High and Low: A Taste of Two Napolis
Description
On this culinary tour of central Naples, we’ll go off the beaten path by visiting two wildly contrasting neighborhoods, Vomero and the Spanish Quarter. In both we’ll stop into the places – from artisanal producers to street food vendors and more – that locals go to for the quintessential taste of the city, one that was developed over millennia and, on this walk, distilled into a single day of eating and exploring.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Naples is a city of striking contrasts, where opulence and working-class street life combine into an urban identity that is unique in Italy, if not the world. Here palaces and rooftop shanties share the same skyline, street performers and opera singers appear on the same squares, and exclusive fine-dining bastions on the hilltop overlook working-class quarters teeming with pizza ovens and buzzing with motor scooters. The physical differences between the breezy lookouts of Vomero Hill and the tight alleys of the historic Spanish Quarter are so dramatic it’s hard to believe they are both a part of the same city, separated only by a short funicular ride. However, as we will see on this day of eating and exploring, despite their differences, the people of this city are united around good old-fashioned Neapolitan cooking. From posh cafes to street food stands, Naples locals like a meal hot, quick, loud and delicious, just like their grandmothers and grandfathers before them.
We’ll begin our day the Neapolitan way, with a cup of thick, piping hot espresso and the city’s signature pastry, sfogliatelle, in a Neapolitan cafe up in Vomero Down in Montesanto, the working-class belly of Naples, we’ll get a feel for the beautiful chaos that characterizes local life. At a neighborhood fishmonger we will have a taste of marinated anchovies and freshly-fried fish and seafood, while at a friggitoria with more than a century’s experience we’ll get a bite of fried macaroni, a favorite local specialty. We’ll go behind the scenes at a producer of taralli, the simple yet bewitching crispy snack seasoned with black pepper, and then sit down to soak up some neighborhood life with a glass of crisp white wine from a vineyard near Mount Vesuvius, readying our appetite for a course or two at a classic backstreet trattoria.
We’ll continue into the narrow streets of the Spanish Quarter, shaded by laundry flapping in the breeze, to visit one of the neighborhood’s classic pizzerias on our way square dedicated to the legendary soccer player Diego Maradona, revered here like a saint after he helped bring a championship to the city. As we wind our day down with a limoncello spritz, we’ll decide if we should go for an artisanal gelato made from buffalo’s milk, or a final bracing coffee – or, better yet, both. After all, this day is all about doing and seeing things both ways.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(41)
This was a wonderful way to experience two very different sides of Naples, from the “high” parts of the city to the lively, authentic backstreets below. Our guide was the best, she was excellent — knowledgeable, engaging, and able to bring together the food, neighborhoods, history, and architecture in a way that made the city feel much richer and more understandable. The food was delicious, the pace was perfect, and the tour gave us a much deeper appreciation for Naples than we would have had on our own.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review of your time exploring the complex and lively neighborhoods of Naples. We are thrilled that the walk provided a deeper appreciation for the city's daily life and history. Your participation helps us continue supporting the unsung heroes of the kitchen and preserving these vital culinary traditions.
This is the second food tour I have done with Culinary Backstreets. I did the Two Markets, Two Continents in Istanbul, and this time I did the Highs and Lows Tour in Naples with my wife. Our tour guide was Marina, and she was fantastic. It was very easy to meet up with her. We connected via WhatsApp and the meetup went smoothly. She was friendly, outgoing, and easy to get along with. She took us to eight different spots and helped us choose what to eat, offering her own recommendations along the way. Sometimes, street food can be intimidating and I don’t think I would have found any of these specific spots on my own, nor would I have know to try some of this traditional Neapolitan cuisine without her guidance. Beyond the food, Marina is also an expert on Naples and can speak at length about its history, why the food is the way it is, how things came to be in Naples, and how Neapolitan culture spread across the world. I would say this tour was the highlight of my time in Naples and worth every single dollar spent on it. I would highly recommend a tour with Culinary Backstreets in any city where they operate.
Thank you for the review and for joining us on a second journey! We are so glad you enjoyed exploring the complex history and vibrant daily life of Naples with us. Thank you for supporting our local unsung heroes and helping to preserve these beautiful Neapolitan culinary traditions.
Myself and my partner recently did this tour with the fantastic Chiara and it was an absolute highlight of our stay in the city. Chiara was brilliant; engaging, friendly, very informative and happy to answer all of our questions about the city, food related or not, plus she possessed a treasure trove of local places to go to away from expensive tourist traps. Every place we were taken to was special (particularly the busy local trattoria for lunch), and by the end we had to ask for smaller portions as our stomachs were full! It was great also to see the many faces of Napoli - we were based in and around the busy and bustling Centro Storico, so it was a real revelation to us when we began in the airy and (relatively) peaceful Vomero district to sample the 'high' life before dropping down (literally, down the funicular train) back to the old town. We love a food tour and this is easily the best and most comprehensive we've ever done. If we are ever in a city hosting another Culinary Backstreets tour we will be booking with them, and if you are in Napoli and lucky enough to have Chiara as your guide, please tell her Jimmi and Lucy say 'Ciao'.
Thank you for joining us to explore the many layers and complexities of Naples' daily life. We are thrilled that you enjoyed connecting with the city's unsung culinary heroes, from the peaceful Vomero district down to the bustling old town. Your support helps preserve these traditional, family-run spots and keeps their incredible stories and crafts alive.
Marianna was our guide for this tour. She did a fantastic job. She welcomed all questions, and being a native of the area, was able to provide a lot of various interesting details and pointed out numerous areas of interest. Our group was a full group of seven. There were three people in my party. The group size was very manageable and four different countries were represented. This allowed for insight into other perspectives. We were not rushed at all and and the places chosen for food tasting were perfect. Such a wide variety of foods and all were . Enough food was made available so if someone wanted seconds of something, they could have it. My brother said that this was the best food tour he had ever been on and he could not have imagined such a great time. Everything was so good, we went back the following day to hit some of the high points again! I look forward to taking another city walks food tour in the future!
Thank you for the wonderful review. We are thrilled that you and your brother enjoyed exploring the daily life of Naples and connecting with the unsung heroes of the city's kitchens. Your support helps us continue our mission of preserving these beautiful, traditional family-run spots and their culinary crafts.
We booked a private tour with Mariana for our family of 4. It was the perfect way to see quite a bit of the city while enjoying foods that we might not have tried on our own. Mariana was a great guide, and I would love to tour with her again!
Thank you so much for this wonderful review. We are thrilled that you and your family enjoyed exploring the daily life and complex flavors of Naples with us. By joining our walks, you are directly supporting the local unsung heroes of the kitchen and helping to preserve these incredible culinary traditions. We look forward to walking and eating with you again in the future!
Great food walking tour of Napoli. As the tour name suggests, you start on top of a hill and work your way down to the Spanish quarter. All along the way we made approximately seven or eight food stops. Each stop the food was excellent. our tour guide guide,Chiara was amazing. Very knowledgeable of the area, gave us history of the different neighborhoods. We were in and enjoyed spending five hours with her actually she was so nice. It was closer to six hours. would definitely recommend taking this tour if you’re in Napoli.
A wonderful introduction to Naples history, culture and FOOD!! Francesca was the perfect hostess. A great first event. As we knew what to listen and look for the remainder of our long and amazing visit! Best of all, we discovered the traditional Easter foods and sampled the numerous time over the next few days. And a good immersion in the culture and the history that drives it. Highly recommend.
Thank you for the wonderful review and for joining us to explore the daily life and rich culture of Naples. We are so glad you enjoyed discovering traditional foods and deeply connecting with the history that drives the city. Your support helps us continue championing the unsung heroes of the kitchen and preserving these beautiful culinary traditions.
Our guide Marianna was truly a treasure, taking us to local spots away from the Instagram crowds and sharing the history of the various neighborhoods. The best way to experience Naples areas outside of the Centro Storico. Would come back just for this!
Our guide Marianna was truly a treasure, taking us to local spots away from the Instagram crowds and sharing the history of the various neighborhoods. The best way to experience Naples areas outside of the Centro Storico. Would come back just for this!
We had a wonderful time, despite over sleeping the morning of the tour, our host arranged to meet up with us for the later stops on the tour. Very accommodating! I love the Culinary Backstreets Tours (we also took one in Istanbul last year) they are a great value for money. Lots of good information about the area as well as awesome food.
Thank you for the wonderful review and for joining us again, this time to explore the vibrant daily life of Naples. We are so glad our host could accommodate your schedule so you could still connect with the city's unsung culinary heroes. Your continued support helps us preserve these vital neighborhood traditions from Istanbul to Italy.