around, and there is no shortage of incredible architecture, chic cafes and awesome shops. But best of all, is the pizza. Sal’s Pizzeria is one of those Brooklyn establishments that feels like it hasn’t changed in 50 years. This place is CASH ONLY; that’s how old school they really are. Sal’s is as unpretentious as it gets without compromising on quality.

The sauce here is amazingly tangy. Made with fresh, chewy tomatoes, onions and garlic. But to make the pizza that much more interesting, they add a few dollops of pesto sauce. This really amps up the flavour. Sitting outside with a couple of glass soda bottles makes you feel like stepping back to a simpler time. The perfect way to spend the afternoon.

BONUS: Walk to Court Pastry Shop across the street for an authentic cup of Italian Ice. Court Pastry Shop has been open for almost 75 years and is a slice of Brooklyn’s history!

Address: 305 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231
Price: $3.50

Di Fara Pizza, Brooklyn

The Di Fara Pizza shop is a bit of a trek to get to, located in the Midwood neighbourhood of Brooklyn. But it’s one of those places worth the effort to find. Thankfully the Q train has a station right outside the restaurant at Avenue J. So it’s still very accessible by public transit. Di Fara Pizza has been open here since 1965. It was started by the De Marco family, who immigrated from Italy. And ever since opening, their pies has been legendary.

Their grandma slices have the most impeccably caramelized crust with just the right amount of crunch and burn. The huge dollops of sauce are the ideal compliment to the crispy dough. This is the freshest pie you can ask for. The tomatoes tasted like they were plucked from the plant only moments before and yet embued with such herby flavours. Yes, sure, there might be a wait, but it’s worth it! And the people watching here in this quaint little neighbourhood is a great way to pass the time.

Address: 1424 Avenue J, Brooklyn
Price: $6.00

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Table 87, Brooklyn

Table 87 made a name for itself off its coal-fired oven. The super-heated range cooks pizzas at 900° in under just two minutes! The result is this flavourful char that is other worldly. And while they might have a few different locations around the city, their flagship spot in Brooklyn is my favourite place to dive into one of their incredible slices!

The margarita pizza had the best tasting cheeses of all the locations we’d been to. Salty, stretchy and stupendous! I’m someone who really loves cheese, and the fact this place lays it on thick (literally) added extra points in my book! The dough was also one of the thickest, which helped balance out the extra cheese. Their outdoor seating in the middle of one of the charmingest parts of Brooklyn is icing on the cake. But if you visit when it’s chilly they have a huge amount of indoor seating. Enjoy a slice with a glass of wine or crisp Italian soda.

Address: 87 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn
Price: $5

Gravesend, Brooklyn

The newbie on the Brooklyn block is Gravesend Pizza. Aptly named as they are located just west of the famous Greenwood Cemetery. And their pizza is truly to die for. But let’s hope not literally. Gravesend specializes in a few different grandma-style pizzas but their upside-down pizza, served with the sauce on top, is my favourite. The tomatoes get carmelized slightly more by the direct heat of the oven by being on top. Leaving you with the tastiest pizza! The staff here were immensely kind and welcoming. Making us truly wish we lived just around the block so we could visit them every week!

Address: 181 34th St, Brooklyn
Price: $4

Best Pizza, Williamsburg

Williamsburg is best known today as the centre of hipster culture. But historically, it was also home to a large Italian community. And the blend of trendy and historical cuisines results in some of the best spots in the city to get a slice! One of those places is aptly named Best Pizza! Restaurant owner Frank Pinello grew up on Long Island, where he was greatly influenced by his Sicilian grandmother’s cooking. Down in the basement, she would crank out traditional grandma-style pizzas, and Pinello wanted to bring those same delicious flavours to the public when he owned his establishment.

The pizzeria uses a 120 years old wood-burning oven to churn out some of the best slices in town. The wood they use in the oven really flavours the pizzas which come out of it. They are also well known for making their own fresh mozzarella in-house. And trust me, if you’re a cheese fan, you can really taste the difference. The crust here is both thin and bubbly, all at the same time. The flavours are simple and complex. This place truly is the definition of balance. It’s genuinely an incredible culinary experience and one you NEED to try. And honestly, the retro patio chairs out front make it feel so homely. Like you really are eating at your grandma’s house!

Address: 33 Havemeyer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211, United States
Price:

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Williamsburgh Pizza, Williamsburg

The exterior of Williamsburgh Pizza is one of the most iconic of all our destinations. Those old-fashioned red and white stripes simply call you inside! The Williamsburgh Pizza shop made a name for itself here in this trendy neighbourhood. But it wasn’t long before they started to expand to locations around the city. But their original spot in Williamsburg is my pick of places to try out these stunning slices! It just feels all the more authentic.

Williamsburg Pizza is the place to go for that delectable crunch! The dough is crispy, but the interior is chewy, fluffy and airy all at once! I also really felt like I could taste the garlic in their tomato sauce more than at other places. And I loved that addition. When we visited. they were out of the margarita grandma slices, so we got the pepperoni. I loved how the pepperonis got a little burnt just around the edges. It added such a dynamic flavour and was irresistible. Biting into this slice, the crunch echoes across the neighbourhood. Like a bat signal, calling out to other hungry pizza fanatics.

Address: 265 Union Ave, Brooklyn
Price: $5

Screamer’s Pizzeria, Williamsburg

If you only saw pictures from this place, you’d never know all the slices here are VEGAN! I wanted to include at least one vegan option on this list. Vegan food is becoming increasingly more popular and if you’ve never had a vegan pizza before, THIS is the place to try one! Screamers are undoubtedly the most modern pizzeria on the list, leaning into the needs of the clientele that makes up the neighbourhood. As soon as you step inside you are greeted by these fantastically bright pink walls. Local artisan prints hang on the walls and band stickers cover the tiles. It’s a hipster haven.

If there is one thing that vegans have perfected, it’s bread. And the bread is best savoured in its grandma slices. The crust is huge and fluffy, and the sauce they serve is wonderfully favoured with their homemade garlic oil. I don’t know much about vegan cheese, but the kinds they used to simulate the real thing was super impressive. The perfect blend of creamy and salty, brightened up by those fresh slices of basil! Absolutely magical!

Address: 620 Manhattan Ave, Brooklyn
Price: $4.75

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Kiss My Slice, Manhattan

Over in Manhattan, you can barely go one block without seeing signs for pizza. While heading over to the theatre district before a Broadway show, we were on the hunt for a slice. I had monstrously low expectations as this part of town is my worst nightmare. Most of the area is just crowds of souvenir shops and tourist traps. But, I thought to myself, even bad pizza is still pretty good, so what do I have to lose?

We stopped into Kiss My Slice, thinking of it as nothing more than a stereotypical New York-style hole in the wall. No aesthetics or even a table to sit down on. It’s a standing room only! But as soon as we walked in, we were greeted with such friendly smiles. And I was really impressed with the variety of toppings on their offerings. But we went with the grandma-style pizza and were so surprised by just how delicious it was! The sauce was tangy and fresh, the crust was crispy but not dry. And the cheese had the perfect pull to it. Overall, having a good spot in the centre of town is so important. As a tourist, you’ll more than likely have to cross through this area around Times Square. And knowing where to grab a decent slice is key!

Address: 274 W 40th St, New York
Price: $4.25

Vito’s Slices and Ices, Manhattan

Vito’s Slices and Ices is a relatively new shop that came onto the pizza scene in Manhattan a few years ago. But the owners come with over 20 years of restaurant experience. They opened this place to honour old-school New York-style pizza. Made with hand stretch dough and specializing in grandma square slices! The shop gets a lot of their produce from local farmers’ markets, and this freshness is noticeable in the food! Despite being a relatively new establishment, the interior decor references old-school pizzerias of the 1930s. And I can’t get enough of it!

Their grandma’s slices are stacked! Definitely one of the fluffiest doughs we’ve had. Like biting into a pillow! The sauce here is unreal, and I think one of the best parts of the pizza. Unlike some joints that only sell one style of grandma, this place has three versions, including the upside-down Sicilian slice. I love these upside-down slices as the sauce really is allowed to sing and be the star of the show.

Address: 464 9th Ave, New York
Price: $4.25

Corner Slice, Manhattan

Okay, if you’re into bread, you need to hit up Corner Slice. Although this restaurant is deemed one of the more modern pizzerias in the city, it is doing it right. Corner Slice takes bread baking to the next level, using only artisan flour for all of its pizza. Their dough undergoes a 60-hour fermentation before it is stretched out to become the base for the pizzas. The result? A heavenly puffy and chewy crust with a depth of unrivalled flavour.

In addition, their grandma-style slice features three different kinds of tomatoes from New York, California and Sicily. The texture is rather pulpy, and while I’m NOT a pulp fan, even I was wowed by how flavourful each bite was. The pizzas are topped with sweet Sicilian oregano before they are served up to the customer, leaving you with an entirely unique-tasting slice in a chic, quick-service shop! Phenomenal.

Address: 600 11th Avenue at, W 45th St, New York
Price: $5.75

Phew, I’m full just writing all this! But has me dreaming of going back to New York to get my hands on just one of those incredible slices. Thank you for joining me on this self-guided New York City Pizza Tour. Let me know in the comments which shop was your favourite or any others you think should be added to the list! The possibilities are endless in a city like New York City but I hope my guide has helped you find a few hidden gems!

Happy Travels, Adventurers

The post 10 Best Grandma Pizzas in New York City, a Self-Guided Pizza Tour first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.