The Best Restaurants in Lecce, Italy: My Must-Eat Spots roamandthrive.com

Discover the best restaurants in Lecce, Italy from hidden trattorias to modern osterias—all personally tried, tested, and totally delicious.

Lecce, the baroque jewel of southern Puglia, is just a short drive from where I live—and believe me, I never need much convincing to head into town for a meal. Over the past few years, I’ve made Lecce my unofficial second home, not just for its ornate churches and golden stone facades, but for the dining scene that’s quietly—but confidently—having a moment.

As a travel writer based in Puglia, I’ve spent the better part of my weekends (and far too many weeknights) working my way through Lecce’s restaurants. From tucked-away trattorias where nonna still rules the kitchen to modern spots led by ambitious young chefs reimagining Salento’s culinary traditions, I’ve tasted it all—multiple times.

These are restaurants I return to again and again, for long lunches under vaulted ceilings, aperitivo-fueled evenings in vine-draped courtyards, and dinners that stretch lazily into midnight. Whether you’re after earth-shattering pasta, coastal crudo, or that perfectly charred puccia, I’ve got you covered.

So come hungry. Here are the best restaurants in Lecce, Puglia—personally vetted, obsessively revisited, and absolutely worth your time.

Top Tip: These are the best restaurants in Lecce, and the locals know this. It’s a good idea to make reservations for pretty much all of them, for lunch or dinner. This is especially true at the weekends and during the busier high season months from May to October.