Insider’s Guide to Puglia’s Cuisine, Coastline & Countryside

The insider advice on this page is from two of Wendy’s Trusted Travel Experts for Puglia: Antonello Losito and Alison Pike of Southern Visions.

Trusted Travel Expert

Antonello Losito and Alison Pike

Puglia is where Italians come to eat. Its spectacular Adriatic coastline also makes it the hot new alternative to the traffic-clogged Amalfi Coast just a couple of hours to the west. The ultimate local experts are Antonello Losito, a Puglia native and former professional cyclist, and Alison Pike, a Brit who has lived there for more than a decade. While Antonello roams Puglia’s rural villages finding and creating unique experiences, Ali will interview you in order to design a custom itinerary of Puglia and/or Sicily, another Italian region that she knows very well. (They’re both supported by deputy Elisa De Pascali, who is Puglia-born-and-bred and accustomed to working with VIP travelers.) Ali will balance hikes and bike rides with stops at a local farm for a burrata-making session, or at an olive grove for an oil tasting with a family who’s been in the business for generations. If you want adventure without the sweat, Ali can arrange hot-air balloon rides, sailing trips, and self-drive itineraries along roads that will make you feel like you’ve stepped back in time. And she won’t let you be fooled by star ratings: She’s personally handpicked the small hotels that offer something unique and the luxury properties that deserve their reputation, as well as a handful of private villas with five or more bedrooms.

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Expect trips orchestrated by Antonello and Alison to start at $850 per day for two travelers, which includes the most charming 4-star accommodations and authentic local experiences. (Adding the Amalfi Coast starts at $1,100 per day.)

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Where to Stay and Eat

First, a word about hotel locations: Despite having miles and miles of coastline, Puglia has very few lodgings that are actually located on the water. Also, most hotels are not within walking distance of a town where you can stroll to shops and restaurants.

Best bang-for-your-buck hotel
Masseria Montenapoleone is a beautifully restored farmhouse with just 20 rooms in the very heart of Puglia. What makes this place stand out from other lodgings is how the owners have lovingly restored every detail to maintain harmony with the original architecture, and above all with nature. Rates are very reasonable, and you will feel the family’s dedication to quality and well-being during every minute of your time here.

Best-value splurge hotel
Palazzo Bozzi Corso. This nine-room palace, in the heart of Lecce’s old city, represents the ideal union of the antique and the contemporary and is a must for art lovers, as some suites contain numerous pieces by leading artists.

Suite Jacques Zwobada at the Palazzo Bozzi Corso. Photo: Southern Visions Travel

Restaurant the locals love
Trattoria Terra Madre. This is the absolute best restaurant in the trulli capital of Alberobello (which is otherwise full of rather touristy eateries). A little off the beaten track, but within walking distance of the main trulli district, the restaurant champions locally grown seasonal produce and serves delicious dishes with a focus on vegetables.

L’Altro Baffo. With understated decor and an informal atmosphere, this restaurant in the heart of Otranto’s old town consistently delivers. The catch of the day or any of the pasta dishes are Alison’s favorites.

Alison and Antonello can arrange a private dinner like this in Salento. Photo: Giovanni De Sandre

Pescheria Due Mari. Imagine a fishmonger crossed with a champagne and oyster bar. This small restaurant in Savelletri specializes in the highest-grade raw fish (a local delicacy), although there are a few cooked dishes on the menu. Order the tartare selection for a mouth-watering discovery of tuna, prawn, and white fish, all prepared differently. There is only outdoor seating, but it is shaded.

Dish to try
Burrata. This irresistible cheese, mozzarella’s wildly indulgent cousin, comes from Puglia and is strictly to be eaten on the day it is made. A hands-on burrata-making experience is a great insider look at the area’s culinary traditions and guarantees a tasting of the freshest cheese you’ll ever try!

Meal worth the splurge
Sale Blu, in Capitolo. It’s hard to get a bad meal in Puglia since locals eat so well in their own homes—why would anyone pay for something substandard? But what makes Sale Blu stand out is the combination of refined cuisine with a stunning location, right on the water. It’s one of the most romantic places to dine in the whole region, and the chef has revisited traditional dishes with a contemporary twist.

Waterside tables at Sale Blu, the restaurant at the hotel La Peschiera. Photo: Southern Visions Travel

What to See and Do

Don’t miss
The monumental olive trees. There are more olive trees in Puglia than there are people in Italy: over 60 million! But what makes them special are their size and age. The central area of Puglia is home to the highest concentration of ancient olive trees anywhere in the world, and they are magnificent natural monuments. Lose yourself in their incredible sculpture and energy.

Grizzled ancient olive trees, set off by a field of wildflowers in Puglia. Photo: Alison Pike

Don’t bother
Grotta Palazzese. The location of this cave restaurant is extraordinary, but the food is overpriced and a little underwhelming.

Most Underrated Place
Bari. Puglia’s prosperous seaside capital is often overlooked by tourists. Wander the tangled streets of the old town and visit the grandmas who make pasta on the narrow lanes outside their homes. The city also boasts a lovely seafront promenade and a shopping street with many designer European brands.

Giovinazzo is a more tranquil alternative to hotspots like Monopoli. Photo: Southern Visions Travel

Hidden Gems
The northern fishing ports of Trani and Giovinazzo. These absolutely charming seafront towns are steeped in tradition, stunning architecture, and the freshest seafood—and they are much more tranquil throughout the year compared to famous hotspots like Polignano a Mare and Monopoli.

Bragging rights
Alison and Antonello can send you octopus fishing with locals. This is a beautiful, behind-the-scenes experience of real life in Puglia. You depart on tiny fishing boats, known as gozzi, just before sunrise. As you approach the cliffs of Polignano a Mare, the sun appears over the horizon, bathing the sea and the coast in a truly spectacular light. Spend an hour or two on board chatting with the fishermen, all characters themselves, and learning how they catch the legendary octopus.

Hunt for octopus with local fishermen off Polignano a Mare. Photo: Giovanni De Sandre

The grandmother, or nonna in Puglia, is a truly loved and cherished figure. Share a wonderful meal with a group of delightful older ladies, starting by preparing the food together, and finishing with stories told alongside their black-and-white photos. This is a deep dive into the way of life in Puglia, where locals highly value both family and the importance of sharing food and tales together.

Learn how to make pasta from an Italian nonna. Photo: Giovanni De Sandre

Have dinner on a trabucco; these are old fishing platforms, made out of wood and extended over the water. Huge cogs and levers would allow the fishermen to cast enormous nets into the shallow waters of the Adriatic and then raise them to haul in the catch. Alison and Antonello’s travelers can hear about the old fishing traditions and then enjoy an exquisite meal on a trabucco, served by a private chef and based on the day’s catch.

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