The Eat Pray Love pizza: L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele in Naples

There is a scene in Eat Pray Love that made millions of viewers hungry: Liz, played by Julia Roberts, biting into a margherita pizza in Naples and finally surrendering to the pleasure of food. That place really exists, and it is one of the temples of Neapolitan pizza: L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele.

Where the pizza scene was filmed

We are in the Forcella district, on Via Cesare Sersale. Da Michele has been open since 1870 and has made simplicity its philosophy: the historic menu has only two pizzas, marinara and margherita, baked in a wood-fired oven according to tradition. That very margherita is the star of the film’s scene.

What to expect (and what to order)

Da Michele is an authentic experience: a bare-bones setting, shared tables and often a queue outside (you take a number and wait). But that is part of the ritual. Order the margherita, perhaps with “double mozzarella”, and a beer or a soda. Don’t look for frills: here it is all about the dough, the tomato and the mozzarella.

Tip: go at off-peak times (early lunch or mid-afternoon) to cut the wait.

A Naples itinerary in the footsteps of the film

After the pizza, Forcella and Naples’ historic centre are worth a stroll: Spaccanapoli, San Gregorio Armeno, the seafront. You will find the address and map on the Pizzeria da Michele page and the film’s other locations on Eat Pray Love.

In short

If you loved the pizza scene in Eat Pray Love, sitting down (after the queue) at Michele is a must: it is the most authentic way to taste the Naples of the film, one margherita at a time.