Lombardi’s: America’s First Pizzeria
Lombardi's is no ordinary pizzeria in New York. This restaurant is America's very first pizzeria, founded in 1905. We tested it for you!
To explore New York’s history, walk the city, spend time in the museums of New York, and eat pizza at Lombardi’s. This pizzeria sits at the corner of Spring Street and Mott Street in Little Italy. It’s a genuine historical landmark: founded in 1905, it was America’s first pizzeria.
Hard to believe, but before then, you couldn’t buy pizza anywhere in New York or the rest of the United States. In the early 1900s, Gennaro Lombardi, an immigrant from Naples, began selling pizza from his small grocery store in Little Italy. The Italian neighborhood was much larger then. His pizza quickly caught on, and the grocery soon became a full pizzeria.
The original pizza oven
The restaurant remains in the same location, with classic décor: period lamps, checkered tablecloths, Italian posters, and black-and-white photographs. Stop by the kitchen to see the original pizza oven. A mosaic marks the year 1905. Nearby, a bronze plaque honors Lombardi’s induction into the Pizza Hall of Fame.
As for the pizza itself, try the Original Margherita—Gennaro Lombardi’s original recipe. It’s surprisingly different from modern pizza: the crust is thin with a real bread flavor, and the focus stays on simple tomato, mozzarella, and basil. It takes you back to the early days of Italian immigration. A delicious slice of American history.
Practical information
- Address: 32 Spring Street.
- Subway: Spring Street (Line 6).
- Hours: open daily 11:30 am to 11 pm, until midnight Friday and Saturday.