The 10 Must-Eat Foods in Puglia (And Exactly Where To Eat Them)
Let’s be honest: we travel to eat. And if you’re reading this, chances are you do too. Puglia, the heel of Italy’s boot, completely wrecked our expectations in the best way — not just with its landscapes or prices, but with its food.
From crispy, tomato-laced focaccia to the burnt (yes, burnt) spaghetti that stole our hearts, the food from Puglia is rustic, rich, and absolutely addictive. And don’t even get us started on the cheese.
We’ve narrowed it down to the 10 foods you have to try in Puglia — plus where we ate them and what made them memorable. No filler recs here. Just pure carb-fueled joy.
We covered some of these in our 24 hours in Bari video on Youtube, as well as our foodie road trips!
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What To Expect From Puglian Food:
🍝 Heavy on carbs — pasta, focaccia, and puccia sandwiches are staples
🧀 Cheese that ruins all other cheese (hi burrata + caciocavallo)
🍷 Surprisingly amazing rosé and local reds you’ll want to carry home
🌿 Lots of olive oil, turnip greens, and garlic — it’s fresh, not fussy
🍅 Tomato and seafood heavy near the coast, more meat inland
This isn’t some boring checklist of “local dishes.” These are the best foods in Puglia that we actually ate — the ones that made us stop mid-bite and go, “Wait… this is unreal.” Puglia is where food feels simple but tastes elevated, and it might just ruin you for other parts of Italy.
1. Orecchiette with Turnip Greens
This is Puglia’s signature dish and it sounds weird — bitter greens with garlic, anchovy, and chewy ear-shaped pasta? But trust us, it works. It’s punchy and earthy, with a little spice and just the right hit of salt.
Where we had it: Osteria Da Giuseppe in Ceglie Messapica (our favorite town in the region) which was one of our favorite meals of the trip. The chef literally came out to chat with us and helped us choose what to order. It felt like a real “welcome to our table” moment, and the food was just chef’s kiss.
2. Spaghetti all’Assassina
Also known as “Killer Pasta,” this one totally surprised us. It’s spicy, a little crispy, and purposely burnt. It’s cooked like risotto — the sauce gets absorbed into the noodles and the bottom layer gets crispy from the pan. Weird? Yes. Amazing? Also yes.
Where we had it: Al Sorso Preferito in Bari — the OG spot. We didn’t think we’d be into the burnt thing, but now we’re telling everyone to try it. There’s something wild about the combo of chew and crisp that totally works.
3. Focaccia Barese
Oily. Salty. Crispy on the bottom. Topped with roasted tomatoes and olives. This is not the focaccia you get at the sad salad bar back home. It’s more like pizza’s rustic cousin who’s somehow even more delicious.
Plus, it’s SO CHEAP. If you’re trying to budget for a Puglia trip, this is the thing to eat.
Where we had it: We had it everywhere (it’s the ultimate budget breakfast or snack), but Panificio Santa Rita in Bari is legendary. You’ll need to grab a number from what we called the focaccia bouncer and wait in line — but €4 gets you an entire sheet that you’ll devour in seconds.
4. Panzerotti
Imagine a calzone but fried instead of baked, and way lighter and crispier than it has any right to be. Gooey cheese, tomato sauce, and whatever else you want to stuff inside. Warning: one is not enough.
This is one of the most surprising foods from Puglia to us and we were TOTALLY addicted. If you visit Puglia in the Summer, there is nothing better than sitting on a beach eating fried carby, cheesy goodness.
Where we had it: Two places — La Rotellina in Polignano a Mare (right near the bridge, so you can eat yours with an epic view) and La Casa del Gusto in Bari for a sit-down experience. The first one was grab-and-go perfection, the second felt a little fancier.
5. Rosé Wine
We were not rosé people before Puglia. But this wine? Dry, crisp, a little fruity — it converted us. Perfect with cheese, perfect with pasta, perfect on a sunny afternoon in a cute little courtyard.
Fun Fact: Puglia is the third major rosé producing region of Italy!
Where we had it: Cantina Mir. We loved it so much we bought a few bottles and carried them around in our already overloaded backpacks for the next three months. Worth every ounce.
6. Burrata
Burrata from Puglia (where this Instagram famous cheese was born) is what dreams are made of. It’s mozzarella filled with creamier mozzarella. It doesn’t need anything fancy — just some bread, maybe a drizzle of olive oil, and a quiet moment to reflect on how good life is.
Where we had it: Basically everywhere. But the absolute best burrata we had was fresh off the farm at our cheese-making experience. There’s just no comparing that.
7. Caciocavallo Cheese
This one’s more intense — aged, salty, nutty, and amazing when melted. We loved pairing it with rosé for aperitivo and pretending we were way more sophisticated than we actually are.
Where we had it: Also at the cheese-making tour, where we ate our body weight in local cheese and weren’t mad about it. Would eat it for breakfast again. (We did, actually.)
8. Puccia Sandwiches
Our best tip for Puglia (or anywhere in Italy) is so eat all the sandwiches! And these are rustic, chewy flatbread (kind of like pita but better) stuffed with everything. Salami, cheese, roasted veg, sauces — it’s the crouton of sandwiches and one of the best streets foods in Puglia for a quick lunch.
Where we had it: Lecce, where they’re from. Antica Pucceria Giannone Dal 1941 was our fave — super fresh, super filling, and full of flavor.
9. Pasticciotti
These little pastry boats filled with warm custard will wreck you in the best way. Buttery crust, gooey middle, served warm. They’re from Lecce, and they take dessert seriously.
Where we had it: Pasticceria Natale (the classic) and Caffè Alvino for more flavors. Both were amazing. Honestly, we don’t have a bad word to say.
10. Caffè Leccese
An Italian coffee with ice and almond milk? Yes, and somehow it works. It’s cold, sweet, nutty, and the perfect way to cool off after walking around in the Puglian sun. Even Italians, who normally hate iced coffee, make an exception here.
Where we had it: Caffè Alvino.
PRO TIP: Let the ice melt a bit so the sweetness chills out. Trust us.
Ice pun intended.
Bonus: Taralli
Okay, it’s not a meal, but you’ll get these little crunchy ring-shaped snacks with your wine at tastings and aperitivo. Somewhere between a breadstick and a pretzel. Weirdly addictive.
Now You Can Come Hungry, Leave Obsessed
That’s the Puglian food tour we wish someone had handed us before we went. No fluff, no filler — just the good stuff. We hope you’re already planning how to fit every single one of these into your trip (and maybe leave a little room in your suitcase for wine and cheese).
If you’re thinking, “OK cool but now I want to actually learn how this cheese is made,” we got you. Our cheese-making experience in Puglia was hands down one of the best things we did on our whole trip — you’ll eat your body weight in cheese, sip local rosé, and leave full, happy, and totally spoiled.
READ OUR GUIDE HERE.
And if you’ve already been to Puglia, tell us: did we miss your favorite dish? Did one of these ruin you for life in the best way? Drop your recs in the comments — we’re always hungry.
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