Lucali

"Lucali is serving their beautiful cheese pies for pick-up only. They’ve been adjusting their operating schedule on an almost-daily basis, so before you get on a bike and ride down to Carroll Gardens, make sure to check their Instagram here." - hannah albertine

"On December 8, 2023 and September 6, 2024, Swift visited Mark Iacono’s Lucali, the lines-out-the-door, BYOB pizza destination in Brooklyn." - Melissa McCart

"Yes, you still have to kind of plan your entire day around going to Lucali, but that’s part of what makes it special. Many New Yorkers agree that this is some of the best pizza in all five boroughs, so find an excuse to take off from work early and line up at 4pm to secure your spot in line. While you’re here, get a calzone along with your pizza. Since there are only two things on the menu, there’s no reason not to go all out. " - willa moore, bryan kim, neha talreja, kenny yang

"The Waiting Room: Black Mountain Wine House The Back-Up Plan: Cobble Hill Cinemas The walk from Lucali to Black Mountain Wine House in Gowanus will only take you about 12 minutes, but feel free to take your time. Explore Carroll Gardens, or gaze at the Gowanus Canal—you'll likely have several hours to kill, so there's no need to rush. Then grab a seat at Black Mountain Wine House, on the patio or in the ski chalet-like space inside, and order a bottle of wine, and maybe a cheese plate. Alternatively, you might actually have the time to see a feature-length film, and Court Street is home to one of the most quaint neighborhood movie theaters—Cobble Hill Cinemas." - willa moore

"Standing in line for pizza is one of the most ridiculous things you can do in this city. It’s like waiting for sand in the middle of the Sahara. But not only will we line up at Lucali before they even open to secure a table, we’ll wait several hours at a bar nearby until that table is ready. Lucali makes us do irrational things, because Lucali serves some of the best pizza in the city. Their crust is thin, crispy, and just a little bit chewy, and it maintains immaculate posture while supporting velvety sweet tomato sauce and three types of cheese. This is simple pizza made exceedingly well, and it’s greater than the sum of its parts. The ricotta-filled calzone might be even better. Show up early, and be grateful for the opportunity to wait for a table at this candlelit Carroll Gardens institution. Bring some wine. This place is BYOB, which is yet another reason why we’ll do foolish things to eat here." - bryan kim, neha talreja, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah