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New in the Neighborhood: La Pizzeria
Naples certainly isn't suffering from a shortage of Italian restaurants, but I will always make room for one more when pizza is involved. La Pizzeria, located at 306 Ninth Street North along U.S. 41 in Naples, brings something a little different to the local pizza scene, combining authentic Neapolitan-style pizza with the Italian market experience Naples residents may already know from Mercato Italiano.
For those familiar with Mercato Italiano, La Pizzeria feels like a natural next chapter. Mercato Italiano has been bringing a taste of Italy to Naples since 2021 with its specialty market, bakery, deli, coffee, imported products and prepared foods. La Pizzeria expands that experience with a dedicated pizza menu centered around Italian ingredients, traditional techniques and, of course, a very hot Italian pizza oven.
And really, is there ever such a thing as too much good Italian food in Naples? I think we all know the answer to that one.
From Italian Market to Naples Pizzeria
One of the things that makes La Pizzeria interesting is that it isn't simply another restaurant arriving in Naples without any local roots. It is connected to the family behind Mercato Italiano, which has already developed a following among locals looking for Italian specialty products, fresh baked goods, panini, coffee and foods that can be a little harder to find in a traditional grocery store.
La Pizzeria builds on that foundation while putting pizza front and center. The focus is 12-inch Neapolitan-style pizza, made with Italian flour and ingredients such as San Marzano-style tomatoes, fior di latte, imported cheeses, cured meats and other Italian specialties. The pizzas are cooked in an Italian Moretti oven, helping create the high-heat cooking environment associated with Neapolitan pizza.
The result is the kind of pizza that is less about piling on endless toppings and more about the dough, sauce, cheese and balance of ingredients. Of course, La Pizzeria also has some decidedly creative options for those who like their pizza with a little more personality.
La Pizzeria's Menu Goes Beyond Margherita
Traditionalists can keep things simple with a Margherita, featuring tomato sauce, fior di latte, basil, oregano and olive oil, or a Marinara with tomato, basil and oregano. There's also a Napoletana with tomato, black olives, anchovies and herbs, and a Diavola topped with spicy Calabrian salami.
But this is where the menu gets fun. The Pizza Alessandro combines pistachio pesto, fior di latte, mushrooms, mortadella, stracciatella cheese and pistachio crumble. The Pizza Alba goes in an entirely different direction with truffle sauce, smoked scamorza, mushrooms, speck, truffle oil and truffle mayo.
Then there is the Pizza Alex, made with charcoal dough, carbonara cream, fior di latte, crispy guanciale and Pecorino Romano. That's probably not the pizza you grew up ordering on Friday night, and that's exactly the point.
Other combinations feature ingredients such as prosciutto San Daniele, buffalo mozzarella, bresaola, ricotta salata, gorgonzola, hot honey, caponata and yellow datterino tomatoes. There are also calzones and panuozzo, a Neapolitan-style pizza dough sandwich, for anyone who somehow walks into a pizzeria and decides they don't want an actual pizza. I don't judge. Well, maybe just a little.
Save Room for Dessert at La Pizzeria
If you are someone who believes dinner isn't finished until something sweet appears, La Pizzeria has you covered there too. The dessert offerings include Italian favorites such as tiramisu, babà, torta della nonna and gelato, along with a Pistacchiosa dessert pizza. The connection to Mercato Italiano also means visitors are steps away from a tempting assortment of Italian pastries and baked goods. This is one of the things I like about the overall concept. You can stop in specifically for pizza, but the combination of pizzeria, bakery, deli and Italian specialty market makes the destination a little more interesting than a traditional pizza shop.
A Convenient Spot Along U.S. 41
La Pizzeria's location at 306 Ninth Street North puts it along one of Naples' most traveled corridors, just north of downtown and convenient to several central Naples neighborhoods. For people who already stop at Mercato Italiano for imported groceries, pastries, coffee or prepared foods, adding a pizzeria creates even more reason to visit. For everyone else, it offers another casual dining option close to downtown without necessarily committing to a full Fifth Avenue or Third Street dining experience. That is one of the things I enjoy about watching Naples evolve. The headline-grabbing restaurants are fun, but some of the most useful additions to our community are the neighborhood places you can work into everyday life. A good pizza place certainly qualifies.
What Makes La Pizzeria Worth Knowing About
What stands out most to me about La Pizzeria is its emphasis on Italian ingredients and its connection to an established local Italian market. This isn't simply a menu with a few Italian-sounding pizza names. The concept leans into the products and flavors you would expect to find in Italy, while still offering plenty of creative combinations.
It also gives diners a range of experiences in one stop. Grab a pizza, browse imported Italian products, pick up something from the bakery, enjoy an espresso or take home ingredients for your own Italian dinner. That's a pretty good way to turn "let's grab a pizza" into a slightly more interesting outing. And with Naples continuing to attract new restaurants and businesses, I love seeing concepts that add something distinctive rather than simply duplicating what we already have.
The Details
La Pizzeria at Mercato Italiano
304 Ninth Street NorthNaples, FL 34102
Phone: (239) 316-7161
As with any local restaurant, menus, pricing and hours can change, so it is always a good idea to check directly with the business before visiting.
Another New Flavor in the Naples Neighborhood
One of my favorite parts about living and working in Naples is seeing the community continue to change. Yes, I pay close attention to new neighborhoods, real estate developments and what is happening with our housing market, but the restaurants, shops and locally owned businesses matter too. They're part of what makes a community feel like home.
La Pizzeria adds another authentic Italian option to the heart of Naples, with enough traditional favorites for the purists and enough creative pizzas to give adventurous diners something new to try. Whether you're stopping in for a Margherita, eyeing that pistachio-and-mortadella combination, or simply looking for an excuse to browse Mercato Italiano afterward, it's another Naples business worth knowing about.
Disclaimer: This article is not a paid advertisement or a personal endorsement of La Pizzeria. I simply enjoy sharing new businesses, restaurants and happenings around Southwest Florida as a courtesy from Your Naples Real Estate Expert. I encourage readers to visit the business's website or contact them directly for the most current information.
Thinking about buying or selling in Naples or the surrounding Southwest Florida area? I would love to help you navigate the market and discover the communities, neighborhoods and lifestyle that make this area such a special place to call home.
Renee Hahn, CNE, CLHMS
Your Naples Real Estate Expert
Alfred Robbins Realty Group
📞 239.287.2576
Top 50 in Naples | Top 0.5% Nationwide
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