In honor of World Pizza Day, which was recently celebrated on January 17, ITALY Magazine is sharing with you a list of some of Naples’ top pizza places.
But first, do you know why World Pizza Day is celebrated on the 17th of January?
The date was chosen in honor of Sant’Antonio Abate, patron saint of pizzaiuoli (pizza chefs). The celebration with accompanying festivities was established in 2017, after the “traditional art of the Neapolitan pizzaiuolo” was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The traditional recipe for Neapolitan pizza includes just few ingredients: tomato, buffalo mozzarella from Campania, basil and olive oil. Cooking should be strictly in a wood oven.
Neapolitan pizza chefs scattered all over the world celebrated online during a streamed event organized by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, with master classes, workshops and debates, available for replay on the association’s Facebook page. Have the pizza ingredients at hand if you want to try making Neapolitan pizza with the chefs.
At least once in a lifetime, pizza should be eaten in the city that made it an icon of Italy all over the world. But where to go? Well, in Naples, you’re spoiled for choice. Here are some of the most popular pizzerias.
Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba - The oldest in the city, attested as early as 1738 as the first retail outlet for portfolio pizzas.
Starita - For many, it produces the best pizza marinara in town. As a gesture of appreciation towards customers waiting in line, Starita offers slices of calzoncini and montanarine. Opened in 1901, Starita is featured in “Yesterday, today and tomorrow,” starring Sophia Loren.
Concettina ai tre Santi - Not far from Totò's house, this is one of the most popular pizzerias in Naples, helmed by the young chef Ciro Oliva.
Pizzeria Vesi - For generations the Vesi family has been baking gourmet pizzas using stone-ground flours and high-quality ingredients, The Vomero location is a landmark for pizza lovers and experts.
Pizzeria La Notizia - Run by chef Enzo Coccia, it was one of the first in the city to experiment with gourmet and inventive recipes.
Sorbillo - Perhaps the most famous pizzeria in Naples. Gino Sorbillo, heir to a family of pizza makers, manages the historic headquarters in via Tribunali. The pizzeria has even a location in New York.
50 Kalò - Another heir to a dynasty of pizza makers, Ciro Salvo is the master chef behind this elegant pizzeria in the heart of Mergellina.
La Masardona - This is the place to go for the famous pizza fritta (fried pizza).
Attilio - Family-owned restaurant with a wood-burning oven, known for its star-shaped, ricotta-stuffed pizzas. Consistently rated among the 50 best pizzerias in the world.
Brandi - This is one of the oldest pizzerias in Naples, established at the end of the 18th century. It prides itself on having invented the most famous pizza in the world, the Margherita in 1889, in honor of Queen Margherita.
Antica Pizzeria da Michele - Another landmark pizza place in Naples, family-run and open since 1906. Which makes school. This is where the famous scene with Julia Roberts eating pizza in the movie ‘Eat, Pray, Love’ is filmed.
