Or, the Best Pizza in Napoli, Italia
I don't think it would be entirely dishonest to say eating the best pizza in Naples would mean you've eaten the best pizza in the world. While the Napolitani might not be as creative or out-of-the box thinkers when it comes to pizza toppings, using squid ink or jicama, they have created a mastered the classic pizza: the margherita. From there, they've taken the pizza to magnificent heights where you really have to eat it to enjoy it.
Before I get into giving you a list of the best pizza in Naples, I first want to say: it's incredibly difficult to find bad pizza in Naples unless you're in a super-touristy areas. Naples has the cream-of-the-crop when it comes to pizzerias. Where we live, in a small town about three hours of Naples, it's a huge badge of honor to have a pizzeria in town that has a pizzaiolo (someone who makes pizza) who trained in Naples. If you're walking around Naples and you have a sudden hankering for pizza, you can stop into nearly any trattoria, osteria, or pizzeria and find a fantastic dish.
Onto the list, which is in no particular order, but numbered for ease!
1. Sorbillo
There really wouldn't be any sense in writing a "best pizza in Naples" without including Sorbillo, a pizzeria that has gone astronomical since opening up their first location on Via dei Tribunali. They now have multiple locations in Naples, as well as a shop in Rome, and even one in New York City.
You have to get here early—or make a reservation, something no one thought they would ever do—if you plan on eating here. Darcy and I once arrived at 7:30 and let at 11:20 since we still hadn't been called to our table. And yes, the pizza is that good to wait for.
2. Da Michele
Made popular by Eat, Pray, Love, where Julia Roberts had a pizza in the film depiction. Because of this, the pizzeria is intesnely popular—but with good reason. Their pizza is some of the best in Naples. And if other pizzerias practice austerity when it comes to toppings, then Da Michele personifies it. They only offer four different flavors, they don't take reservations, they charge almost nothing, and you have to wait outside for hours for a table.
Is it worth it?
Absolutely.
3. Di Matteo
When Darcy and I first visited Naples back in 2015, this was considered a great place for a pizza or a fried calzone, especially if you were a student. They had a very simple menu, similar to Da Michele, it was desgined to grab-and-go, eating on the street in front of the storefront, and the prices were insanely affordable.
Thankfully, not much has changed. It still has a ascetic interior but often-lively. The prices are still incredibly affordable, and the flavor is still unchanged.
If you find the lines ar Sorbillo or Da Michele too long, consider dropping by Di Matteo, where you'll only wait an hour!
While there are plenty of other pizzerias in Naples, these three are what we (Darcy and Nathaniel, Only A Bag) consider to be the best. They aren't fancy or over-the-top. They aren't Michelin-starred. They just make basic pizza Margheritas in the most beautiful way.
Comments