Where to Find the Best Sfogliatelle in Naples

If you’re partial to a sweet treat and planning a visit to Naples, sfogliatelle needs to be on your foodie bucket list. These shell-shaped pastries have me hooked every time I’m in the city. They were born in the 1600s in Salerno’s Santa Rosa convent, but sfogliatelle only arrived in Naples in the early 19th century.

Both sfogliatella riccia and sfogliatella frolla are always big hits on my Naples food tours. The former is the more traditional version of this ricotta-filled snack and has a flaky consistency, while the latter is made from heavier, shortcrust pastry.

Whichever version of Napoli’s sfogliatelle you prefer, you won’t be disappointed by the confections in these superb pastry shops!

Sfogliatelle Attanasio Unica Sede

If you’re coming to or from Naples Central Station, give yourself a couple of extra minutes to swing by Sfogliatelle Attanasio Unica Sede.

Like many of the best bakeries in Napoli for sfogliatelle, this place is super understated and unpretentious. It’s a bright and airy space with a dreamy selection of pastries and huge ovens where you’ll spot the staff cooking up the freshest batch of goodies!

Both the puff pastry and shortcrust varieties are available, and I opted for the riccia as I fancied something that wasn’t too heavy.

I don’t think I’ve ever tried pastry this crispy and lightweight, as each layer was so thin and wafer-like. They had a ton of different flavors for the ricotta filling, but I went for the standard citrus option, which blended creamy, sweet, and tart notes.

Sfogliatelle Attanasio Unica Sede – Vico Ferrovia, 1, 80142 Napoli NA, Italy – Closed every Monday, open every Tuesday to Sunday from 6:30 am to 7:30 pm.

Sapori di Sfogliatella

Photo credit: Sapori di Sfogliatella

I’ve become rather fond of Sapori di Sfogliatella during my last few visits to the city, and this Pendino bakery is fast becoming one of my go-to breakfast spots.

This small, modern little nook has a mix of Neapolitan and various other Italian pastries, and the staff is always happy to talk to each customer through their mouthwatering offerings.

Sapori di Sfogliatella is becoming increasingly popular, so much so that they were all out of sfogliatella riccia the last time I was here. Fortunately, I managed to get my hands on the shortcrust alternative before they also sold out.

Though I’m partial to their flakier counterparts, I have to admit the buttery shortcrust pastry tasted incredible with the velvety, lemon-toned ricotta.

Sapori di Sfogliatella – Via San Biagio Dei Librai, 37/A, 80138 Napoli NA, Italy – Open every Monday to Saturday from 9:30 am to 8:00 pm and every Sunday from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm.

Antica Pasticceria Lauri

Photo credit: Antica Pasticceria Lauri

Just steps from Naples Central Station is Antica Pasticceria Lauri, a bakery I’m already looking forward to returning to someday.

It’s a contemporary and stylish spot with exquisite pastries, and somehow, it still flies a little under the radar compared to other pasticcerias.

Every day, the team here whips up a mix of traditional and creative treats. I’m usually one to stick to the traditional recipes when it comes to pastries like this, but their pistachio sfogliatella riccia came highly recommended.

The outside was covered in their signature crunchy pastry, while the inside had the most luxurious filling. While the ricotta brought a lightness to the taste, the pistachio added a nutty, earthy element to each bite.

Antica Pasticceria Lauri – Via Bologna, 12/13, 80142 Napoli NA, Italy – Open every Monday to Saturday from 6:30 am to 8:00 pm and every Sunday from 6:30 am to 2:45 pm.

Augustus Napoli

Photo credit: Augustus Napoli

I was lucky enough to discover Augustus Napoli in the Quartieri Spagnoli neighborhood on my last visit to Naples, and I’m still in disbelief that it took me so long to find this place!

It’s a sizable spot where you’ll find a wide selection of sweet and savory treats on display. Every corner of this wood and mirror-covered bakery is packed with everything from artisanal goods to fine wines, but their classic Napoli sfogliatelle is by far their most popular product.

Their sfogliatella frolla seemed to be what every second customer was ordering when I arrived, so I followed suit and chose the chocolate-filled variety. 

A part of me thought it would be a tad too heavy from the combination of shortcrust pastry and chocolate, but I ate every last bite. The mildness of the ricotta prevented the rich chocolate from feeling too intense, and the melt-in-your-mouth pastry was soft yet firm.

Augustus Napoli – Via Toledo, 147, 80134 Napoli NA, Italy – Open every day from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm.

Pasticceria Poppella

Photo credit: Pasticceria Poppella

Pasticceria Poppella is a chain of bakeries with locations scattered across Naples. Their San Ferdinando branch, however, is their oldest and most revered outlet, dishing out delightful baked goods since 1920.

The store is sleek and sophisticated, with neutral striped wallpaper, colorful tiling, and adorable wicker hanging baskets. As gorgeous as this bakery is, it can be difficult to take in the charming decor when the line-up of cakes and pastries is so impressive!

It was my first visit, so I kept it classic and went for the citrus-infused sfogliatella riccia, though I was tempted by the other, slightly more indulgent variations on offer.

I’d heard a lot about how crisp these layered pastries were, and I can confirm they were just as good as I hoped they’d be. Between their subtle crunchiness and the smooth consistency of the vanilla and orange-flavor filling, every mouthful had a medley of textures and flavors.

Pasticceria Poppella – Via Santa Brigida, 69/70, 80132 Napoli NA, Italy – Closed every Monday, open every Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm.

Conclusion

In Napoli, sfogliatelle has become such a fundamental part of the local cuisine that it’s hard to believe they originated in nearby Salerno. Nonetheless, the Neapolitans have perfected the recipe for sfogliatella riccia and sfogliatella frolla, and they’re always at the top of my list each time I return.