NYC's Favorite Pizza Near You Since 1997
Serving hand-tossed New York-style pizza, double-stacked pies, and late-night slices to the East Village, Union Square, NYU, and Lower East Side — open until 4AM (5AM weekends). Authentic New York-style slices from $4.99. Featured in The New York Times, NBC, Time Out, and GMA. 4.5★ from 2.5k+ Google reviews.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1997
- Owner
- Frank Kabatas
- Address
- 145 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003
- Phone
- (212) 529-4545
- Hours
- Sun–Wed 11am–4am · Thu–Sat 11am–5am
- Slice from
- $4.99
- Whole pies from
- $25
- Dietary options
- Gluten-free 12" pizzas, vegetarian, halal options
- Reviews
- 4.5★ from 2.5k+ Google reviews
- Delivery area
- East Village, Alphabet City, Union Square, Gramercy, Washington Square Park, Times Square, and nearby Manhattan neighborhoods
Our Story
From Delivery Driver to Owner: The Story of Frank Kabatas
East Village Pizza has been at 145 1st Avenue since 1997. Frank Kabatas has owned it since 2003, after working his way up from delivery driver.
My journey at 145 1st Avenue began long before I owned the place. I started as a delivery driver, learning every street in the East Village and, more importantly, learning what people loved about a true New York slice.
I worked my way up, from the delivery bike to the counter, and eventually to the oven, where I mastered the craft of pizza making.
In 2003, I took over as owner, driven by a single mission: to preserve the authentic neighborhood pizza experience I had fallen in love with. For over two decades, we've honored that mission by focusing on what matters: a 72-hour cold-fermented dough, the freshest ingredients, and a commitment to consistency that you can taste in every bite.
With over 1.7 million followers on Instagram and recognition across NYC, East Village Pizza continues to be a go-to destination for anyone looking for the best pizza in Manhattan.
Still here. Still making it better.
The Secret's in the Oven: Our Baker's Pride Deck Oven
You can have the perfect dough and the freshest sauce, but without the right oven, you can't make true New York-style pizza. That's why we still use the same Baker's Pride gas deck oven we've had since 2003. This workhorse provides the intense, consistent heat needed to cook the pizza directly on the stone deck, creating the signature crispy-yet-pliable crust that defines a New York slice. It's not the fastest or fanciest way, but it's the right way. It's the engine of our kitchen and the reason our pizza tastes the same today as it did two decades ago.
Real Ingredients, No Shortcuts
The dough cold-ferments for 72 hours before it goes near the oven. The sauce is simple. The mozzarella is fresh. Nothing here comes from a bag or a freezer. That's why slices taste different at 11am and at 4am — they don't.
What Is New York-Style Pizza?
New York-style pizza is a thin-crust pie cooked at high temperatures in a deck oven, sliced into wide triangular slices that are flexible enough to fold lengthwise. The crust is crisp at the edge and chewy near the center. It's defined by hand-tossed dough, a simple tomato sauce, and low-moisture mozzarella — the slice you eat walking down the street, folded in half. At East Village Pizza, we make ours the same way we have since 1997.
Why East Village Pizza
Same Recipe Since 1997
Hand-tossed dough, cold-fermented for 72 hours.
Open Later Than 95% of Manhattan Pizzerias
Until 4am every night, 5am Thu–Sat.
NYC's Original Heart-Shaped Pizza
Making them since 1999.
The Signature Double-Stacked Pizza
Two full 18" pies, baked stacked.
2.5k+ Google Reviews
4.5★ average rating.
Featured in 30+ Press Outlets
NYT, NBC, GMA, Fox News, NY Post, Time Out.
Slices From $4.99
Full pies from $25.
Gluten-Free 12" Pizza
Full menu available, not just one option.
4.5★ From 2.5k+ Google Reviews
Melani
Arguably the best pizza place in East Village. I would say the best pizza in Manhattan. It's worth it to travel from Queens once a week. The Margherita pizza and the buffalo chicken pizza slices are the best in New York.
Hugo
East Village Pizza had me have my best slice of pizza of my life. Margherita slice and pepperoni slice was amazing. The double stacked pizza is arguably the best. East Village Pizza is the best! Best pizza in Manhattan.
Fernende
East Village Pizza is a small corner store in the East Village that makes the best pizza in Manhattan! Made my day. The best margherita pizza! Came from Queens and it definitely worth it!
Our Most Popular Pizzas
Margherita
Pepperoni
Double Stacked
Heart Shaped
Late-Night Pizza in Manhattan NYC
The East Village doesn't sleep, and neither do we. We're open until 4am Sunday through Wednesday and 5am Thursday through Saturday — one of the only pizzerias in Manhattan still slinging fresh slices when the bars let out.
Best for: post-show slices after Comedy Cellar, late-night runs from Webster Hall, after-bar at McSorley's, NYU dorm orders, post-club Saturdays, and anyone who's been told the kitchen at every other place just closed.
Fresh dough. Real sauce. No shortcuts. Same pizza at 4am as at lunch.
A Top-Rated Pizza Spot in Manhattan NYC
With over 2,000+ Google reviews and decades of experience, East Village Pizza is a favorite for locals and visitors looking for authentic NYC pizza. Located near Washington Square Park, Astor Place, Times Square, and Union Square, we're known for crispy crust, fresh ingredients, and classic New York flavor.
Walking Distance From:
St. Marks Place — 3 minutes
Astor Place subway (6 train) — 4 minutes
Cooper Union — 5 minutes
Tompkins Square Park — 6 minutes
Bowery — 8 minutes
Washington Square Park — 9 minutes
Lower East Side — 10 minutes
NYU Bobst Library — 10 minutes
Union Square — 12 minutes
We deliver across East Village, Lower East Side, Alphabet City, NoHo, SoHo, Gramercy, Stuyvesant Town, Union Square, NYU campus, and Washington Square Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best pizza in Manhattan?+
East Village Pizza is often ranked among the best pizza spots in Manhattan, known for classic New York slices, Margherita pizza, and pepperoni slices.
How much is a pizza in NYC?+
At East Village Pizza, slices start at $4.99 and whole 18" pies start at $25. Specialty pies like our double-stacked or heart-shaped pizza range from $30-$46.
What makes your pizza different?+
We use a 72-hour cold fermentation process for our dough, high-quality ingredients, and traditional NYC baking methods, baked in the same Baker's Pride gas deck oven we've used since 2003.
Are you open late?+
Yes. We're open Sunday through Wednesday from 11am to 4am, and Thursday through Saturday from 11am to 5am — one of the few pizzerias in Manhattan still serving fresh slices into the early morning.
Do you have gluten-free pizza?+
Yes, a full 12" gluten-free menu is available: Cheese, White, Margherita, Vegetable, Mushroom, Olives, or build your own.
Where do you deliver?+
We deliver across the East Village, Alphabet City, Union Square, Gramercy, NoHo, SoHo, Lower East Side, Stuyvesant Town, and the NYU campus area, via Grubhub or by calling ahead.
What is double-stacked pizza?+
Double-stacked pizza is two full New York-style pizzas baked together as one pie, with extra mozzarella and your choice of toppings packed between the two crusts — an East Village Pizza original, served since 1997.
Do you make heart-shaped pizza year-round?+
Yes. We do hand-shaping heart-shaped pizzas year-round — not just for Valentine's Day, but any day, in Cheese, White, Pepperoni, or Margherita.
Looking for the Best Pizza in Manhattan?
Whether you're searching for pizza near you, late-night pizza in NYC, or gluten-free pizza in Manhattan — East Village Pizza has been the answer since 1997. Slices from $4.99. Open until 5am on weekends.
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