"/> Photo by Angelica Bianco. If you ask an Italian what his favourite dish is, 80% of the time he will answer 'pizza'. And how can you blame them? But to be a real pizza it has to be wood-fired, slowly leavened, with a thin dough and soft crust, and stuffed with prime ingredients. And where better to find it than in the top 10 pizzerias in Naples?
1 - Da Michele
Antica pizzeria da Michele is a historic pizzeria in Naples, dating back to the beginning of the last century, although it has been in its current location 'only' since the 1930s. Only the real pizzas are served at Da Michele: Margherita and Napoli. The service is fast and convivial, but since the pizzeria does not accept reservations you can get up to 2 hours waiting for a table.
Address: Via Cesare Sersale 1/3, 80139; tel: 081 446643
Specialities of the house: pizza Margherita and pizza Napoli
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11 am to 11 pm
2 - Sorbillo
Opened in the 1930s, this family-run pizzeria is now run by brothers Antonio and Gino. The Sorbillo pizzeria is always full but the service is fast. The pizzas that come off the plate are worth the long wait to get a table (they don't take reservations).
Address: Via Dei Tribunali, 32, 80138; tel: 081 446643
Speciality of the house: pizza margherita
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 12 to 3.30 pm and 7 to 11 pm
3 - Starita
Pizzeria Starita in Materdei is best known for being the set of De Sica's"L'oro di Napoli" with Sofia Loren. Opened in 1901 as a wine cellar, it has become one of Naples' most important pizzerias, now in its fourth generation. The service is fast but the queue to get in is very long and reservations are not possible.
Address: Via Materdei 27, 28, 80136; tel: 081 557 3682
Speciality of the house: montanare with genovese sauce
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 12 to 15.30 and from 19 to 23.30
4 - Di Matteo
Pizzeria Di Matteo boasts years of experience and has become a true Neapolitan symbol. As it is also a friggitoria, it offers a delicious fried pizza that is definitely worth trying. Go early because the queue is long.
Address: Via Tribunali 94, 80138; tel: 081.45.52.62
Speciality of the house: frittatina di pasta
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 9 am to midnight
5 - Brandi
Definitely one of the oldest pizzerias in Naples: founded in 1780 by Pietro Colicchio, who sold it to Enrico Brandi. It was from the heirs of the Brandi family that the prestigious Margherita was born, dedicated to the queen who enjoyed this dish so much at her palace in Capodimonte. Accepts reservations.
Address: Vico Sant'Anna di Palazzo 1-2, 80132; tel: 081 416928
Speciality of the house: pizza Margherita
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 12.30 pm to 3.30 pm and from 7 pm to 11.30 pm
6 - Concettina ai Tre Santi
A historic pizzeria in a historic district: Sanità, one of the most densely populated areas of Naples and close to major archaeological excavations. Concettina Oliva opened this pizzeria in 1951 near the icons of Mary, St Anne and St Vincent that protect her and keep her going strong.
Address: Via Arena alla Sanità 7 Bis, 80137; tel: 081 290037
Speciality of the house: frittatina alla genovese
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 11.30 pm
7 - Acunzo
Located in the Vomero, a hilly and chic area of the city, Acunzo is a historic pizzeria ideal for those who want to refresh themselves after a day of shopping and cultural visits.
Address: Via Domenico Cimarosa 60/62, 80127; tel: 081 578 5362
Speciality of the house: pizza with pasta
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 7.30 pm to midnight, Saturday and Sunday from 1 pm to 3 pm
8 - Gorizia
Pizzeria Gorizia is also located in the Vomero district and is highly esteemed by Neapolitans.
Address: Viale colli Aminei 56/C; 081 741 4869
Speciality of the house: their gluten free pizza is particularly famous, for many the best in Naples
Hours: Monday to Saturday from 11.30 am to 3 pm and 6 pm to 11 pm, Sunday from 6 pm to 11 pm
9 - Pellone
Famous for its huge pizza, Pellone is ideal for travellers, given its proximity to the central station. The service is fast but at peak hours it's busy.
Address: Via Nazionale 93 | Vasto district, 80143; tel: 081 553 8614
Speciality of the house: fried calzone with ricotta and ciccioli
Hours: Monday to Saturday from noon to midnight
10 - 50 Kalò
Close to the Mergellina seafront, 50 Kalò is a recent pizzeria on the Neapolitan scene. Its name means good dough (calo is good in Greek, while 50 is the number of bread in the Neapolitan smorfia). It does not accept reservations.
Address: Piazza Sannazaro 201/B, 80123; tel: 081 1920 4667
House specials: vegan proposals
Hours: daily from 12.30 pm to 4 pm and from 7.30 pm to 0.30 am
