Where to eat in Porto Cesareo: the 7 best spots chosen by Gambero Rosso

For years now, Salento has become a must-visit destination not only for Italian vacationers but also for foreign tourists, including many famous personalities. The hospitality of the locals, the beauty of the sea, the charm of the small towns, and the atmosphere all contribute to making the stay unforgettable, especially with its cuisine rich in aromas, colors, and flavors found nowhere else. Among the most beautiful destinations is undoubtedly Porto Cesareo. Here are the best places to eat.

Where to eat in Porto Cesareo

Da Antimo

Just a few meters from the sea, this is a classic of Cesarean dining, a reliable establishment that has been a safe haven for over 60 years. The menu is dictated by the market, starting with raw dishes, including crustaceans and seafood. Followed by tagliolini with mullet fillets (from Porto Cesareo), linguine with mussels and clams, paccheri with lobster, swordfish alla pizzaiola, and crispy fried fish. Alternatively, there are long-fermented Neapolitan-style pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven built especially for the restaurant. Spoon desserts, including pistachio tiramisu, are also available. The outdoor seating area is pleasant, and the wine cellar features mostly regional wines.

Da Antimo – via G. Garibaldi, 5 – 0833 569103 – www.antimoristorante.it

Aqua de Le Dune Suite Hotel

White sand and crystal-clear sea form the backdrop beyond the large windows. The elegant dining room extends into the enchanting seaside garden during the season. Chef Emanuele Frisenda, young and talented, brings a decisive, authentic taste to his dishes, showcasing technical mastery and creativity. The freshness of the ingredients shines through in raw tastings, fresh pasta with the catch of the day, or Ionian soup. The visible wine cellar, housed in climate-controlled glass cases, attracts attention and intrigues with many local, national, and international labels.

Aqua de Le Dune Suite Hotel – strada dei Bacini, 89 – 0833 560660 – www.aquaportocesareo.it

Jacopo Falli Dolci&Gelato

In Jacopo Falli's shop with a laboratory, at just 27 years old, you'll find the best pastries for breakfast (or a delicious break) in the town. Bomboloni, well-layered croissants, pain au chocolat, pain suisse, and the traditional pasticciotto with cream or cream and cherries. Try the ice creams too, stored in wells, made strictly artisanally with top-quality ingredients such as basil, hazelnut (with Piedmont IGP hazelnuts), lemon (with Sorrento IGP lemons), chocolate (with Gran Cru Guanaja), and bread, butter, and jam. The house invention is the "cuokko," a brioche filled with ice cream and then grilled.

Jacopo Falli Dolci&Gelato – via S. Pellico, 45 – 388 9255515 – www.facebook.com/p/Jacopo-Falli-Dolci-Gelato/

Fisheria

The right address for a quick but tasty break, although booking is necessary to find a table on the beautiful terrace. The highlight is the fish sandwiches, such as the one with tuna tartare, burrata, mixed greens, tomato, and basil olive oil, or the one with swordfish steak, smoked scamorza cheese, rocket, mayo, and pistachio crumbs. There are also salads, the day’s seafood raw dishes (including excellent oysters), tartare, sashimi, and poke. There's also something "cooked," like grilled cuttlefish with cherry tomatoes, crunchy almonds, rocket, and olive oil.

Fisheria – via S. Pellico, 31 – 366 7430037 – www.facebook.com/fisheria.official/

Kaila Bistrò

A delightful spot with a lovely outdoor area and a convivial atmosphere that puts everyone at ease. On the table is traditional Salento cuisine, made with genuine and seasonal local products, patient and skillful hands, slow cooking, handmade fresh pasta, and homemade desserts. Don’t miss "lu scarfatu," a fava bean purée with sautéed chicory and fried bread pieces, orecchiette with turnip tops, braciole in a pot, meatballs in sauce, eggplant parmigiana, and gratinated mussels. Local wines accompany everything. Always book in advance.

Kaila Bistrò – frazione Torre Lapillo – via Lecce, 34 – 340 9316291 – www.kailabistro.it

Osteria 29

A charming and informal small spot in the center with modern bistro-style interiors and outdoor tables. The cuisine is mainly seafood, with imaginative and well-executed dishes. Try the fried burrata with tomato sauce and basil coulis, delicious octopus meatballs, the day’s raw dishes, linguine with lobster, cacio e pepe paccheri with tuna tartare, Gallipoli-style swordfish, baby octopus with creamy potatoes and fried bread veils, spumone, and Salento panna cotta with almond milk, coffee sauce, and "cupeta" (almond brittle). The wine list focuses on regional producers.

Osteria 29 – piazza Risorgimento, 7 – 324 7811574 – www.facebook.com

Pescheria 3.0

Primarily a fish market, with a long counter displaying the daily catch, available for purchase from 7 am to 11 pm. However, you can also come here for lunch, aperitif, or dinner, choose your fish from the counter and decide how you want it cooked (salad, grilled, fried, in parchment, stewed, etc.), or enjoy it raw, pre-treated. Once ready, signaled by a phone message, you can eat it on-site at one of the available tables or take it away in convenient compostable and recyclable containers.

Pescheria 3.0 – frazione Torre Lapillo – via Torre Lapillo, 102 – 0833 565164 – www.pescheriatrepuntozero.com