Groceries
Always check opening times, some smaller shop close at 13:00 and reopen only at 17:30/18:00
DOK (Lequile): the local supermarket. You will be able to find most things. Very close by.
SPAR (Lecce – 5 minutes): well stocked supermarket. On the opposite side of the road, there is a place selling the freshest mozzarella.
CONAD (Cavallino – 10 mins drive): large store, you can find most things you are looking for.
Antonio Ortofrutta (Lequile – 5 mins walking): this guy has the freshest fruits and vegetables in town.
Panificio Rosato (Lequile – 5 mis walking): the local bakery. Great bread, focaccia and sometimes even some parmigiana . Go there on time, no later than 13:00.
Macelleria Amato (5 mins walking): great butcher, just around the corner.
Pastificio Piemontese (5 mins walking): the freshest pasta and ravioli. Made while you wait. Go there early.
Wine shops:
Wine & More (Lecce – 10 mins drive): our favorite wine shop. You can find many interesting labels and a great selection of spirits too.
Vinopolis (Lequile – 2 mins drive): a local wine shop, very friendly service. Perfect if you need some wine or any other spirit.
Pizzeria
We love some good Neapolitan style pizza from time to time. Our favorite ones:
Convivio (Lequile – walking distance): The place has a nice garden in the summer. Indoor space is not very charming, but the pizza is amazing. A good take away option too.
400 gradi (Lecce): quite modern and large space. No reservation possible, just queue in line and go there before 20:00 if you do not want to wait too long. Not necessarily a place to spend the entire evening, but a fantastic and award-winning pizza is awaiting.
La Santa and Barrueco (Santa Caterina – 30 mins): two restaurants located in the picturesque town of Santa Caterina. We love this little sea village the most: cute, small, mostly locals. Exactly what you are looking for a dinner.
Drinks:
Quanto Basta (Lecce – 10 minutes): the best bar around here. Their cocktails are great and innovative. Nice vibe for an aperitivo or later in the evening.
Fish restaurants:
Al vecchio molo (San Foca – 30 mins): this is our favorite fish restaurant in Salento. The quality is high and they are a bit more creative than most other fish restaurants. It is located in San Foca, not necessarily our favorite beach town, but worth the trip.
Taverna del Porto (Tricase porto – 45 mins): it is quite a drive, so combine it with a trip to the southernmost tip of Puglia where the sea is stunning. A very nice taverna, lovely view. You want to eat there once. A great option for lunch too.
La Dogana (Lecce – 10 mins ): You will find the freshest fish there and their wine list is very good. The place is a bit sleek, so check it out before, to see if you are in the mood.
Local Apulian restaurants:
Lilith (20 mins): very good food and service. The setting and especially the outdoor garden is the ideal place for a dinner in summer or a long lazy Sunday lunch. One of our favorites around here.
Hostaria Arete (Cavallino – 10 mins): a nice and romantic place to taste local food, cooked with quality ingredients. Reserve well in advance.
Tra due fuochi: (Lequile – 5 mins): a cozy local restaurant, with a good service and very high quality food. Reservation needed at least 2 days in advance.
Beach clubs:
It really depends on what you are looking for. The choice is between sand and stone and between the Adriatic and Ionic side. So, plenty to choose from:
Mora Mora Beach (30 mins – Adriatic side): we like because it is a quiet place with nice people. Their restaurant has a fantastic view and is located right at the beach. Perfect place for a beachside lunch and having a nap afterwards at the beach.
Lido Posto 9: (1 hour drive – Ionic side): it is not close by, but we like it because it is one of the few beach clubs with a good fish restaurant right at the beach. Service is very good and friendly and they have a very nice clientele. We know it is a long drive, but maybe combine it with a trip to Taranto or Grottaglie.
Salsedine beach (Santa Maria al Bagno - 30 mins): built on the rocks, it has a fantastic access to the water. Take your googles and snorkel set, it will be worth it. Since it is rocky, it is not very kid friendly and do not forget to take your water shoes with you .
If you need any tips or assistance, feel free to contact Francesca, she will be happy to share her insights and favourite places
Discover Puglia by visiting:
Grottaglie (1 hour): think of a cute village, full of ceramists. We love the work of Nicola Fasano and Antonio Fasano, but stroll around and visit all other shops too. For lunch or dinner stop by at Trattoria Luna nel Pozzo: authentic kitchen, no frills and some good local wines.
Ceglie Messapica/Cisternino/Martina Franca (1h 10 minutes): if you want to experience Valle d’Itria, see trulli and also discover very small and cute villages, go there. Cisternino and Ceglie Messapica are very small and cute, while Martina Franca is a fantastic baroque city, which most people forget to visit. If you feel hungry in Cisternino go to Giardini 36 (only open for dinner). For a coffee or aperitivo, stop by at Cafe Vignola, one of the best view of Itria Valley from their terrace. In Ceglie, go to Cibus: always a good place for high quality local food and a good selection of wines.
Monopoli/Savelletri/Ostuni (1 hour – 10 mins): Monopoli is a lovely local town. Go there and then head for lunch or dinner to Savelletri, a cute small harbour full with fishermen boats. There you can have some fresh fish at Il Principe del Mare, outright a great place for a quick lunch. For high quality fish and a good restaurant, stop by Ristorante Gran Pavese, truly the best fish restaurant in that part of Puglia according to us. Their service and view is to die for.
On the way back stop by Ostuni, even though it is very touristic, it has its charme, especially the view from Ostuni into the vast sea of olive trees that end into the endless blue of the Adriatic sea.
Otranto/Tricase (50 mins drive) : Otranto is a cute seaside town, a bit touristic, but still worth going there. After stopping by there, take the “litoranea”, the road all along the coast. Stop first for a coffee or a sandwich at Bar Alimentari da Carlo, besides the fantastic location, right at the sea, it seems like you go back 50 years in time. Nothing has changed since then. Drive south towards Santa Cesarea Terme, Castro and end up in Tricase Porto. That harbor simply has it all. Cute boats, locals swimming in the sea, magnificent views. For a coffee or apertivo stop by Mename’, it is a fantastic place all year round. Afterwards head towards Taverna del Porto for a great lunch or dinner (lunch is recommended there). For a simple lunch, but stunning views, you can also head to Cafe d’Oltremare. On the way back, you can stop by Tricase or Specchia, two towns with lots of charme and authenticity.
Galatina (25 mins drive): they are both very cute little towns, especially Galatina which is not yet very touristic. Go to Tipozero for a great pizza or some good focaccia, bread or taralli at Staglio . For some great pasticciotti, head to Andrea Ascalone.
Nardo (25 mins drive): Nardo is a small Lecce, with stunning churches, squares and a very nice vibe.
