Eating gluten-free in Naples: the challenge of real pizza
Neapolitan pizza, babà, sfogliatella: Naples's food tradition is one of Italy's most distinctive, but also one of the most feared by people with celiac disease, given how central leavened dough is. The good news is that Naples now has historic pizzerias and pastry labs entirely dedicated to gluten-free, able to recreate the great Neapolitan classics without contamination. In this guide we round up the addresses verified by the Mappa Senza Glutine community.
Gluten-free pizzerias to try in Naples
Neapolitan pizza requires baking at very high heat in a wood-fired oven: that's why we always look for venues with a dedicated oven or station for gluten-free.
Pizzeria Starita
In the Materdei neighborhood, Pizzeria Starita is a historic Neapolitan pizzeria founded in 1901 and run by the same family for generations: every pizza, including the fried one, is available gluten-free, baked in a separate dedicated oven.
Pizzaioli Veraci
With three locations in the city, Pizzaioli Veraci is AIC-certified and has a counter and oven entirely dedicated to gluten-free preparation: besides pizza, it also offers fried dishes and first courses gluten-free.
Breakfast and pastry: gluten-free babà, sfogliatelle and taralli
Naples's pastry tradition also has a dedicated address today: at Leopoldo Cafebar, across from the MANN museum, the first-floor lab produces exclusively gluten-free recipes, from the Neapolitan babà to sfogliatella, and taralli and pastiera during the holiday season. It's the go-to spot in the city for a worry-free breakfast.
Frequently asked questions about eating gluten-free in Naples
The most common questions from visitors or residents looking for a safe address.
Is it easy to find good gluten-free pizza in Naples?
Increasingly so: pizzerias with a dedicated oven and AIC certification now deliver a gluten-free Neapolitan pizza very close to the original, something that was harder to find in the city just a few years ago.
Is gluten-free babà really the same as the original?
Labs entirely dedicated to gluten-free, like those specializing in Neapolitan pastry, manage to reproduce a texture and taste very close to the traditional recipe, thanks to flour blends designed specifically for this.
Is it worth booking ahead at gluten-free pizzerias in Naples?
Yes, especially on weekends: the best-known pizzerias handle a limited number of dedicated gluten-free bakes, so booking and flagging the need ahead of time helps staff prepare.
