Naples travel guide: where to stay, what to do, and where to eat in Naples, Campania, Italy.
Naples is the home of pizza napoletana (the pizzaiuolo's art is on UNESCO's intangible heritage list), pasta with seafood and tomato, ragu and genovese, deep-fried street food, buffalo mozzarella and some of Italy's best pastry: sfogliatella, baba and the Ministeriale. Neapolitan cooking is built on cucina povera: San Marzano tomatoes, local olive oil, Amalfi-coast citrus and the abundant fish of the Bay of Naples. Coffee is a ritual, served short and strong at the bar.
Must-try dishes
Iconic dishes that define Naples.
Pizza napoletana (margherita and marinara)
Soft, charred-edged, wood-fired disc; the UNESCO-listed art of the pizzaiuolo
Pizza fritta and montanara
Small pizza fried in oil, sometimes then topped and baked
Sfogliatella (riccia and frolla)
Shell-shaped pastry with ricotta, semolina and candied citrus
Baba
Rum-soaked yeast cake, often filled with cream
Ragu napoletano and genovese
Slow-cooked meat sauce; genovese is an onion-based beef sauce served on ziti
Spaghetti alle vongole
Spaghetti with clams, garlic, parsley and oil
Pasta e patate con provola
Creamy potato pasta with smoked provola cheese
Frittatina di pasta and crocche
Fried pasta bites and potato croquettes
Caffe napoletano
Strong espresso, often served pre-sweetened; the caffe sospeso (paid-forward coffee) tradition is local
Mozzarella di bufala
Campanian buffalo-milk mozzarella, eaten fresh
Top restaurants
Handpicked picks for the best dining experiences.
Restaurants by cuisine
Browse picks grouped by cuisine type.
Neapolitan
Neapolitan Pastry
Seafood
Coffee
Coffee And Pastries
Cured Meats And Cheese
Fried Pizza
Neapolitan And Pizza
Neapolitan Fried Food
Neapolitan Home Cooking
Food tours & tastings in Naples
Eat your way through Naples with a guide.
Browse food experiences in NaplesWe may earn a commission from bookings made through these links.
Street food
Local flavours at affordable prices.
Pizza a portafoglio
Pizza folded in four and eaten from paper
Find it at: Pizzerie on Via dei Tribunali and Via Port'Alba
Price: EUR 2-4 (~$2.30-$4.60)
Cuoppo napoletano
Paper cone of mixed fried seafood or vegetables
Find it at: Friggitorie in the centro storico and Vomero
Price: EUR 4-9 (~$4.60-$10.35)
Sfogliatella calda
Hot filled pastry bought by the piece
Find it at: Pasticceria Attanasio (Vico Ferrovia), Pintauro (Via Toledo 275)
Price: EUR 2.50-3.50 (~$2.90-$4)
Pizza fritta
Fried pizza filled with ricotta or tomato and mozzarella
Find it at: 1947 Pizza Fritta, Antica Pizzeria Starita, Pizzeria Di Matteo
Price: EUR 3-7 (~$3.45-$8)
Frittatina and arancini
Fried pasta bites and rice balls
Find it at: Friggitoria Vomero
Price: EUR 1.50-3 (~$1.75-$3.45)
Food markets
Where locals shop and graze.
Mercato di Pignasecca
Street market at the edge of the Quartieri Spagnoli selling produce, fish, cheese and fried snacks; nearest Metro Line 1 stop is Montesanto/Toledo.
Hours: Mon-Sat mornings to early afternoon (stalls pack up by about 2:00PM; confirm locally); closed Sunday
Mercato di Porta Nolana
Fish, produce and spice market between Garibaldi station and the old port, one of Naples' busiest street markets.
Hours: Mon-Sat mornings; quietest after about 2:00PM; closed Sunday
Mercato di Antignano
Vomero neighbourhood food and household market, reached by the Chiaia or Montesanto funicular.
Hours: Mon-Sat mornings (confirm locally)
Dining etiquette & tips
Navigate the local food scene confidently.
Lunch is roughly 12:30PM-3:00PM and dinner from about 7:30PM; many trattorie close between services, while pizzerie often stay open all day.
Most famous pizzerie take no reservations: arrive before opening or give a name at the door and expect a wait of 30-90 minutes at peak. Via dei Tribunali is quieter outside 8-9PM.
A coperto (cover charge, usually EUR 1-3, ~$1.15-$3.45) is normal; tipping is optional and rounding up or leaving EUR 1-2 is appreciated.
Cappuccino and cornetto are breakfast only; Neapolitans rarely order cappuccino after lunch. Standing at the bar is much cheaper than sitting at a table.
Carry cash: small friggitorie, bakeries and some old pizzerie may not take cards (Attanasio is reported cash-only at the counter).
Check any restaurant's current hours by phone or Google Maps the day before; many family places close one weekday and for two weeks in August.
Neapolitan menus lean on pasta, pizza, fried foods, cheese and seafood. Vegetarian choices are easy: margherita and marinara pizzas (marinara has no cheese), pasta e fagioli, parmigiana di melanzane, friarielli and fried vegetables. Vegans can order pizza marinara, pasta al pomodoro and vegetable contorni, but should ask whether lard (strutto) or cheese is used. Gluten-free (senza glutine) pasta and pizza are available at some restaurants; look for the AIC (Associazione Italiana Celiachia) sticker in the window. Say 'Sono allergico a...' and show the allergen written on a phone; seafood-heavy menus make shellfish allergy hard to manage.
Food budget guide
What to expect at different price points.
| Level | Price | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | $5-15/meal | Street food, local eateries, and simple restaurants. |
| Mid-range | $15-40/meal | Sit-down restaurants with good service and varied menus. |
| Upscale | $40+/meal | Fine dining, international cuisine, and premium experiences. |