3 Best Restaurants in Puglia, Basilicata, and Calabria, Italy

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.

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.

For a great-value on-the-hoof snack, pop into this tiny, popular place for filled panzerotti (deep-fried pockets), friselle (crunchy durum-wheat bread), and schiacciatella Romana (pizza-like flatbread). Check the board for daily specials, including meaty ragù sauces and seafood like polpi (octopus) to fill your freshly fried pockets.