As the birthplace of pizza, Naples holds a legendary spot in Italy’s culinary landscape. Yet Neapolitan cuisine is about so much more than just pizza: it’s a celebration of deep-rooted traditions and exceptional ingredients—from sweet Sorrento lemons to sun-drenched Vesuvian tomatoes and the rich milk of heritage cattle grazing the Monti Lattari hills.
But in a city packed with options (and more than a few tourist traps) finding the real deal can be tricky. That’s why we’ve put together our guide on where to eat in Naples. Want to experience it firsthand? Join our Naples by Night: Ultimate Neapolitan Tasting Tour and become a local for the night—eating, toasting, and exploring your way through the vibrant neighborhoods of Chiaia and Borgo Marinaro. It’s the perfect way to uncover the real heart of Naples after dark.
What to eat in Naples
Cheese:
The Campania region is a paradise for cheese lovers, home to an extraordinary variety of traditional dairy products shaped by the richness of the land and a deep-rooted pastoral heritage. From the plains of Caserta to the hills of the Sorrento Peninsula, Campanian cheeses are often still crafted using age-old methods passed down through generations.
Mozzarella di Bufala, the tangy, creamy water buffalo cheese, is a cornerstone of Naples’ local cheese offerings.
Other standouts include:
- Provola – A pear-shaped cheese, frequently made from bufala milk and often smoked (known as provola affumicata). A Campania staple, it’s delicious melted over pasta or savored on its own.
- Caciocavallo – A firm, teardrop-shaped cheese made from stretched cow’s milk curds, with a rich, tangy flavor that sharpens with age. Its name, meaning “cheese on horseback,” refers to the traditional method of aging it in pairs, straddling a wooden beam.
- Fior di Latte di Agerola – A fresh cow’s milk mozzarella from Campania’s Monti Lattari region, traditionally made with milk from Agerolese cattle. It’s prized for its silky texture and sweet, milky flavor, and is a staple of Neapolitan pizza.
- Provolone del Monaco – A semi-hard, slow-aged cheese from the Sorrento Peninsula with DOP status. Made with raw cow’s milk (at least 20% from Agerolese breed cows) it has a smooth, buttery flavor that intensifies with age.
On our Ultimate Neapolitan Tasting Tour, we begin the evening like many Neapolitans do—with cheese as an aperitivo. Guests enjoy a guided tasting at one of Chiaia’s most respected cheese shops, including freshly hand-pulled mozzarella.
Pastas: A Must When in Naples
No visit to Naples is complete without tucking into a plate of pasta at a neighborhood trattoria. Whether it’s a chili-spiked spaghetti alla puttanesca, pillowy gnocchi alla sorrentina baked with tomato and mozzarella, or fusilli paired with a rich, slow-simmered ragù napoletano, pasta in Napoli is all about bold flavors and comforting tradition.
Many recipes are also subtly seasonal—lighter pastas in spring and summer, heartier fare in cooler months. A good example is pasta patate e provola, a creamy combination of potatoes, provola cheese, and pasta that’s especially popular in fall and winter.
Insider tip: If you’re visiting Naples around Carnival in February, don’t miss lasagna di Carnevale—a decadent, meat- and cheese-filled baked lasagna that’s only prepared once a year.
On our Naples by Night Tour, guests enjoy Neapolitan pasta tradition with a stop at a local trattoria, where we sample the pasta of the day—a rotating favorite that offers a true taste of local cooking.
Drinks:
Wine
Food is only part of the story in Naples—what you drink alongside it matters just as much. And when it comes to wine, Campania holds its own among Italy’s top regions.
Known for its outstanding white wines, Campania produces excellent varietals. Greco di Tufo, with its citrusy complexity, and Falanghina, a crisp, floral white that pairs well with seafood. Both grapes, believed to have been introduced by the ancient Greeks. They date back to Roman times and thrive in the region’s mineral-rich volcanic soils. The city itself is full of great spots to explore these wines. whether you’re sipping a glass at a neighborhood bar or enjoying a guided tasting at an enoteca.
Want a more curated experience? Join our Ultimate Neapolitan Tasting Tour, where we stop at one of Chiaia’s most beloved wine bars for a guided tasting of Campania’s top wines. It’s one of the most delicious—and educational—stops of the evening.
Beer
If wine isn’t your thing, don’t worry, Naples also has a vibrant birra culture. From classic lagers at pizzerias to a growing craft beer scene experimenting with bold styles and local ingredients. On tour, we celebrate this tradition with a stop along the waterfront, pairing a crisp beer with a savory tarallo napoletano—a flaky, peppery street snack that’s pure Neapolitan comfort and a simple, satisfying pleasure.
Sweets
No culinary stroll through Naples is complete without a sweet treat. The city boasts a proud chocolate-making heritage, with historic shops still crafting handmade pralines, bonbons, and unique specialties like cioccolato foresta—a sort of chocolate bark delicacy from one of Naples’ most iconic chocolatiers.
And of course, desserts go far beyond chocolate. Think rum-soaked babà, crispy sfogliatella, or seasonal treats like pastiera. Naples has one of the most exciting pastry scenes in Italy—decadent and impossible to resist.
The Best Way to Eat in Naples Like a Local
Naples is bursting with bold flavors and rich traditions. But with so many options (and plenty of tourist traps), it’s hard to know where to begin. Our Ultimate Neapolitan Tasting Tour offers a relaxed, delicious way to explore the city like a local—through neighborhood stories, historic bites, and hidden gems you won’t find in a guidebook.
Join us and spend the evening wandering through Chiaia and Borgo Marinaro, sampling everything from hand-pulled mozzarella to hearty pastas, while experiencing how Neapolitans eat, drink, and gather after dark. Book our Ultimate Neapolitan Tasting Tour.