Top 10 Restaurants In Polignano a Mare, Italy

A charming venue set in the heart of Polignano a Mare’s historic town center, Ristorante Antiche Mura specializes in simple but elegant local Apulian cuisine. Built into ancient stone, the restaurant’s dining room features high vaulted ceilings hung with glittering chandeliers, which makes it a cozy, romantic spot to try authentic regional eats like the beef carpaccio starter with arugula and grana cheese, strozzapreti with shrimp and zucchini flowers, and hearty second courses like scaloppini of veal available with white wine, lemon or mushroom sauce.

Southern Italy might not seem the likeliest locale for traditional Japanese cuisine. But given Polignano a Mare’s seaside setting there’s certainly enough raw seafood produce to satisfy any diner visiting the town’s only resident ‘Giapponese’ restaurant, Puro. Small plates like tuna tataki or edamame are followed by a wide selection of sushi (such as nigiri, uramaki, hosomaki and futomaki rolled with fresh fish including spicy shrimp, salmon and tuna), and hot dishes including cod tempura and pork tonkatsu, which are all perfectly washed down with Puro’s range of sake, wines and imported Japanese beers.

Traditional regional cuisine is revisited with fresh, local ingredients and contemporary flair at Osteria Piga. Antipasti options include the likes of tuna carpaccio with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper or sharing boards of local cheese and chutneys, and first courses include plenty of fresh, handmade pasta dishes like tagliatelle with bacon, mushrooms and Mornay sauce made with local Manduria wine. The second course menu features plenty of hearty meat-based dishes like beef tagliata with black truffle cream, while Osteria Piga’s irresistibly indulgent desserts change on a daily basis.

With some of the most breathtaking views in all of Polignano a Mare, Specchia Sant’Oronzo offers diners more than just mouthwatering Mediterranean fare. Nestled under dramatic arches, the restaurant’s coveted garden patio looks out over the pretty town, giving guests an unabashedly romantic spot in which to try the delicious dishes. Try the codfish involtini with bacon and caramelized red onion, pasta stuffed with cheese, truffle cream and prague ham or taralli-crusted sea bream with prawns and a red pepper sorbet.

The brainchild of owner and namesake Leo Borracci, Leo’s Braceria opened its doors in early 2012 with the aim of bringing locally sourced ingredients back to local dining. The focus is on simple, quality cuisine typical of the Apulia region with a particular emphasis on meat dishes like Barese sausage with olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper or tagliata of Podolica veal served with arugula, grated grana cheese, cherry tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and oil. The local focus extends to Leo’s wine list too, with plenty of choices from regional producers including neighboring Cantine Due Palme.

Donna Gina promises guests a ‘romantic, unique and unforgettable’ dining experience, and judging by its particularly scenic locale overlooking Polignano a Mare’s Lama Monachile beach, that isn’t just a lofty claim. Grab a table on the restaurant’s outdoor patio and take in those beachside views while sampling Albanian-born chef Keler Dhima’s simple yet exciting locally inspired cuisine. The orecchiette pasta in squid ink with clams, cuttlefish and arugula and the tagliatelle with scampi, mullet roe and mint in Primitivo wine sauce are just two must-try menu items.

With a menu that has the best organic, seasonal fare the Apulia region has to offer, MINT Cucina Fresca is perfect for foodies looking for a true taste of local produce. Opened in 2013 by owners Liu, a native of Brazil, and Fabrizio, from northern Italy’s Trento Alto Adige region, MINT Cucina Fresca’s cuisine takes in plenty of global influences. Though it’s menu is constantly evolving, guests can expect healthy dishes like chickpea veggie burgers and cauliflower couscous with avocado, mushrooms and teriyaki tofu.

Pescaria, described as a ‘fast food fish restaurant’ by founders Domingo Ludice and Bartolo L’Abbate, is one of Polignano a Mare’s newest culinary additions but is fast finding its feet with its delicious array of raw and cooked seafood fare. Chef Lucio Mele heads the restaurant’s kitchen, cooking up creative eats like fried cod with crunchy greens and salmon tartare with red onion, capers, pepper, ginger, olive oil and lemon. But if there’s one must-try dish at Pescaria it’s the popular fried octopus panini with sautéed chicory, ricotta, pepper and anchovies.

Trattoria and pizzeria Casa Mia’s focus is regional Apulian cuisine and traditional local recipes served up in homely, yet chic, surrounds. Celebrated Apulian chef Leonardo Amoruso crafts a tempting menu typified by locally sourced produce and seasonal fare, with hearty pasta dishes that include taglioni with shrimp and sea urchin or gramigna paglia e fieno with sausage and porcini mushrooms. Though for more casual eats, Casa Mia’s range of Neapolitan-style pizzas are perfect.

Nestled on the edges of Polignano a Mare’s pretty beach, Fly is an undeniably scenic spot to try its signature Mediterranean cuisine and creative cocktails. Combine starters like mussels au gratin or stuffed calamari with tomato sauce with bigger plates including barley, wheat and spelt salad with seafood or sausage with creamed fava beans and red onion, and wash down with a refreshing cocktail or two. Try the Hemingway Special (with rum, maraschino, lime juice and grapefruit juice) or the signature Fly (with vodka, triple sec, orange juice and kiwi syrup).