If there’s one thing New York loves more than Italian restaurants, it’s arguing about Italian restaurants. Who’s got the best slice? What’s the hottest new under-the-radar lasagna spot? For tourists and locals alike, it can be overwhelming. So we dove into Lyft’s data to see which Italian restaurants riders frequented the most this year. We also looked to see which highly trafficked restaurants were particularly popular among locals and among visitors. Here’s what we found:

Cafe Spaghetti, which opened in the Columbia Street Waterfront District (south of Brooklyn Heights) in May 2022, is the first solo project of Brooklyn-native chef Sal Lamboglia. New York Times restaurant critic Pete Wells called Cafe Spaghetti the “Anti-Carbone” — a modest, cozy alternative to that celebrity-famous hot spot.

Fumo is a classic spot located where West Harlem and Hamilton Heights overlap (near The City College of New York), boasting reasonable prices and a light, airy space — filled with photographs and plants.

Williamsburg may just be the new Little Italy, thanks in large part to Chef Missy Robbins — widely known as one of Barack Obama’s favorite chefs — who opened Lilia in 2016 and Misi in 2018. Getting a reservation at Lilia, near the Williamsburg/Greenpoint border, is nearly impossible, but that doesn’t stop New Yorkers from trying. Misi is a newly iconic and much-loved South Williamsburg destination, offering sheep’s milk ricotta–filled gnocchi and views of nearby Williamsburg Bridge and Domino Park.

The Don Angie lasagna — which resembles a meat-packed pinwheel — has been all over Instagram for a few years now, and it’s clear New Yorkers are paying attention. Run by Angie Rito and Scott Tacinelli, a husband-and-wife team, Don Angie is inspired by Rito’s experience growing up around her family’s Italian bakery in Cleveland.

Tourists flock to Greenwich Village (and in particular, its section known as the West Village), and it’s only natural that they’d crave some family-style carbohydrates after a full day of exploring. No surprise, then, that so many find themselves at upscale, but not too fancy, spots like Olio E Piú, Da Andrea, and Via Carota. 

With nearly 15 years under its belt, Olio E Piú is a staple for Instagram-loving visitors who are eager to sit outside and soak in the sights of the West Village while enjoying a bowl of pasta. Just five blocks away, Da Andrea draws visitors in with its classic Italian menu, outdoor seating, cozy indoor setting with exposed brick, and hot pink flowers that surround the restaurant’s entrance.

Via Carota, on the other hand, is in a league of its own. It’s been popular for years, but Taylor Swift’s love for the restaurant may have boosted its popularity, making it an almost impossible to get into go-to spot for visitors.

When you’re traveling with a group, sometimes you just want to gather around and dig into a big pile of chicken parmesan. That’s the kind of experience you get at Carmine’s, a spacious, family-style establishment on the Upper West Side, just a few blocks away from both Central Park and Riverside Park, that’s popular on Instagram — and with celebrities.

Rubirosa offers some of the same charms, but downtown — only two and a half blocks from Little Italy. Beyond the locale, visitors are likely drawn in by Rubirosa’s family-sized portions and pizzas worth writing home about (like its highly Instagrammable pesto swirl pizza). Plus, it’s a favorite of Meghan Markle’s.

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