Experience the authentic taste of Naples with the iconic ‘Portafoglio’ pizza, a street food delight folded to perfection for a delicious bite on the go, set against the stunning architecture of the historic Galleria in Naples. ()
Walking around the streets of Naples, you’ll hear bustling chatter fill the area, and your nose will lead you to some amazing street foods you will immediately want to try. Locals and tourists find themselves stuffed with delicious treats easily from all across the cobbled streets. Whether you are vacationing, stopping by or living in Naples, here are a few suggestions on what local specialties you should try for yourself!
Live like a Neapolitan and make sure to try out a pizza a portafoglio, which loosely translates to “wallet pizza” due to its appearance. This is the ultimate takeaway pizza, ready for you to eat and roam the streets. The pizza is small in size and is wrapped in oven paper and folded on its sides! Since it is a petite pizza, it is made with the intention of it being a snack, so you can continue on with your day without ruining your appetite!
Staying with the theme of savory snacks, if you are over pizza, try the typical sandwich of Napoli! The pagnottiello is traditionally made with cheese, pancetta and salami.
Maybe you’re in the mood for some fried foods instead, do not skip out on the cuoppo. A cuoppo is a paper cone filled with a fried assortment! The classic cuoppo typically consists of a potato croquette, salted zeppoline (fried dough), fried zucchini flowers, mini arancinis and fried polenta. Since we are in a seaside town there is also a seafood option. The seafood cuoppo will have some small fried fish, squid rings as well as fried vegetables. You definitely cannot go wrong with either cuoppo!
Enjoy the flavors of Naples with a ‘cuoppo,’ a cone of crispy fried seafood and vegetables, perfect for a delicious bite as you wander through the colorful streets of the city. (Takashi Images - Adobe Stock)
Maybe you are taking a midafternoon break, and you are enjoying a classic aperitif. You may just be served a plate full of little treats and wonder what some of these little snacks you are eating are. One of these items may just be the neapolitan taralli. The taralli resembles a teeny tiny bagel and is easily flavored with other spices. They are perfect accouterments to aperitivo because they are small, crunchy and so addictive!
Don’t you worry, Naples is not just home to savory goodness, they also have some amazing pastries! Have you ever heard of a lobster-tail pastry? Well, a lobster tail actually originates from the Campania region, referred to here as the sfogliatella. Legends say the sfogliatella riccia was born from a monastery in Naples! There are two types of sfogliatella, riccia and frolla. They both are filled with semolina, ricotta, sugar and eggs. The difference is the bread part of these delicious pastries. Riccia is a puff pastry – laminated with butter resulting in flaky layers. The Frolla variety is made with short crust pastry making it look more like a biscuit!
Indulge in Naples’ sweet tradition with two iconic pastries: Sfogliatella Riccia, with its crispy, layered shell, and Sfogliatella Frolla, with a soft, doughy exterior. Both filled with a creamy, citrus-scented ricotta that makes every bite unforgettable. ()
Another Naples staple you must try at least once is the babà. Every pastry shop will have their own version of the babà, but the classic is a simple rum-soaked cake. You may find it filled with whipped cream, pistachio cream or even chocolate.
One of my favorite things about traveling is finding local specialties and having the opportunity to try items from their origin. So many people have opinions on where you can find the best item, so do your own research to find out where you want to try them. Just don’t skip out on these Neapolitan goodies!
