5 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.

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.

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.

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.