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

Amid the stone vaults and vine-leafy, light-dappled courtyard of this highly acclaimed old-town osteria turned Slow Food destination, the freshest Pugliese meat and produce are transformed into exquisite tapas-like dishes. Be sure to ask the amiable owner to show you his wine cellar and equally impressive cheese larder, where he personally controls the maturing process.

One of Diamante's most popular restaurants, in the old town center just off the seafront promenade, has atmospheric stone interiors. In the summer, sidewalk tables are the perfect relaxed place to watch the evening passeggiata while savoring inventive fish dishes.

Renowned local culinary experts run this cove-ceilinged trattoria, where traditional Salentine cuisine is treated with both respect and originality. The white-walled interior is stark, but there's plenty of character in the simple, tasty fare and the gregarious chatter of local families. Menu mainstays include ciciri a tria (homemade pasta partly boiled and partly fried, with chickpeas), rice with potatoes and mussels, and crispy deep-fried squid.

Run by genial Giuseppe, this family-run trattoria serves classic seafood dishes in a relaxed, modern dining room. Freshly netted catch are heaped on hearty plates, like insalata di mare (seafood salad), seafood cavatelli pasta, and grilled gamberoni (prawns).

With an open kitchen and a veranda—so you can keep an eye on both the chef and the azure waters of the Golfo di Policastro—there's always something to see at this family-run seafood restaurant. Even better: it serves some of the freshest catches in town, with specialties like linguine con nero di seppia (with cuttlefish ink sauce), grilled squid, and grigliata mista (mixed grilled fish and seafood).

The dining area is carved out of a cliff, and the terrace overlooks the famous Sassi ravine. From both you can enjoy such rustic specialties as foglie d'ulivo (stuffed olive leaves), zuppa di grano e ceci (cheese and chickpea soup), and pignata (lamb stew with seasonal vegetables).

Welcoming and rustic, this eatery is set inside adjoining trulli, complete with dark-wood beams, whitewashed walls, and a patio for summer dining. It's a certified Slow Food restaurant, so local ingredients figure prominently in the traditional, often seasonal dishes. Try the antipasto dell'Aratro, which is almost a meal in itself, or the orrecchiete with anchovies and cime di rapa (broccoli rabe)

Within shell-like earshot of the sea, this professionally run trattoria with sleek white interiors and a panoramic terrace serves some of the finest seafood in the Salento. Expect classic Pugliese salty preparations like crudi, grigliate, and fritture (raw, grilled, and fried) beautifully cooked and elegantly presented.

Local families favor this tiny old-fashioned trattoria, where no-frills charm is matched by wholesome, unfussy food. Cucina casereccia (home-cooked) specialties include polpo in teglia (stewed octopus), baccalà al forno (baked salt cod), and the ubiquitous rustic purè di fave e cicoria (bean puree with wild chicory).

Built on wooden piles in the shadow of Aragonese Castle, this restaurant—in business for more than a century—seems to float like a ship in the bay by the bridge connecting new town with the island that contains the borgo antico. Its flower-filled terrace has outdoor tables in summer; in winter, eat inside and enjoy the view through panoramic windows.

On an old-town side street, this laid-back restaurant occupies two caves, where ancient rough-hewn stone walls contrast with elegant table settings. The service is friendly, and local seasonal dishes include antipasti mainstays like eggplant Parmesan or salumi di Martina Franca, as well as both meat and fish secondi.

Since the 1960s, this basement restaurant in the historic center has offered Tropea's top seafood dining experience, with such specialties as pasta with monkfish and almond pesto, smoked swordfish and prawns on red Tropea onions, and gnocchi filled with tiny clams and creamed pistachio nuts. The splendid sea views from the rear windows (ask for the tavolo in nicchia panoramica) are a surprising—and substantial—reason to head here. There are also five guest rooms on-site.

Don't be put off by its nondescript modernist street location, as Opera delivers a well-crafted menu of superb-value seafood dishes, from sushi-style antipasti to beautifully prepared fillets of sea bream. The always innovative food is served on arty tableware in the smart yet welcoming contemporary space or on the street-side terrace outside.