Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria Restaurants

We’ve compiled the best of the best in Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.

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  • 1. Al Dragone

    $$$

    Dine on exquisite Gargano fare at this atmospheric eatery set in a natural grotto just next to the cathedral in the heart of the old center. The menu is dominated by locally caught fish, and although dishes draw on traditional recipes, you can expect the occasional innovation. The wine cellar, visible through a glass window in the restaurant floor, contains an exhaustive selection of great Pugliese producers. There's a smaller, more intimate room downstairs that serves as restaurant and piano bar. Dimora del Dragone offers five modern rooms and a lovely suite, all with fab views.

    Via Duomo 8, Vieste, Apulia, 71019, Italy
    0884-701212

    Known For

    • Beautifully crafted seafood dishes
    • Gorgeous setting
    • Impressive wine cellar and cigar selection

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. and mid-Oct.–Mar.
  • 2. Caffè Vergnano 1882 Amendola

    $

    Grand stone rooms and a pretty terrazza sprouting olive trees make this a flexible and fab venue to breakfast, brunch, and lunch—and to socialize with evening drinks. As well as a constant stream of excellent coffee, they do a selection of pastries, great-value daily specials (pasta for just €6), and various snacks.

    Via Amendola 128/B, Bari, Apulia, 70126, Italy
    080-5586586

    Known For

    • Historic stone building and courtyard seating
    • Daily pasta, grilled meat, and veggie dishes
    • Evening buffet and DJ sets
  • 3. Cibus

    $$

    Amid the stone vaults and vine-leafy, light-dappled courtyard of this highly acclaimed old-town osteria turned Slow Food destination, the freshest Pugliese meat and produce are transformed into exquisite tapas-like dishes. Be sure to ask the amiable owner to show you his wine cellar and equally impressive cheese larder, where he personally controls the maturing process.

    Via Chianche di Scarano, Ceglie Messapica, Apulia, 72013, Italy
    0831-388980

    Known For

    • Gorgeous setting
    • Friendly service and Slow Food ethos
    • Noteworthy wine and cheese

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
  • 4. Garibaldi Bistrot

    $$

    The location—right on the piazza by the Duomo, with tables outside and a cool whitewashed dining room inside—is what initially draws people to this restaurant. But it's the tasty Pugliese produce used in simple salads, antipasti, pasta dishes, and classic seafood or meat mains that keeps people coming back.

    Piazza Plebiscito 13, Martina Franca, Apulia, 74015, Italy
    080-4837987

    Known For

    • Heaping salads and bountiful bruschetta
    • Stunning spot on the piazza
    • Great value and service
  • 5. Hippocampus

    $$$

    Renowned for its simply crafted dishes made with the freshest seasonal catch, Cosenza's best seafood restaurant has (appropriately enough) a minimalist, blue-and-white, nautical-theme interior. Guided by a waiter, you might start with a selection of antipasti to share, followed by a classic pasta allo scoglio (spaghetti with mixed seafood) and a main fritto misto di mare (medley of fried seafood).

    Via Piave 33, Cosenza, Calabria, 87100, Italy
    0984-22103

    Known For

    • Exceptional, superfresh seafood
    • A chef happy to create vegetarian dishes
    • Unfussy, welcoming vibe

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun. No lunch Tues.–Fri.
  • Recommended Fodor’s Video

  • 6. La Locanda di Alia

    $$$

    International food magazines have lauded this restaurant, where the wine cellar is well stocked and renowned chef-owner Gaetano Alia incorporates local produce and imaginative twists into the Calabrese dishes on the changing menu. La Locanda also has guest rooms in its adjoining Alia Jazz Hotel, which is surrounded by a lush garden and has a swimming pool.

    Via Ietticelli 55, Castrovillari, Calabria, 87012, Italy
    0981-46370

    Known For

    • Award-winning but unpretentious cuisine
    • Candele pasta with spicy Calabrese 'nduja sauce
    • Gorgeous setting with a leafy terrace

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun., Reservations essential
  • 7. Vitantonio Lombardo

    $$$$

    An open kitchen and contemporary table lamps heighten the culinary theater of Matera's fanciest restaurant, set in a cool, minimalist Rione Sassi grotto. The chef's innovative tasting menus feature vibrant seasonal creations served on artsy ceramics and in wooden bowls.

    Via Madonna delle Virtù 13/14, Matera, Basilicate, 75100, Italy
    0835-335475

    Known For

    • Glass-screened wine cellar
    • Imaginative, changing tasting menu
    • Exquisite bread and olive oil

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch Wed.–Fri.
  • 8. A' Cucchiarella

    $$

    One of Diamante's most popular restaurants, in the old town center just off the seafront promenade, has atmospheric stone interiors. In the summer, sidewalk tables are the perfect relaxed place to watch the evening passeggiata while savoring inventive fish dishes.

    Via Cavour 6, Diamante, Calabria, 87023, Italy
    0985-877287

    Known For

    • Exceptional seafood with arty presentation
    • Good vegetarian options
    • Handsome stone-walled dining rooms and a terrace

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.–Thurs. Oct.–Mar.
  • 9. Al Gatto Rosso

    $$$

    Set in a handsome Stile Liberty palazzo, with outdoor seating and a smart, minimalist dining room, the well-regarded "Red Cat" has been serving elegant seafood since 1952. The third-generation owner and head chef Agostino Bartoli is renowned for his innovative dishes using the freshest fish and seasonal vegetables.

    Via Cavour 2, Taranto, Apulia, 74123, Italy
    340-5337800-mobile

    Known For

    • Raw seafood antipasti
    • Delicious gelato and semifreddo desserts
    • Near MArTA

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
  • 10. Alle Due Corti

    $$

    Renowned local culinary experts run this cove-ceilinged trattoria, where traditional Salentine cuisine is treated with both respect and originality. The white-walled interior is stark, but there's plenty of character in the simple, tasty fare and the gregarious chatter of local families. Menu mainstays include ciciri a tria (homemade pasta partly boiled and partly fried, with chickpeas), rice with potatoes and mussels, and crispy deep-fried squid.

    Corte dei Giugni 1, Lecce, Apulia, 73100, Italy
    0832-242223

    Known For

    • Cookery courses
    • Hearty, tasty Pugliese food
    • Anthony Bourdain dined here for his Parts Unknown series

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
  • 11. Antica Trattoria Comes Dal 1926

    $$

    Run by genial Giuseppe, this family-run trattoria serves classic seafood dishes in a relaxed, modern dining room. Freshly netted catch are heaped on hearty plates, like insalata di mare (seafood salad), seafood cavatelli pasta, and grilled gamberoni (prawns).

    Via Pompeo Sarnelli 14, Polignano a Mare, Apulia, 70044, Italy
    080-4248888

    Known For

    • Superb Pugliese seafood antipasti
    • Big helpings, big value
    • Cold cuts, cheeses, and Angus steaks

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Wed. No lunch Sun.
  • 12. Caffè Alvino

    $

    This historic caffè-gelateria is in the heart of Lecce, with handsome interiors and seating out on Piazza Sant'Oronzo. From early morning to late at night this is a buzzy place where Leccesi come to meet and refuel on classic Salentino pastries like pasticciotti (ricotta- or egg-filled pastry) and zeppole. Those after savory can feast on local cheeses like burrata and hot aperitivi snacks like arancini and croquettes.

    Piazza Sant'Oronzo 30, Lecce, Apulia, 73100, Italy
    0832-246748

    Known For

    • Arguably the best pastries in town
    • Great coffee and gelato
    • Centrally located
  • 13. Da Cesare

    $$

    With an open kitchen and a veranda—so you can keep an eye on both the chef and the azure waters of the Golfo di Policastro—there's always something to see at this family-run seafood restaurant. Even better: it serves some of the freshest catches in town, with specialties like linguine con nero di seppia (with cuttlefish ink sauce), grilled squid, and grigliata mista (mixed grilled fish and seafood).

    Via Nazionale Cersuta 52, Maratea, Basilicate, 85046, Italy
    0973-871840

    Known For

    • Seafood dishes aplenty
    • Open veranda with views
    • Prominent position on coastal road

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Thurs. Nov.–Mar.
  • 14. I Vizi degli Angeli -- Laboratorio di Gelateria Artigianale

    $

    As befitting the "artisan gelato laboratory" moniker, this whitewashed parlor with vibrant colors has an array of vegan-friendly and alchemical ice-cream combos. Among the more unusual "angels" vices' flavors served in coppe (tubs) and freshly made coni (cones) are pineapple and ginger, lavender and licorice.

    Via Domenico Ridola 36, Matera, Basilicate, 75100, Italy
    0835-310637

    Known For

    • Refreshing granita di melone
    • Fruity smoothies
    • Icy frappè and caffè shakerato
  • 15. Il Poeta Contadino

    $$$

    There are actually two eateries here, but far superior is the well-regarded Poeta Contadino, which specializes in regional cooking with a creative twist and offers a refined dining experience amid candlelight that casts shadows on ancient stone walls. If you're on a budget, though, the more affordable Osteria del Poeta also serves bite-size traditional dishes.

    Via Indipendenza 21–27, Alberobello, Apulia, 70011, Italy
    080-4321917

    Known For

    • Exquisite seafood and meat dishes
    • Stunning vaulted ceiling
    • Extensive wine list

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Thurs., Reservations essential
  • 16. Il Terrazzino

    $$

    The dining area is carved out of a cliff, and the terrace overlooks the famous Sassi ravine. From both you can enjoy such rustic specialties as foglie d'ulivo (stuffed olive leaves), zuppa di grano e ceci (cheese and chickpea soup), and pignata (lamb stew with seasonal vegetables).

    Vico S. Giuseppe 7, Matera, Basilicate, 75100, Italy
    0835-332503

    Known For

    • Stupendous views
    • Classic Basilicata meat dishes and fresh pasta
    • Interesting interiors (including a spectacular three-level wine cellar)

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
  • 17. L'Aratro

    $$

    Welcoming and rustic, this eatery is set inside adjoining trulli, complete with dark-wood beams, whitewashed walls, and a patio for summer dining. It's a certified Slow Food restaurant, so local ingredients figure prominently in the traditional, often seasonal dishes. Try the antipasto dell'Aratro, which is almost a meal in itself, or the orrecchiete with anchovies and cime di rapa (broccoli rabe)

    Via Monte San Michele 25–29, Alberobello, Apulia, 70011, Italy
    080-4322789

    Known For

    • Diligent use of local produce
    • Classic regional fare
    • Gorgeous trulli venue

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Reservations essential
  • 18. La Trattoria di Vincenzo

    $

    This cheerful family-run hostelry a few miles outside Cosenza, in the hamlet of Castiglione Cosentino, offers an authentic Calabrian experience, with dishes highlighting maialino nero (local black pork), Podolica beef, truffles, pistachios, and wild mushrooms. In the homey dining room, locals feast enthusiastically—perhaps starting with a wooden board piled with salumi and formaggi—at tables adorned with brightly checked tablecloths.

    Via Ponte Crati 1, Castiglione Cosentino, Calabria, 87040, Italy
    0984-401828

    Known For

    • <PRO>hunks of local black pork and Podolica beef sizzling at your table</PRO>
    • <PRO>Calabrian cured meats and cheeses</PRO>
    • <PRO>friendly and family run</PRO>

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.
  • 19. La Vinaigrette

    $$

    Within shell-like earshot of the sea, this professionally run trattoria with sleek white interiors and a panoramic terrace serves some of the finest seafood in the Salento. Expect classic Pugliese salty preparations like crudi, grigliate, and fritture (raw, grilled, and fried) beautifully cooked and elegantly presented.

    Riviera Armando Diaz 75, Gallipoli, Apulia, 73014, Italy
    0833-264501

    Known For

    • Well-considered wine list
    • Pick from the freshest catch on display
    • Sea views and sushi-like crudi like tuna tartare
  • 20. Le Zie Trattoria Casereccia

    $$

    Local families favor this tiny old-fashioned trattoria, where no-frills charm is matched by wholesome, unfussy food. Cucina casereccia (home-cooked) specialties include polpo in teglia (stewed octopus), baccalà al forno (baked salt cod), and the ubiquitous rustic purè di fave e cicoria (bean puree with wild chicory).

    Via Costadura 19, Lecce, Apulia, 73100, Italy
    0832-245178

    Known For

    • Warm hospitality
    • Genuine local color and cuisine
    • Best to book ahead

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Closed Mon. No dinner Sun.

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