CRUST IS KING
Almost everyone has fantasized over stuffing their face with a fresh Neopolitan pizza hot out of a woodfire oven. The mecca of mozzarella and tomato sauce is of course the third largest city in Italy, Naples. A congregation of small lanes packed with eateries, cafes and shops, this city can be a little daunting for a first time visitor, but given a chance, it starts to open it's arms to you. The secret to finding good pizza is of course to trust the locals, but not just any locals, locals with good taste.
The Mouth's editor spent three full months in the city, trying new pizzerias constantly, asking bartenders, waiters, Airbnb hosts, random people on the street, until a comprehensive list had been drawn up and a plan of attack put in place. What transpired over the course of the next twelve weeks was a carb feast of biblical proportions, culminating in many a good pizza, but some suprisingly bad ones. If you thought that dough, sauce and cheese couldn't possibly taste mediocre, then you haven't eaten at Sorbillo's.
No, for us the secret to a good pizza is to avoid the insane crowds lining up outside Via dei Tribunali 38 each night, and discover the gems that the true locals eat at weekly. These are the pizzerias that do the little things right and keep you coming back.
Laid out beneath is a list of our favourite spots, crossing various factors and thinking of the most possible variations. Some are dirty street shacks, some are sit-down spots for serious conversations. Within this list, you will no doubt find a pizzeria that suits your tastes and perhaps even give them all a try.
In typical "THE MOUTH" fashion, we kept the best place for last. If you get impatient, just scroll down.
For a full link of all the places on google maps, click the icon below:
PALAZZO PETRUCCI
The "nicest" pizzeria you'll find on our list, but still belting out a corker of a pie. Thin crust, well baked, good sauce and cheese ration. Tho the interiors seem stuffy, the pizza has some balls. Date spot.
LA TAVERNA DI TOTO
Sadly overlooked by many of the pizza wanderers of Naples, this basement pizzeria in Rione Sanita does everything well. Thin crust, blistered from intense heat, great sauce and cheese and a steal at under 4 Euro. A hidden gem if you want unfancy take-away pizza.
BORGO AI VERGINI
Another gem of Sanita, this was the first place we visited and set the standard for the trip. Whilst not many were better than Borgo, a lot were worse.
A' QUARTRIAN
It might not be shaped or topped perfectly, but what it lacks in grace it makes up for in character. The pizzaiolo here is a bonafide soccer hooligan, missing teeth and beaming smile. His personality makes the pizza taste just that much better.
STARITA
The King of Materdei, and one of the only pizzeria's open on Sunday, Starita walks that fine line between being popular but still kicking out excellent pizzas.
ANTICA DEL BORGO OREFICI
Recommended by the local pizza wizard himself: TanzenvPizza, this was a slightly different take on the traditional Neopolitan. The crust is more sturdy, the location is authentic as hell, and the tomato sauce is probably the best we tried in Napoli.
PIZZERIA PELLONE
It doesn't get much more "Naples" than Pellone. An old stallwart that has seen it's fair share of passing time, old school waiters, gigantic pizzas that pretty much sum up the quintessential "Pizza Margherita". You'll get similar vibes at Brandi, but Pellone has it beat on atmosphere.
AL 22
Three doors down from Da Attilio stands Al 22. Perpetually rammed with hungry locals, this pizzeria doesn't win on crust as it's a tad on the doughy side, but their sauce / cheese ratio and flavours are second to none.
CONCETTINA AI TRE SANTI
The locals in Sanita are split between Concettina and Oliva (same family), but our vote goes to this place. In summer they have a nice backyard to massacre your pizza in, and the family are always friendly and accommodating. Superb pizza.
DA ATTILIO
When you just don't think pizza can possibly get any better, it can. Da Attilio won the 2021 Pizzaiolo award voted by fellow chefs, so you know he's up to some magic. Expect a line, be patient, wait for it, it's going to blow your damn mind. Perfection. Scorching hot oven, not too much sauce or cheese, just utterly faultless.
Many people make the mistake of ordering the starshaped riccotta stuffed pizza here, nah, the way to go is hit up the simple Margherita.
Food is forever evolving, and sometimes it devolves. Owners change, locations change, chefs change. We can only assure you that when we visited, we liked it.
Contact Us
We will get back to you as soon as possible.
Please try again later.
ALL CONTENT ON THIS WEBSITE IS ORIGINAL AND CREATED BY THE MOUTH'S WRITERS AND CONTRIBUTORS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
