I put together the below for a couple of British friends that went to Naples for the first time earlier this year, with few updates based on my latest experiences, and I just thought to share it here:

What to see/must see:



Naples is one of the oldest cities in Italy in continuous occupation, founded by Greek Settlers before Rome. Uniquely, due to mud slides coming from the hills, it kept being built up, and so the original Greek/roman city sits below the current city. The underground excavation can be accesses in various points, a longer tour called “Napoli Sottorranea” that can be a bit Claustrophobic, or a better way is to access it via the San Lorenzo Maggiore Church for a small price ticket.

Other must see:

The Veiled Christ by Giuseppe Sanmartino – (BBC stated that is worth the trip to Naples just to see it) at the Sansevero Chapel Museum

Seven Works of Mercy, painting by Caravaggio located in PIO MONTE DELLA MISERICORDIA

Naples has also one of the highest concentrations of historic churches of anywhere in the world, from old Roman, gothic, baroque and everything in between, which are both interesting from an architectural point of view as well as contains arts from the world best artists. My favourites would be:

San Giovanni a Carbonara (probably the less known of all)

Gesú Nuovo

Santa Chiara

(all churches are free to enter, just ensure girls shoulders are covered, which should not be a problem in winter).

MANN museum, where a lot of the artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum are on display.





Breakfast / Coffee:

Luminist Cafè Bistrot - Via Toledo, 177/178, 80134 Napoli NA – Great pastries in a great location within an old Aristocratic Palace/Bank Location/ now art gallery

Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo (a Marriott Hotel) – Via Ponte di Tappia, 25, 80133 Napoli NA - Restaurant for buffet breakfast on the 11th floor, open to customer not staying in the hotel, with a beautiful Rooftop Garden and famous Angió terrace (depending on weather)

Gran Caffè Gambrinus - Via Chiaia 1/2 (P.zza Trieste e Trento) 80132 Napoli – One of the most beautiful and historic caffe in the city, worth a stopover.

Mexico (Bar Caffee) - P.za Dante, 86, 80135 Napoli NA – Best espresso in the City (and Naples is also the capital of espresso), to be drunk at the counter, may be worth asking for the Harem blend (small surplus), that include Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee beans, that makes it sweeter without adding sugar.



Lunch or Dinner

If you do not want to have a seat down lunch one of the days, there are some locations that do a “cone” of paper filled with small fried snacks, the old Neapolitan Street Food. There are many around, but the small chain La Passione di Sofi – via Toledo, 206 (one of the main locations) or Il Cuoppo – Friggitori Napoletani – via San Biagio dei Librai, 23 are solid options.

50 Kalò Pizzeria - P.za Sannazaro, 201/c, 80121 Napoli NA – Best pizza in the city, walk in only and long queues. They also have a second location, which is reservation only, Piazza della Repubblica, 2, 80122 Napoli NA – (if you search via google, there is a direct link to book).

Mimi alla Ferrovia- Via Alfonso d’Aragona 19/21 - an institution, but continue to go strong. Was there with my kids recently (fairly used to good meals at home and visiting great restaurants) and my youngest had to tell the chef that the Cannelloni were one of the best dish she ever had.

Umberto Ristorante - Via Alabardieri, 30, Vico II Alabardieri, 11, 80121 Napoli NA – A solid choice, with a good selection of classic well made, good ingredients etc. They also make good Pizza but I would not go there for Pizza.

Diego Fish Club- Piazzetta Ascensione 29, Chiaia Napoli- Solid Fish Restaurant

Dora - Via Ferdinando Palasciano 30, Chiaia - Another solid Fish restaurant

Trattoria da Nennella - Piazza Carità, 22, 80134 Napoli NA – Cheerful and characteristic place, they purposedly make a lot of noise, break plates on the floor, but at the same time they serve some very solid food, including a Pasta e Patate that is a must! Can be very busy to get in with long queue, so worth going early either for Lunch or dinner.

Terrazza Calabritto - P.zza Vittoria, 1, 80121 Napoli NA – a bit of a posher place, mostly sea food based, but with fairly high price, may be worth visiting if good mediterranean fish is a thing for them.

Coco Loco - Vicolo Santa Maria Cappella Vecchia, 5, 80121 Napoli NA – An alternative to the above, probably slightly better preparation but location not as good (no sea view).

Luminist Cafè Bistrot - Via Toledo, 177/178, 80134 Napoli NA – As per breakfast above, they also do Bistrot lunch

some more modern options:

Jus - Via Giovanni Busan, 60

Sustanza - Galleria Principe di Napoli 13



Michelin stars or Michelin level.

177 Toledo - Via Toledo, 177/178, 80134 Napoli NA – Run by a Michelin starred chef (owns another restaurant an hour from Naples), same Gallery Building of the Luminist Café Bistrot above.

George Restaurant (Two Stars)- Grand Hotel Parker - C.so Vittorio Emanuele, 135, 80121 Napoli NA – That is my favourite Michelin Starred Restaurant in Naples, more of a memorable, one off experience for travelling Gourmand that just a place to hit.

I would also say that any of the one stars choice on the Michelin website would be very good, without the prices of George.



Evening Drinks with Music – there are many in an area called Chiaia, but my favourite is S'move Chiaia - Vico Sospiri, 10, 80121 Napoli NA, which was the best already in the 1990’s and still goes strong. Others worth mentioning are 66 Fusion Bar, Via Bisignano 58, Lady Bug, vico Satriano 10, Seventy bar, Via Bisignano, Bluestone, via Alabardieri 10.

outside of the above, l’Antiquario Via Vannella Gaetani 2 and Scotti Jonno Galleria Principe di Napoli offers more modern cocktails.



Naples has the historic centre (originally a Greek settlement and then the roman city) down on a mostly flat surface (where most of the above recommendations are based), but then it grows over various hills. One nice one easy to visit via both the Metro and Funicolari (Cable Railways), is the Vomero area. If you get there (Metro Station Vanvitelli or Funicolare Centrale – Station Piazza Fuga), it is worth visiting the Sant’ Elmo Castle (which include a nice terrace with a Coffee Pastry shop) and San Martino Monastery (with a beautiful Nativity features on display all year around). Outside of the Castle/Monastery there is a terrace with beautiful views of Gulf of Naples, Historic City centre and Vesuvius. Also worth visiting, is the Floridiana Park, which has a terrace with nice views on the north west of the city. Once in Vomero, near Piazza Vanvitelli, there is another Mexico coffee Bar for the same great espresso, and for Lunch or Dinner, Ristorante Pizzeria Gorizia or Trattoria Vanvitelli.