After a busy day exploring the energetic city of Naples – and sampling every type of pizza you can lay your hands on – it’ll be time for a well-earned spritz (or two) before dinner. Made with prosecco, bitter aperitif and soda water, it’s best to opt for Aperol if you like sweeter drinks or Campari for something a little more bitter. Aperitivo hour usually starts around 6pm, and although most bars in town will serve a half-decent spritz, these seven are our favourite spots to drink like a true Neapolitan.
L’ANTIQUARIO
The sleekest spritzes in town / Image: courtesy of L'Antiquario
Ranked at an impressive 46 in the highly regarded ’World’s 50 Best Bars’ list for 2022, this luxe cocktail joint is the real deal. Ring the doorbell to be greeted by bartenders in pristine white uniforms and settle in for an atmospheric evening full of beautifully crafted beverages. It’s totally acceptable to start with a spritz here (and they’ll be a cut above, naturally), but considering where you are, you really should move on to some of the grander local tipples offered in the Napoli Capital City drinks list.
Via Vannella Gaetani, 2, 80121
lantiquarionapoli.superbexperience.com
GRAN CAFFÈ GAMBRINUS
A historic place for a drink: Gran Caffè Gambrinus
This iconic 19th-century coffeehouse is more than worth a visit in its own right, but the classy spritzes they serve give yet-another reason to stop by. It’s served as a meeting point for cool cats and literary icons over the decades, including Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Jean-Paul Sartre, and today the Gran Caffè Gambrinus still retains a certain air of literary opulence. Sit inside to fully appreciate the gold-filled Art Nouveau interior with its grand stuccos, statues and paintings by late 19th-century Neapolitan artists. The spritzes here will set you back more than a Euro, but it’s worth paying a little extra to experience a venue like this.
Via Chiaia, 1/2, 80132
grancaffegambrinus.shop
BARRIL
Kooky charm (and top-notch cocktails) on offer at Barril
Heading down into this stylish garden bar feels like discovering a well-kept secret. They have a ton of gins on offer if G&Ts are your thing, plus superbly made classic cocktails and intriguing options such as a beer fizz or Russian spring punch. Oh, and they’ll make you a mean spritz with a twist. They also offer tasty aperitivo bits to munch on, making it an all-round winner.
Via Giuseppe Fiorelli, 11, 80121
barril.it
KESTÈ
For a side of entertainment with your spritz, Kestè is the place to be. You’ll find live music, comedy, poetry, film screenings or something else similarly fun happening on most nights at this friendly bar. Located in a lively part of central Naples – surrounded by bars, eateries and the historic Basilica San Giovanni Maggiore – it’s an ideal spot to swing by when you’re in need of first-rate local snacks and entertainment – and a spritz, of course.
Via San Giovanni Maggiore Pignatelli, 27, 80134
instagram.com/kestenapoli
CAMMAROTA SPRITZ SHORTLY BEFORE THE SPRITZ-QUAFFING HORDES DESCEND
Cammarota Spritz
Spritz by name, spritz by nature. Stepping into this tiny bar is like diving into a big glass of Aperol – all the tiles and trimmings are orange and there are bottles of the sweet stuff stacked up behind the bar. Known for its one-Euro Aperol spritzes, this is the place for cheap and cheerful cocktails.
Vico Lungo Teatro Nuovo 31, 80134
cammarotaspritz.it
CAFFÈ DELL’EPOCA
Caffè dell'Epoca – clearly the place to be / Image: Alamy
One of the most famous bars for the fizzy tipple is Caffè dell’Epoca, although everyone calls it simply Peppe Spritz. Set just off the buzzing Piazza Bellini, it’s a great place for meeting new people, as both locals and tourists gravitate here to mingle around the outdoor tables. There’s a whole Aperol spritz-themed bar inside, so you know you’ll be in good hands.
Via Santa Maria di Costantinopoli, 82/83, 80135
FORCELLA SPRITZ
On the other side of the Centro Storico, Forcella is another fun spot in which to soak up those elusive €1 Aperol spritzes. This unpretentious corner bar is such a popular spot, in fact, that you’ll often see people spilling outside and on to the street, gleefully making the most of that generous pricing. Be warned, though, you need to specifically ask for the ‘one Euro spritz’ when you’re being served, as otherwise they’ll pour you a bigger measure and charge you accordingly.
Via Vicaria Vecchia, 80138
instagram.com/forcellaspritz