When the city lights flip on, New York’s slice counters start humming like a well tuned engine. After 5 PM, lines snake down sidewalks, ovens roar, and pies keep spinning faster than the subway clock.
You can feel the urgency, the rhythm, and that intoxicating aroma pulling you in. Ready to chase crispy edges and molten cheese until late night cravings call it quits?
Joe’s Pizza – New York, New York
Joe’s is the dependable friend you call when the night refuses to slow down. The slice lands hot, thin, and lightly blistered, with that classic fold that catches every droplet of orange tinged bliss.
You hear the door swoosh, the register ping, and suddenly your hunger makes perfect sense.
After 5 PM, the counter churns nonstop, pies flying from oven to box like clockwork. You watch the cheese bubble, the sauce whisper sweet tomato promises, and the crew keep tempo.
It is a snapshot of Manhattan energy that never disappoints.
Grab a plain slice first, then chase it with a pepperoni if the line flows fast. Keep napkins ready.
You will need them.
Scarr’s Pizza – New York, New York
Scarr’s blends old school swagger with modern flour geekery, and you feel it the second you walk in. The crust snaps with delicate char while still bending just right, carrying tangy sauce and a generous cheese melt.
It is comfort dressed in Lower East Side cool.
After 5 PM, the narrow space hums with impatient bliss, records spinning, and boxes stacking high. You will watch staff hustle with precision, sliding pies through like a dance.
The whole grain blend adds nuttiness that hooks you fast.
Start with a plain, then test the pepperoni or Sicilian if slices look fresh. Timing matters here.
The turnover stays rapid, so quality stays sky high.
Prince Street Pizza – New York, New York
Those iconic square pepperoni slices pull you in like a magnet. Thick, airy crumb, a caramelized undercrust, and those cupped little pepperonis crisped at the rim.
You dodge the line, then give in, because the scent alone is a promise.
After 5 PM, the sidewalk becomes a waiting room with city views. You hear bursts of laughter, shoes shuffling, and ovens breathing life into pan pies.
When your box arrives, heat fog kisses your face and patience gets rewarded.
Grab extra napkins and lean into that spicy zing. The edge crunch is the real soundtrack here.
You will leave with a grin and sauce on your sleeve.
L’Industrie Pizzeria – Brooklyn, New York
L’Industrie makes slices feel like a celebration. The dough is lively and light, with a leopard kissed edge that still folds on command.
Toppings are playful, sometimes crowned with burrata that melts like a dream.
After 5 PM, Williamsburg strolls in hungry and the counter barely catches its breath. You watch pies land one after another, each slice a shiny postcard from slice paradise.
The balance of acid, fat, and crunch keeps you coming back.
Try the burrata slice or the classic margherita if you are feeling purist. Either way, heat and velocity stay relentless.
You may end up ordering round two.
Bleecker Street Pizza – New York, New York
Bleecker Street Pizza serves that neighborhood classic you dream about on the subway home. The Nona Maria slice layers tangy sauce, basil, and parmesan over a sturdy base that still folds cleanly.
Every bite feels like a small victory against a long day.
After 5 PM, the door swings nonstop as locals and tourists tag in. The staff moves like veterans, rotating pies so slices stay lively and fresh.
You can smell bright tomatoes and toasted cheese from the curb.
Go plain or Nona Maria first for a baseline. Then, chase it with a grandma slice if your appetite allows.
You will not regret the second plate.
NY Pizza Suprema – New York, New York
Steps from the chaos of Penn, NY Pizza Suprema is a sanctuary for slice hunters. The plain slice balances sweet bright sauce with a meticulous cheese blend that stretches just right.
The underside shows a proud, even char that tastes like experience.
After 5 PM, commuters flood in and the pies never pause. You will watch trays turn over faster than train departures.
The crew calls out orders with friendly speed, keeping momentum smooth.
Start with the regular, then reach for a vodka or Sicilian if you see a fresh tray. Here, turnover equals flavor.
Your evening just found its rhythm.
Mama’s TOO! – New York, New York
Mama’s TOO! does drama on a square canvas. Thick but airy crumb, cheese that caramelizes into crunchy frico edges, and punchy sauce hitting high notes.
One bite and you understand the line that curls around the block.
After 5 PM, slices fly out like an auction. You will feel the rush, hear the cutters zip through crispy corners, and smell the buttered tomato warmth.
The pepperoni squares with roni cups deliver fireworks.
If you see a fresh pie hit the counter, move fast. Ask for corner pieces when possible.
Those crunchy edges are the Upper West Side crown jewels.
Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop – Brooklyn, New York
Paulie Gee’s Slice Shop is nostalgia with modern chops. The slices land wide and foldable, sometimes with a sesame kissed crust that adds crunch and perfume.
You get classic flavors tuned up for present day cravings.
After 5 PM, the queue tilts cheerful and the oven keeps roaring. You will catch the crew bantering while launching pies with practiced swagger.
The grandma and pepperoni options sell quick for a reason.
Grab a plain to set your baseline, then the spicy pepperoni if you chase heat. Seats turn fast, so hover politely.
Every minute smells like buttered dough and garlic.
Best Pizza – Brooklyn, New York
Best Pizza wears the name with a wink and backs it up with craft. The white slice shines with caramelized onions, sesame seeds, and ricotta that kisses the palate.
The crust crackles just enough before folding into a chewy finish.
After 5 PM, Williamsburg regulars stream through steadily. The counter stays lively, pies rotate fast, and the room smells like warm spice and toasted flour.
You feel at home even if you are new.
Start white, then snag a grandma or pepperoni if the tray looks fresh. Ask about specials.
This shop rewards curiosity and quick decisions.
Luigi’s Pizza – Brooklyn, New York
Luigi’s is the kind of neighborhood gem people whisper about. The plain slice hits pure comfort notes, with bright sauce, balanced cheese, and a dough that feels alive.
Nothing fancy, just right.
After 5 PM, regulars roll in and the place keeps humming. You will catch up with the counter staff by your second visit, because hospitality is part of the pie.
Slices stay hot thanks to steady turnover.
Go plain first to meet the soul of the shop. Then try a square if luck times your arrival with a fresh pan.
You will leave thinking about your next visit.
Di Fara Pizza – Brooklyn, New York
Di Fara feels like a pilgrimage, and the slice confirms why. The sauce tastes vivid, the cheese blend sings, and fresh basil snipped to order perfumes each bite.
The crust carries a caramelized edge that haunts you afterward.
After 5 PM, patience is currency and time slows in the best way. You watch mastery in motion, every pie treated like a keepsake.
When your slice finally arrives, the world narrows to heat and balance.
Go with Sicilian or regular, depending on mood. Either way, cherish the moment and the craft in your hands.
Some legends earn every story told.