Where to eat in Naples
Naples is the home of pizza, and it eats well at every price: pizza, fried street food, pasta, seafood and pastry. The best meals are in family places in the old center. Go early, expect a queue at the famous pizzerias, and eat sfogliatella for breakfast.
The short answer
- Best area to eat
- The historic center for pizza, and Chiaia for a calmer dinner.
- Order this
- Pizza margherita, a sfogliatella and a coffee at the bar.
- When to eat
- Lunch from 1pm, dinner from 8pm. Pizzerias open earlier.
- Book or walk in
- Famous pizzerias take walk-ins and queues. Book other restaurants for weekends.
- Tipping
- Not expected. Rounding up is welcome.
What to eat in Naples
- Pizza margheritaThe classic Neapolitan pizza: a soft, charred crust with tomato, mozzarella and basil.
- Pizza frittaA folded pizza, deep-fried and filled with ricotta and salami, eaten as street food.
- SfogliatellaA shell-shaped pastry with ricotta and orange, eaten warm for breakfast.
- BabàA soft rum-soaked cake, a Neapolitan classic.
- Spaghetti alle vongoleSpaghetti with clams, white wine and garlic, a seafood classic.
- FrittatinaA fried pasta cake with béchamel and ham, sold at street stands.
Where to eat in Naples, by neighborhood
Centro Storico
Famous pizzerias, street food and old cafes. Busy, informal and good value.
Chiaia and Santa Lucia
Seafood restaurants, wine bars and the seafront. Calmer and a little dearer.
Pignasecca and Montesanto
A market district with street food and small trattorias, popular with locals.
Near the station
Pastry shops and the fish market, best for breakfast and a quick lunch.
Places worth a booking or a queue
-
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele
€Pizzeria · Forcella
OrderPizza margherita
A historic pizzeria that serves a short menu of classic pizzas and, as a tradition, takes no reservations.
- Book
- No reservations, expect a queue
Confirmed open: dissapore.com
-
Gino Sorbillo
€Pizzeria · Via dei Tribunali
OrderPizza margherita
A well-known pizzeria on Via dei Tribunali, in the heart of the old center.
- Book
- Walk in, expect a queue
Confirmed open: sorbillo.it
-
Gran Caffè Gambrinus
€€Historic cafe · Piazza Trieste e Trento
OrderCoffee and a pastry at the bar
A historic cafe by the royal palace, serving breakfast and lunch.
- Book
- Walk in
Confirmed open: caffegambrinus.com
-
Pasticceria Attanasio
€Pastry shop · Near Napoli Centrale
OrderSfogliatella
A pastry shop near the station, known for hot sfogliatelle. Cash only.
- Book
- Walk in, closed Mondays
- Closed
- Monday
Confirmed open: tablejourney.com
Food markets in Naples
- Mercato di Porta NolanaA fish and produce market near the station. Come for the fish stalls and the fried snacks.Most mornings, check locally for the exact hoursSource: napolike.it
How Naples eats
- Meal timesLunch from 1pm and dinner from 8pm. Pizzerias open earlier.
- CoffeeDrink it standing at the bar. Cappuccino is a morning drink.
- TippingNot expected. Check for a coperto, a small cover charge, on the bill.
- PizzaOrder one pizza each. It is eaten with a knife and fork, or folded by hand.
Signs of a place to walk past
A seafront restaurant with a picture menu and a tout at the door.
A pizzeria with pineapple, cream and fries on the menu.
A pastry shop where the sfogliatelle are cold and sitting out all day.
Eating in Naples: questions people ask
What food is Naples known for?
Pizza, sfogliatella, babà, fried street food and seafood pasta.
Where should I eat in Naples?
The historic center for pizza, Chiaia for dinner and the station area for pastry.
Is food cheap in Naples?
Yes, by Italian city standards. Pizza and street food cost little.
Do I need to book in Naples?
The famous pizzerias take walk-ins. Book other restaurants for weekend dinner.
What is a sfogliatella?
A shell-shaped pastry filled with ricotta and orange, eaten warm.