You can smell Naples before you see it: a mix of sea air, espresso, and the unmistakable scent of baking bread. You’re here for one thing above all else— Best pizza in Naples. But in the city that invented it, figuring out where to eat pizza can feel overwhelming when every corner pizzeria claims to be the best.
Best Pizza in Naples: A Guide to Top Pizzerias
First, forget what you know. True Neapolitan pizza isn’t a firm, crispy disc loaded with toppings. It’s soft, wonderfully simple, and so delicate that locals famously eat it with a knife and fork. This guide cuts through the noise to lead you to the legendary pizzerias and beloved local spots that deliver an authentic experience.
What Makes Neapolitan Pizza So Special?
Forget the firm, crispy slice you might be used to; true Neapolitan pizza is defined by its unique texture. The crust is incredibly soft and light, with a puffy, pillowy outer edge that gets beautifully charred in the wood-fired oven. This distinctive crust is called the cornicione (pronounced cor-nee-CHO-neh). Because the pizza cooks in as little as 90 seconds, the fresh sauce and cheese melt together, creating a center that is delightfully thin and even a bit “soupy.” This isn’t a mistake; it’s the signature of an authentic pie.
While menus might offer variety, your education starts with two legendary options. The most famous is the Pizza Margherita, a simple masterpiece of bright tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, and a few basil leaves, whose red, white, and green are said to honor the Italian flag. Equally beloved is the Pizza Marinara, an even purer, cheese-less pizza topped with just tomato, garlic, oregano, and olive oil. Both prove that with ingredients this good, you don’t need a mountain of toppings.
This unique, soft-centered style explains the local custom:
Neapolitans eat their pizza with a knife and fork. Your pizza will arrive as a personal-sized, uncut pie. Instead of trying to pick up a floppy slice, you simply cut off a bite at a time, often folding it over to capture the perfect combination of crust, sauce, and cheese. It’s a refined way to enjoy every single delicious bite.
How to Spot Truly Authentic Pizza: The “AVPN” Seal of Approval
With countless pizzerias in Naples, Italy, how do you spot a masterpiece and avoid a tourist trap? Your secret weapon is the AVPN (Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana), or the True Neapolitan Pizza Association. Look for a circular red, white, and green logo featuring a pizza-maker. An instant sign that the pizzeria is dedicated to preserving tradition.
To earn this seal, pizzerias must follow strict rules, especially regarding ingredients. The tomatoes are often San Marzano, a special variety grown in the rich volcanic soil near Mount Vesuvius, giving them a distinct sweetness. The cheese is Mozzarella di Bufala Campana, a uniquely fresh and creamy cheese made from the milk of Italian water buffalo. These details are the very soul of authentic flavor.
Spotting that AVPN sign is a reliable shortcut to an exceptional pie. While not every great pizzeria has one—some institutions are legends in their own right—it’s the easiest way to guarantee you’re about to taste the real deal.
The Legend: Why L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele is a Must-Visit Pilgrimage
When it comes to legends, few places live up to the hype like L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Founded in 1870, this is less a restaurant and more a temple to pizza purity. It gained global fame after being featured in Eat, Pray, Love, but for Neapolitans, it has always been an institution known for its stubborn refusal to change.
Don’t expect a long menu. Da Michele’s unwavering focus on perfection means they only serve two types of pizza: the Margherita, with its creamy mozzarella and basil, and the Marinara, a beautifully simple, cheese-less pie that lets the sweet tomato and fragrant oregano shine. This is a confident statement. By stripping away everything else, the pizzeria ensures you are tasting the flawless execution of a timeless craft.
The experience itself is famously no-frills and fast-paced. You’ll take a number, wait on the street with a buzzing crowd, and likely share a marble-topped table once inside. The pizza arrives in minutes, hot from the oven and utterly perfect. It’s a beautifully chaotic pilgrimage every pizza lover should make at least once.
The Crowd-Pleaser: Ordering at Gino e Toto Sorbillo on Via dei Tribunali
If Naples has a pizza highway, it’s Via dei Tribunali. This ancient, bustling street cuts through the historic center and is lined with pizzerias, but one commands a bigger crowd than any other: Gino e Toto Sorbillo. You’ll easily spot it by the massive, cheerful group waiting outside its doors. For many, it’s the main event on this iconic “pizza street.”
Unlike the purist, two-pizza menu at Da Michele, Sorbillo celebrates abundance.
The menu is a long, delightful list of creations, offering a perfect counterpoint for those who want more options.
Here, you can branch out beyond the classics and try pizzas topped with everything from creamy local cheeses to high-quality cured meats. It’s the ideal choice if you’re traveling with a group or simply want to explore the creative side of Neapolitan pizza.
When your order arrives, be prepared for a showstopper. Sorbillo’s pizzas are famously enormous, often spilling over the edges of the plate, yet they maintain that signature soft, foldable crust. The impressive size delivers incredible value and an even better photo.
A Local’s Secret: Why Neapolitans Love Pizzeria Starita a Materdei
For a taste of pizza deeply woven into the city’s fabric, venture just beyond the historic center to the Materdei neighborhood. Here you’ll find Pizzeria Starita, a legendary spot that has been serving Neapolitans for over 120 years.
Less chaotic than the main tourist drag but equally revered, this is where locals go. Its fame is so ingrained in local culture that it was featured in a 1950s film starring Sophia Loren, cementing its status as a city institution.
Starita’s most celebrated contribution to the pizza world is the Montanara. If you try only one special pizza in Naples, make it this one. The pizza dough is first lightly flash-fried, which puffs it up into an incredibly light, airy pillow.
It’s then topped with a simple, high-quality tomato sauce and mozzarella, and finished in the wood-fired oven. The result is a masterpiece of texture—a delicate, non-greasy crispness on the outside giving way to a soft, steamy interior.
Your Naples Pizzeria Survival Guide: Lines, Bills, and Drinks
Walking up to a world-famous pizzeria and seeing a crowd can be intimidating, but there’s a simple system for it. Most iconic spots don’t take reservations. Instead, find the person at the door taking names, get your number, and join the lively wait—it’s all part of the experience, and the lines often move faster than they look.
When the bill arrives, you’ll likely see a line item called coperto. This is a standard cover charge in Italy, usually €1 to €3 per person, for the bread and table setting. It’s not a tourist trap, just a normal part of dining out.
Wondering what to drink? The classic pairing isn’t wine. The perfect companion is a cold, crisp Italian beer, like a Peroni or Nastro Azzurro, that cuts through the rich flavors. A simple soda or sparkling water is also a very common choice.
Don’t Miss This: Trying Pizza Fritta, Naples’ Favorite Street Food
Beyond the classic pizzerias, the streets of Naples offer another pizza obsession: pizza fritta (fried pizza). This isn’t a flat, greasy slice; this is a light, puffy pocket of dough that’s stuffed with savory ingredients, sealed shut, and deep-fried to a perfect golden-brown. It’s a local tradition, offering a delightful contrast of a crispy shell and a soft, steamy interior.
The most classic filling is a heavenly mix of creamy ricotta cheese and bits of cured pork (cicoli), but you’ll also find versions with provolone cheese and salami. These ingredients melt together into a rich, gooey flavor that is the essence of Neapolitan comfort food.
Unlike its oven-baked cousin, this is true street food, meant to be eaten with your hands while you walk. Served piping hot and folded in paper, it’s the perfect on-the-go lunch and an essential city experience.
Your Action Plan for the Perfect Naples Pizza Experience
The search for the best pizza in Naples isn’t about finding the most toppings, but the purest ingredients—a lesson in perfection through simplicity.
For an ideal tasting journey, start with a legendary pizzeria to set a baseline for tradition, then visit a more modern spot to appreciate the evolution.
Armed with the knowledge of what makes a true Neapolitan pie, from its soft, foldable crust to its simple toppings, you’re ready to order a classic Margherita or Marinara and eat it like a local—with a knife and fork. This is more than a meal; it’s a chance to taste history, one soft, unforgettable slice at a time.
