Unearth The Voyage
New Haven, Connecticut, earned its nickname as America’s pizza capital one coal-fired pie at a time. The city’s unique apizza tradition, with its thin, charred crust and creative toppings, has been perfected by generations of family-run pizzerias. From legendary Wooster Street institutions to neighborhood gems across town, these 13 restaurants turned New Haven into a must-visit destination for pizza lovers everywhere.
1. Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (Wooster Square, New Haven)
Frank Pepe opened his doors in 1925 on Wooster Street, and the rest became delicious history. His coal-fired ovens and thin-crust pies essentially wrote the rulebook for what we now call New Haven-style apizza.
The Original Tomato Pie keeps things beautifully simple with tomato sauce, garlic, and oregano on a blistered crust. But the real showstopper is the White Clam Pizza, loaded with fresh clams, garlic, olive oil, and oregano.
Food writers across America call both pies must-try classics. If New Haven is the pizza capital, Pepe’s truly is its city hall. Generations of families have made pilgrimages here, waiting in long lines for a taste of pizza perfection that helped define an entire culinary tradition in Connecticut.
2. Sally’s Apizza (Wooster Square, New Haven)
Just down the street from Pepe’s, Sally’s opened in 1938 when Frank Pepe’s sister Filomena and her sons decided to start their own coal-oven shop. Salvatore “Sally” Consiglio led the charge, creating a friendly rivalry that helped put the entire street on the map.
Sally’s pies come out long, irregular, and beautifully blistered. The Tomato Sauce Pie is a neighborhood favorite, while the potato-and-rosemary combination has earned a cult following among regulars.
The original location occasionally closes briefly for oven maintenance but continues serving customers and expanding to new cities. Every pie carries the family’s dedication to tradition, with that signature charred crust and generous toppings that make people wait hours for a table.
3. Modern Apizza (State Street, New Haven)
Modern Apizza joined the scene in 1934 and now completes the “Holy Trinity” alongside Pepe’s and Sally’s. While those two battle it out on Wooster Street, Modern holds down State Street with its own loyal following.
Baked in a brick oven, Modern’s pies have a thin, slightly chewy crust that sets them apart. The Italian Bomb is legendary here, piling on multiple meats and veggies in a glorious mountain of flavor.
Long hours and an updated menu keep this place buzzing with activity. Locals appreciate the generous toppings and consistent quality that have kept Modern in business for nearly 90 years. The shop proves that New Haven’s apizza tradition isn’t just about coal ovens but about passion and family recipes passed down through generations.
4. BAR (Downtown New Haven)
BAR blends brewery, nightclub, and pizzeria into one wild experience on Crown Street. You can drink house-brewed beer, dance to live music, and eat charred brick-oven pies all under one roof.
The mashed potato and bacon pizza has become one of the most talked-about pies in town. National food writers frequently highlight this creative combination when discussing New Haven apizza, helping spread the city’s reputation beyond traditional Wooster Square.
What makes BAR special is how it attracts a younger crowd while still honoring the apizza tradition. The atmosphere is energetic and fun, proving that New Haven pizza culture can evolve without losing its soul. College students and young professionals pack the place on weekends for the perfect combination of entertainment and outstanding food.
5. Ernie’s Pizzeria (Westville, New Haven)
Tucked out in Westville on Whalley Avenue, Ernie’s has been a family favorite for decades. Records show the business operating since the 1970s, and reviews confirm it’s still going strong today with the same commitment to quality.
The pies come out of a deck oven with a softer, foldable crust and toppings piled to the edge. Regulars swear by the sausage, broccoli rabe, and simple mozzarella-and-tomato combinations.
Everything about Ernie’s feels straight out of someone’s neighborhood kitchen. There’s no pretense here, just honest, delicious pizza made with care. The family atmosphere and consistent quality have kept generations of Westville residents coming back, making Ernie’s an essential part of New Haven’s broader pizza story beyond the downtown spotlight.
6. Grand Apizza (Fair Haven, New Haven & Shoreline)
Grand Apizza traces its roots to 1955, when Frederick Nuzzo opened his original shop in New Haven’s Fair Haven neighborhood at 111 Grand Avenue. That location is still operating for dine-in and takeout, serving the same quality pies that made the name famous.
The family has since expanded to shoreline towns like Guilford, Madison, and Clinton. The style is pure New Haven with thin, slightly chewy crust that delivers authentic apizza tradition.
Specialty pies like the Grand Casino and hearty Italian sides keep it firmly in the local canon. The expansion shows how beloved the brand has become while maintaining the quality and family recipes that started it all seven decades ago in Fair Haven.
7. Da Legna at Nolo (State Street, New Haven)
Da Legna at Nolo represents the “new school” of New Haven apizza while still respecting tradition. Located on State Street, this spot has earned praise from guides and locals for its sourdough-based pies with long fermentation that creates a flavorful, airy crust.
The menu shows a mix of classic and creative topping combinations. Mushroom-heavy creations and modern toppings sit alongside craft beer and cocktails, creating a contemporary dining experience.
Nolo has become a go-to for locals who want New Haven pizza in a more upscale setting. The long-fermented dough and attention to ingredients show how the apizza tradition keeps evolving. Young professionals and food enthusiasts appreciate the balance between honoring the past and embracing new techniques and flavors that push the tradition forward.
8. One6Three (Foster Street, New Haven)
One6Three at 163 Foster Street calls itself “The Pizza Joint,” and that casual confidence is well-earned. Hours and menu listings confirm it as a busy neighborhood spot serving pizza, sandwiches, and salads daily.
The pizzeria leans into creative combinations, including sweet-meets-salty pies that surprise and delight. Still, it keeps New Haven ideals of a thin, blistered crust at center stage.
Apizza fans and local guides often include One6Three when discussing the city’s newer generation of must-try pizzerias. The relaxed vibe and willingness to experiment make it popular with adventurous eaters. Whether you stick with traditional toppings or try something bold, the quality remains consistently high, proving that New Haven’s pizza scene continues to grow and innovate while respecting its roots.
9. Next Door (Humphrey Street, New Haven)
Next Door is the brick-and-mortar sibling of the famous Big Green Truck Pizza, Connecticut’s first mobile brick-oven pizza truck. Located on Humphrey Street, it brings that mobile magic to a permanent home.
The restaurant serves New Haven-style pies with options for gluten-free and vegan diners, making apizza accessible to everyone. Specialties like clam-topped and mashed-potato pizzas appear in recent reviews.
Up-to-date hours on the official site and review platforms confirm it’s currently open several evenings a week. The inclusive menu and commitment to quality ingredients have made Next Door a favorite among health-conscious pizza lovers. Proving that tradition and innovation can coexist beautifully, Next Door expands who can enjoy authentic New Haven apizza without compromising on taste or technique.
10. Zuppardi’s Apizza (West Haven)
Zuppardi’s started in the 1930s and today bills itself as an “authentic New Haven-style apizza” shop. Still run by the Zuppardi family and operating out of its original West Haven location on Union Avenue, this place breathes history.
Their coal-inspired thin-crust pies, especially the white clam pizza made with fresh clams, are routinely ranked alongside Pepe’s, Sally’s, and Modern in statewide polls. That’s elite company, and Zuppardi’s earns it every day.
Pizza-trail lists always include this West Haven gem, and for good reason. The family’s dedication to quality and tradition over nearly a century has created a loyal following that spans generations. Visitors often say the white clam pizza here rivals any in New Haven proper, proving that greatness isn’t limited to Wooster Street.
11. Roseland Apizza (Derby)
Roseland Apizza in nearby Derby dates back to the 1930s and is famous for combining old-school Italian red-sauce dishes with ultra-thin New Haven-style pies. Recent menus and reviews highlight favorites like shrimp casino pizza and mashed-potato-bacon pies.
A full lineup of pastas and grinders rounds out the menu, making Roseland a complete Italian-American dining experience. Despite a small shed fire behind the building in 2025 that resulted in an arson arrest, local news outlets reported that Roseland reopened quickly.
The restaurant continues to serve customers with the same dedication that has kept it going for nearly 90 years. Regulars appreciate the combination of pizza and traditional Italian entrees, making Roseland a destination for anyone seeking authentic apizza paired with classic comfort food.
12. Atticus Market (East Rock, New Haven)
Atticus Market on Orange Street might look like a cafe and specialty-foods shop first, but New Haven pizza obsessives now also point here for its “pizza nights.” The menu notes that Thursday through Saturday evenings feature wood-fired pies alongside baked goods and local groceries.
Food writers describe the style as “New Haven-ish,” with thin, blistered crusts made with long-fermented dough and seasonal toppings. This approach shows how the apizza tradition keeps evolving beyond the classic parlors.
The combination of artisan groceries, fresh pastries, and excellent pizza makes Atticus a unique neighborhood gathering spot. East Rock residents love the community feel and quality ingredients that go into everything from morning coffee to evening pies, proving that apizza can thrive in unexpected places.
13. Yorkside Pizza & Restaurant (Downtown / Yale Campus, New Haven)
Just off the Yale campus on York Street, Yorkside Pizza has been feeding generations of students and townies with what’s often called “Greek-style” pizza. Thicker around the edges with olive-oiled pans and plenty of cheese, it offers a different take on New Haven pizza culture.
Open daily and praised in recent reviews for its friendly, family-run vibe, Yorkside serves salads, gyros, and late-night slices. The menu goes beyond pizza to embrace a broader Greek-American tradition.
Yorkside is an essential part of New Haven’s wider pizza culture and a nostalgic stop for many alumni revisiting the city. The late hours and welcoming atmosphere have made it a Yale institution, proving that New Haven’s pizza fame isn’t built on one style alone but on variety and community.
