The best pastry shops in Naples
The finest spots to start your morning with a proper sweet treat
Naples is celebrated worldwide for Italian icons such as pizza, pasta and crisp fried street food. Yet it would be a mistake to overlook the city’s rich traditional pastries and desserts, a source of local pride and an ambassador of Italian food culture across the globe. Fortunately, pastry shops throughout Naples keep these customs alive, serving mouth-watering bakes and cakes best enjoyed alongside a proper Neapolitan espresso.
As the Neapolitan saying goes, ‘Naples has three beautiful things: the sun, the sea and sfogliatella.’ Yet across the addresses in our guide, you will also discover rum-soaked babà, indulgent pastiera and exquisite individual pastries for a memorable breakfast. Historic cafés and contemporary spots alike showcase the city’s sweet heritage, packed with rich custards and fried dough. Here are the best pastry shops in Naples, chosen by Flawless for their charm and devotion to local baking.
Pasticceria di Costanzo
Piazza Cavour, 133/135
Set within the former stables of a 19th-century palazzo, this bakery has handed down family recipes since 1980, driven by the passion and meticulous care of current owner Mario. You will find classic Neapolitan sweets such as babà, pastiera and sfogliatelle, crafted with consummate skill and genuine flavour. The workshop has also embraced modern pastry, creating striking contemporary designs with creative flavour combinations, available as whole cakes or individual pastries perfect for an elegant breakfast.
Antico Forno Sfogliatelle Calde Attanasio
Vico Ferrovia, 1-2-3-4
The temple of sfogliatelle in Naples is tucked away down a quiet alley in the historic centre, yet its discreet setting has not stopped it from becoming a city institution. There are no unnecessary frills here: just a simple oven facing the street, warm bakes laid out on the counter and an intoxicating aroma that draws passers-by straight to the door. Alongside sfogliatelle, you can pick up babà and pastiera to discover the authentic sweet soul of Naples.
Pasticceria Poppella
Via Arena della Sanità, 29
The historic Pasticceria Poppella was founded in 1920 by Giuseppina and Raffaele, who combined their names to christen their shop. Over the years, the venue has refreshed its look with a sleek interior featuring a black-and-white striped accent wall and a contemporary bakery vibe, while opening its counter to modern ideas. Its place among the Neapolitan pastry greats was sealed by current owner Ciro, creator of the legendary fiocco di neve: fluffy brioches filled with whipped sheep’s milk ricotta and fresh milk cream, ideal for a light yet decadent breakfast.
Gran Caffè Moccia
Corso Europa, 68/70
For more than 50 years, this spot has greeted patrons with rows of individual pastries and spectacular cakes, highlighting the flair and precision of its pastry chefs. It is an ideal setting for an exceptional breakfast, whether you opt for a babà or a sfogliatella, accompanied by an expertly pulled Neapolitan espresso sipped at the counter if you are short on time. They also bake gluten-free sfogliatelle ricce and croissants, ensuring no one misses out on authentic Neapolitan flavour.
Pasticceria Scaturchio
Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, 19
Mention Scaturchio to any Neapolitan and they will vouch for the renown and quality of this historic pastry shop, now boasting six branches across the city. Its story weaves family history with Calabrian and Austrian influences, blended over generations with classic local recipes. Its most famous creation is undoubtedly the Ministeriale, a dark chocolate medallion filled with liqueur cream, whose secret recipe remains strictly guarded. For breakfast, brioches and croissants in numerous variations take pride of place, alongside muffins and doughnuts.
Antica Pasticceria Carraturo
Via Casanova, 97
The Carraturo family still helms this historic pastry shop, opened back in 1837 near Porta Capuana by a baker famed for his sfogliatella riccia, which remains a house specialty today. While expanding its repertoire over time, the workshop has stayed true to its artisan heritage, filling a generous counter with an array of pastries and cakes. Order a mignon or a warm sfogliatella, pair it with a good espresso, and your morning is sorted.
Gran Caffè Gambrinus
Via Chiaia, 1/2
Some venues precede any introduction. That is certainly true of Gran Caffè Gambrinus, a true institution in Naples for lovers of pastry and Neapolitan coffee. Its grand Art Nouveau salon transports visitors back to an era when luminaries like D’Annunzio and Oscar Wilde frequented its tables. Founded as a coffee house serving espresso brewed to the traditional Neapolitan method, it now offers a lavish selection of classic Neapolitan pastries and artisanal chocolates.
Pasticceria Colmayer
Via Pietro Giannone, 16
At this inventive bakery, an inspired blend of tradition and modernity produces creations that have made Pasticceria Colmayer a benchmark in the Vicaria neighbourhood. Working with carefully sourced ingredients, owner and master pastry chef Pasquale Colmayer crafts treats like Via Col Vento, light sweet tarallini dusted with icing sugar and offered with white chocolate or chantilly cream fillings. Their name translates to ‘Gone with the Wind’, reflecting how quickly trays vanish from the counter.
Cuccuma Caffè
Via S. Giovanni Maggiore Pignatelli, 1°
Tucked away in the streets of central Naples, this café channels old-world charm through its simple, homely setting and the coffee it serves. As the name reveals, coffee here is brewed with the cuccuma, the traditional Neapolitan flip pot that relies on gravity infusion rather than pressure extraction. Veteran host Achille will happily explain the secrets of genuine Neapolitan coffee while you choose a pastry to complete your morning ritual. An experience well worth seeking out.
