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The America’s Cup (with the preliminary regatta from September 24 to 27, 2026, and the main competition in July 2027) will put Naples in the international spotlight. The waterfront, the gulf, Bagnoli, Mergellina, Via Caracciolo, and the historic center will be even more crowded than usual. It will be a great opportunity to discover the city, but also a time when you’ll need to choose where to eat with a bit of care.

Naples is a generous city, even when it comes to food. But precisely during periods of heavy tourist traffic, the risk increases of ending up in places designed more for a quick stop than for the authentic pleasure of food. Overly long, picture-perfect menus; waiters who insistently urge you to come in; unclear prices; “Neapolitan specialties” all lumped together without any discernible order—these are small signs that should prompt caution.

Eating well in Naples, on the other hand, often means doing the opposite of what the crowd does. It means venturing a few streets off the beaten path, choosing trattorias with short menus, observing where the Neapolitans eat, making reservations when necessary, and taking your time. For those staying at Casetta Correra, just a short walk from Piazza Dante, the advantage is significant: you’re in the heart of the city, yet close enough to many interesting areas to get around on foot, by metro, or by funicular, without relying on a car.

Rule number one: be wary of the “all-things-traditional” approach

Neapolitan cuisine is incredibly rich, but it’s not a catalog to be displayed in a shop window. A good restaurant doesn’t need to offer pizza, fried fish, Genovese sauce, ragù, spaghetti with clams, lasagna, babà, limoncello, spritz, and hamburgers all at once. In fact, the best places often specialize in just a few dishes and do them well.

A menu that’s too extensive—translated into too many languages and accompanied by photos of the dishes—isn’t always a sign of poor quality, but during events like the America’s Cup, it can indicate a place geared primarily toward passing tourists. It’s better to look for establishments with a more cohesive offering: a trattoria specializing in Neapolitan cuisine, a historic pizzeria, a reputable fried-food spot, a seafood restaurant, or a small contemporary osteria.

Piazza Dante and the Surrounding Area: A Strategic Location

Staying near Piazza Dante allows you to avoid one of the major pitfalls of major events: being forced to eat at the most crowded time of the day. After a stroll along the waterfront or a visit to the Race Village, you can head back toward the historic center and dine in areas less exposed to the immediate tourist rush.

From Casetta Correra, you can easily reach Via Toledo, Pignasecca, the historic center, the Decumani, and the Spanish Quarter. These are very different areas, but they share one important characteristic: here, food isn’t just a service for tourists—it’s still part of the city’s daily life.

In Pignasecca, for example, the market, small shops, fry-up stands, and pizzerias showcase a lively, working-class Naples. It’s the perfect spot for those who love to snack while walking, stop for a pizza, buy taralli, and observe the city unfiltered. Of course, you still need to choose carefully here, but the atmosphere remains more authentic than many streets now completely transformed by hit-and-run tourism.

Pizza, Yes—But Not Just Pizza

During the America’s Cup, many visitors will want to try Neapolitan pizza. It’s understandable: in Naples, pizza isn’t just a meal—it’s a ritual. But even in this case, it’s best not to be guided solely by social media hype or the longest lines.

Historic pizzerias can be a charming choice, especially if you embrace the idea that Neapolitan pizza is a simple, popular, and unpretentious dish. A well-made Margherita, a fragrant Marinara, or a carefully prepared fried pizza are worth more than many “gourmet” versions designed to impress.

Near Piazza Dante and Pignasecca, you’ll find well-known and beloved spots, but the advice is always the same: check the hours, avoid peak times, and don’t expect to dine at 9:00 p.m. without a reservation on the busiest days. During the America’s Cup, arriving a little earlier or later can make the difference between a great experience and a long wait.

Trattorias: The Best Way to Understand Naples

For those who want to truly get to know Neapolitan cuisine, the trattoria is often the best choice. Here you’ll find dishes that tell the story of the city better than many tourist guides: pasta e patate, genovese, ragù, eggplant parmigiana, meatballs in sauce, escarole, salt cod, anchovies, friarielli, and light fried dishes—if done well.

A good Neapolitan trattoria doesn’t necessarily have to be elegant. It should, however, give an impression of tidiness, have a credible menu, a dining room where the service isn’t too pushy, and a diverse clientele: Neapolitans, savvy tourists, and people who didn’t just walk in because they were drawn in by a sign outside.

There are plenty of options in the historic center, the Quartieri Spagnoli, and the Chiaia area. The Quartieri Spagnoli, in particular, have become a very popular dining destination in recent years. This has led to new openings and a lively atmosphere, but also a certain amount of confusion: so it’s wise to distinguish between authentic spots, well-run restaurants, and places that exist solely to capitalize on the tourist crowd.

Seafood on the Waterfront: Pay Attention to the Location

During the America’s Cup, it’s natural to want a seafood dinner with a view of the sea. Naples’ waterfront is magnificent, especially at sunset, when the silhouette of Vesuvius and Castel dell’Ovo make the scene feel almost theatrical. But precisely for this reason, you need to be cautious.

A view alone isn’t enough to guarantee quality. A good seafood restaurant should clearly list the available catch, avoid overly standardized “tourist” menus, and not rely solely on its location. It’s best to make a reservation, read the posted menu carefully, ask for prices on dishes not listed on the menu, and don’t be afraid to walk a few blocks if the place doesn’t seem right.

For a couple looking to enjoy a pleasant evening, it might be more appealing to dine at an intimate spot with good food and a quiet atmosphere rather than sitting at the spot with the best view—but also the most crowded one.

Neapolitan street food: good, but with discernment

Naples is the perfect city for street food. Pizza a portafoglio, pasta frittatine, crocchè, arancini, taralli, and fried cuoppi: the risk isn’t finding something to eat, but eating too much and too quickly.

During the America’s Cup, street food will likely be one of the most popular options for visitors. It can be a good idea for lunch, between a stroll and a trip to another spot, but it’s best to choose places with a constant turnover of food, freshly prepared items, and a clean counter. Neapolitan fried food is wonderful when it’s hot, crisp, and freshly made; it becomes heavy when it sits out too long.

From the Casetta Correra area, you can easily reach Pignasecca, one of the best spots for a casual taste of everyday Naples. It’s an ideal option for those who want to experience the city without turning every meal into a formal dinner.

Here are some of the spots most appreciated by Casetta Correra guests for enjoying authentic Neapolitan street food in Naples’ historic center.

Pizza a portafoglio

Cuoppi of fried snacks

Pasta fritters

O’ per e o’ muss

How to Spot a Tourist Trap

There’s no hard-and-fast rule, but there are some useful signs to look for. Be wary of places that display menus identical to those of dozens of other restaurants, with faded photos of dishes and generic promises of “authentic Neapolitan cuisine.” Even fixed-price tourist menus—if they’re too good to be true and located in high-traffic areas—should be approached with caution.

It’s also best to be wary of places that push too hard to get you to come in. In Naples, the welcome is warm, but a good restaurant doesn’t need to chase customers down the street. Another sign to watch for is the presence of dishes that don’t fit the context: if the same menu features sushi, pizza, carbonara, paella, cotoletta, frozen fish, and babà, you’re probably not in the right place to experience authentic Neapolitan cuisine.

Quality is often recognized by its simplicity: a limited selection of dishes, clearly identifiable ingredients, staff who can explain what they’re serving, and prices clearly displayed.

Making a Reservation: A Small Detail That Can Make or Break Your Trip

During the America’s Cup, making a reservation will be even more important. Naples is used to tourists, but a major international event can draw large crowds to the same places at the same times. If you want to enjoy a good dinner, you should choose a restaurant a few hours in advance, especially on Fridays, Saturdays, and the evenings following the races.

Here’s a good strategy: have a light lunch or street food during the day, head back in the late afternoon to rest, then have dinner in the historic center, in Pignasecca, the Spanish Quarter, or toward Chiaia. This way, you’ll avoid getting stuck in the most congested areas of the waterfront right when everyone else is looking for a table.

Great Dining Near Casetta Correra

One of the advantages of Casetta Correra is its location. Piazza Dante is an ideal starting point for exploring the historic center, Via Toledo, Montesanto, Pignasecca, and the port. This allows you to plan your America’s Cup days without compromising on the quality of your dinner.

Pizza lovers can head to historic pizzerias or well-reviewed spots in the surrounding areas. Those who prefer traditional cuisine can look for trattorias serving authentic Neapolitan dishes, without being tempted by overly flashy restaurants. Those seeking a more refined evening can head to Chiaia, Santa Lucia, or Posillipo—perhaps making a reservation in advance.

The best choice, however, is to never separate food from the city. In Naples, you eat well when you embrace the Neapolitan rhythm: a stroll before dinner, an alleyway discovered by chance, a simple table, a conversation with the server, a dish that doesn’t need to be photographed to be remembered.

Here’s a short list of places (with Google Maps links) that were recommended to me by guests at Casetta Correra.

One last tip for getting the most out of the America’s Cup in Naples

The America’s Cup will be a spectacular event, but Naples shouldn’t be experienced solely as the backdrop for the regatta. The sea will certainly take center stage, but the true spirit of the city lies in its neighborhoods, markets, stairways, churches, historic buildings, trattorias, and cafés.

Eating well during the America’s Cup also means this: don’t settle for the first available table near the crowds, but take the time to choose. At Casetta Correra, in the heart of Naples yet in a quiet location, you can do just that: experience the big event along the waterfront and then head back into the historic center to discover a cuisine that’s more authentic, more intimate, and more memorable.

Because in Naples, the best food isn’t always the most heavily advertised. It’s often found just off the beaten path, where the city stops putting on a show for tourists and simply goes back to being itself.