Fellow foodies, I'm headed to Napoli for a day trip and want to spend it eating my way through the city. I'll be there on a Saturday and I've seen photos of crazy crowds and huge hordes of locals outside pizza shops jockeying for position. I'm not too forward so I was wondering: typically which days of the week and what times are pizzerias overrun with locals? Is there a "good" time to hit up one of these spots when it would likely be a little more quiet? Is there a certain day of the week or time residents want to eat pizza? Thanks so much to anyone who can answer my question.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15768 posts
Da Carmine Hours 12:15PM - 4:30PM, 7:00PM - 12:00AM (per their FB page). Via dei Tribunali 330. Really good, really cheap food. For lunch, after 2 pm you should miss the lunch crowd, or if you get there for an early dinner at 7-7.30, or quite late.
Antica Pizzeria da Michele (corner of Via Pietro Colletta and Via Cesare Sersale) is THE pizzeria in Napoli. From mid-afternoon to early (really early) evening, you should miss the crowds. I don't know if there's a big lunch crowd, I was never there that early. The pizza was good, but I had better in Roma in Trastevere.
Neither of these is a place where you'd linger over coffee. Service is pretty fast. da Michele only has 2 or 3 pizza choices (and 2 or 3 sizes), no wine, just beer and soft drinks.
The first time I went to da Michele, the line was way too long, so I went to Pizzeria Trianon across the way . . . much nicer atmosphere, retaurant menu, but I was disappointed by the pizza.
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7051 posts
I think the reason you see the big crowds is because everyone here seems to want to go to only the 2-3 most popular places. I think if you skip those and go your own way, you should be fine. All those people in the lines are tourists who seem to flock only to safe, recommended joints. I don't think you'll get any less of a Neapolitan pizza if you stay off the tourist circuit. There's no way I would stand in line for hours at some of these places (not to mention that you can get Neopolitan pizza, just like the real thing, in the US).
Posted by
OP
Las Vegas, NV, US
33 posts
Thank you both so much! I really appreciate that you took the time to respond with this very useful information. I'll be sure to bookmark the recommendations so I'll have them during my trip.
Posted by
🏝️ Hobe Sound, FL⛱️
3249 posts
When in Naples last December, I ate at 3 different pizzerias- none of them famous - and they were uncrowded, welcoming and delicioso. I can’t remember having a pizza anywhere in Italy that wasn’t delicious.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23542 posts
That is because you are in Italy. I have the same problem with Spanish wines. Haven't found a decent bottle in the US, yet because they keep all the good ones in Spain.
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7051 posts
I'll be sure to bookmark the recommendations so I'll have them during
my trip.
I think you missed my point ...LOL :-) If you go to where the blue toting Rick Steves and Tripadvisor crowd goes at peak times, expect crowds. Live on the wild side and just try some random place with a wood burning oven...you can't go wrong, really. It's in their blood to make delicious fresh pizza with good ingredients.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
Hidden treasure. Close to the Archeological Museum.
Restaurante Bellini. Sit outside or upstairs in air conditioning.
Click walk then map on bottom of page.
Posted by
OP
Las Vegas, NV, US
33 posts
Agnes, I meant that I'd bookmark the "touristy" places to make sure I AVOID and don't waste my time.