The Best Restaurants in Puglia to Try the Finest Puglia Foods
Our guide to the finest authentic Puglia foods along with the best restaurants in which to try them.
Anyone that knows us will know that food is a big part of any holiday for us! With the incredible talent that Italians have for creating the most wonderful dishes, it’s not a coincidence that we chose to specialise in villas in Italy. It sometimes feels that Italian food just gets better and better the further south you travel. So, situated in Italy’s heel, you can expect the food in Puglia to be pretty special! Here are our favourite restaurants in Puglia to dine on these delicious delicacies followed by our top 10 foods to try on your next Puglia holiday.
Restaurants for Authentic Puglia Food
There are some absolutely wonderful restaurants across Italy. Eating out in Puglia is no exception. Often, the most unassuming restaurants can provide the most exceptional cuisine. The food is varied, often simple but always delicious! Most of the land in Puglia is rural – for perspective the region’s 66 million olive trees produce 40% of Italy’s’ olive oil – and so food tends to focus on using this abundant local produce, including fava beans, courgette, rocket, artichokes, fennel, peppers and durum wheat. The latter is used to make their ‘orecchiette’ which are little ear-shaped shells, often served with sauces including broccoli, ragu or mushroom as well as their bread, served in all shapes and sizes! The rocky land is also home to livestock, particularly sheep and cows, with lamb reigning supreme on menus!
Many of the cheeses are also ovine in extraction with pecorino and ricotta frequently served. Mozarella is also popular as is our favourite – burrata – a fresh, soft cheese that should almost ooze with creaminess when cut, and which must be eaten within 24 hours of production. And, of course, with such a long coastline, fish and shellfish also appear in abundance on menus. In fact, the region supplies 80% of Italy’s seafood.
The food in Puglia is, in our opinion, the best in Italy, no doubt in large part to the fact that it’s low on airmiles and rich in taste.
Here are some of our favourite restaurants in the region which we like to recommend to our clients. We’ve listed them by location, to help you find the perfect place to dine wherever you happen to be sightseeing!
Puglia Restaurants in Locorotondo
Pizzeria Quantabasta: A fantastic pizzeria serving some of the best pizzas we have ever tasted! There are plenty of tables outside but it still gets full in peak season. However, the family also own a nearby restaurant – Pizzeria Casa Pinto – which is just as good. Again, plenty of tables outside as well as a roof terrace.
Bina Ristorante di Puglia: A more formal, fine dining option which also offers a tasting menu to allow you to try a number of the local specialities. Stunning setting with white tablecloths and beautiful cream coloured stone walls. The staff are always really friendly and welcoming. The only downside is the lack of any outside seating but don’t let this put you off.
Trattoria Al Vecchio Arco: This is a really typical family-run Italian restaurant with no menu. Instead you will be told what is fresh that day.
Ai Tre Santi: In the heart of the pedestrian centre of Locorotondo is this small restaurant with tables outside on the pavement. The menu changes daily according to what is fresh and in season.
Trattoria Centro Storico: A simple, rustic style ‘trattoria’ serving high quality, home-cooked dishes. Great quality and generous servings!
Puglia Restaurants in Martina Franca
Il Ritrovo degli Amici: A small, elegant restaurant run by a husband and wife team, serving beautifully cooked regional dishes. In Summer fine dining takes place outside on the terrace. Booking is recommended and the restaurant is more suitable for adults than children.
Paradiso di Puglia: Some great local specialities are served here, including orecchiette and trofiette. Traditional style restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating areas.
Puglia Restaurants in Monopoli
Il Guazzetto: Perhaps not surprisingly, given it’s location on the coast in Monopoli, this is a great place to sample raw fish… it’s superb!
Osteria Perricci: Fantastic fish and sea food as well as other options on the menu
Puglia Restaurants in Ostuni
Osteria del tempo perso: A beautiful restaurant in the heart of Ostuni, built into a cave and with an oven dating back to 1500 so a great historical setting! Varied menu with plenty of options for those on gluten free diets or who are vegetarian. There is also an option to enjoy a cookery class here.
La Gilda: This is ideal for more informal dining, and is certainly a great option for a light bite at lunchtime, enjoying lovely sea views.
Puglia Restaurants in Lecce
In Lecce, definitely take the time to try L’Angolino di Via Matteotti. It’s a great place selling traditional and authentic Puglian cuisine. Definitely try the traditional Puglian savoury flatbread – puccia – if you try out this place. They will stuff it with a variety of flavours and it’s delicious!
Puglia Restaurants in Ceglie Messapica
Puglia is renowned even amongst Italians for its exceptional food. And this town is certainly amongst the best in delivering amazing flavours and cuisine. Some of our favourite places here include:
Osteria Pugliese: A great osteria in the centre of the town serving absolutely delicious, authentic Puglian cuisine.
Osteria del Capitolo: This is another excellent chance to try traditional fantastic Puglian cuisine in a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Agostino DivinGustare: A popular family run restaurant.
If you’re just looking for an ice cream whilst sightseeing to cool off, then our favourite in the town is Bar Roma. And to try the local delicacy ‘biscotti cegliese’ head to Bar Centrale. It’s a delicious biscuit made of almonds and with a cherry inside.
Puglia Restaurants in Carovigno
Casa Mia on Via M. Serao is a fantastic pizzeria which you could easily walk past without noticing but it serves superb quality pizzas and other traditional dishes. It is extremely popular with the locals so unless you’re planning on eating early before the locals arrive, it’s advisable to try and book a table. Closed Wednesdays.
Puglia Restaurants in Alberobello
La Cantina: A tiny restaurant serving superb quality Puglian cuisine. As it’s so small, it gets booked up quickly so definitely book a table in advance. As one of the most visited towns in Puglia, our advice it to try to stay off the main tourist trail in Alberobello. Look down the side streets and you’ll nearly always get better value and very often better food too.
Top Ten Puglia Foods
Anyone that knows us will know that food is a big part of any holiday for us! With the incredible talent that Italians have for creating the most wonderful dishes, it’s not a coincidence that we chose to specialise in villas in Italy. It sometimes feels that Italian food just gets better and better the further south you travel. So, situated in Italy’s heel, you can expect the food in Puglia to be pretty special! Here are our top 10 foods to try on your next Puglia villa holiday, followed by our favourite restaurants in Puglia to dine on the delicious delicacies.
1) Taralli
Taralli are small ring shaped pieces of dried bread, similar to a breadstick or pretzel. If you’re planning on enjoying an aperitivo or two during your Puglia villa holiday, then these are a perfect snack with a glass of white wine at sunset. These small snacks can be sweet or savoury. The sweet ones are often glazed in sugar and go perfectly with a bit of Nutella. On the other hand, the savoury versions are often flavoured with garlic, onion, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, pepper or just salt. These are a must try if you are in Puglia and you can usually find them in supermarkets or small shops.
2) Orochchiette
Translated as ‘little ears’ these small pasta shapes are delicious. To make this unique shape the pasta is cut up into small cubes, before being pressed with a knife on a board to make it curl. Orochiette can be served with any sauce but it is commonly served with some kind of sausage or meat sauce. The traditional recipe includes a bitter tasting vegetable that looks similar to sprouting broccoli – cima di rape – but all the recipes are equally delicious!
3) Burrata cheese
This cheese originally came from the city of Andria in Murgia in Puglia. The cheese has a soft and creamy texture and goes perfect with tomatoes, basil, grilled bread, roasted vegetables or prosciutto. Burrata was first made over 100 years ago from just three simple ingredients – cow’s milk, rennet (which is an enzyme that comes from the stomach of an unweaned calf) and cream. We highly recommend trying this traditional dish! And as it’s so simple to put together, it is the perfect choice for lunch or a starter during your Puglia villa holiday.
4) Olive oil
Puglia is known for it’s delicious olive oil due to it producing around 40% of the Italy’s olive oil each year (which is around 300,000 tonnes). You will be able to find local olive oil in small village shops and it’s the perfect accompaniment with some fresh bread. Many shops also sell flavoured olive oil such as chilli oil which is delicious on a pizza.
5) Focaccia
All over Italy there are different recipes for focaccia but the traditional way to eat it in Puglia is served with cherry tomatoes and a sprinkling of oregano on top. It is also commonly seen in a circular shape in this region and is more common than pizza. Focaccia can also be served with olives, caramelised onions or with just salt and rosemary. We highly recommend trying this local dish during your Puglia villa holiday if you haven’t already.
6) Altamura bread
This bread was originally made in the city of Altamura and dates back to the Roman times. The latin poet Horace described it as ‘the best bread in the world’. It is made from durum wheat flour and is a circular shape. Its thick crusts ensures that it lasts longer than other types of bread and we recommend you try it with some local olive oil or as bruschetta.
7) Pasticciotto
A type of Puglian filled pastry which can be sweet or savoury. If you are a fan of the Spanish Pasties de Nata then this is the Italian equivalent. It is a pastry filled with egg custard often eaten for breakfast or as a morning snack. We recommend you treat yourself to one of these delicious pastries especially if you are staying in or near Lecce on your Puglia villa holiday. You won’t be able to resist!
8) Panzerotti
This is very similar to calzone however a panzerotti is often a fried turnover rather than an oven baked one. Popular fillings include tomato, sausage, mozzarella, peppers, olives, mushrooms and many more. The name panzerotti comes from ‘panza‘ which translates literally as the ‘belly’. This is because the pocket filled pastry resembles a belly bloating! These are perfect for lunch or dinner.
9) Tiella
Another traditional Puglian dish which can be easily made at home after your visit. The dish is named after the pan in which it is traditionally served and the rice is made in a more Spanish style due to it originating in the 16th century during the time when this part of Italy was under Spanish rule. The dish includes mussels, potatoes, rice, tomatoes and lots of herbs. Pair it with a glass of white wine for the perfect serving!
10) Pettole
These are small puffed up balls of dough which are soft and fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. They are yet another dish which can be eaten with sweet or savoury filling and toppings. Savoury pettole are often seen with chopped anchovies or olives inside whereas sweet pettole can be eaten by just sprinkling some sugar on top.
Puglia Chef Service: Personalised Puglia Food
Bookings For You are pleased to be able to offer the services of a private chef during your stay in Puglia. A professional Puglia chef will come to your holiday villa in Puglia and prepare before your very eyes a delicious 3 course menu. Enjoy the very best of Puglian cuisine without even having to take a step outside your holiday home.
How about enjoying some freshly made orecchiette with cime di rapa, followed by a delicious fish dish making the most of the wonderful seafood that the Puglian region enjoys off it’s long coastline. Or perhaps you would prefer to try one of Puglia’s traditional meat dishes. Of course, all will be accompanied with plenty of delicious vegetables. Puglia is a predominantly agricultural region and good, fresh produce is in abundance.
The cost of the service is 300 euros plus the cost of the food and beverages which will be charged for locally. A receipt will be provided showing the cost of the food purchased. The chef will visit the local market in the morning to source the very freshest ingredients so we always recommend that guests give the chef as much flexibility as possible to create his menu. However, for those with food allergies or strong food preferences, we can, of course, tailor the menu to suit you. For those preferring to work to a set budget, we can also set a maximum spend on food items.
Please contact us directly for more information or to book in the Puglia chef service during your stay. We recommend booking a few weeks ahead of your holiday to guarantee availability for your requested dates.
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