One legend states that Naples’ coffee culture arose thanks to Maria Carolina of Hapsburg, daughter of Maria Theresa of Austria and wife of King Ferdinand IV. The queen arrived in Naples in the 17th century, when Vienna's refined coffee houses were already institutions in and of themselves. It's no surprise that similar establishments began to appear in Naples, the capital of the Bourbon Kingdom.
Among the city's most old-school historic cafés, Gran Caffè Gambrinus is the only survivor, sitting at the corner of Piazza Trieste e Trento and Piazza del Plebiscito. As for the other establishments that left an indelible mark on the city's café culture, only a vague memory remains. Though they're no longer around, locales such as Caffè Trinacria and Caflisch along Via Toledo, Caffè d’Europa on Piazza San Ferdinando, and Birreria dello Strasburgo on Piazza Municipio, are remembered with fondness.
Over time, however, new places have arrived on the scene that eventually became points of reference for real-deal Neapolitan espresso, served ristretto (very short) in a piping hot, thick, white ceramic cup. Browse the photo gallery to find some of the best places to do just that.