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

There are actually two eateries here, but far superior is the well-regarded Poeta Contadino, which specializes in regional cooking with a creative twist and offers a refined dining experience amid candlelight that casts shadows on ancient stone walls. If you're on a budget, though, the more affordable Osteria del Poeta also serves bite-size traditional dishes.

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)

For a great-value on-the-hoof snack, pop into this tiny, popular place for filled panzerotti (deep-fried pockets), friselle (crunchy durum-wheat bread), and schiacciatella Romana (pizza-like flatbread). Check the board for daily specials, including meaty ragù sauces and seafood like polpi (octopus) to fill your freshly fried pockets.