Naples is the quintessential place for our most beloved dish – PIZZA. A simple, unpolished city with old port and small messy streets has made its spot in the world for one of the best Italian food has to offer.
It is famous as the birthplace for Margherita Pizza and is very often mentioned in books, articles, blogs and other things. My point of awareness of this place was a book I read – Eat, Pray, Love. Her description about the pizza made me tempted enough to save the place and plan a visit.
Years later, I finally visited Naples in search of that pizza that I had heard so much about, the age-old pizza making skills that were certified, and to taste the tomato-cheese combination that was so delectable and unique from anywhere else. The reason I say unique is because of the ingredients used in a traditional Neapolitan pizza. San Marzano tomatoes typically grow on the fertile soils on Mount Vesuvius, and taste slightly sweeter and less acidic. Even the Mozzarella di Bufala cheese is special and belong to Italy’s Campania region. The fresh milk from buffaloes gives it a silky texture compared to the rubbery cow mozzarella often found at other places.
I stayed in Naples for a good two days to just explore as many pizzerias as I possibly could. I read a lot of lists of top recommendations, and this is my experience.
1. Gino E Toto Sorbillo
Sorbillo was the top recommended place in the majority of blogs I read. It is particularly exclusive because of the fixed opening times, and long queues that build up even before the restaurant opens.
I waited for about 1 hour before I got a table. The pizza did not disappoint, it was rustic, well flavored, and pretty much one of the best Margaritas pizza I had in town. They have two locations – a more crowded one in the city center and one by the water on Via Partenope,
2. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele
This is the pizzeria that I had first heard of. Elizabeth Gilbert talks about the pizzagasm in her book at this very place. The small pizzeria is modestly setup with an open kitchen and only serve two varieties – margherita and marinara. Basically, you go there for the thin doughy saucy flavored pizza that Naples is known for and it is amazing.
3. Starita Napoli
Staritas would be the best restaurant overall If I had to pick one. It’s a renowned traditional place without long queues, yet with a nice ambience, a fine bar, and amazing pizzas. The pizzas here strike a good balance with the base and toppings. There are lots of toppings to choose from, and the base is not extra doughy. I tried one with burrata and it was heavenly.
They also have gluten free options and they are open on Sundays if you need more reasons to go there!
4. 50 Kalo
50 Kalo is well known for carefully sourcing the best ingredients like local olive oil, organic tomatoes, mozarella from nearby Agerola, and pork from Caserta which are the secret to their world-class, crusty, beautiful pizzas. Definitely worth a visit.
5. Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi
Ciro Oliva, the gourmet chef blends tradition and innovation to this impeccably decorated pizzeria. They offer a mix of modern and traditional menu that could have a salmon pizza topped with caviar, pizza-dough buns filled with artichoke, and ingredients like broccoli, sausage, octopus, clams crafted in not just pizzas but other seasonal dishes. He also has a blog dedicated to his kitchen experiments and offers a special tasting menu too at the restaurant. A reservation is highly recommended.
6. Pizzeria di Matteo
This pizzeria is located in the heart of the city center in the famous street, Via dei Tribunali. This restaurant is more famous among the locals, with its take-out store offering fresh pizzas and snacks. The menu is presumably large with plenty of different topping. It is easier to get a table here without much waiting and devour the perfectly baked pizzas along with some fried delicacies like calzone and arancini.
7. Pizzaiolo del Presidente
The name literally means ‘President’s Pizza Baker’. It was renamed from Pizzeria Cacialli after US President Bill Clinton visited this place.
It is a cozy simple place, really famous among the locals and for good reasons – yummy, cheesy, chewy pizzas with lots of options to customize too!
Not to mention, the cost of travelling and eating in Naples is soo reasonable. Some pizzas cost as low as 4 Euros. So, my suggestion would be to make the best use of it, forget your diet plans, and just enjoy! And if you want some sweet to top it off, you can fancy some nice gelatos from Gelato Mennela, Fantasia Gelati, Casa Infante to name a few.