10 Best Foods To Eat In Naples – Italy

Want to know about the best food you can eat in Naples? Then keep reading. Traditional Neapolitan cuisine emphasizes simplicity and the use of fresh ingredients from the region.  Get our free Travel Checklist

Many meals in northern Italy feature more expensive ingredients, such as heavy cheeses, creams, and truffles, whereas Traditional ingredients such as olive oil, garlic, and tomatoes are used in Naples and the neighboring Campania region.

Since there is no better way to learn about a place than to immerse yourself in its culture, cuisine, and community, we have chosen the best 10 foods for you, so that your trip would be a real adventure.

Now, let’s consider them more closely, one after the other.

Enjoy the Authentic Neapolitan Pizza

The Queen of Pizzas and Naples’ pride! You can’t visit Naples without falling for their heavenly-made pizzas. This masterpiece has to be baked in a typical dome-shaped wood-burning oven.

The oven is preheated to roughly 900F (485C), and each pizza is baked for 90 seconds to two minutes. It has a raised edge and a diameter of 30-35 cm. It must be soft and elastic. Needless to say, that all boils down to the ingredients.

They use local tomatoes, extra virgin oil, and either mozzarella or “fior di latte” cheese. They can also use fresh basil and oregano. That’s it! So simple, but extremely yummy.

Sfogliatella – Frolla

The simplest way to start your day in Naples is with a sfogliatella; a clam-shaped crispy pastry.

Sfogliatella Frolla is a soft pastry stuffed with creamy ricotta and dried candied fruits. There are many types of Stogliatelle (the plural of Sfogliatella) but this one is covered with powdered sugar and is quite nice when fresh.

Baba al Rhum

The Baba al Rhum can be found all across Naples, especially in the shops along Via Toledo and Via Tribunali.

It is a cake shaped like a champagne cork that can be soaked in rum or another liquor, sometimes limoncello. They are available in full-size or mini and stuffed with Nutella or any other sweets.

Pizza Fritta

Yes, you guessed it right! It is a fried pizza. People in Naples are so fond of fried food and can literally fry everything, even pizza and pasta. Surprisingly, Pizza fritta is a real pleasure for the mouth.

Once here, make sure to add it to your calories-boosting list. The dough is coated in hot oil until crispy after being stuffed with ricotta, provola cheese, meatballs, or vegetables.

Zeppole fritte

When it comes to the greatest street food in Naples, Zeppole fritte is at the top of almost everyone’s list. This savory fried bread, made with a sample mix, is found in any “friggitoria” in Naples.

This specialty is usually included on the Antipasti part of a restaurant menu since it is an excellent way to fill your tummy before eating a pizza.

Pasta alla Genovese

Wouldn’t that be from Genoa in northern Italy? I asked the same question as you, but it turned out to be as Neapolitan as pizza (but it might have been introduced by cooks from Genoa or perhaps Geneva, Switzerland – there are many hypotheses!).

The ingredients of the dish itself do not sound appetizing when mixed together, Pasta alla Genovese consists of spaghetti with stewed meat and onions.

However, spaghetti alla Genovese lifts onions to a new level by cooking them for an extended period of time, alongside local meat.

The result is a thick, caramelized sauce that is rich in flavor and almost reminiscent of the greatest French onion soups.

Pasta e patate con provola

This dish is unique, it is one of the most traditional meals in Naples. This pasta and potato dish with provola (smoked mozzarella) is everyone’s favorite Neapolitan meal. You can only imagine how good it is, and you must try it on your next trip to Naples.

Mozzarella di Bufala

The wonderful buffalo mozzarella is what distinguishes and elevates the pizza. A typical Neapolitan product that everyone is proud to preserve.

When ordering pizza, be sure to ask for the Mozzarella di Bufala. You can tell the difference between regular mozzarella and Mozzarella di Bufala.

Remember that if you truly want to taste the authentic mozzarella, eat it with a fork and without any additional toppings. It’s delicious.

Caffé espresso

In Naples, drinking coffee is a sacred ritual, and no one can blame them because they have a super tasty coffee. A hot cup of coffee is one of the favorite drinks of people in Naples all day.

There is a practice known among Napolitanas as “caffè sospeso,” or awaiting coffee, which is an anonymous gesture of charity to someone who cannot afford to pay for a coffee.

Such a good habit, isn’t it? Spare some time to enjoy a strong Neapolitan coffee and don’t forget to act like a local!

Alici Fritte

We told you before that people in Naples are fond of fried food, didn’t we? Alici Fritte, is one of the best classic street foods served in Naples and it is simply amazing.

The deep-fried anchovies are usually served in a cone of paper which you are supposed to enjoy while strolling around the city.

This is Naples after all and food is everywhere you go.

Key takeaways from the 10 best foods to eat in Naples – Italy

In the above list, we showed you the best foods you can try being in Naples and to be honest it was hard to choose only 10 among hundreds of tasty meals.

Naples is the city of fresh, simple yet extremely addictive food. So, be prepared to welcome some extra kilos while being here!

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