Pasticceria Attanasio

Pasticceria Attanasio is a bakery at Vico Ferrovia 1/4, in the lanes behind Napoli Centrale railway station in Naples, Campania, Italy. It is famous for its sfogliatelle, the shell-shaped Neapolitan pastry, which are sold hot from the oven and are one of the most recognisable sweet specialities of the city. The bakery is a short walk from the main station, and its position makes it an easy first or last stop for travellers arriving in or leaving Naples by train. The cuisine is Neapolitan pastry, and the specialty is hot sfogliatella made in view, so that customers can watch the pastries being filled and baked. The signature dishes are the sfogliatella riccia, with its crisp, layered, many-ribbed shell and a filling of semolina, ricotta, candied citrus and spices, and the sfogliatella frolla, which has a softer shortcrust shell around the same filling. Both are best eaten warm, when the shell is crisp and the filling is fragrant. Sold by the piece, they cost about EUR 2.50-3.50 (roughly $3-$4), which makes them an inexpensive treat. The shop is a counter operation, with sales by the piece to takeaway customers, and there is little or no seating; purchases are typically made in cash. The atmosphere is quick, busy and unfussy, with queues at the counter in the morning, and there is no dress code. There is no beverage programme to speak of, so visitors who want coffee usually take their pastry to a nearby bar. Reservations are not applicable, and walk-ins are the rule. According to one local guide, the bakery opens Tuesday to Sunday from 6:30AM to 7:30PM and closes on Monday, but visitors should confirm hours locally. Because the sfogliatelle are best when fresh from the oven, arriving at a time when a new batch has just come out gives the best result. The bakery pairs well with a visit to the nearby Piazza Garibaldi and the Corso Umberto area.