Where to Eat and Drink in Salento (Puglia)

Located right on Piazza Sant’Oronzo in the heart of town, Caffè Alvino is one of the city’s classic meeting spots. If you’re short on time, this is the perfect place to try some of Lecce’s most iconic specialties: rustico leccese filled with tomato and béchamel, custard-filled pasticciotti and the famous caffè leccese, espresso served over ice with almond syrup.

This is one of those places that really feels like you’re eating in someone’s home. You ring the doorbell, step inside and get seated in one of the two dining rooms, often with a direct view into the kitchen. They cook simple, homey dishes inspired by old farmer recipes, things like fave e cicorie (fava bean purée with bitter greens) and pezzetti di cavaddhru (horse meat stew in tomato sauce). Warm, unfussy and very local.

A simple, rustic spot where you can try traditional dishes from the Salento area and an eggplant Parmigiana to die for. Opened in the 1970s in what was once a wine shop, it’s the kind of old school trattoria that stays busy most nights, with quick service and generous portions, so come expecting something casual and lively. And if you still have room for dessert, don’t skip the toasted dried figs stuffed with almonds.

Often considered the gateway to Salento, Ostuni is known for its whitewashed old town, maze-like alleyways and sweeping views all the way to the Adriatic Sea. Osteria del Tempo Perso is by far my favorite place to eat here. The food is consistently delicious, but the setting is what makes it truly special. You dine in old stone caves with dishes served on beautiful locally made ceramics. In a town that has become increasingly touristy, this still feels like a little piece of heaven.

Grottaglie sits in the northern part of Salento, where the landscape carries traces of the wild Murgia and the nearby Ionian coast. After a morning of shopping for local ceramics, head to this tiny osteria run by Maria Carmela and Manolo, who serve seasonal dishes made with exceptional ingredients from nearby producers. Everything from the ancient grain bread to the mains feels carefully chosen and deeply connected to the territory. Their tagliolini al limone e gambero rosso are unforgettable.

Tucked away in a small alley behind Nardò’s main square, this is a real hidden gem. The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious and the food deeply comforting. Expect dishes like ciceri e tria, maritati al pomodoro fresco and excellent local meatballs, all served at incredibly honest prices.

Located along the sea walls in the heart of Gallipoli, La Puritate is one of those classic restaurants you really can’t go wrong with. The setting is beautiful, especially on a sunny day, with views over the water and a menu focused on fresh local seafood. Their raw shellfish, seafood pastas and local fish dishes are all excellent, and the atmosphere somehow still feels relaxed despite being one of the town’s best-known spots.

Perched directly above the Ionian Sea, this is one of Gallipoli’s most beautiful spots for a seaside lunch or sunset dinner. The menu combines impeccably fresh seafood with a slightly modern touch, from raw shellfish and red prawn carpaccio to refined takes on classic pasta dishes. The terrace overlooking the water is reason enough to come, but the excellent service and atmosphere make it even more memorable.

Hidden in the countryside near Supersano, Le Stanzie feels like stepping into another era. Surrounded by olive groves and filled with stone rooms, fireplaces and details from rural Salento life, this historic masseria offers one of the most authentic dining experiences in the region. The fixed menu is rooted in local traditions and begins with an endless selection of antipasti before moving on to homemade pastas, meat dishes and delicious desserts, much of it made with ingredients produced on the estate itself. Make sure to reserve well in advance as tables book up quickly and the owners intentionally keep the place relaxed and never overcrowded.

Small, intimate and beautifully understated, Piccola Osteria is one of those places where you immediately feel how much care goes into every detail. Chef Paolo Metrangolo takes traditional Salento cooking and gives it a lighter, more contemporary approach, always with incredible attention to ingredients and seasonality. If you can, go for the tasting menu, which is thoughtful, creative and full of surprises.

Sitting right on the small port of Tricase, this is one of those places both locals and tourists seem to fall in love with. The menu changes almost daily based on the catch, the seafood is incredibly fresh and you can hear the waves while you eat. Also, their fried fish and spaghetti con le cicale are some of the best I’ve had in Salento.

Eating here feels like stepping into your nonna’s kitchen. Open since 1970 and still run by Mrs Iolanda and her family, this tiny trattoria in the village of Lucugnano serves some of the most traditional cooking in inland Salento. If the weather is nice, book a table outside in the small alley, but make sure to peek inside too, where fresh pasta is still made by hand every day. Order the mixed antipasti, one of the homemade pastas and, if you still have room, the pezzetti di cavallo.