Naples pulses with energy at all times of the day. Whether you’re in the mood for craft beer at a hidden dive, chic cocktails close to the bay, or a classic spritz in a buzzing piazza, the city offers endless nightlife options.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through some of Naples’ best spots to grab a drink. Plus, you’ll find a map at the end of all the bars mentioned throughout the blog.
A quick guide to Neapolitan drinking culture
Naples’ drinking scene is unpretentious, affordable and lively. This is a city where the best pizza comes from hole-in-the-wall joints, and the best drinks often come from tiny bars with plastic cups and no seating. There are elegant cocktail spots if that’s your thing, but for the most part Naples’ nightlife is just like the rest of the city – unpretentious, a little chaotic, and wonderfully vibrant.
As for what to drink, Spritz is everywhere. Aperol Spritz especially, but you’ll also find Limoncello Spritzes, Maradona Spritzes, and more. If, like me, Spritz isn’t really your thing, Naples is also home to excellent craft beer, good local wines and some genuinely excellent cocktail bars.
Vico Quercia – a trio of hidden, divey craft beer gems.
If craft beer is your thing, head to Vico Quercia, a narrow alleyway just off Spaccanapoli that’s a hidden gem for beer lovers. This short stretch is packed with some of the coolest bars in the city – especially for craft beer lovers.
Three of our favourites were:
OAK – a cosy, hidden gem for craft beer and wine
As well as a huge range of beer and ales, there’s a good range of organic wine. In the evening (especially on weekends) OAK was often heaving during our visit, with locals and tourists spilling out of the dark, atmospheric bar onto the surrounding streets.
Colpa d’Alfredo – Italian beer, cocktails and wine in a cool dive bar
A tiny space with dive bar-vibes and some outdoor seating, Colpa d’Alfredo serves cocktails, affordable spritzes, and some great local beers. With its friendly local buzz, excellent drinks and cool cartoon-skull aesthetic, it was possibly our favourite bar we visited in Naples.
Blind Pig – Hideout Drinkery
Another of Naples’ best selections of craft beer, and a good wine list. Like the other bars in this area, locals often spill out onto the benches lining the cosy, narrow alleyway.
Elsewhere on this stretch you’ll find MMB, a compact spot that often puts on live music and DJs.
Piazza Bellini – spritzes in a bustling, historic square
One of Naples’ main nightlife spots, busy on just about any given night due to its proximity to university buildings, is Piazza Bellini. This gorgeous square centres on the excavated walls of the Ancient Greek city of Neapolis.
Surrounding this pocket of Naples’ history are countless bars mostly focused on spritzes (Limoncello spritz, Aperol spritz, Maradona spritz – take your pick), filled with students and locals.
A couple of especially popular spots are Spazio Nea at the top of the square, and Toguan 76 at the bottom. But wherever you go, this is one of Naples’ most vibrant spots for a drink.
Quartieri Spagnoli – €1 spritzes and local buzz
If you’re looking for a proper local experience – and surely some of the cheapest drinks in Western Europe – head to the Quartieri Spagnoli (Spanish Quarter). This grid of narrow streets, draped in laundry and buzzing with Vespas, is one of Naples’ most vibrant neighbourhoods for an evening out.
The top pick is Cammarota Spritz – one of Naples’ most iconic bars. A tiny hole-in-the-wall has achieved near-mythical status for serving Aperol Spritz at just €1 a glass. The bar itself is barely more than a counter, but that’s the point – everyone spills out onto the narrow street, plastic cups in hand – chaotic, loud and everything that’s great about Naples. Make sure to ask for a ‘piccolo spritz’, otherwise you might be served a slightly more expensive, larger option.
If you wander around the Spanish Quarter at night, you’ll find lots of lively bars. Another great option is Superfly Soulbar, a cool 90’s themed bar.
Kestè – legendary live music bar
Tucked into a picturesque square near Spaccanapoli, Kestè has been a staple of Naples’ creative scene for decades. Its part cocktail bar, part art gallery, and part live music venue – most evenings have some kind of entertainment.
If you’re into live music, this is a must – they put on everything from jazz to DJ sets, and their open jam sessions especially awesome. The best way to see what’s on is to check out Kesté’s Instagram.
Libreria Berisio – bookshop turned cocktail bar
Via Port’alba is one of Naples’ most magical historic streets. For decades, it has been home to a number of second-hand bookshops.
One of them – Libreria Berisio, which has been providing the people of Naples with reading material since 1956 – moonlights as one of Centro Storico’s best cocktail bars.
Sitting on this beautiful, sloping street, having a drink surrounded by books is a great way to start a night. To add to the ambience, a few doors away is Antica Pizzeria Port’alba – the oldest pizzeria in the world.
Decumano – people watching on bustling Spaccanapoli
Buzzing, vibrant, noisy, busy – whatever you want to call it, the main street of Spaccanapoli isn’t the most relaxing spot for a drink. But it is a fun one.
Decumano is a great spot to grab a local beer or affordable spritz, soak up the atmosphere and watch the chaotic masterpiece that is life in central Naples unfold in front of you. We didn’t try the food, but it didn’t look great for the price.
Ex Salumeria – a rum lover’s paradise
Naples isn’t short of cocktail bars, but Ex Salumeria does something genuinely different. A small, atmospheric bar in Centro Storico, every drink is rum-based, using Ex Salumeria’s own house-infused rum.
Tell the bartender what flavours you like, and they’ll make something on the spot for you. And the prices are remarkably affordable.
L’Antiquario – one of Europe’s premier cocktail bars
While Centro Storico is the place for cheap drinks and rustic vibes, Chiaia is all class. And L’Antiquario might just be the classiest bar in Naples.
Hidden behind an unassuming door just a couple of streets from the bay, this speakeasy-style bar has earned a spot on the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars list.
The interior oozes Prohibition-era elegance, and occasional live jazz adds to the roaring twenties vibe. The cocktails are of course exceptional. It’s not cheap by Naples’ standards, but if you’re into your cocktails, it’s a must while you’re in the city.
Vomero – Naples’ take on British pubs
The hilltop neighbourhood of Vomero is one of the best places to stay in Naples. But even if you’re not staying in the area, it’s well worth taking the short funicular from the centre to spend an evening exploring its excellent bars and restaurants, and enjoying the breathtaking vistas across the Bay of Naples.
In particular, Vomero is famous for its take on classic British pubs. This means it’s a great place to watch the football, or to get a decent pint of Guinness.
A few bars particularly popular with the locals include the Penny Black Pub, Bierkeller and the Frank Malone Pub and Brewstore.
But Vomero isn’t all about pubs…
Barrio Botanico – Vomero’s tucked away cocktail Oasis
Barrio Botanico was, hands down, the most beautiful bar we visited in Naples. You need to know it’s there – hidden in a small courtyard. But visit on a weekend and it’s clear that this bar is Vomero’s worst kept secret. Excellent drinks, accompanied by equally excellent snacks and a lovely friendly atmosphere.
Best of all, though, is the environment: a peaceful, historic courtyard which has been turned into a lush garden. Naturally, this is all very elegant – so prices can be a bit high. We didn’t try the food, but reviews suggest it isn’t the best place for a meal. For a drink, though – simply bellisimo.
Fonoteca – Record store meets cocktail bar
How to make a bar in one of Naples’ best neighbourhoods even cooler? Fuse it with a record store, of course. Fonoteca is a relaxed bar, with excellent and varied music and an extensive cocktail and wine list. It’s also a fully functioning record shop, mainly specialising in indie and prog rock.
Gran Caffè Gambrinus – Naples’ elegant 19th century coffeehouse
While not strictly a bar, I couldn’t write a blog about where to get a drink in Naples without mentioning Gran Caffè Gambrinus. Facing Piazza del Plebiscito, the Caffe has been a meeting place for intellectuals for nearly 200 years. It counts Ernest Hemingway, Oscar Wilde and Jean Paul Sartre among its former patrons.
It’s a formal setting that serves coffee, pastries and alcoholic drinks at very high prices for Naples. But it’s also utterly beautiful, worth visiting for its ambience, history and ornate decorations.
A great way to explore Naples’ nightlife is with a guided tour – such as this guided pub crawl in the Old Town.
A map of top bars to try while in Naples
FAQs about drinking in Naples
When do bars close in Naples?
There’s no city-wide mandated closing time, which means closing time varies by establishment. Typically, more casual bars close earlier – say around 11pm. In nightlife areas like Chiaia, Piazza Bellini, and the Spanish Quarter, bars usually stay open until around midnight on weeknights and the early hours on weekends.
Cocktail bars and late-night venues may remain open until 2-3 AM, particularly Thursday through Saturday.
Opening hours may extend during summer months, especially at waterfront locations.
How much do drinks cost in Naples?
Naples is one of the cheapest cities in Europe for a drink. While prices vary a lot, you can get drinks at remarkable value – Aperol Spritz can often be found for €2 (€1 at Cammarota Spritz!), beer or wine for as little as €3.
And you can also get top quality cocktails at excellent value, at reasonable, excellent cocktail bars such as Ex Salumeria (which specialises in rum).
What time does public transport stop in Naples?
This is important for planning your night. Public transport in Naples tends to stop around 11pm – though the Metro might run a little later on weekends. After that, your best bet is to take a taxi – there are usually lots in busy areas, and various taxi apps are widely used.
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