New York pizza in London: why the city fell for the slice
For years, ordering pizza in London meant one thing: a soft, puffy Neapolitan pie with a leopard-spotted crust, eaten with a knife and fork. That has changed fast. Walk through Soho, Shoreditch or the West End today and you'll see something different. Big, thin, foldable slices. Red sauce. Crunch. New York pizza has arrived in London, and it isn't going anywhere.
The news: London's New York pizza boom
You don't have to take our word for it. In August 2025, Time Out London reported that Neapolitan pizza had peaked, and named New York-style pizza as its successor, the style "here to save us from the sourdough". It pointed to a wave of New York-inspired pizzerias opening across the capital.
Then in January 2026, Club Oenologique went further. It described London restaurateurs recreating whole New York institutions, from old-school dining rooms to slice shops, and singled out thin, crispy New York-style pies as one of the clearest signs of London's love affair with the city.
So what is it about New York pizza that has won London over?
What makes a proper New York pizza?
New York pizza grew out of the Italian immigrant pizzerias of the early 1900s, adapted for gas and deck ovens and for people eating on the move. A good one has a few things in common:
A big, thin pie. Usually 16 to 18 inches, cut into wide slices.
A crust you can fold. Crisp on the bottom, but with enough give to fold a slice in half lengthways. The fold is the whole point.
Bright red sauce. Simple, slightly sweet tomato, not buried under toppings.
Low-moisture mozzarella. It melts evenly and doesn't make the base soggy.
A longer bake. Several minutes in the oven rather than 90 seconds, so the base is golden and sturdy.
The result is pizza that is less fussy than Neapolitan and easier to love. You can eat a slice standing up, and the crust has real crunch.
New York's crunchier cousin: New Haven
Drive two hours north of New York and you reach New Haven, Connecticut, home of the other great East Coast pizza style. New Haven "apizza" is thinner still, baked even longer and hotter, and comes out properly charred, with a crunch that New York slices don't quite reach.
That's the style Gracey's was built on. If you love New York pizza, New Haven is the next step: same red sauce soul, more char, more crunch. We wrote a full guide to it here: What is New Haven-style pizza?
Where to get New York-style pizza in London at Gracey's
Gracey's started in lockdown in St Albans, inspired by the pizzerias Grace and James ate at on trips to the US East Coast. When we opened our first permanent London kitchen at Centre Point in November 2025, Time Out and Restaurant Online both picked out the London menu's nod to New York, including the NY Cheese and the Grandma Square Pie.
You'll find our East Coast pizza at three London food halls:
Gracey's Tottenham Court Road: Arcade Food Hall, Centre Point, 103-105 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1DB.
Gracey's Covent Garden: Arcade Covent Garden, 6 Bedford Street, WC2E 9HZ.
Gracey's Battersea: Arcade, 1st Floor, Battersea Power Station, SW11 8DD.
And if you're heading out of town, our original pizzeria is at 339 Watford Road, St Albans.
How to eat New York pizza like a New Yorker
Start plain. A cheese slice tells you everything about a pizzeria: the dough, the sauce, the bake.
Fold it. Pinch the crust and fold the slice lengthways. It keeps the toppings in and the tip from drooping.
Season it at the table. Chilli flakes, dried oregano and grated parmesan are the classic shakers.
Don't wait. Pizza is best in the first few minutes out of the oven.
FAQs
Where can I get New York pizza in London?
New York-style pizzerias have opened across London in the last few years. Gracey's serves East Coast pizza inspired by New York and New Haven at Tottenham Court Road, Covent Garden and Battersea Power Station.
What's the difference between New York and Neapolitan pizza?
Neapolitan pizza is soft and puffy, baked for around 90 seconds at very high heat. New York pizza is larger and thinner, baked for longer, and crisp enough to fold.
Is Gracey's New York or New Haven pizza?
Both. Gracey's is built on New Haven-style apizza, the thin, charred style from Connecticut, and our London menu includes New York-inspired pies too.
Can I book a table?
Yes. You can book at Gracey's St Albans online. Our London kitchens are inside Arcade food halls, so check our locations page for opening hours and booking.
Ready to try it? Find your nearest Gracey's or see the menu.