The Friday Scoop
One more thing you should know before the weekend: the brothers behind Mercato Italiano have opened a pizzeria next door.
Brothers Luca and Valerio Di Falco opened La Pizzeria this week at 304 Ninth Street North, adjoining the Italian market they've operated for the past five years. The brothers are Sicilian, but here the specialty is Neapolitan pizza.
Prices start at $13 for the basic marinara and go up to $24 for the gourmet pizzas. There are plenty of classics, but some of the more unique pizzas caught my attention. The Alessandro has pistachio pesto, mortadella, mushrooms and stracciatella. The Alex is made with charcoal dough, carbonara cream, crispy guanciale and pecorino Romano. And the Luna pairs yellow tomatoes and smoked scamorza (soft cheese) with bresaola and arugula.
Pizza occupies most of the menu, though not all of it. There are Sicilian arancini, burrata with tomato confit and basil pesto, lasagna alla Bolognese, eggplant parmigiana and two calzones.
The doors have only been open a few days, but early reviews have been notably effusive about both the food and the owners. If Mercato Italiano is already in your rotation, its new next-door neighbor is worth trying.
La Pizzeria
📍 304 Ninth St. N., Naples
lapizzerianaples.com
PRESENTED BY Naples Florida Rentals
🏡 THE NAPLES RENTAL WE’D BOOKMARK THIS WEEK
If you’re coming to Naples with family or friends, this is the kind of house that makes the trip easier before you even leave the driveway.
🌴 The best part: the backyard does a lot of the heavy lifting. You’ve got a heated waterfall pool, covered lanai, mango trees, BBQ, and a huge private yard.
🛶 The bonus: there’s kayak access too, so you can get on the water without turning it into a whole-day production.
🐾 Who it works for: groups that want space, families bringing the dog, and anyone who’d rather have the option to stay in without feeling like they’re missing Naples.
The setup:
4 bedrooms · heated pool · pet-friendly · kayak access · huge yard · BBQ
Poll Results: The Naples Sounds That Feel Most Like Vacation 🌴
Last week, we asked: Which Naples sound instantly puts you in vacation mode?
The top answer was waves rolling in, which brought in 23.28% of the vote.
Birds in the palms and boats on the water were tied next, each with 18.53%. Patio chatter and Other followed close behind at 14.22% apiece, while live music nearby came in at 11.21%.
Naples has no shortage of sounds worth noticing, but readers gave the edge to the one that usually means the day has slowed down and the shoreline is close by.
This Week’s Poll: Long weekends?
Which Naples meal are you most likely to turn into a long, leisurely outing? 🍽️
Why It Matters
Naples has a way of making a regular weekend feel like there’s always something new to try.
This week, it might be a new pizza spot, a little more time by the water, or simply finding an excuse to slow the day down. Sometimes the best Naples plans are the ones you didn’t make too far in advance.
Whatever you’re up to, I hope you find something worth adding to your weekend.
Elizabeth Bellotti
Editor-In-Chief
Naples, Florida
The Naples Florida Review
P.S. - Check out our sponsor’s vacation homes, comfortable for you, your family, and even your pets. Find out why they currently have more than 800 reviews (all 5 stars!). For more information and to book that perfect vacation, click here.
Love reading The Naples Florida Review? Click here to share with your friends and family.
Advertise with us
Put your brand in front of 100,000 passionate Naples Florida Review readers. Let's partner.
Do not wait; the time will never be ‘just right.’