Best Pizza Restaurants in University Village

Opened in 2013 by Chicago native Emmett Burke, this South Village spot brings cast-iron deep dish and tavern-style pies to a cozy, wood-paneled room that hums late into the night. It’s more of a sit-down pizzeria than a slice joint, with made-to-order pies that reward the wait with blistered crusts and gooey centers.

Husband-and-wife team Ciro and Austria bring authentic Neapolitan soul to this brick-oven pizzeria where the margherita arrives with proper char and chew. Beyond pizza, dig into lesser-known Campanian dishes like paccheri alla Genovese and scialatielli alla scarpariello while Neapolitan music plays overhead.

At the always-bright corner of MacDougal and W 3rd, Ben’s Pizzeria serves NYU students, comedy-club crowds, and tourists with classic foldable slices into the early morning. The pizza itself is straightforward rather than destination-level, but decades of late-night service and quick turnover make it a reliable Village fallback.