10 Tasty Restaurants in Puglia to Plan Your Trip Around
Heading to southern Italy and want a list of great restaurants in Puglia to try first? We’ve got them here!
Italy is a veritable wealth of beautiful places, stunning scenery, and delicious food, which might also account for all the friendly people who are obviously well-fed and surrounded by beauty every single day.
The sun-drenched region of Puglia in southern Italy is one place that epitomizes this all.
Known for its beautiful azure beaches, ancient olive groves, and Mediterranean coastline, the food in Puglia along with an up and coming wine scene is also one of the most enjoyable aspects of discovering this region.
In Bari, you can still see local pasta-rolling Nonnas lining the streets as they sit and hand-cut the semolina flour & water dough into little ear shaped pasta. So you know the traditional dishes like orecchiette pasta with cime di rapa (broccoli rabe or turnip greens) coming from their kitchens are going to be heaven.
When you’re in Puglia Italy, restaurants still serve ‘cucina povera’, the cuisine often referred to as peasant food for its simple, rustic style using fresh and local ingredients. Simple, fresh, and local are of course the major tenets of Italy’s food culture, and Pugliese cuisine is a reflection of that.
Cucina povera in no way means that flavor is lacking. On the contrary, the region is renowned for their delicious regional food thanks to the top quality ingredients they have access to including fresh seafood, wheat, olives, tomatoes, eggplants, and many other vegetables.
Bari and Lecce are among Italy’s best food cities famous for their historic street food, so don’t miss trying a slice of focaccia Barese, fried Panzerotti turnovers filled with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, and fried slices of polenta known as sgagliozze.
Where is Puglia?
The easiest way to find the gorgeous region of Puglia on a map is literally finding the high heel of Italy’s boot.
Puglia is the flat, coastal region that borders both the Adriatic and Ionian Seas and seems a mere stone’s throw from Mediterannean Greece and Albania and Montenegro in eastern Europe.
Where to Stay in Puglia
Before we cover where to eat in Puglia, may we recommend a few great places to stay? If you’re not yet familiar with Puglia, it’s a big place, so picking a good central base from which to explore is key to visiting Puglia.
Like many places in Italy, Puglia isn’t always the easiest to get around from north to south, and coast to coast. Getting around a place like Bari, Lecce, Brindisi and other places are fairly straightforward once you’re there, but getting from town to town can sometimes be slow going.
We recommend basing yourself in one place, renting a car and exploring out from there. Our suggestions for where to stay? Ostuni, Polignaro a Mare, Bari, Taranto, or Lecce are all good choices and some of the best places to stay in Puglia.
Stay in a local masseria, Puglia’s version of an agriturismo but less country and more B&B. Masseria Potenti outside Manduria, or Masseria Moroseta in Ostuni are both lovely places to stay and are centrally located to easily get around and see the region.
If you’ve seen the cute stone houses with the cone-shaped roofs, these are the traditional trulli houses found in Alberobello and the surrounding countryside.
If you’re longing to stay in one, below are two beautiful trullo worth checking out, or checking in!
Trulli E Puglia Resort
Alberobello
The family-run Trulli e Puglia Resort is a traditional stone trulli characteristic of Alberobello. Located in the desirable historic center, the houses are completely restored and feature charming stone walls, kitchenettes, a large living room and a private bath. Some even have a private patio!
Check current rates and availability.
Truly Trulli
Alberobello
There are several beautiful units you can rent at Truly Trulli, all with a/c, free WiFi, private bath, and access to a shared garden with an outdoor swimming pool. Not to mention all this, in an ideal location!
The units are fully-equipped with kitchens and a dishwasher, and feature tiled floors, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a private bathroom with bidet and a hairdryer. A terrace with garden views is offered in all units.
10 unforgettable Restaurants in Puglia
When it comes to choosing a restaurant to eat in Puglia, the good news is that the majority are all super delicious. Many towns (excluding Alberobello) are yet to see mass tourism arrive, which means that the quality of restaurants is very local. Here are some of our favorites to try in 2023:.
1. Caffé Alvino
Piazza Sant'Oronzo, 30, 73100 Lecce LE
This is more of an Italian bar rather than a restaurant, but this very popular spot is one of the best restaurants in Lecce and well worth the visit.
It’s conveniently located in the main piazza just across from the Amphitheatre, so head for lunch at the historic Alvino after a few hours of sightseeing or shopping. They are renowned for their baked delights.
What to order at Caffe Alvino?
You absolutely cannot skip a simple lunch here with a rustico pastry filled with piping hot tomato passata and mozzarella cheese! Follow it up with the famous caffe’ Lecesse drink - a shot of coffee on ice and mixed with almond syrup.
2. Zio Pietro
Via Duca D'Aosta, 3, 72014 Cisternino BR
This is a butcher shop by day and trattoria by night — a popular occurance in the white-washed town of Cisternino in the Valle d’Itria.
Cisternino is particularly famed for its excellent meat dishes, so if you’re a fan of grilled meats (and less of seafood) then this restaurant is a good choice is for you.
What to order at Zio Pietro?
Don’t skip their mouthwatering "bombette," which are made of rolled-up pieces of meat stuffed with cheese and prosciutto, and grilled over charcoal.
3. Trattoria La Locanda dei Mercanti
Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 44, 70043 Monopoli BA
This seafood taverna is a vibrant, loud and bustling restaurant in the heart of Monopoli. Restaurants like La Locanda dei Mercanti are for seafood lovers who will be on cloud nine here as the menu is packed with freshly caught fish from that morning.
What to order at La Locanda dei Mercanti?
A popular delicacy in Puglia is ‘crudo’ or raw fish and this is the perfect place to try it! Order a plate of carpaccio, and choose from the famous red prawns, sea bass, or octopus. Seafood pasta with clams and prawns is also on the menu and a delicious choice.
4. Al Sorso Preferito
Via Vito Nicola De Nicolò, 40, 70121 Bari BA
This restaurant is one of the best restaurants Puglia has to offer, and a Barese institution. Perfectly casual, grab a table outdoors in the evening and watch the locals going about their evening activities.
Given its proximity to the sea and the port, Al Sorso Preferito is known for its fresh seafood dishes, which are prepared using locally caught fish and other seafood.
What to order at Al Sorso Preferito?
Do not miss their famous Spaghetti all’Assasina! Many other restaurants in Bari now offer similar dishes, but this is the original.
It’s essentially a refried spaghetti pasta with a little chili and tomato sugo but cooked on the pan until it gets extra crispy and even a little burnt. It might not sound the most appetizing, but believe us when we tell you it’s delicious!
5. Bistro Garibaldi
Piazza Plebiscito, 13, 74015 Martina Franca TA
Located in the heart of the Itria Valley, Martina Franca, this is a real authentic local town. Head straight to Bistro Garibaldi if you’re looking for something a touch more modern than the other suggestions as this restaurant is known for its creative cuisine. It combines traditional Puglian ingredients and techniques with modern and innovative cooking styles.
What to order at Bistro Garibaldi?
One of the signature dishes of Bistro Garibaldi is "orecchiette with meatballs," which is a classic Pugliese dish with a spicy tomato sauce and shaved parmesan cheese.
6. Carlo Quinto
Via Santa Maria, 52, 70043 Monopoli BA
Carlo Quinto is one of the restaurants in Monopoli with the very best views! This casual restaurant/bar is along the Lungomare offering a stunning view of the sea.
The best time to visit is close to sunset as you can watch the sky light up pink and the moon appear as if resting on the blue Adriatic Sea. This is a great restaurant for a lighter dinner, aperitivo or drinks.
What to order at Carlo Quinto?
There are lots of yummy sharing plates at Carlo Quinto making it an ideal restaurant for a group. Try their crudo served with lemon, sea salt and olive oil; charcuterie boards loaded with fresh baked bread, local meats and cheese; or more filling plates like seafood pasta.
7. Mastro Ciccio
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 15, 70122 Bari BA
This Barese gourmet sandwich bar is an incredibly delicious and popular spot amongst the locals. It is famous for its "panino imbottito" (stuffed sandwich) which is made with a variety of local and regional ingredients. Head here at lunchtime for their famous panini filled with fresh fish, local cured meats, cheeses, meats and vegetables. Be prepared to queue up - it’s just that popular!
What to order at Mastro Ciccio? The incredible Panini!
The most famous sandwich at Mastro Ciccio is the "panino con la bomba," aka a "sandwich with a bomb." This tasty panino is made with a special type of bread that is filled with a mix of local cheeses, vegetables, and cured meats. The bread is then topped with a spicy pepper paste that gives the sandwich its explosive flavor.
Other popular panini to order include the "panino con la salsiccia" (sandwich with sausage), and the "panino con il polpo" (sandwich with octopus).
8. La Bottega del Corso
Via Giuseppe Libertini, 52, 73100 Lecce LE
This lovely bar is one of those restaurants in Lecce on a vibrant street in the center of the action. You know the kind — perfect for grazing and Aperitivo!
It gets extremely popular during the summertime as there are only a few tables outside and no seating indoors, maybe because it’s the ideal place to head to when you don’t feel like a big meal and just want some nice drinks and a few snacks.
What to order at La Bottega del Corso? Tagliare!
This is the place to order grazing platters known as tagliare, filled with incredible meats and produce from the Salento. Tagliare means “to cut” and each platter comes with a variety of cut cured local meats, cheeses, and vegetables that perfect for grazing.
Some of the most popular meats include the "capocollo", a type of cured meat made from pork neck, and the "burrata," a type of creamy cheese that is made from mozzarella and cream.
9. Pescaria
Piazza Aldo Moro, 6/8, 70044 Polignano a Mare BA
Pescaria is actually a small chain restaurant found throughout Italy - but don’t let that put you off, as it’s simply delicious and nothing like chain restaurants you might find in the States. It is famous for its fresh seafood dishes that showcase the flavors of the Adriatic Sea. Whilst open for both lunch and dinner, it’s a casual atmosphere that makes it perhaps better suited to a light lunch.
What to order at Pescaria?
One of the most famous dishes at Pescaria is of course the "crudo di mare," which is a raw seafood dish that typically includes fresh raw fish, shellfish, and crustaceans. Another popular dish is the "frittura di paranza," which is a mixed seafood platter that includes fried fish, squid, and shrimp.
10. Osteria del Caroseno
Via Santomagno, 18, 70013 Castellana Grotte BA
This is a beautiful traditional restaurant with a few rooms available on-site to stay the night. The restaurant is down a little street with no car access which adds to the charm as it feels a little bit hidden from view. It is famous for its traditional Apulian cuisine that showcases the flavors of the region.
What to order at Osteria del Caroseno?
One of the most famous dishes at Osteria del Caroseno is the "orecchiette alla pugliese," which is a traditional pasta dish made with small ear-shaped pasta, broccoli rabe, garlic, and chili pepper. Another popular dish is the "fave e cicoria," a typical ‘cucina povera’ dish made with fava beans and chicory, a leafy green vegetable that is popular in the Puglia region.
Visit Puglia
Inspried to visit Puglia? No matter where you eat, enjoy the discovery of some of the best restaurants in Puglia Italy and their fabulous use of fresh and simple ingredients, rustic preparations, and bold, earthy flavors.
About the Author
Olivia Windsor is an Australian who moved to Italy in 2019 and has been there ever since. After living in Turin for several years and meeting her Piemontese partner, she now calls Rome home. Olivia is the writer of the travel blog Livguine and Instagram Livguine and designs and hosts multiday small group tours in lesser-known regions around Italy including Puglia.
A committed foodie, she is currently undertaking her Italian Sommelier exams and never goes long before thinking about her next meal.