New Haven Pizza Pilgrimage: A Guide to the Best Slices and Sights

Warm up your appetite with this 20-minute documentary by LA content creator Trigg Ferrano, who visited Connecticut to capture the story, spirit, and century-old culture behind New Haven apizza.

Just ten minutes from downtown, Tweed New Haven International Airport makes getting here a breeze, and it even celebrates our pizza heritage. Don’t miss the nine-by-six-foot pizza sculpture by local artist Michael Pollack, founder of the New Haven Pizza Club. Made from Connecticut highway signs, it honors both New Haven-style apizza and our claim as “The Pizza State.”

Flying in from farther away? Bradley International Airport is about 50 minutes from New Haven and another easy option.

For your stay, try The Study at Yale, a modern hotel with an academic vibe, or Hotel Marcel, a restored Brutalist landmark powered entirely by renewable energy. Or, to fully immerse yourself in pizza culture, book the pizza-themed Airbnb just steps from Modern Apizza, voted number one pizzeria by locals on the CT Pizza Trail. 

Start in historic Wooster Square, the heart of New Haven’s Italian-American heritage and the birthplace of apizza. Stroll through Wooster Square Park, especially stunning in spring when the cherry blossoms bloom.  

Peek inside Frank Pepe’s The Spot to see the original brick oven, then snap a photo beneath the “Frank and Filomena Pepe Corner” street sign.

Next, head to Modern Apizza to pose with Michael Pollack’s iconic pizza sculpture, or see more of his pizza-inspired artwork at New Haven Pizza Club, located within District New Haven.

Of course, the main event is the pizza itself. Begin with the Holy Trinity—Pepe’s, Sally’s, and Modern—then branch out along the CT Pizza Trail. Try BAR for its famous mashed potato pizza, Ernie’s for a classic neighborhood slice, or Zeneli’s, where Neapolitan tradition meets New Haven flavor.  

For a hands-on experience, join New Haven Pizza School, where you’ll learn to toss dough, make sauce from scratch, and bake your own pie—complete with the famous “New Haven cut”—all while sipping a Foxon Park soda.

Need a break between bites? Stop by Gioia Market, a reimagined Italian market offering fresh pastas, house-made sauces, and curated provisions. Treat yourself to creamy gelato or head upstairs to the rooftop bar for cocktails and Wooster Street views, and of course, more pizza.

Then raise a glass at Armada Brewing. We recommend their crisp Italian-style Pilsner—crafted in collaboration with New Haven Pizza Club as a tribute to two of New Haven’s great passions: incredible pizza and world-class beer.

When you’re ready to walk off the slices, wander through Yale University’s scenic campus, where Gothic architecture and leafy courtyards offer the perfect backdrop.  

Explore the nearby Chapel Street District, lined with boutiques, galleries, cafés, and cultural stops all within walking distance of Yale.

Then step into Lost in New Haven, an eclectic museum-meets-art experience filled with artifacts, local history, and curiosities that capture the city’s spirit.  

End your day at Toad’s Place, the legendary venue where artists like The Rolling Stones, U2, and Drake have performed surprise sets—the perfect finale to a night in New Haven. 

While New Haven may be the crown jewel, Connecticut’s pizza greatness extends far beyond city limits. The CT Pizza Trail stretches statewide, from Stamford to Mystic—featuring not just apizza, but Neapolitan, thick, and Greek-style pies. Wherever you go, you’re never far from a slice worth writing home about.