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Best Family Friendly Favorites Pizza Restaurants in Upper West Side (Central)

9 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked

Last Updated: February 2026

Our Top Pick
Celeste
Broad Italian‑and‑pizza menu with standout pies.

Notable Picks

8.7
$$ Upper West Side (Central) Pizza
Celeste’s classic New York–style pies are complemented by a broad Italian menu, drawing neighborhood crowds for both pizza and pasta. With over 3,000 reviews and a consistently high rating, it’s a reliable choice for a casual dinner on the Upper West Side.
Must-Try Dishes: Margherita Pizza, White Truffle Mushroom Pizza, Sicilian Square Slice
What makes it special: Broad Italian‑and‑pizza menu with standout pies.
$ Upper West Side (Central) Pizza
Motorino’s Upper West Side outpost serves Neapolitan-style, wood-fired pies near the Museum of Natural History, making it an easy sit-down choice for families who care about crust. The compact room runs busy but stays relaxed enough for kids, with friendly service and a menu of familiar toppings alongside their famous Brussels sprouts pizza.
Must-Try Dishes: Margherita pizza, Brussels sprouts and pancetta pizza, Soppressata piccante pizza
What makes it special: Serious Neapolitan pizza in a kid-welcoming, museum-adjacent setting.
$$ Upper West Side (Central) Pizza
Mimi's Pizza on Broadway runs a deep menu of round, Sicilian, and grandma pies with toppings that range from Denso-style cup-and-char pepperoni to spinach-artichoke and truffle mushroom. It feels like a true neighborhood shop where regulars mix classic slices with more chef-y combinations.
Must-Try Dishes: Denso Style Pepperoni Pizza, Spinach Artichoke Grandma Pizza, Grandma Traditional square
What makes it special: Creative specialty and grandma pies on a true neighborhood corner.
$ Upper West Side (Central) Italian, Pizza
Bella Luna has anchored Columbus Avenue since 1988 with Northern Italian classics, brick-oven pizzas, and a warm, neighborhood feel that explicitly welcomes families. It functions as a go-to Upper West Side spot for big bowls of pasta, pizza, and a comfortable dining room where kids and adults can linger together.
Must-Try Dishes: Eggplant Parmigiana, Brick-oven Margherita pizza, Linguini Bella Luna
What makes it special: Long-running neighborhood Italian with brick-oven pizzas and welcoming family energy.
$$ Upper West Side (Central) Pizza
Long‑standing Upper West Side pizzeria serving classic New York pies with a thin crust and balanced sauce, ideal for traditional pizza lovers even if not open ultra‑late.
Must-Try Dishes: Plain Cheese Pie, Sausage Pizza, Sicilian Square
What makes it special: Traditional NY thin‑crust pizza heritage
$$$$ Upper West Side (Central) Mediterranean, Pizza
Turkish-leaning Mediterranean restaurant known for brick-oven flatbreads, kebabs, and stews in a casual, closely packed dining room. Neighborhood regulars use it for relaxed dinners where a mix of meze and hearty mains works across different appetites.
Must-Try Dishes: Lamb Shank, Manti Dumplings, Mixed Meze Platter
What makes it special: Turkish-inspired neighborhood staple with brick-oven pizzas, kebabs, and meze.
$$ Upper West Side (Central) Pizza
Marinara Pizza leans into both round and square pies, with a long list that runs from vodka and Margherita to stuffed Sicilian and cauliflower crust options. The shop balances indulgent, cheese-heavy slices with lighter salads, making it a flexible choice for quick dinners and takeout.
Must-Try Dishes: Vodka Pie, Margherita Pie, Stuffed Crust Sicilian Pepperoni Pie
What makes it special: Huge pie lineup including vodka, cauliflower, and stuffed Sicilians.

Worthy Picks

$ Upper West Side (Central) Pizza
A practical Broadway slice counter that’s best treated as a repeatable neighborhood option: grab a couple of straightforward slices and keep moving. Go classic first, then use one specialty slice as the “fun” pick if you’re hungry enough to justify it.
Must-Try Dishes: Cheese slice, Pepperoni slice, Garlic knots
What makes it special: A late-hours slice counter that stays simple and convenient.
$$ Upper West Side (Central) Pizza
Dreamers Pizza II is a classic Broadway pizzeria built around large pies, basic pastas, and a long menu tailored to delivery and takeout. Inside, the casual setup works for low-key family meals where everyone can share a couple of pies and a tray of wings.
Must-Try Dishes: Cheese pizza pie, Pepperoni pizza pie, Primavera veggie pizza
What makes it special: Old-school Broadway pizza shop geared toward big pies and delivery.