65 Best Restaurants in Naples, Italy

This cheerful trattoria seems to be run for the sheer pleasure of it, and chatting locals give it a buzzy Neapolitan atmosphere. Try the excellent fish or the traditional (but cooked with a lighter modern touch) pasta dishes, especially those with verdure (fresh leafy vegetables) or with patate con la provola (potatoes and smoked mozzarella). Close to Teatro San Carlo and aptly decorated with playbills and theatrical memorabilia, both ancient and modern, this is an excellent place to stop after a visit to the opera house. Look for the entrance almost immediately on the right as you go up Via Nardones from Piazza Trieste e Trento; ring the bell outside to be let in.

A small low-key entrance on Piazza Vanvitelli opens into a labyrinth of underground cellars and a large covered courtyard surrounded by palazzos. This bustling eatery suits a range of palates and budgets: pizzas and several variants of filletto (steak) come highly recommended. Portions are large, so be conservative when ordering.

Just 50 yards from the main Capodimonte gate, this no-nonsense eatery has photos of its dishes prominently framing its entrance. Favored by locals as well as day trippers to the park and museum, the friendly owners will talk you through the day's specialities, as well as offering an inexpensive set menu. Fish is a favorite, with fried calamari and alici always available.

Across the street from its archrival Da Michele—but without its lines stretching outside—this is a classic pizzeria with a simple yet upscale Art Nouveau ambience expressed in soothing tile and marble. More relaxed and upmarket than its rival, Trianon does the classics (Margherita, marinara) in an exemplary manner, but you can also feast on pizza with sausage and broccoli greens. The signature pizza Trianon comes with eight different toppings.

Fans of rice will be spoiled for choice at this risotteria, the only one of its kind in the city. The menu offers 20 dishes, including vegetarian and gluten-free options. Order the crema di gamberetti (shrimp cream), pistachio or the specialty Risotto Vesuvio, with buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes, and watch the chef assemble the ingredients behind a glass wall. Valù is also a braceria, for meat-lovers, and has a vast wine list. They also have a branch in Vomero.