Not expensive restaurants, but good food and any special local cuisine or treats? We like to wander and not just go to all the tourists checkbox spots. Where is it a huge treat to wander near?, any special cafes, candy shop or local favorite. I love ending up at the pizzeria full of local residents…. 😘. Plan to spend some time in Osteanto and/or Santa Cesárea Terme.( is it true spa is mostly used by locals? We will be there May 3-6.( staying in Lecce near old town)
Posted by
Idaho, USA
7882 posts
It sounds like you might enjoy this excellent cooking class where Chef Giuseppe will walk you into some local candy, bread, produce, etc. shops before cooking together.
Posted by
CA, USA
1254 posts
you can find a few blogs online with posts from people that have done stays in Lecce and see what they recommend. We enjoyed La Cucina di Mamma Elvira; you need a reservation, or at least we did in Sept. Mamma Elvira also has a wine bar in Lecce which we didn't have a chance to try. We enjoyed having an Aperol Spritz early evenings around 6pm at La Bottega del Corso; their Bruschetta is a good accompaniment.
Posted by
OP
Oakland, CA
35 posts
Thank you!!! Just what I meant!! I don’t like to do a checklist—so just want to make sure we catch the most magical/interesting spots people still remember. I love your recommendations!!👍🏼🥳
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52 posts
When we were in Lecce in 2022 we ate at La Cucina di Mamma Elvira and didn’t have reservations. We only had a night in Lecce so we just hoofed it, walking around looking for a place from a list we picked from a web search and our guide books. So we walked in and they were very nice and told us to wait because perhaps somebody had canceled and, lo and behold, somebody did. We waited for about 15 minutes and in the meantime they gave us wine, for my wife, and water for me since I don’t drink. We were given a table outside, which is fenced off but in the middle of a little piazza and it was worth it. One of the best meals in Puglia, which is saying a lot because we only had one bad meal there and I won’t get into that. Mamma Elvira is the way to go. Oh, and on this trip, we never paid more than €65 per meal for two.