The best restaurants Pouilles-Calabre-Basilicate

It's not easy to offer vegan cuisine without resorting to the endless soy steaks! The challenge is taken up by this address which finds its inspiration in the diversity of the beautiful products of the land of Puglia, declined in unexpected associations, embellished with wild herbs, spices, dried fruits. It's good, it's tasty, and the simple reading of the map creates curiosity. To be tested with children (without announcing the colour beforehand) to be able to observe them delightfully swallow the vegetables they sulk at home!

Close to the station, in a modern room with a careful and design decoration, the Peppo offers at any time of the day traditional dishes (cavatelli with wild boar and cardoncelli mushrooms) and more innovative suggestions (tuna in taralli crust), plates that are both generous and aesthetically pleasing. Young and dynamic team; behind the bay window you can see the staff busy in the kitchen. Good selection of wines of the day. In the morning, you can have breakfast there. A pleasant address with good value for money.

Situated at the entrance to the old town, in the pretty and romantic Piazza Mercantile, La Cecchina offers a fine cuisine and well-stocked plates. Choose between the interior setting, where the modern decoration harmonizes with the old stones and the vaulted ceiling, or the terrace overlooking the square and the first buildings of the old town. In both cases, an ideal place for a successful candlelight dinner. Typical Apulian recipes, fresh fish of the day, good pasta, and a beautiful wine list.

You really have to know the place or be caught by the tasty smells of the pizzas on the street to get to this small place, located next to the Santa Chiara church. An arty atmosphere, very colorful and warm, with a choice of six kinds of pizzas of all sizes to eat in or take away. Large rectangles sprinkled with cheese, mushrooms, salmon, arugula and other flavorful ingredients are displayed, offering a pleasure for the eyes that will be confirmed by that of the taste buds. Nice selection of local beers.

On the large terrace on the edge of Piazza Mercantile, or in the cosy room with partially exposed stone walls, one can appreciate the atmosphere of this address and its simple and well-made Apulian local cuisine. The menu takes us on a journey from Bari, with its fresh fish and orecchiette alla brasciola (slowly simmered meat rolls), to the Itria Valley with its cold meats and bombette (slices of pork stuffed with local cheese). Antipasti of land and sea in profusion.

A trendy establishment that offers a concept of street food from the sea to be enjoyed take away or on the spot. A whole range of raw fish and seafood, in tartar or carpaccio, or cooked in fried and panini, accompanied by grilled vegetables and enhanced with a touch of organic olive oil are prepared before your eyes. La Pescaria also offers its vegan menu, which is very popular here in southern Italy! But beware, this new place is also a victim of its own success and will certainly ask you to be patient on weekends!

Just a stone's throw from the historic centre, in a lovely alleyway, an exclusively local cuisine, with some rather successful innovations by the chef. As a starter, the platters of cold meats and cheeses allow you to discover the beautiful regional products, and you can order several antipasti to pick up your choice of stuffed and fried rice balls and vegetable fritters. Finally, the pizzas are excellent and the restaurant offers a fine selection of regional wines. Friendly staff and very good value for money.

In the shade of the cathedral, under the stone vaults, Bitonto is also to be discovered in the plate! New flavours, a passionate chef, fresh produce, a treat. In this former priest's canteen, you can enjoy antipasti, fish carpaccio, linguine with cockles and artichoke cream. Dishes in which Chef Emanuele transmits all his love of the profession; he does not fail to come and greet customers, and his cuisine is also open to curious gourmets. Possibility of traditional cooking classes.

Located on the outskirts of the new city, Taiki Sushi offers, as its name suggests, Japanese cuisine. The restaurant fills up every evening, so don't forget to book! In a young and lively atmosphere, people come here to enjoy sushi and makis prepared in front of you, seafood ramens and tempuras, or simply to have a drink to breathe the atmosphere of the place. It is also the occasion to taste a Japanese or Italian beer. For a change from the local cuisine! You can order your takeaway meals online.

After a visit to the historical centre full of charm, this is the place to come to discover the reputation of Noci's cuisine. A menu of traditional dishes, both land and sea, will be presented to you. And you will immediately recognize a family cuisine that warms the heart and reassures waiting stomachs. On the menu, raw and cooked antipasti, seafood, orecchiette alle cime di rapa or with tomato and pecorino, local meats and fish. A restaurant very appreciated by the locals!

Since 1973, this popular local address has been preparing pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven with beautiful seasonal ingredients. The frame? The one of a simple but cheerful pizzeria.

The ideal address to eat on the go, in a pleasant setting, in the heart of the historic centre, and for really cheap. The team has imported the piadina from Emilia Romagna, a culinary speciality consisting of a thin round cake made from wheat flour and lard or olive oil, salt and water, which is topped with fresh and tasty products, prepared and (sometimes) grilled in front of you. We loved the piadina with freshly cooked aubergines, with its drizzle of olive oil, but also the vegan kebab. To discover without fail!

For more than 50 years, the Rosetta Pizzeria (named after the wife of the first owner) has been a success story. The reason? A real Neapolitan pizza baked over a wood fire, elastic and delectable, topped with carefully selected ingredients and drizzled with olive oil rigorously salted. Traditional or more refined toppings, such as the Rosetta pizza with mushrooms, radicchio, bresaola and grana padano, or the Patata pizza with potatoes, sausage, rosemary and gorgonzola. All without breaking the bank.

Behind the Palazzo Ducale, this trattoria is dedicated to good traditional cuisine, but mischievously revisited by chef Martino. In the dining room, it is Rosa who provides the service with enthusiasm. As an antipasto, you can't do without the capocollo of own production accompanied by burrata. Delicious pasta dishes and, in season, creamy and fragrant porcini mushroom risotto. Meat lovers will appreciate the lamb cooked at low temperature, mixed grills and suckling pig with wine and plums. A tasteful stopover!

Remarkable restaurant located in the elegant Tenuta Monacelle and its famous trulli. The chef Pierluca Ardito has created a refined cuisine of local and seasonal produce, made with products "à kilometer zero". Dishes of the Apulian tradition, impeccably executed and beautifully presented, with a balance of finesse and without superfluous frills. The bread to accompany the meal and the desserts are homemade. The ideal place for a romantictête-à-tête and to cut yourself off from the modern world. Excellent service.

A place full of charm and well known by the locals. The flowered terrace, open in summer, gives this simple and unpretentious place an extra magic. In the large, airy, rustic room, you will be served simple, good and unpretentious local cuisine, concocted by the chef and owner of the house, Mr. Peppino "himself". The establishment also serves as a piano bar, ice-cream parlour and pizzeria. In short, a versatile address with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere and a smiling and friendly staff.

Along the Via Mercadante, which surrounds the historic centre, a small square opens up below, closed off by three white houses with pointed gables that seem to come out of a fairy tale: this is where this typical address is nestled. At the arrival of fine weather, the terrace invades the square and the stairs, in a very good-natured atmosphere. Excellent local specialities combining the search for flavours and generosity. To try: the suckling pig in crust cooked with negroamaro wine and sweet and sour onions, and the homemade laurel digestif.

You can't visit the old town without getting caught by the smell of their tasty focaccia! Don't miss the opportunity to buy a small part before you go to the specialty of Monopoli.

Two kilometres from Otranto, a top-of-the-range restaurant set in a superb 13th century farmhouse with a breathtaking view from the terrace. The masseria is immersed in nature, surrounded by meadows and olive trees, with the Adriatic Sea as a backdrop. The cuisine draws its inspiration from local recipes and local products, with a predilection for fish and seafood. Among the specialities not to be missed are the linguine di Capo d'Otranto. A quality address for a restful getaway just a stone's throw from Otranto.

One of the few good addresses in the old town. This family trattoria revives the traditional recipes of Puglia, specialities of fresh or seasonal fish, and concocts very good pizzas with fresh products. Opt for the copious pizza menu, with antipasto and dessert, to taste several specialities of the house. Beautiful vaulted room and pleasant terrace in good weather. On your way out, don't miss a short digestive and night walk on the port, located just in front of the restaurant.

A pastry shop and a bar, which defines itself as the temple of sweets of Foggia. In a décor full of charm, it attracts a large clientele, rather young and intelligent. The offer is vast, from classic cornetti to doughnuts, brioches and pies. You can taste the famous setteveli of Foggia, a cake composed of seven layers (sette veli means "seven veils") alternating cocoa biscuit, fondant chocolate mousse, Bavarian hazelnut cream, etc. It is perfect for an aperitif accompanied by appetizers.

A small bar to eat on the thumb. It offers a multitude of light, salty or sweet dishes, pastries and ice cream (excellent!). Here, moreover, the products are gluten free.

A renowned restaurant in the city where you can enjoy excellent fish and seafood; a sure bet for many years. This trattoria also offers very good value for money. There is no menu here. Every morning, the owner of the restaurant goes to the port to stock up and then prepares the dishes of the day that will be offered to the customers, specialities inspired by family recipes. It's a treat every time. Calamari, octopus, braised or filleted fish are particularly appreciated by the locals!

Situated in the historical centre of Ceglie, this restaurant-bar and wine bar, housed in a 17th century monastery carved out of the rock, is one of the gastronomic temples of Puglia. Excellent cuisine that reveals all the richness and flavours of rural traditions and local products. All this in a setting that perfectly respects the venerable character of the place. The assortment of antipasti, cold cuts, pasta and even soups are a delight. With the added bonus of attentive staff and good wines. Small garden open in summer.

In the heart of the city, a small corner of Puglia in a stone, vaulted room to enjoy traditional Mediterranean cuisine. The chef proposes a fresh fish of the day cooked according to his mood. If the menu mainly honours seafood, carnivores are not forgotten, and seasonal vegetables offer them good company. As an appetizer, you will taste the octopus in a truffle carpaccio version, and then the risotto with tuna and zucchini flowers. A good address where you don't make your wallet explode!

Two wooded areas, one inside, the other in an outside courtyard. Traditional seafood cuisine with some inventive notes. Large assortments of antipasti of raw and cooked fish, shellfish and seafood, and pasta with sea urchins, cockles, mussels... The prices of the day's fish are indicated per kilo and vary according to the arrivals at the market. Chic and discreet service for a slightly secluded address, in the calm of the euphoria of the port. The establishment also has charming rooms for a romantic stay.

In the old area, on the terrace, we advise you to taste and even abuse antipasti of the sea.

This restaurant has existed for a century and has not changed its location, still on a small island accessed by a bridge. Some people come here by motorboat, which they moor along the terrace. The chef prepares typical local and seafood specialities based on fish with guaranteed freshness. You can choose this one at the counter and ask for the desired method of preparation. Otherwise, the menu offers tempting suggestions, such as raw or cooked antipasti from the sea and pasta with cuttlefish ink and sea urchin cream.

The jalantuùmene were, in the local dialect, the wise men of old (lawyers, teachers, doctors). Today, the jalantuùmene of the kitchen are the owners of this famous address, installed on a small picturesque square. The quality of the dishes is based on natural, peasant recipes, prepared with know-how. Try the pancotto (bread baked by the farmer with vegetables from the Gargano), orecchiette with courgettes, almonds and pecorino, or costolette di capretto, venison chops with thistles, potatoes and lemon.

At the end of an alley leading to the ramparts, a slightly hidden but very popular establishment. The room is pleasant and elegant. The cuisine, essentially regional and seafood, offers the classics of the region in elegant plates where the flavours are sought-after and balanced. On the menu, purple potato gnocchi with mussels and bottarga, fish soups from the Adriatic, meat in a herb crust from the Gargano. Bread, pasta and desserts rigorously homemade. A warm welcome for a quality address.

Passing the old sign with the inscription "Caffè Batafore", you first enter the tea room and then arrive at the restaurant room, vaulted and decorated with period objects, with an old-fashioned atmosphere. Delicious traditional cuisine featuring kilometre-zero products and seasonal vegetables. Typical dishes such as fave e cicoria (bean purée with chicory), pasta, local cheeses and fish. At weekends, the restaurant hosts theme evenings related to the traditional cuisine of Puglia.

On 13 February 1503, a dispute took place between Italian and French soldiers, the famous "Barletta's challenge". The theatre of this dispute was a tavern run by Baccio da Rieti, a mysterious character who, according to legend, offered a poisoned digestive to get rid of the awkward customers! Rest assured, this tavern has now become a popular restaurant with many varieties of local and ultra-fresh fish. The chef cooperates with the best fishermen of the port. Characterful address to immerse yourself in the culinary magic of Barletta.

A local cuisine, lovingly revisited in the restaurant of Franco Ricatti, one of the most famous pubs and rewarded with Michelin star. The map plays seasonally and Mediterranean cuisine with malice.

Just a stone's throw from the Duomo, in the intimate and warm setting of a typical "viestese" vaulted room dating back to the 15th century, with its exposed stones and diffused light, the restaurant offers traditional cuisine of fresh fish, fresh pasta, lamb and goat meat from the region, all with an exemplary freshness. Beautifully set plates and associations of sought-after flavours. A good address popular with locals and tourists alike. There are also a few tables in the tiny stairway.

Traditional, neat, intimate and authentic... In short, a small address just the way we like it. Rosaria (Rirì for the intimate ones) is in the ovens, preparing a cuisine that follows the market arrivals and honours the local products. The assortment of antipasti offers a good overview of the local specialities, and the pasta dishes are excellent, in the pure Apulian tradition: orecchiette with tomato and cacioricotta, paccheri with seafood... Pleasant room under the stone vaults, and a small terrace in the street when the weather is nice.

Situated in the heart of the small streets of Monte Sant'Angelo, this is a rustic and elegant, but very busy restaurant that can accommodate large tables of pilgrims, families and tourist groups. The establishment offers a simple and generous cuisine, without artifice, with antipasti to share, grilled or baked meats and fish, dishes of pasta and seafood and good grilled vegetables. In the evening, the restaurant also offers good pizzas. Friendly welcome and very good value for money.

On the walls of Gallipoli, next to the Church of the Purità, there is a sign of high standing well known to all the inhabitants. A traditional cuisine is served here, based exclusively on fish. L'antipasto di mare offers a fine assortment of specialities (raw tuna, octopus salad, marinated anchovies, mussels au gratin). Good seafood pasta, grilled fish and succulent oven-baked scampi in a salt crust, flavoured with parsley and oil. A good fresh white wine from the region will be served with it! Reservation recommended in season.

Enjoy a cup of coffee or a cold drink on the terrace, as well as cocktails and sushi. 

The best panzerotti (stuffed pizza slips) from the city according to the premises!

In the center of the ancient heart, next to the Convitto Nazionale convent, this trattoria-pizzeria offers the country's specialties: pasta and land flavors like sea. You should taste the sausage-pepper pizza or the interesting menus that include several dishes, first, secondo with 1/4 of water and wine.

On the small village square, an address where you come especially for pizzas, crispy and very digestible. There are also antipasti of raw fish, cold cuts and regional cheeses, various seafood pasta dishes, fried fish and baked caciocavallo. A family address where you are welcomed with a smile. Professional and attentive service and good value for money, all under the watchful eye of Padre Pio, whose portrait sits above the kitchen door!

Bakery with many sweet and savoury specialities.

A sure value, a typical restaurant with good traditional dishes and quality local products. The antipasti are a must in the house: copious and varied, made up of local cheeses and cold cuts, grilled vegetables and small custards, they could be self-sufficient! Good pastais also a treat for everyone. A generous and comforting cuisine. It feels like home and the welcome is charming!

It's the best pizzeria in town, in a modest setting and with ridiculously low prices! The dough is light and very digestible, filled with quality ingredients. The menu offers a wide choice of pizzas and focacce, from the classic margherita to the original pizza with baccalà and peperoni cruschi (crispy sweet peppers). Very well located, just in front of the castle, this address allows you to be bathed in the warm atmosphere of the Venosian evenings. The efficient service and the extremely welcoming and friendly staff will win you over.

Situated in a district built after the 1964 earthquake, this address is packed every noon, bringing together regulars, businessmen and workers from the surrounding area. The festivities begin with a buffet of deliciously prepared local products, followed by a pasta appetizer, and conclude with the main course of one's choice. The food is very good and copious. Beyond the quality of the products and their delicate preparation, one is really seduced by its local atmosphere, lively and warm.

The only restaurant (not trattoria) of Castelmezzano! Its creative menu and leader who participated in the 2015 Expo in Milan attracted the curious. Small advice: if you have trouble choosing, order cavatelli with sausage on a bean cream, or the black pig cooked at low temperature with lemon scented potatoes and chicory, and dessert, cold cream cream with wild fennel seeds and ficotto di Pisticci (juice obtained from an endemic variety of figs in the Metaponto region).

Maratea's famous and chic restaurant, especially for its beautiful terrace overlooking the tourist port (it is quite small: plan to book a table there in the summer!). It is in this romantic setting that you can enjoy excellent seafood-based cuisine. The tartars are very good, as well as the antipasti which allow you to pick among various specialities. In addition, the staff is charming! A sure value as far as the quality of the food and the atmosphere are concerned, a little less as far as the wallet is concerned ..

A simple restaurant-pizzeria, very popular with locals and with a warm family atmosphere. Varied and typical cuisine of pasta, fish and meat, but also a menu dedicated to vegetarians. The menu is very extensive; to get a glimpse of the local culinary traditions, one should preferably turn to the suggestions of primi and secondi lucani: pasta with chickpeas, cime di rapa, lamb and pork meats, baccalà with crushed peperoni (fried and crispy sweet peppers). The establishment also has a pizzeria.

Here, the clientele is popular and the address is recommended by the locals. One is welcomed in a good mood, either in the informal room or on the flowered terrace from where one can admire the sunset at dinner time. The cuisine is mainly based on fresh seafood. Everything is tasty and served in generous portions, from antipasti to fried fish, spaghetti with vongole and linguine with cuttlefish ink. The white wine of the house, a falanghina, is very pleasant.

For many, the pizzas in this osteria, prepared the old-fashioned way without yeast, are the best in town. Here, it's a family affair: daddy with the pizza and Graziano, the son, back from France, in the dining room. The restaurant's policy is to satisfy its customers by offering quality food at reasonable prices. A success, the products are good, the antipasti and pasta dishes are copious and the note is not very salty. The terrace is always full, but we advise you to go and see if the table at the back of the restaurant is free.