Where to eat in Naples: the best Neapolitan restaurants

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“If there was a capital of the soul, halfway between East and Ovest , between sensations and philosophy , between honor and cheating , it would be here. In the middle of the city Spaccanapoli opens , a straight road more than a kilometre , narrow and shouting, that divides in two the big agglomeration. It’s the hearth of this babel of the history”(Stanislao Nievo)

Naples is also a culture and gastronomy babel. In the crossroads of the coloured and typical alleys meet and confront perfumes and tastes hard to live without. To the word “ good food” is often associated the name of Parthenope , the beautiful mermaid on the gulf, that receives each wayfarer in a traditional and tasty hug. And then , between a gaze into one of the most beautiful cities of the world and a walk in the history, let’s find out where to eat in Naples.

Read also: Cosa Vedere a Napoli (What to see in Naples)

The best restaurants in Naples

Eating in Naples is an essential part of every tours that includes a visit in the County Seat of Campania for excellence. Here the recommended places by IEX – Italian’s Excellence!

1. Stritt Stritt- Napoli

Close to the Old Town , there are different restaurants in Naples.  A little place loved by whoever pass through. Eight tables outside in a little street and a familiar and a very welcoming atmosphere. You have to taste the spaghetti with shrimps and pistachio pesto and the spaghetti with cherry tomatoes. The pasta with potatoes is very tasty and also the meatballs with ragu are very good. Immediately you notice the great quality-price ratio. The average price of a full menu starts from 10 euros.

2. Trattoria da Nennella- Napoli

Where do you can eat well in Naples? Certainly in this typical trattoria in the hearth of the Spanish Quarters. A dive into the tastes and the flavours of the typical traditional Neapolitan cooking. The menu is full of choices, that goes from meat to the fish, following the seasons and their fruits. Every dishes are prepared with very fresh ingredients with the best selected raw materials. The pasta with the potatoes here is an iconic dish to taste absolutely with gnocchi and meatballs. Average price : 15-20 euros.  

3. Januarius- Napoli

Among the best restaurants in Naples there is this restarant- shop that arises in front of the monument Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta , realized in the smallest details in honor of San Gennaro. This is a real place of worship of the Neapolitan and of the good taste. The rich  cooking Neapolitan tradition comes in every dishes thanks to the raw materials from the land of Campania and from the rest of southern Italy. The menu is called Liturgia Partenopea and offers dishes as the eggplant parmigian , spaghetti Santissima Trinità with a blend of three tomoatoes , and the steamed mussillo with a side dish of Neapolitan endive. Average price: 30 euros.

4. Enotrattoria Casetta Rossa- Napoli

Are you looking for good restaurants on the sea in Naples? Here two welcoming rooms that overlooks on the inside of Naples’ harbour. On the walls simple and maritime tradtion furnitures are hung. The cooking follows this mood: the dishes are prepared with high- quality raw materials. A peculiar plaudit to the pacchero with stockfish and to the fried fish. Average price: 35-40 euros.

5. Antichi Sapori Partenopei- Napoli

What do you can eat in Naples? If you are undecided between the two souls of the Neapolitan city, divided fairly between land and sea, you will find this place really suitable. In Naples’ Old Town there is a restaurant with a hot, friendly, welcoming and family run location. The menu is entirely dedicated to the traditional Neapolitan cooking and the raw materials, also the fish, show a high quality. What we suggest you to taste: octopus’ salad with purple potato and lemon sauce, “nerano” spaghetti of Gragnano, little octopuses and spollichini and good desserts. Average price: 25 euros. 

6. Ieri, Oggi e Domani – Naples

Experimentation and tradition. A step towards the future with the roots well anchored to the past. This is the philosophy of a restaurant that arises as an act of love for the gastronomic Neapolitan heritage. Styles and ingredients melt in great dishes , such as the “zizza fritta” ( a strangled mozzarella filled with ricotta, provola, pork sausage) and O’ Panaro d’ a regina ( a basket of pizza baked in the wood oven with inside of  scialatielli, giant red shrimps , swordfish, funghetto eggplants, clams, cherry tomatoes and parsley) absolutely to taste. Average price: 20 euros.

7. Pescheria (fish shop) Azzurra- Napoli 

If you don’t know in which seafood restaurant go in Naples to taste all the flavours of the Mediterranean Sea, get yourself lost with us among the coloured alleys of the Pignasecca , to discover “I sapori della Pescheria Azzurra”( the tastes of the Azzurra fish shop),one of the most loved places by tourists and Neapolitan people. The traditional dishes are revisited by the skilled hands of the Gagliotta’s family that from years work with the fish, at every level. Seated in the living bowels of the city, you can taste raw fishes, fried, linguine with Homarus lobster, spaghetti with clam and Tarallo, mussel pesto, sea bass, tuna fish, orate, prawns and all that you desire. Average price: 15 euros.

8. Trattoria Nannì- Napoli

Let’s continue the journey among the restaurants in Naples in this simple, friendly and very welcoming place. The atmosphere is hot, calm and familiar. The menu of the place proposes a wide selection of specialties typically regional. We suggest the (baby octopus) polipetti alla Luciana, the ricotta fried balls and one of the best pasta with potatoes and provola. Average price: 20 euros. 

9. Salotto Nunziata- Napoli

In the Chiaia area, just before the coast, there are several meat restaurants in Naples and remarkable places that offer great fish dishes. Among the others stands out an original space that expresses personality in each dish. As the name suggests, it is like entering in a real living room, where coexist furniture elements of the past and of the modernity. Armchairs and wood chair, huge lamps, record players and very coloured elements. The passion of two brothers has created the atmosphere, one is an expert of catering and one is an archaelogist. Old recipes are transformed for new palates, such as salted codfish with almonds, “sala cattabia” ( a kind of soup), cacio ricotta and bacon, the “ Tagliolino made of fresh pasta and “Curtillus” sauce” and red lobster of Mazara and the “ sweet Bread of Apicio, honey, Greek yogurt and almonds”. Averege price: 30 euros.

10. Osteria della Mattonella- Napoli

A really welcoming place, characterized by majolicas that cover the walls. The red tablecloth with big squares warms up the atmosphere, while the dishes warm up the hearts. Very good meatballs fried and then put in the tomato sauce. The trio of starters is made by a potato croquette, fried mozzarella and two tempting eggplants rolls. And then there are also very tasty soups, “rigatoni with pesto genovese”, fried salted codfish. Average price: 25 euros. 

 

This post is also available in: Italiano