
Rubirosa
A beloved Nolita spot serving reinvented Italian-American classics and acclaimed thin-crust pizzas, most famously the Tie Dye pizza.

Highlights
Must-see attractions
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Rubirosa

Highlights
Must-see attractions
A beloved Nolita spot serving reinvented Italian-American classics and acclaimed thin-crust pizzas, most famously the Tie Dye pizza.
"The Tie-Dye pizza is outstanding—thin, crispy crust, flavorful sauce, gooey cheese, and tasty pepperoni!"
Book Ahead or Arrive Early
Reservations are highly recommended, or try to visit right at opening to avoid long waits.
Don't Miss Gluten-Free Options
Rubirosa offers an extensive gluten-free menu, including pizzas and pastas.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Italian-American
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

The Iconic Tie-Dye Pizza
A visually stunning and flavorful thin-crust pizza with vodka sauce, tomato sauce, pesto, and mozzarella.

Cozy & Welcoming Ambiance
A rustic vibe with attentive and friendly staff, perfect for date nights or small groups.

Exceptional Italian-American Classics
Beyond pizza, enjoy reinvented Italian-American favorites and flavorful pasta dishes.
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Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Ahead or Arrive Early
Reservations are highly recommended, or try to visit right at opening to avoid long waits.
Don't Miss Gluten-Free Options
Rubirosa offers an extensive gluten-free menu, including pizzas and pastas.
Explore Nearby While You Wait
If you have a wait, put your name down and explore local bars like Spring Lounge.
Consider Pizza for Takeout
For convenience, order your pizza for pickup and enjoy it in a nearby park.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Ahead or Arrive Early
Reservations are highly recommended, or try to visit right at opening to avoid long waits.
Don't Miss Gluten-Free Options
Rubirosa offers an extensive gluten-free menu, including pizzas and pastas.
Explore Nearby While You Wait
If you have a wait, put your name down and explore local bars like Spring Lounge.
Consider Pizza for Takeout
For convenience, order your pizza for pickup and enjoy it in a nearby park.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Rubirosa is lauded for its exceptional thin-crust pizzas, particularly the visually striking Tie-Dye pizza, and its warm, inviting atmosphere. Diners frequently praise the quality of ingredients and friendly service, though some note the high prices and the challenge of securing reservations due to its popularity. While many rave about the appetizers and pizzas, a few found the pasta dishes to be less impressive.
"Located on Nolita, Rubirosa has developed into a much loved Italian restaurant known for their pizza. Wafer thin crusts make it tasty to eat. Beverly and I had lunch here recently for yet another birthday celebration. We had one pizza. One half was the Arugula with tomato sauce, red onion, parmigiana and balsamic and the other half was the “Tie Dye” with a topping of vodka, tomatoes, mozzarella and pesto. We shared a arugula salad anointed with a refredhing lemon vinaigrette that was quite large. The arrival of the pizza was heralded with joy! We ate well and the one slice left I took home. Star, our server, gave me a cookie lit with a candle as we skipped dessert being too full. One can get a reservation on Resy for Rubirosa but as it has become so popular it is at times difficult to snag a reservation. I have been having pizza here for decades and in those days walking in to eat was easy. Aurpita and Michelle, the two charming hostesses, made us feel welcome and gave me hope that I would be able to enjoy lunch here once again."
Sabena Singh
"Rubirosa was an amazing dining experience from start to finish! The place has a warm, authentic vibe, and the staff was friendly and welcoming.
We started with the fried mozzarella—perfectly crisp on the outside, fresh inside, and served with a marinara sauce that had just the right spicy kick. The tie-dye pizza was outstanding—thin, crispy crust, flavorful sauce, gooey cheese, and tasty pepperoni that all came together beautifully.
To top it off, the cheesecake was incredible—light, creamy, and perfectly complemented by a sweet strawberry sauce. Truly a match made in heaven.
Highly recommend Rubirosa if you’re looking for delicious food and a great atmosphere in the city!"
Jonathan Sanchez
"Second time I've been here I'm not the type of person who goes to a place that only serves pies. I love good pizza, but it's tough for me to justify a whole pie and I'm gonna be honest. I don't really have people to go and explore different pizza restaurants with but this one I was like you know what I need to try this place and I don't regret it. They are focused on the ingredients And in my opinion the tie-dye pizza is a Perfect pizza I'm sure they're original is good too cause the sauce is good. This time around I put prosciutto on it and it was money the saltines and the sauce paired perfectly.
Their pizza is high-quality for sure. It is about the right ingredients not about quantity of ingredients. It's not flooded with cheese and dough. If you're into football pizza, this will be disappointing. This is the type of pizza that in my opinion, you eat slow slowly and enjoy. God, I sound like a snob, but it's good pizza
By the way, I ordered for pick The place is quite crowded and packed and hard to get a table I think at certain times. Just order a pick up and go eat in the park"
Daniel Bascom
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations are highly sought after and often need to be booked a week in advance, right at midnight. It's advisable to plan ahead or try visiting during off-peak hours.
Yes, Rubirosa offers an extensive gluten-free menu with options for pizzas, pastas, and even chicken parm and mozzarella sticks.
The Tie-Dye pizza, a visually striking thin-crust pizza with vodka sauce, tomato sauce, pesto, and mozzarella, is consistently a crowd favorite.
The restaurant offers a cozy and welcoming ambiance with a rustic vibe, making it a great spot for dates or small gatherings.
Many diners rave about the appetizers, with mozzarella sticks and meatballs being particularly popular choices.
Wait times can be very long, sometimes a few hours. If faced with a long wait, you can put your name down and explore nearby bars.
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New York is renowned for its pizza, and according to Fora travel advisor Michelle Zelena, Rubirosa serves some of the best — and most Instagrammable — in the city. The tie-dye pizza, which features vodka sauce, tomato sauce, pesto, and fresh mozzarella, is as photogenic as it is delicious. Located in the heart of Manhattan’s Nolita neighborhood, the Italian eatery has a quaint ambience that makes it “perfect for date night or a small group of friends.” Since this is a popular place for groups, reservations are recommended, but if you can't snag one, consider popping in right when it opens.
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Behind a cheerful striped awning and an inevitable clutch of people lingering outside waiting for a table, Rubirosa is built like a railroad apartment: One narrow, dark wood-filled room opens onto another, and then another, where you can see thin-crust pies being made through the kitchen's plate-glass window. Split a few pizzas and a couple of veggie-based sides. The Tie-Dye, with tomato, fresh mozzarella, and a spiral of pesto sauce, is a favorite, as is the Rubirosa Supreme, dotted with pepperoni, mini meatballs, and roasted garlic.
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The atmosphere is dark and lively, the thin-crust pizza is some of the best in the city, and you don’t need to spend a ridiculous amount of money to have a good time. Plus, there’s an entire gluten-free menu that includes everything from pizza and pasta to chicken parm and mozzarella sticks. Yes, the waits can be extremely long (maybe even a few hours), but either make a reservation online or put your name in for a table and find a bar where you can hang out nearby (like Spring Lounge or Mother’s Ruin).
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As the son of the owner of iconic Staten Island shop, Joe & Pat's, Aj Pappalardo has created a legend in its own right with Rubirosa. The Pappalardo family recipe is served as a pie aptly named Classic, though many guests return time and time again for the restaurant’s gussied up pizzas, adorned with mini meatballs and roasted garlic—or the beloved Tie-Dye pie with vodka, tomato, and pesto sauces swirled with gooey globs of mozzarella.
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Nothing says “New York” quite like pizza, an old-school local tradition even food fad devotees can’t resist. Boasting one of the most impressive gluten-free menus in town, Manhattan hot spot Rubirosa offers eight signature pies, fresh pasta dishes, and classic Italian sides like arancini and mozzarella sticks, all deliciously designed for sensitive stomachs.
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Rubirosa's got sauce in it's veins, with family ties to Staten Island institution Joe & Pat's. The namesake pie, the Rubirosa Supreme, features a salty-sweet medley of hand-cut spicy pepperoni, diced basil, and mini meatballs atop a firm crust that's both strong enough to withstand the weight of the ingredients and soft enough to fold like you mean it.
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Flashes of some of New York’s enduring red-sauce joints were baked right into Rubirosa, and these days the seven-year-old restaurant has the ineluctable feel of an old-school Little Italy pizzeria. There’s no discernible difference between gluten-free chicken parm and decent bread-crumbed versions doled out in the immediate neighborhood, and the fried calamari is likewise as crisp and oil-free as floured versions, delivered hot to the table trailing the pleasant aroma of a freshly baked cake. As for pizza, the gluten-free “classic” has a rice-cracker-like crispness and mellow sweetness of corn.
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Rubirosa is part of the new wave of Italian restaurants to hit the 'hood, but at first glance, you may think it's been here since the beginning. After finding the traditional red and white awning, step inside and come face-to-face with old-school photos of Italy and a vibe that can only be described as comfortably intimate. The artisan pies get high marks with locals and the nod to gluten-free awareness in the form of pizzas, pasta and apps scores points with health-conscious foodies.
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One look at the Instagram-worthy tie-dye pizza at Rubirosa is enough to make anyone book a reservation ASAP, but that’s just one of many flavors this best pizza spot in Manhattan has to offer. Others worth trying are the vodka sauce pizza, the Rubirosa Supreme, the Bianca pizza and the sausage and broccoli rabe pizza. “Everyone loves the tie-dye pizza from Rubirosa,” PureWow Executive Managing Editor Catrina Yohay says, “but I’d argue the honey pie is the true stand out!
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A Nolita staple since 2009, Rubirosa has a strong following among food-savvy New Yorkers and visitors alike. Diners come here for the wide array of excellent soups, antipasti, fritti, secondi, pasta, and signature pizzas, especially the thin-crust tie-dye pizza, a flavorful combination of tomato sauce, basil pesto, and fresh mozzarella. Pair the meal with one of the fine selections from the all-Italian wine list, like the COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria from Sicily.
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With roots dating back to 1960, Rubirosa is the quintessential New York City pizza joint folks envision when they visit NYC for the first time. Part Italian restaurant, part pizza shop, the homey wood-paneled walls and red checkered tablecloths ooze old-world charm. But the biggest draw isn’t the cozy ambiance, no, that title belongs to Rubirosa’s tie dye pie (vodka, tomato, pesto and fresh mozzarella).
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235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012Phone: 212-965-0500 Visit Website. Just a short distance from the Museum of Ice Cream in the Nolita neighborhood stands Rubirosa, a hip and popular Italian restaurant nestled on Mulberry Street. They’re open all week, so you can arrange your schedule for enjoying pizza and other specials in a destination with dark, atmospheric lighting and wooden decor.
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When you walk into Rubirosa, the first thing that hits you is the smell of roasting cheese and their intoxicating red sauce wafting out of the kitchen. If they bottled scent that as a perfume we’d be the first to buy it. They’ve got eight kinds of thin crust pizza with plenty of ways to customize – you can mix and match half pies, add toppings and even sub in a gluten free crust.
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One popular contender for the best pie in NYC is Rubirosa Ristorante in Little Italy. Rubirosa’s classic pie, which is just tomato and mozzarella on a thin crust, has been satisfying guests for over 50 years. A few other pizzas you could try out include the sausage & broccoli rabe, the arugula, and the tie-dye, the last of which includes pesto, vodka, tomato, and mozzarella.
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This is the very definition of a lively neighbourhood New York Italian restaurant and is the perfect spot to end your day after taking in the sights. Suitable for families, couples and solo dining, the warren-like restaurant is always packed so make sure you book ahead. The menu offers a hearty choice of Italian-American classics and an impressive range of home-made pastas.
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Located in the heart of Nolita, Rubirosa is renowned for its thin-crust, old-school New York-style pizzas and classic Italian comfort foods. The cozy and lively atmosphere is perfect for enjoying favorites like the vodka pizza and Rubirosa Supreme. The restaurant’s dedication to quality ingredients and traditional recipes makes it a standout choice for pizza lovers.
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If you're looking to get your hands on pizza with a refined flavor and quality ingredients in Manhattan's most fashionable neighborhood, head to Rubirosa. Opened in 2009 by the son of legendary Staten Island pizzaiolo Giuseppe Pappalardo, Rubirosa has cemented itself as the go-to destination for pizza lovers in SoHo, which is why it made the No. 6 spot on our list.
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When you’re aching for a full meal, head over to Rubirosa to fill up on pizza, homemade pastas, and panini. They make a killer chicken parmigiano and meatball parmigiano panini if you’re ordering individually. If you want to go family style, the Rubirosa Supreme pizza is an absolute must (tomato, homemade mozzarella, pepperoni, mini meatballs, and roasted garlic).
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Rubirosa offers everything you could want in a classic New York City-style pizza. The 57-year-old family recipe has provided one of the consistently best pies in town for years and established it as one of the best restaurants in NYC. It stands apart from other pizza locales in the city because it’s not just a pizza joint– it’s a true-blue Italian restaurant.
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**Located in the heart of Nolita, Rubirosa is an Italian-American, neighborhood restaurant and pizzeria. The take-out menu offers the famous Rubirosa pizza and their classics featuring a wide array of pastas, they also have a wine list and cocktail menu – the proceeds from drinks purchased from the cocktail list go towards the Rubirosa Staff Relief Fund.
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So now you can indulge in their gluten-free crust pizza as well as gluten-free mozzarella sticks, fried calamari, chicken parm, and arancini. While they don’t have a separate gluten-free kitchen, the staff is knowledgeable about cross-contamination, which I know is important if you are celiac. Make sure to ask them any questions you have when ordering.
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Rubirosa is well known for its pizza but this Italian eatery boasts more than just an amazing pie. It also has a complete gluten-free menu available upon request — and it does not disappoint. The Little Italy hotspot has become a regular in my rotation, and I visit frequently to delight in gluten-free pizza, cacio e pepe, mozzarella sticks, and more.
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Address: 235 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012Phone:+1 (212) 965-0500Website:rubirosanyc.comDetails: $$, Pizza restaurant. Rubirosa is a must-visit Italian restaurant in New York City that offers delicious food, excellent service, and a warm and friendly atmosphere. The pizza sauce is fresh with amazing flavors, and the crust is crispy and thin.
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The thin crust recipe is a 54-year-old family secret, but Rubirosa's menu has expanded to include a variety of pastas, meats, and an impressive drinks list. You know you want to try their vodka sauce pizza – it's the most popular item on the menu. This place is perfect for a big group dinner, but be sure to call ahead of time.
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Located in Little Italy, Rubirosa is known to have some of the best Italian food in NYC, particularly the pizza. While it's definitely on the pricier side, this is a bucket list place for those wanting to have a really great pie while in New York. Don't have time to read the whole article and want to save it for later?
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Bridging the gap between old Nolita and new, this cozy eatery has become a staple for the neighborhood. Inspired by family recipes, AJ Pappalardo’s menu offers plenty of choices for pizza and pasta enthusiasts. A slew of Italian favorites like pesto gnocchi, ricotta ravioli, and sausage rigatoni round out the options.
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If you are interested not just in pizza, but in other Italian cuisine, you may want to stop by Rubirosa while you are on your NYC vacation. Here you can grab a slice, or try a specialty dish like spaghetti. Just be aware that the wait times here can be long, but that is typical at popular New York pizzerias.
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Already from the outside the restaurant looks like a typical Italian restaurant. You will feel completely at home: there are great red wines, the atmosphere is pleasant and you are definitely among locals. The Rubirosa is one of the most popular Italian restaurants in town, because the food is fantastic.
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One of the only remaining restaurants in Nolita that was there when the neighborhood was known as Little Italy, Rubirosa is Angelo (AJ) Pappalardo's family-run neighborhood Italian-American restaurant and pizzeria. The flagship pizza at Rubirosa is complimented with Chef Al DiMeg...
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Rubirosa is one of the few NYC restaurants I feel is worthy of all of it’s hype. I’ve dined here on 10+ separate occasions and can confidently say there is nothing they don’t do well. I’m a sucker for their Tie Dye Pizza made with their homemade vodka, marinara, and pesto sauces.
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Spacious interior, delicious food, excellent location in Nolita, live music on weekends, friendly service. Pricey for some dishes, can get crowded, limited vegetarian options, no reservations, hit-or-miss with consistency. Italian food Seafood Live music Nolita New York City
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It was very reminiscent of Rubirosa, which was not at all surprising, given that family members who run this place are related to the owners. It is a very good pizza and it’s curious that throngs go to Rubirosa and somehow miss this place. I highly recommend checking it out.
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A post shared by Rubirosa Pizza & Ristorante (@rubirosa_nyc) on Sep 19, 2018 at 3:08pm PDT. This old-school style Little Italy pizzeria serves up a gluten-free menu for those needing their Italian food fix. 235 Mulberry St., New York, NY 10012Website
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- Rating: 4.5 / 5 (1,283 reviews)- Detailed ratings: Food (4.5/5), Service (4.5/5), Value (4.0/5), Atmosphere (4.0/5)- Type of cuisine: Italian, Pizza- Price: $$ - $$$- Address: 235 Mulberry St, New York City, NY 10012-4157- Read more on Tripadvisor
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What to order: Insalata Di Carciofi, Gnocchi Di Ricotta, Cavatelli Del Norcino, and Gisela Al Cioccolato for dessert. It is a sponge cake and Nutella spirals topped with hazelnut ice cream and vanilla sauce. Rubirosa’s signature vodka sauce pizza.
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Rubirosa is a family owned pizzeria that's been serving up classic pies since 2010. Their pizza is thin and crispy, with a variety of creative toppings to choose from. Their vodka pizza is a standout, with a creamy sauce and crispy bacon.
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A post shared by Rubirosa Pizza & Ristorante (@rubirosa_nyc). 235 Mulberry St. / 212.965.0500 / Website. This Italian-American hotspot offers excellent gluten-free pizza and pasta at their homey Nolita location.
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But it doesn’t stop there: the Little Italy restaurant offers a full gluten free menu available by request. In addition to pizza the GF offerings include salads, pastas, apps, dessert and more.
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Another Italian Restaurant on the list, Rubirosa is famous for its vodka pizza sauce. Yes you read that right, vodka pizza sauce. Our favorites here include the the Tie Dye or Honey Pie.
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Rubirosa in Nolita is famous for its (trademarked!) tie-dye pizza, a vibrant mix of vodka sauce, tomato, pesto, and fresh mozzarella. instagram | maps | by Jorane Cuppen, Gastronomist
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Rubirosa is an Italian restaurant that is known for its ideal thin-crust pizzas. They offer a comfortable and homey atmosphere. Here, the server and hostess are remarkably nice.
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from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit