Pizzeria Naples – The best tips

The traditional pizzerias in Naples are anything but chic. It’s simply not about the ambience or table decorations. Friendly service is also often lacking and plastic cups are the order of the day.

Pizza plays the leading role: made from wafer-thin dough, larger than the plate, spartan toppings and often a little burnt on the edges. That’s how it has to be and that’s how it will always remain true to its origins – as fast food for the little people, the workers and fishermen of the city.

Pizzeria Naples: Sorbillo

• Address: Via Dei Tribunali 32
• Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 12:00 – 15:30, 19:00 – 23:30, Sunday closed
• Price per pizza: between €5 and €9

The face of Neapolitan pizza is the face of Gino Sorbillo. He has been running the pizzeria of the same name in the heart of Naples since 1996 and comes from a true pizza-making dynasty.

His grandfather, Luigi Sorbillo, founded his pizzeria in 1935. Incidentally, in the building next door to Gino’s current restaurant. He had over 20 children – all pizzaiolos. Today, there are Sorbillos in Milan, Rome and many other European cities. Even in New York and Tokyo…

The pizzas in Via dei Tribunali are named after Gino’s siblings, uncles and aunts. And they are so delicious that they attract an incredible number of guests every evening. Neapolitans and tourists alike. If you don’t want to wait that long, come before they even open. The pizza is also reasonably priced. Two people can easily get their fill for 15 to 20 euros, including a drink.

Attention! There is another pizzeria, Sorbillo, in Via dei Tribunali. It belongs to Gino’s cousin Antonio. Rumor has it that the two are not on good terms.

If you find queuing at Gino Sorbillo’s too long, you can also buy a deep-fried pizza to go next door. These are sold in the grandfather’s store under the name Antica Pizza Fritta da Zia Esterina Sorbillo.

Tip: You can also enjoy Gino Sorbillo’s pizza with a sea view, as there has been a branch on the waterfront for a few years now. It can be found at Via Partenope 1 under the name Sorbillo Lievito al mare.

Pizzeria Naples: di Matteo

• Address: Via Dei Tribunali 94
• Opening hours: Monday-Saturday 09:00 – 00:00, Sunday 09:00 – 15:00
• Price per pizza: under 10 €

Just a few house numbers away from Pizzeria Sorbillo has been di Matteo’s since 1936. To this day, a picture of Bill Clinton hangs in the window, who was a guest here in 1994 during his time as president and ate a pizza straight from his hand.

A particular highlight at di Matteo is the huge, gold-tiled wood-fired oven. In front of it, you can watch the pizzaiolos kneading the dough. Here, too, the queue is usually very long. To be on the safe side, plan to wait 30 minutes.

The portafoglio, a folded pizza wrapped in buttered bread and served in your hand, is available on the street for around 3 euros. If you prefer, you can also take a seat in the small dining room on the second floor.

But as mentioned at the beginning: don’t take a seat with the expectation of visiting a fancy restaurant. In its soul, Pizza Napoletana is street food.