The ultimate guide of what to eat in Naples, Italy

It’s curious but Italy it’s often, if not always, associated with amazing weather, gorgeous landscapes and… delicious food. But, food in Naples, it’s more than just feeding yourself, it’s a religious moment.

We realized that we never wrote down a guide on what to eat in Naples Italy. I guess now, it’s the time to share all the best food in Naples you have to try. This Naples food guide, it’s not the usual one with places and dishes to check out, we’ve included even the best street food in Naples, local experiences and tips to keep in mind for your future trip to Naples! We bet you are hungry now. Let’s discover all the delightful food!

We couldn’t avoid opening our guide about what to eat in Naples Italy, listing the best pizza in the world. This unique dish, named as immaterial World Heritage by Unesco, it’s at the top of the list of food to try in Naples by everybody. However not many know that the regular rounded pizza isn’t the only of its kind. While discovering Naples you might understand that this city has much more to offer to travellers and food lovers. Pizza has various kinds of dough, shapes, preparation and toppings.

Let’s dive in together and discover all those kinds and all the rest of the best food in Naples Italy to try!

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Pizza a portafoglio

Now, we are coming to the “cheap” Pizza, but it doesn’t mean that it’s not good as a normal one. Pizza a portafoglio (pizza folded as a wallet) it’s a mini pizza folded in four which makes the shape of a wallet, or a rounded triangle.

This type of pizza also costs only €1 and it’s the best lunch you can have while walking around Naples’s streets! You don’t have to walk into a pizzeria to ask for a folded pizza, but usually, there are little stands outside bars and pizzerias selling small rounded pizzas to be folded.

Mozzarella di Bufala

What makes the pizza special and good is the delicious buffalo mozzarella.

Recognized as a DOP and DOC product (which means controlled origins and protected), the buffalo mozzarella is a typical product from Naples. 

The Mozzarella di Bufala uses milk from local buffalo farms, in fact, when ordering pizza, make sure you request the Mozzarella di Bufala. You can feel the difference between the normal one and the taste of Mozzarella di Bufala. Keep in mind that if you really want to taste real mozzarella, take a fork and eat it without any other topping. It is delicious.

Friarielli

If you’re looking for a local product to try in Naples, Friarielli needs to be on your list. Known as Broccoletti or Rabe Broccoli, Friarielli is a vegetable that is cooked with olive oil, garlic and peperoncino, just fried in a regular pan. 

Like many things in Naples, even Friarielli are caloric due to the amount of oil you use to cook them. A typical dish is Salsiccia & Friarielli, which is Friarielli together with sausages. You can ask for this type of combination for your pizza, and trust us; it’s the best one you can try in Naples.

Frittatina

Hungry eh? Well, save some space as now we’re going through the best street food in Naples! The first on the top of our list is the famous “Frittatina” which you can find in any “Friggitoria” (Fried snack shops) in the historic city centre of Naples. 

Inside of this heaven frittatina, you have fried pasta, bechamel sauce and peas. It’s the perfect snack for a mid-morning or mid-afternoon aperitif and it will cost you only €1. Yes, just a euro of pure happiness.

You can find Frittatina in local pizzerias as well in the Antipasti section, but usually, the price is higher.

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Crocchè di Patate

Coming to Naples means trying the best food ever and this is the reason behind our Naples food guide. Together with “Frittatina” that we mentioned before, you must try the famous “Crocchè di Patate”.

A fried product made mainly with potatoes and filled inside with cheese. Like the Frittatina, you can find Crocchè di Patate in a local Friggitoria and for only €1 you will be able to taste this delicious snack.

Taralli

You might have heard about taralli in our Puglia food guide, in fact, this product is a classic Neapolitan snack. This is usually on the side of your order in a local bar at the aperitif time. This ring-shaped treat can be found in local markets and supermarkets if you wish to bring some back home.

There is then a difference between the Puglia Taralli and the Neapolitan ones, which is that the second is bigger and filled with roasted almonds and pepper, so the dough becomes pretty hard to chew.

Zeppole Fritte/Frittelle Napoletane

When talking about the best street food in Naples, Zeppole fritte is on the top of anyone’s list. Made with a sample mix, this savoury fried bread can be found in any “friggitoria” in Naples. 

Usually, when looking at the restaurant menu, you will find this speciality in the Antipasti section as it is a great way to fill your stomach with something before eating a pizza.

Montanara

If you remember, before we mentioned Pizza Fritta, Montanara is a similar one but not filled with salumi inside. It’s a small fried pizza with tomato sauce on top and mozzarella. When walking around the historic city centre of Naples, you will find many places selling Montanara for only a euro. 

Feeling hungry before lunch or dinner? Have one and fill your stomach with a delicious Montanara!!

Panuozzo in Gragnano | Food specialities of Amalfi Coast hills

Talking about Panuozzo we need to specify that the most famous one is the Panuozzo from Gragnano. This town is located between a mountain peak and the Amalfi Coast. 

Locals are crazy about this type of bread and usually, Friday or Saturday night, they get themselves ready to eat a traditional Panuozzo!

If you really want to try the real and tasty one you should get it with Porchetta, Provola and Potatoes. Basically the same dough as the Pizza, but close to panini and cooked in the oven. The inside will be filled with whatsoever you feel like.

BEST PLACE TO EAT PANUOZZO | Mascolo

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Cuoppo

In Naples, Cuoppo is a tasty street food made with fried seafood. Inside of this cone-shaped foil, you will find all the typical Neapolitan fried food. You have two options, the seafood one and the “terra” one. In the seafood cuoppo, you will find fried cod, anchovies, squid and shrimp.

Instead, the terra cuoppo is filled with small pieces of frittatina, arancini, crocchè and some vegetables as well like fried aubergine and courgettes.

Zuppa di Cozze 

If you are looking to try a really good Zuppa di Cozze, we suggest you go to the Pozzuoli area. This area is really famous for its amazing bars and restaurants with outdoor seating areas looking at the sea.

Now, let’s come back into more detail about what Zuppa di Cozze is. Made in an oval shape pizza base, inside you will find all seafood products, mussels, clams, prawns and many more. 

It’s a real delicateness that if you are wondering what to eat in Naples Italy, this needs to be on your list.

BEST PLACE TO EAT ZUPPA DI COZZE | Pizzaló and A Figlia d’’o Marenaro

Babà

We know that we said that Sfoliatella is a signature pastry in Naples but we must admit it, Babà is also a symbol of Neapolitan desserts. 

With its mushroom shape, Neapolitan Babà is soaked in rum and it’s a really traditional pastry that everyone loves. Every time we are coming back home to see our families, before leaving is a tradition for us to eat a Babà at least at the airport, or alternatively a Sfogliatella Riccia.

BEST PLACE TO EAT BABÀ | Da Luise

Zeppole di San Giuseppe

The month of March is really important for Neapolitans as on the 19th we celebrate Father’s Day and St. Joseph (San Giuseppe). 

On this occasion, a famous dessert is Zeppole di San Giuseppe, a fried dough ball filled with custard and topped with cherries. However, you can find the Zeppole di San Giuseppe all year round in a local “pasticceria”.

Gelato

Are you looking for more things to add to your list of what to eat in Naples Italy? Don’t worry because our guide is not done yet. Italy is famous for its ice-creams and trying Gelato in Naples is a must. 

Along your walks around the city centre, you will find many places where to eat a nice gelato. Try all the flavours and all the combinations that you can and enjoy a good Gelato in Naples. The best gelato we can suggest to you it’s on the Amalfi Coast, try it at “Gabriele” in Vico Equense, or “Bougainvillea” and “Gelateria Primavera” in Sorrento.

Pastiera

We decided to add another delicious pastry to our list. This is very famous in Naples, prepared following the traditional recipe during the Easter period. It is made with eggs, cooked wheat, ricotta cheese and orange flower water.

The pastiera needs to be cooked days in advance before Easter in order to allow the aroma to mix in the right way and result in that unique flavour.

Coffee 

Starting the day in the right way is very important, especially for us. We don’t talk before having our first-morning coffee and sometimes we tend to drink even more than two before 11 AM. 

While spending 2 days in Naples head to Caffe del Professore and enjoy one of the most delicious coffee ever. In Naples, there is this tradition of “caffè sospeso” or pending coffee which is an anonymous act of kindness to someone who doesn’t have the opportunity to pay for a coffee.

Coffee in Naples in a local bar, it’s simply a 20ml liquid, which can be sipped in a matter of seconds. It’s not the usual drink which tends to stay hot, and we can drink while walking.

Limoncello

If you’ve been to the Amalfi Coast, Positano and Sorrento you might know that one of the most popular liqueurs in Naples is Limoncello. You will find this liquor all around Italy but the original and best one is from Sorrento thanks to its amazing lemons.

In many restaurants and houses in Italy, it is a tradition to drink in a small ceramic cup of Limoncello.

Meloncello

As Limoncello is made with Lemon, Meloncello in this case is made with melon. I (Alessia) personally prefer Meloncello, instead, Toti is a big fan of a proper Limoncello. It’s a must-try as well together with Limoncello! In Italy, as you can understand we tried to get the best of anything, like Meloncello there are many other strange liquors made with unusual products.

Like this, there are the Liquirizia (Liquorice), blueberries, nocillo (nuts) and many others.

Wine

The famous international Italian wine Region is definitely Tuscany. Despite this, the whole boot-shaped country produces high-quality wine and similar. Campania, the Region where Naples is located, might not be worldwide known for its production of wine, which is a huge and extraordinary variety.

Locals grow grapes in the shadows of the Mediterranean Sea and Mount Vesuvius and that’s why the quality is good! The Lacrima Cristi it’s one of those wines which grows only on the slopes of the volcano, and it’s a combination of flavours including citrus, stone fruit, sherbet and minerals on the nose.

Very clean, tangy and fresh on the palate with just a hint of bitterness. Eating in a restaurant, always ask for “vino della casa” or local wine, which is usually an organic product made by local producers.