The Best Restaurants in Naples, Italy: Where to Eat

Discover the best restaurants in Naples, Italy—where bold flavors, local traditions, and unforgettable meals go far beyond just pizza.

Naples is one of those cities that gets under your skin — loud, chaotic, intoxicating — and absolutely alive with flavor. It’s a city where meals still matter, where nonnas roll pasta behind foggy windows, and where waiters will argue with you (affectionately) if you try to order fish on the wrong day. 

As a travel writer and photographer based in southern Italy — just four hours away in Puglia — I’ve spent years weaving in and out of Naples, but on this particular visit, I set aside over a week to do one thing properly: eat. And I mean really eat.

The goal was simple — to uncover the best restaurants in Naples. Not the flashy tourist traps or the overhyped spots with more Instagrammers than locals, but the places that truly define the city’s food scene right now. 

From heritage, family-run trattorias where the ragù simmers for eight hours to modern dining rooms reimagining coastal Campanian ingredients, every place on this list made the cut because it delivered something memorable — whether that was a flawless plate of paccheri al ragù or a scallop crudo with a view of Vesuvius.

While Naples is rightly worshipped for its authentic Neapolitan pizza, pizza Margherita in particular, and fried pizza (and yes, I ate plenty of that too), this guide is focused exclusively on restaurants — few pizzerias here.

If that’s what you’re after, I’ve put together a separate guide to the best pizza in Naples, which dives deep into the dough, the ovens, and the pizzaioli behind the city’s most iconic pies. Trust me, you’ll want to bookmark both.

So, if you’re looking for the real flavors of Naples — beyond the crust — this is where to start.

16 Best Restaurants in Naples, Italy

1. La Locanda Gesù Vecchio

Tucked just a stone’s throw from Piazza del Gesù in the historic center, this family-run trattoria walks that perfect line between rustic and refined. It feels like stepping into someone’s home — if that someone happens to be an excellent cook with a knack for warm hospitality. 

On my mission to find the best restaurants in Naples, Italy, I came in for lunch and started with the parmigiana di melanzane, which was less stacked and more folded into itself, silky and rich without being greasy. The standout, though, was the paccheri al ragù napoletano — thick pasta tubes coated in a sauce so deeply reduced it clung like velvet, the meat falling apart with a nudge of the fork. 

For the main course, I ordered the involtini di melanzane — eggplant rolls stuffed with provola and prosciutto and baked in tomato sauce until just blistered. The owner popped over halfway through the meal with a glass of red and a quiet nod — no fanfare, just a genuine moment. 

It’s the kind of place where you linger, where the best food in Naples keeps you company long after you’ve finished eating.

2. Palazzo Petrucci

When a restaurant pairs a beautiful view of the Gulf of Naples with sea urchin risotto served in its spiny shell, you expect a certain level of drama — and Palazzo Petrucci delivers. Set right above the beach in Posillipo, it’s one of those places that does fine dining without a hint of stuffiness. 

I started with the crudo — local red prawns, amberjack, and squid, all sliced impossibly thin and dressed with a whisper of citrus. The risotto ai ricci di mare was the dish I’m still thinking about: creamy, saline, and lifted by lemon zest and olive oil so green it practically glowed. 

Dessert was a reimagined sfogliatella, all crisp layers and feather-light ricotta cream. If you’re looking for a showstopper meal with substance, this is it.

3. Veritas

Veritas is where Naples goes cerebral. It’s not fussy, but it is meticulous — the kind of place where every plate is a bit of an artwork. There are many different tasting menus to choose from, I settled on the “Authentic” menu, which included spaghetti with leek and lemon juice to start, which came out fragrant and vibrant, the sweetness of the leek grounding the tartness of the lemon. 

Then came line fish with celeriac, bay leaves, and helichrysum one of those bold, slightly divisive dishes that lingers on your palate. I finished with the lemon, honey, and whisky dessert- elegantly simple and delicious. 

The service was just the right kind of formal, and the wine pairings leaned heavily into lesser-known Campania region producers. It’s not dinner — it’s a dining room with a point of view.

4. Mimì alla Ferrovia

Mimì is a study in old-school Neapolitan elegance, the kind of place where time slows and every detail — from the white linen to the glassware — feels deliberate. 

It’s been around since 1943, and the kitchen doesn’t feel any pressure to modernize. I went straight for the ziti al ragù — thick, tubular pasta with a meat sauce that’s been simmered into submission. 

The parmigiana di melanzane came next, served in a burnished terracotta dish, its layers still bubbling beneath a crisped top. 

Dessert was a classic babà, generously soaked in rum but not soggy, just the right kind of indulgent. It’s the kind of restaurant where the waiters know everyone by name, and even if they don’t, they make you feel like they do.

5. Osteria della Mattonella

Osteria della Mattonella sits quietly in the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter) and has absolutely no time for theatrics. The walls are lined with traditional majolica tiles, and display shelves full of wine, and the handwritten menu changes depending on what’s simmering in the kitchen that day. 

I came here for one thing — genovese — a sauce made from what felt like an entire field of slow-cooked onions and tender shreds of beef, served over rigatoni. It’s one of those dishes that doesn’t look like much but delivers wave after wave of flavor. 

On the side, I ordered the friarielli, bitter local greens sautéed with garlic and olive oil, and finished with a thick slice of oven-baked ricotta. 

Nothing fancy, nothing modern — just deeply comforting food that tastes like it’s been made this way forever for extremely reasonable prices. Osteria della Mattonella, easily one of the best restaurants in Naples, Italy, is a must-visit on your trip. 

6. A Taverna do’ Re

Right behind the Duomo in the heart of Naples but easy to miss unless you’re looking for it, A Taverna do’ Re is a tight little room packed with locals and the occasional traveler who stumbled in by luck. After a long day of walking the centro storico, I stopped in and ordered spaghetti alle vongole — the litmus test for any coastal Italian kitchen. 

It came quickly, perfectly al dente, with tiny clams in their shells and just enough garlic and chili to bring it to life. I followed it with meatballs al ragu, tender and deeply flavored, served in a spicy tomato broth that begged for bread. 

The atmosphere is relaxed, the kitchen unpretentious, and the bold flavors resolutely Neapolitan.

7. Da Maria

If you’ve ever wondered where the university students, market workers, and off-duty museum staff go to eat, it’s here — Da Maria is a total institution. Located just behind Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, it’s a place that doesn’t change because it doesn’t need to. 

Dishes tend to be handwritten and taped to the wall, and a server will likely decide what you’re eating before you do. I had a plate of spaghetti with ragù so deeply seasoned it tasted like it had absorbed the past few decades of kitchen memory, followed by a stuffed pepper — soft, oily, sweet — that felt like something someone’s grandmother had tucked away in an oven just for me. 

The wine comes in short glasses, the prices make you double-take, and the experience is entirely uncurated in the best way possible. It’s not where you go to be impressed — it’s where you go to be fed.

8. Trattoria Da Donato

Da Donato is a little further out, near the Poggioreale market, and feels more like a locals-only secret than a polished dining room — but don’t let that fool you. This place is the real deal. The spaghetti with scammaro here was fantastic- pasta with garlic, oil, anchovies, black olives, capers, pine nuts, sultanas, and breadcrumbs. Unlikely on paper but addictive on the plate. 

For secondi, the sea bass fillet is a must try as well as the octopus with lemon zest. The wine is house red, poured without discussion, and the whole place buzzes with the energy of family meals and stories told loudly over steaming plates.

9. Ristorante Umberto

Set just off Piazza dei Martiri, Ristorante Umberto is the sort of quietly confident place that doesn’t need to yell about itself. It’s been in the same family since 1916, and it shows in the way the staff glide between tables and offer recommendations with a kind of warm assertiveness. 

I ordered the carciofi fritti to start — crisp, almost floral artichokes fried until delicate and golden — followed by linguine with sea urchin. It was subtle and perfectly seasoned, a dish that respected the ingredient rather than dressing it up. 

I finished with rabbit cacciatore, a dish I rarely order but will again if it’s ever this good: tender, rustic, and plated with restraint. For those who fancy a restaurant with the option of pizza, you’ll find it here too. 

10. Trattoria Malinconico

Trattoria Malinconico in Vomero is what you’d call a neighborhood institution — one that doesn’t seek out attention but is full every night regardless. 

The dish of the day was spaghetti con le cozze, scribbled on a board outside, so I didn’t ask questions. It came glossy with oil, flecked with parsley and lemon, and loaded with plump, briny mussels. 

Next came polpette al sugo — meatballs so soft they nearly fell apart, served in a rich tomato sauce that tasted of time and care. The room is modest, the wine comes in carafes, and the service is quick — but the flavors stay with you.

11. La Cantina del Gallo

La Cantina del Gallo sits just far enough outside the tourist fray to feel like its own little universe — one of my favorite places where the chairs are mismatched, the wine is poured like water, and the focus is squarely on the food. 

Meat is the main event here, and it doesn’t try to impress with technique. My tagliata di manzo arrived perfectly rare, draped over a bed of bitter greens and crowned with generous curls of Grana Padano — no sauces, no embellishments, just clarity. 

I added a side dish of escarole sautéed with olives and capers, the kind of dish that cuts through richness like a local’s palate cleanser. Around me, regulars dug into grilled lamb and sausage platters, chatting between bites, totally in the rhythm of the place. 

12. Ristorante da Dora

If there’s a temple of seafood in Naples, it’s probably this one. Ristorante da Dora feels like stepping into another era — polished wood, mirrored walls, and suited waiters — and it hasn’t lost its relevance. Begin a meal here with a classic insalata di mare: octopus, shrimp, cuttlefish, lightly dressed, impeccably tender. 

Then dive into a pasta dish like the iconic spaghetti alle vongole veraci, prepared without fanfare but with exacting technique. If there’s still room, opt for a main course, generally perfectly grilled fresh fish and fried seafood, all cooked with a confident hand. Dora herself still floats between tables, and the dining room runs like clockwork.

13. Trattoria Scugnizzi

You could blink and miss this simple trattoria in Vomero, but Trattoria Scugnizzi delivers some of the most soulful cooking I had in Naples. I came for lunch and stayed longer (and ate more) than I meant to. 

The lasagna napoletana — stacked with meatballs, ricotta, and pasta sheets — was rich but not overwhelming, and the braciole al sugo, thin beef rolls stuffed with raisins and pine nuts, felt both celebratory and homey. 

The pastiera for dessert had just enough orange blossom to keep it fragrant, not floral. The atmosphere is relaxed, unfiltered, and very local- a great place for a casual meal in the city.

14. Il Comandante (Romeo Hotel)

Set on the top floor of the Romeo Hotel, Il Comandante, led by Alain Ducasse, a 21 Michelin stars chef, offers something no other restaurant in Naples quite does: a futuristic, almost cinematic take on Neapolitan ingredients, backed by skyline views and serious technical skill. 

I went all in on the tasting menu. Scallop crudo with bergamot gel was fresh and floral; spaghetti with smoked eel and yuzu played on umami and acidity in equal measure. The final savory course — cuttlefish ink risotto with sea asparagus — was dark, briny, and perfect.

It’s a restaurant that’s not for everyone, but if you want to see how far Neapolitan cuisine can stretch, this is the place.

15. La Taverna dell’Arte

Tucked inside a palazzo just a few blocks from Spaccanapoli, La Taverna dell’Arte is one of those places that doesn’t announce itself but wins you over quietly. The grilled octopus with chickpea purée was cooked just right, tender with a hint of char, while the tagliatelle with wild boar ragù felt deeply autumnal, even in the spring. 

Their focus on Slow Food, local ingredients comes through without the need for explanation. Add warm lighting, shelves of books, and a soft jazz soundtrack, and you’ve got a good restaurant that feels both intentional and completely unforced.

16. Tavernetta Colauri

Tavernetta Colauri is a hidden gem located in the verdant Borgo di Santa Croce, between the Camaldoli and Chiaiano districts of Naples. Established in 2007 by cousins Rosario Morra and Salvatore Esposito, this restaurant offers a distinctive dining experience away from the city’s hustle and bustle. 

The menu showcases Neapolitan tradition through dishes reimagined with innovative pairings and presentations. A standout feature is their selection of premium meats, both domestic and international, expertly prepared and served on soapstone and Himalayan pink salt plates.

Complementing the cuisine is an extensive wine list, featuring both renowned labels and discoveries from small, local producers. 

The warm, rustic ambiance, highlighted by tuff bricks and exposed beams, invites guests into a space that feels both intimate and authentic.

Ready to experience the best restaurants in Naples Italy? Have any questions or comments about your trip? Let me know in the box below.

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