10 Best Local Restaurants in Naples

L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele is a historic pizza joint that’s been around since 1906. It'll only take a few minutes to scan the menu and make your choice – its only specialties are and have always been the humble Margherita and marinara pizzas. 

This casual pizzeria is along a side street off Corso Umberto I, around 450 meters north of Piazza Mercato. Sometimes you may need to queue for a while to get a table. However, chatting to fellow customers (most of whom are locals) in the line is all part of the experience.

Pizzeria Brandi is supposedly where pizza was invented in Naples. Legend has it that in 1889, Raffaele Esposito made the world's first ever pizza, personally dedicating it to Queen Margherita of Savoy.

Along with the obligatory Margherita pizza, you can also try the delicious pastiera napoletana (cooked wheat, eggs and ricotta tart, flavored with orange blossom water). Prices are reasonable, too. Pizzeria Brandi is particularly elegant inside, with greenery on every table and antique paintings on the walls.

Neapolitan cuisine’s not all pizza, pasta and fish. It’s perhaps even more world-famous for its sweet treats! Of all the patisseries scattered throughout Naples, Sfogliatella Mary is one of the most original and characteristic patisseries in Naples. This tiny outlet, which has a counter directly facing the streets, offers a wide range of Neapolitan desserts for takeouts. 

Must-tries include the signature sfogliatella (shell-shaped filled pastry) and babà (syrup and liquor sponge cake), which are freshly baked daily. You'll recognize Sfogliatella Mary in Galleria Umberto I, an elegant shopping gallery dating back to the 19th century.

Friggitoria Vomero is a small, family-run deli in Via Domenico Cimarosa, near the Piazza Fuga railroad station. It remains virtually unchanged since it first opened in 1938. 

You can choose from a variety of fried specialties from the countertop display, such as crocché (fried breaded mashed potato and egg), paste cresciute (dough fritters), arancini (fried breaded rice balls), melanzane in padella (pan-fried eggplant), and scagliozzi di polenta (fried polenta slices). If you're pressed for time, the restaurant offers a cuoppo (takeout packaging) of your favorite fried treats.

Cibi Cotti Nonna Anna (Italian for ‘Granny Anna’s cooked food’) has a homey atmosphere that reminds locals of the good old days. You'll dine on paper tablecloths alongside regulars, though you might also spot the odd tourist with backpacks slung over their shoulders  

It offers fantastic value for money – a few euros can get youa hearty portion of fresh pasta, lasagna, polpette (meatballs), or fritture di pesce (fried fish), depending on the daily specials. You can find Cibi Cotti Nonna Anna at the end of Mercato Coperto della Torretta (Torretta Covered Market), just a short walk from Lungomare Caracciolo and Porto di Mergellina (Mergellina Marina). 

Enjoying an espresso at the historic Gran Caffè Gambrinus is a must-do, especially if you're a coffee lover. Located in Via Chiaia, this cafe is decorated in Liberty style, with stuccos and paintings from the end of the 19th century. 

Gran Caffè Gambrinus has always been a meeting point for artists, writers, philosophers and politicians. Besides its illustrious clientele, the cafe is also known as the birthplace of a charitable tradition called caffè sospeso. You can take part in this concept by paying for 2 coffees, one for you and another for a customer who can't afford one.

Trattoria Nennella is a simple and homey restaurant that specializes in genuine Neapolitan dishes. It's in Vico Lungo Teatro Nuovo, about 150 meters west of the Toledo subway station. 

We recommend the pasta con patate e provola (pasta with potatos and provolone cheese), zuppa di fagioli con calamari (bean soup with squid) and pennette al ragù e ricotta (penne with ragu and ricotta cheese). The restaurant is very popular with families, especially at dinnertime. It's best to get there early or avoid peak times as it doesn't accept bookings.

Pasticceria Tizzano is a long-running bakery in Naples' historic center, just a short walk of Central Station Naples and Piazza Nazionale. It's well known throughout the city mainly for its fresh babà (syrup and liquor sponge cake), which come in different sizes and variations. You can try the classic version, before moving on to more experimental flavors like rum, limoncello, all'amarena (black cherry), and alla crema (custard).

Pasticceria Tizzano also specializes in many traditional Neapolitan pastries. Some of its best offerings include sfogliatelle (shell-shaped filled pastry), pastiere (cooked wheat, eggs and ricotta tart, flavored with orange blossom water), struffoli (sweet deep fried balls), mustaccioli (chocolate-covered spiced cake), and casatielli (ring-shaped stuffed bread). 

Rosticceria Imperatore is a must-try for Neapolitan street food. Opened in 1906 and still managed by the descendants of the original owner, it has a friendly and informal dining atmosphere. The large and well-lit window displays classic deli specialties like pasta fritta (fried dough), crocché (fried breaded mashed potato and egg), arancini (fried breaded rice balls), and graffe (doughnuts with potato and lemon base), scagliozzi (fried polenta).

If you're looking for a filling meal, Rosticceria Imperatore offers traditional Campania dishes like pizza and calzoni as well as seasonal meat, pasta and rice dishes. Best of all, it opens until 1 am so it's great if you're craving a snack after a night out in Naples.