The Best Food and Wine Experiences in Puglia: What To Eat & Drink

One thing is guaranteed on any trip to Italy: delicious food and wine!

Italian cuisine is revered all over the world for its fresh, high quality ingredients and rich yet simple flavors that celebrate tradition, seasonality, and regional diversity. But you probably knew that. 

You’ve likely already dined at Italian restaurants in your country or even cooked your own Italian dishes at home, but trust us when we say you must experience the real thing at least once in your life. In addition to the local ingredients and authentic preparation, you also get to enjoy Italian food culture. You’ll taste the passion in every bite, and see the devotion of the staff of every restaurant you go to. Add in a great atmosphere, and you’ll be in foodie heaven. 

There are delectable treats to be found in every corner of the country, but you really won’t want to miss out on the cuisine in Puglia (also known as Apulia). Located on the southern tip of the country, Puglia produces a large percentage of Italy’s fruits, vegetables, wheat, and olive oil. And, since it sits between the Ionian and Adriatic seas, there’s no shortage of fresh and delicious seafood.

You’ll come for the views and stay for the food. And if you need recommendations, look no further. We’ll be sharing the best food and wine experiences in Puglia below!

Apulian Cuisine: Traditional Foods From Puglia

With its mild, sunny climate and fertile soil, Puglia offers the ideal conditions for a long growing season. You’ll find a lot of fresh produce all year round, from olives and grapes to tomatoes and figs. 

Apulian cuisine is simultaneously rich, hearty, healthy, and fresh. It combines the best of land and sea from the region, and tastes even better accompanied by local wine. 

You’ll find plenty of options to delight your taste buds, but you definitely won’t want to miss out on these regional specialties:

• Orecchiette pasta – typically garnished with ingredients like broccoli, turnip tops, mussels, anchovies, sun-dried tomatoes, or ricotta. 

• Spaghetti all’assassina – a unique type of spaghetti that’s sauteed in broth rather than boiled to create a crunchy texture.

• Focaccia Barese – a soft yet crunchy bread with fillings like cherry tomatoes, olives, peppers, and aubergine.

• Panzerotti – crescent-shaped turnovers stuffed with savoury or sweet fillings.

• Tiella Barese – rich layers of rice, potatoes, and mussels accompanied by onions, cherry tomatoes, and cheese.

• Friselle bread – a crunchy, dry bread that resembles a bagel; best topped with fresh veggies, cheeses, olive oil, and pepper. 

• Mussels arraganate – this dish adds a crispy texture to mussels with a generous sprinkling of breadcrumbs. It can also be used with anchovies.

• Melanzane ripiene – aubergine cooked in tomato and stuffed with cheese, sometimes meat, and breadcrumbs.

• Burrata – a rich and creamy soft cheese that you can try on its own or with other dishes.

• Taralli – perfect for snacking on with your aperitif, taralli are small crispy breads that come in various flavours.

• Pasticciotto – a typical Apulian dessert or sweet snack, these pastries have a rich custard filling. 

The Best Restaurants In Puglia

Of all the fantastic dining options in Apulia, these are the ones you’ll really want to try.

Osteria del Tempo Perso, Ostuni. This restaurant combines Puglia’s breathtaking landscapes with its delicious regional dishes. The restaurant is built inside of a cave, which already sets you up for a unique experience. But it’s not just about the striking interior – the food is also excellent, featuring a diverse menu with plenty of meat, seafood, and veggie dishes. 

Taverna del Porto, Tricase. For rustic seaside dining, head to this charming eatery. Their seafood is as fresh as possible and the views are incredibly peaceful. The Taverna offers a few different seafood platter options, so you’ll be able to enjoy a bit of everything. 

Trattoria Iolanda, Lucugnano. This charming restaurant is as close to home-style cooking as it gets. A family-run restaurant since 1970, Trattoria Iolanda offers traditional dishes from Salento made with ingredients from the family’s local farm. Everything is handmade, from the pasta to the olive oil. You’ll be able to taste the love with every bite.

Grotta Palazzese, Polignano a Mare. Of course, we have to include Grotta Palazzese. Built into the side of a seaside cliff, the Grotta has become world-famous for its spectacular views and ambiance. It may not be as quaint or rustic as some of these other options, but it’s an Apulian landmark for good reason.

The Best Wineries In Puglia

With its numerous sprawling vineyards, Apulia is one of Italy’s best regions for wine. Try it directly from the source at one of these beautiful wineries.

Antica Enotria, Cerignola. A family-run organic farm and winery, Antica Enotria has several different options for tours and tastings on their stunning property situated right beside the sea.

Masseria Li Veli, Salento. With an elegant estate and fantastic selection of wine, a visit to Masseria Li Veli will leave a lasting impression. Their tasting experiences will give you a guided tour of the property and insight into production techniques, followed by a chance for you to enjoy the fruits of their labour. 

I Pastini, Valle d’Itria. Another family-run winery, I Pastini’s tours and tastings offer great insight into the world of winemaking. The lush estate offers great views of the neighbouring towns while still creating the feel of a countryside escape, and the wines are only created with grapes from the vineyard.

Enjoy An Intimate Dining Experience In Your Affordable Apulian Luxury Villa

If you’re the type of traveller that still enjoys a home-cooked meal on holiday, you’ll definitely want to find a luxury villa in Puglia to rent. As nice as it is to enjoy meals out, sometimes you just want a kitchen where you can do your own thing. An Apulian luxury villa will let you do just that. 

At Borgomadre, our affordable luxury villas in Puglia have everything you need to create an intimate dining experience in your home away from home. Our modern kitchens are fully equipped with everything you need to create your version of a traditional Apulian dish or a home comfort. And there’s not just one kitchen – if you prefer to dine al fresco beside the citrus groves, you can also whip up your favourites in the outdoor kitchen and BBQ station. 

Your luxury villa rental in Puglia can also serve as the ideal location for a private cooking class or dine-in experience – simply reach out to us and we’ll arrange it for you.

To book your dream foodie getaway, contact us today!