The Best Pizza Restaurants in Italy
While pizza is to be found in just about every corner of the world, its popularity in its land of origin has never diminished. Pizza is as popular today in Italy as it ever has been. Have you ever wondered where in Italy the best pizzas can be found?
Seeing as much of Italy appears to be fuming over the latest escapade of the Berlusconi government, I felt it might be nice to take a break from politics for a moment and to look at a distinctly more appetising subject, which is also much easier to digest: pizza.
Italian author Orietta Boncompagni Ludovisi has had her book “The Best Pizzerias In Italy” republished some five times since it first appeared in 1996. Each time a new edition of Boncompagni Ludovisi’s pizza book hits the bookshops of Italy, it sells like hot cakes. Perhaps that should be “sells like hot pizzas”.
Anyway, I was reading a copy of what I’ve been told by our local news-stand is one of Italy’s best selling travel magazines, Dove, and I found a delicious article all about pizza. Part of said article was a list of the top ten pizzerias in all of Italy in the opinion of Boncompagni Ludovisi, who is probably Italy’s number one pizza expert.
Pizza
I thought it would be interesting for the rest of the world to know the names of what are considered by an Italian pizza expert to be the top pizzerias in Italy. And once they know, pizza fans the world over will have a better idea of where in Italy they should be spending their holidays.
Before reading on, in which Italian towns and cities do you think the best pizzerias in Italy are to be found?
OK, here’s the top five. For the other five, you’ll have to buy the March 2010 edition of Dove. By the way, ‘Dove’ is pronounced ‘dough-vay’, and is Italian for ‘where’.
The Top 5 Pizzerias in Italy
As Naples is reputedly the place where pizza was invented, it should perhaps not come as much surprise to see that four out of the top five pizzerias in Italy are in Naples.
What might be a bit of a surprise is the location of pizzeria number five.
In assessing the quality of Italy’s pizza parlours, Italian pizza expert Boncompagni Ludovisi not only takes into account the quality of the pizzas, she also considers service, ambience, the wine list, and the overall experience.
Eating in one of the restaurants listed below is more than just ‘going for a pizza’, it’s also a excellent way to experience Italian culture first hand.
Number 1 – The Best Pizzeria in Italy 2010
Naples, Italy
Brandi – Antica Pizzeria Della Regina D’Italia in Naples, Salita S. Anna di Palazzo, 1-2, 80100 Napoli, Italia – looks lovely from the photos on the website.
Opening hours: 12:30 – 3:30, 7:30 – 12:00 (never closes)
Website: Brandi
Location via Google Map: Brandi
Number 2
Cantanapoli, Via Chiatamone, 36, Naples
Opening hours: 12:30 – 3:30, 7:30 – 12:00 (never closes)
Website: Cantanapoli
Location via Google Map: Cantanapoli
Number 3
Don Salvatore A Mergellina, Via Mergellina, 4, Naples – rather elegant for a pizza parlour. Lovely location too.
Opening hours: 11:30 – 3:30, 7:30 – 11:30 (closed Wednesdays)
Website: Don Salvatore A Mergellina
Location via Google Map: Don Salvatore A Mergellina
Number 4
Lombardi A Santa Chiara, Via Benedetto Croce, 59, Naples
Opening hours: 11:30 – 3:30, 7:30 – 11:30 (closed Mondays)
Website: Does not exist
Location via Google Map: Lombardi A Santa Chiara
And last, but by no means least, one of the best pizzerias in Italy which is not in Naples!
Number 5
Imperia, Liguria, Italy
Frà Diavolo, Corso Garibaldi, 1, Diano Maria, Imperia (Liguria)
Opening hours: 12:00 – 2:30, 6:00 – 12:00 (never closes)
Website: Fra Diavolo
Location via Google Map: Fra Diavolo
There you have them, what are considered as being the finest pizzerias in all Italy.
If you want to eat real pizza, you now know where to go.
Buon appetito!
Photo credits:
Pizza photo by Valerio Capello
Naples photo by JJKDC on Flickr
Imperia photo by Anja Timmermans
Source:
Dove Magazine, March 2010 Edition: Miseria, pizza and nobilità
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Can’t wait to go back to napoli, yum!
Yes, Regina, I’d like to return to Naples too – for a pizza!
I have some Neapolitan friends, so I’ll ask them about these places and see if they agree.
Best,
Alex
Huh! You can get to no. 5 pretty handily, Alec. Report back, please.
Hi Judith,
I know number 5 is not too far away from me. When I’m in the area, I’ll try it and report back.
Cheers,
Alex
Thanks for the list. I can’t wait to get back to Naples and try those places…..guess I’m gonna have to get that book too. Naples-style pizza is my favorite, so I’m interested to see your report on the pizzeria in Liguria.
Hi Kathy,
I guess I’m going to have to head on over to Imperia pretty soon! Well, the warm weather seems to be on its way!
If you do make it to one of the Naples’ pizzeria, do let us know how you got on! And that book should keep pizza freaks happy for years!
Buona pizza!
Alex
Two surprises here:
First, yeah – Liguria? Interesting.
Second, no Di Matteo in Naples?!? (My favorite!) I’ve never eaten at Brandi, though, so obviously I have some work to do upon my next visit…
Hi Jessica,
Yes, the Liguria pizza place raised my eyebrows a little too!
I shall check out Di Matteo on the pizza expert’s site.
If you do make it to Brandi before me, which is quite likely, do let us know how you found it.
Boy, is your job tough!
Best,
Alex
Great info – thanks. We will certainly have to try next time we are in Naples. One of our local pizza restaurants Mamma Rosa in Ortezzano, Le Marche, won the award for the 2nd best pizza in the whole of Europe a couple of years ago!
oh please pretty please would you consider posting the other 5 pizzerias from the Dove article for those of us who can’t get our hands on copy?
Hi Madeline,
Alas, and despite your extremely kind words, I don’t think I can acquiesce to your request -on the grounds that I’ve already ‘borrowed’ rather a lot of content from Dove. If I use any more, they might become grumpy and set legal dogs upon me.
It is possible to order back copies, and if you are interested, I can point you in the right direction – they cost double the cover price, but my copy is not to hand, so I can’t tell you what the price is!
Will post the price another time.
Best,
Alex
I’ll have to try all four of the ones in Naples. I have a slightly different take on pizza here, and am amazed anyone can narrow it down to just five. Some of my favorites are here.
http://carbonara.wordpress.com/2010/03/02/eight-great-pizza-places-in-italy/
thanks!
I agree with the author for the choice. anyway Brandi offers ( or offered since some time ago) also the delicious “Frittura all’Italiana”. how can I translate ( fried things italian way) ? taste them too and don’t mind about calories. simply enjoy. hi all
P.S. I lived for 6 hungry years about 50 meters from Brandi… still missing the place
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