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The cave metropolis of Matera is a implausible foodie vacation spot. From conventional Basilicata delicacies in stunning cave eating places to informal pizza locations, there’s quite a bit to take pleasure in.
It’s a compact metropolis that’s straightforward to discover on foot (so long as you don’t thoughts staircases), so that you don’t have to fret about driving after sampling the native wine.
On our three journeys to this spectacular Italian metropolis, we got down to uncover the most effective Matera eating places. On this information, you’ll discover our picks for the most effective locations to pattern native dishes, the place to eat and drink with a sassi view, tasty low-cost eats, and extra.
On the finish of the put up, you’ll discover a map with all the most effective locations to eat in Matera.
Contents
Matera Meals Specialities to Attempt
Matera is positioned within the area of Basilicata in southern Italy. Basilicata meals shares some similarities to its neighbour Puglia (one in all our favorite locations to eat in Italy) in addition to having its personal distinctive specialities.
The delicacies makes use of numerous recent seasonal greens, so it’s very straightforward to eat right here as a vegetarian and even vegan. There isn’t a lot fish, however lamb and mutton are widespread.
The bread and pasta made utilizing historical Basilicatan wheat are glorious.
Listed here are some dishes to look out for:
- Senise peppers – These lengthy peppers appear to be chillies however are candy. They’re normally dried after which fried and crushed to make peperoni cruschi. They’re candy, smoky, and crunchy and prime many dishes (or are eaten alone as a snack). Our greatest remorse was that we didn’t purchase some to take with us.
- Orecchiette – Pasta formed like ears that’s additionally present in Puglia. Usually served with a easy tomato sauce or cime di rapa (a leafy inexperienced).
- Strascinate – Pasta just like orecchiette however bigger.
- Lagane e ceci – Lengthy thick pasta with chickpeas.
- Fave e cicoria – Creamy pureed fava beans with bitter chicory (a inexperienced).
- Cialledda – A salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and rancid bread (higher than it sounds!).
- Antipasti della casa – If a restaurant has “starters of the home” on the menu, don’t miss it. You’ll get a range (typically large) of scrumptious native treats. They’re normally veggie heavy however examine in case you are vegetarian (eating places have all the time been in a position to adapt them for us).
- Aglianico wine – This was my favorite of the native pink wines.
Keep in mind that eating places in Italy have set meal instances and within the south consuming instances are a bit of later. Italians hardly ever flip up for dinner earlier than 9pm.
Matera eating places are normally open for lunch from 12.30pm or 1pm till 2–3pm and for dinner from 7.30pm till 10 or 11pm. I’ve listed opening hours under.
If you wish to eat outdoors the same old meal instances, see the bars and low-cost meals sections under as they normally have longer opening hours.
Try my information to consuming in Italy for all of the meals etiquette and suggestions it’s essential to know so that you simply gained’t be stunned by issues like cowl expenses.
The place to Eat in Matera: Our Prime Picks
- Conventional delicacies: Trattoria del Caveoso
- Big day restaurant with a view: Regiacorte
- Favorite pasta dish: Ferricelli at La Lopa
- Low cost eats: 5 Lire Pizza
- Gelato: I Vizi degli Angeli
- Aperitivo (drinks with snacks): Terrazza Cavaliere
Don’t miss our information to the greatest issues to do in Matera Italy for a lot of extra tips about exploring this gorgeous metropolis.
Finest Eating places in Matera Italy
1) Trattoria del Caveoso
Trattoria del Caveoso is positioned within the coronary heart of the sassi (the traditional neighbourhoods of cave dwellings) and is without doubt one of the greatest eating places in Matera to attempt conventional Basilicatan delicacies.
You possibly can sit outdoors on an atmospheric avenue or inside within the cave restaurant. The meals is easy however glorious and good worth.
I extremely suggest beginning with the Antipasti del Caveoso, a scrumptious choice of vegetarian dishes (one between two is a lot).
For the primo (pasta course), the cavatelli with peperoni cruschi is a tasty and typical dish with native dried pink peppers, cacioricotta cheese, and fried breadcrumbs.
There are many different vegetarian dishes too together with the basic fave e cicoria.
We even received a complimentary limoncello after our meal.
Trattoria del Caveoso is fashionable (we couldn’t get in on our final go to), so it’s greatest to e-book a desk, or you possibly can attempt turning up at opening.
Particulars: By way of Bruno Buozzi. Open for lunch 12.30pm-3pm/ dinner 7.30pm-11pm. Closed Wednesdays. Bookings really helpful.
Web site: Trattoria del Caveoso
2) La Lopa
Once we first appeared on the menu of La Lopa we determined in opposition to it as €16 for a pasta dish appeared an excessive amount of. However once we couldn’t get into Trattoria del Caveoso subsequent door, we received fortunate with one of many final tables at La Lopa.
We’re so glad we gave it a attempt.
It has an atmospheric cave inside like all of the Matera sassi eating places, however on a sizzling summer season’s night, we sat outdoors within the cute courtyard.
Unusually for Italy, vegetarian and vegan dishes are marked on the menu, which focuses on native dishes. There’s not an enormous selection, however it was sufficient for us.
We began with Il Riposo della Polpetta, fried bread balls in a tomato sauce. They had been a bit of eggy for me, however Simon liked them, and the sauce was excellent.
We then shared Fave e Cicoria, a superb instance of this typical dish enlivened with peperoni cruschi, and Ferricelli, brief twisty pasta with a pesto-like sauce made with the native peppers and topped with creamy stracciatella cheese and breadcrumbs.
This was our favorite pasta in Matera, and we later regretted not shopping for some peppers so we may attempt to work out easy methods to make the splendidly candy and smoky sauce ourselves.
Parts aren’t large so unusually we had house for dessert. We shared the dried fig gelato, however it was a little bit of a disappointment (regardless of good opinions)—you’re higher off going to a gelateria.
One distinctive function of La Lopa is the movie room downstairs. After your meal, you’ll be able to head down to look at the 20-minute movie with clips of the various motion pictures which were filmed in Matera as much as the latest James Bond, No Time to Die.
Whereas this was one in all our costliest meals in Matera at €75, we actually loved the expertise.
Particulars: 13 By way of Bruno Buozzi. Open Tues-Fri dinner solely 7.30pm-10.30pm, Sat-Solar lunch 12.30pm-2.30pm/ dinner 7.30pm-10.30pm. Closed Mondays. Bookings really helpful.
Web site: La Lopa
3) Dimitria Il Ristorante
Trendy Dimitria is a bit of off the crushed observe however only some minutes’ stroll from Sasso Caveoso.
There are a couple of tables outdoors, however they’re subsequent to a highway, so the gorgeous inside is a better option (and superb on a sizzling day). Our desk in a bit of stone arch alcove felt non-public.
The menu focuses on native Lucanian dishes made with natural components. There have been a couple of good vegetarian dishes, and there are gluten-free choices too.
After the free bruschetta introduction, we shared the scrumptious Parmigiana Lucana, which in contrast to a typical parmigiana has pasta together with aubergine, cheese, and tomato.
Our two pasta dishes had been additionally glorious. My favorite was the Antico Fusillo, twisty fusilli with a basil and ricotta pesto topped with peperoni cruschi. Simon most well-liked the less complicated Lagane di Orazio, lengthy thick pasta with a creamy chickpea sauce.
Unusually, you’ll be able to e-book a desk for Dimitria on-line (see The Fork or Tripadvisor itemizing). It wasn’t busy on a weekday lunchtime, although.
Particulars: 222 By way of Lucana. Open each day lunch 12pm-3pm/ dinner 7.30pm-10.30pm.
Web site: Dimitria Il Ristorante
4) Ristorante Francesca
One other Matera cave restaurant in Sasso Caveoso, Ristorante Francesca provides a recent twist with trendy lampshades and a refined menu.
As all the time, the Antipasti della Casa is a superb selection for attempting a couple of completely different dishes. They’re particularly artistic right here and ours included a zucchini flower tortino, melanzana parmigiana, fava bean puree with chicory, bread balls in a tomato sauce, and figs full of orange ricotta and mint.
We adopted that with orecchiette with fave bean puree and mushrooms.
Indoor and out of doors seating is accessible.
Particulars: 9 Vico Bruno Buozzi. Open Mon-Tues & Thurs-Sat dinner solely 7.30pm-10.00pm, Solar lunch 12.30pm-3pm/ dinner 7.30pm-10pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Web site: Tripadvisor
5) Regiacorte
If you’re searching for Matera eating places with a view, Regiacorte is without doubt one of the greatest, particularly for particular events.
It was by far our costliest Matera meal (over €200 for a tasting menu for 2 with a bottle of wine), however the meals and setting are very good.
It’s positioned in a resort with tables on a sequence of small terraces overlooking Sasso Caveoso—you’ll be able to see the distinctive cave church Santa Maria di Idris and down into the ravine.
Sundown is the right time to dine—when you don’t see the solar go down, it’s beautiful to admire the view in daylight and as soon as it’s lit up after darkish.
You possibly can order particular person dishes, however the tasting menu is well worth the splurge for this upmarket expertise. We selected the four-course vegetarian menu, La Richiezza Contadina (€75).
The meal included loads of extras—dried fava beans, focaccia and bread with olive oil, a tequila and cucumber cocktail, a pre-dessert refresher, and three little additional desserts.
We had been very full by the top, particularly because the service was virtually too environment friendly, and we moved by means of programs extra rapidly than ordinary in these sorts of meals (we had been completed in beneath two hours).
Our 4 programs had been peppers full of smoked provola cheese and bread, a stuffed pasta with ricotta and cinnamon (which labored surprisingly properly), barbecued onion, and a white chocolate mousse. All the pieces was fantastic.
Bookings are important (by e mail labored however was a bit of gradual), and I like to recommend doing in order far upfront as attainable and requesting a desk on the entrance of the higher terrace. We had been one desk again by the server station, and it felt a bit busy with the workers coming and going.
Particulars: Piazza S. Pietro Caveoso. Open Tues-Solar for dinner 7pm-10pm. Closed Mondays. Bookings extremely really helpful.
Web site: Regiacorte
6) Agriristories
I liked the idea of this restaurant which showcases native artisanal merchandise. Nothing is commercially produced from the big selection of beer and wine to the greens, cheese, bread, pasta, beans, and extra. You can too purchase the merchandise of their retailer.
Agriristories is without doubt one of the most atmospheric cave eating places in Matera, hidden down a staircase within the coronary heart of the sassi, with numerous alcoves carved into the tufa to dine in.
Many reviewers suggest the tasting menu, in order that’s what we did. At €12 it’s good worth, however it’s extra a sequence of small bites than a considerable meal (though we had been simply full sufficient at lunch).
Unusually for a restaurant that highlights its eco credentials, the tasting menu is served on a paper plate with picket cutlery. They mentioned it was compostable so “returned to the earth”, however we couldn’t perceive this selection in a quite fashionable restaurant. I solely assume dishes from the remainder of the menu come on correct plates!
The primary course of the tasting menu was the most effective. They skipped the salami for us vegetarians, and we tried some tasty native cheeses, olives, and trio of bruschetta (truffle, artichoke, and aubergine).
The second spherical was much less profitable— the small portion of easy orecchiette pasta with chickpeas was good, however the bean soup was very plain. Dessert was just some (tasty) blobs on the top of a spoon of pistachio cream, strawberry jam, and honey.
Whereas every little thing tasted good, and we appreciated that the origin of the meals was defined to us, we didn’t discover it a very satisfying meal. After all, you’ll be able to’t anticipate a lot for this worth.
I’d love to offer Agriristories one other attempt, however subsequent time I’d order from the primary menu.
Their wine listing is superb, although. My glass of Aglianico (Stupor Mundi DOC 2012) was by far the most effective wine I sampled on this journey.
Particulars: 62 By way of Sette Dolori. Open Solar-Tues & Thurs-Sat lunch 11.30am-3.30pm/ dinner 7.30pm-11pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Web site: Agriristories
Low cost and Informal Meals in Matera
Generally in Italy you simply desire a fast, cheap meal. There are some good informal choices in Matera for pizza, sandwiches, and pasta.
Additionally see the bar part under for snacks outdoors the same old meal instances.
7) 5 Lire
At 5 Lire on the primary avenue you will discover among the greatest pizza in Matera—order on the counter by the slice or select an entire oval-shaped pinsa to be freshly baked. Our mozzarella, potato, pesto, and walnut thick crust pinsa (€8) was glorious.
Better of all, head out the again to a tiny terrace with three tables and an unimaginable view down into the sassi. There’s a €1 cowl cost for consuming in.
Native beers and Spritzs can be found, so it’s good for an aperitivo too.
Particulars: 37 By way of Domenico Ridola. Open Tues-Solar 12pm-midnight. Closed M0ndays.
Web site: Fb
8) Il Rusticone
Whereas Il Rusticone was our least expensive meal in Matera, our Margherita pizza (€5.50) was scrumptious, and we ate outdoors on the full of life avenue.
You can too get pucce (sandwiches), tagliere (boards of meat and cheeses), and there’s a wide selection of native beers.
Particulars: 5 By way of San Biagio. Open Tues-Solar 12pm-2.30pm/ 7.30pm-11.30pm. Closed M0ndays.
Web site: Il Rusticone
9) Kapunto
Kapunto is a pasta lab close to the citadel within the “new” a part of Matera.
You order on the counter and select from the array of recent pasta on show, choose your sauce, and add any vegetable aspect dishes. You possibly can take it away (nice in case you are self-catering) or dine inside the easy however fashionable house.
We shared two stuffed pastas—mozzarella with sun-dried tomato, and aubergine with smoked provola—in an ideal tomato and basil sauce, with a aspect of courgette with mint.
It was all scrumptious and made us want we had been staying in Matera long run to turn into regulars right here.
Whereas Kapunto is informal and pretty quick, it’s not an affordable meal—our three dishes with drinks had been over €40. It’s value it for among the greatest pasta in Matera.
Particulars: 178 By way of Lucana. Open Mon-Tues & Thurs-Sat 9am-3pm/ 6pm-8pm, Solar 9am-4pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Web site: Fb
Finest Bars in Matera: Aperitivo with a View
Italy’s custom of aperitivo—pre-dinner drinks with snacks starting from olives and crisps to extra substantial spreads—is one we totally assist.
Not solely does it preserve us going till the late dinner hours, however the meals can be scrumptious, and we love an excellent Aperol Spritz.
We made it our mission to search out the most effective Matera aperitivo with a view, as a result of why not take pleasure in your drink whereas admiring the beautiful sassi.
Along with these Matera bars with sassi views, different areas fashionable with locals for a drink are the lovable Piazza San Giovanni and the busy essential sq. Piazza Vittorio Veneto in addition to the streets main off it together with By way of Ridola.
10) Terrazza Cavaliere
Our favorite place for a drink with a view in Matera is Terrazza Cavaliere.
It’s on buzzy By way of Ridola subsequent to five Lire (a combo of the 2 would make for a beautiful informal dinner). Whereas there are tables on the primary avenue, you need to head out the again to the terrace which teeters on the sting of the sassi.
They profit from the epic view with stools alongside the counter so you’ll be able to look straight all the way down to the sassi with unobscured views of the cave church and ravine past.
It’s the most effective views in Matera but considerably beneath the radar (we managed to get a spot at 7.30pm). It has extra of a neighborhood vibe than among the different bars with views.
The Spritz was good and fairly priced at €6. They made us a superb vegetarian aperitivo plate (€8) with cheese, focaccia, bruschetta, and olives. The €3 cowl cost to sit down on the terrace is properly value it.
Particulars: 33 By way of Domenico Ridola. Open each day 6pm-2am.
Web site: Fb
11) Crialoss Café
Crialoss is one other fantastic spot for aperitivo in Matera with a view. It’s on the opposite aspect of city in Sasso Barisano so gives a special perspective trying again in the direction of Sasso Caveoso and the Duomo.
The tables are completely positioned on the sting of the terrace for unobscured views and the sunshine is good within the early night.
It’s positioned within the Palazzo degli Abati resort straight above the cave church San Pietro Barisano—you drink subsequent to its bell tower! It’s a bit of laborious to search out—search for the signal to the precise of the church and head up.
Cocktails and snacks had been very tasty—we received the €10 choice of bruschetta, bread salad, and olives.
They’ve fairly an intensive menu (accessed with a QR code) of bruschetta, platters, and salads, so it’s an excellent choice in case you are hungry within the afternoon when eating places are closed.
Particulars: 49 Vico Santa Cesarea. Open Mon-Tues & Thurs-Solar 1pm-8.30pm. Closed Wednesdays.
Web site: Crialoss
12) Zipa Café
Zipa is without doubt one of the most original bars in Matera. This stylish spot overlooks the ravine with bean bag chairs scattered amongst the rocky alcoves.
The principle part was full once we went at 7pm on a Saturday, in order that they fitted us in on a bit of piazza subsequent door.
This isn’t the place to go for a Spritz—they’ve a small menu of seven distinctive cocktails. I loved their model of a whiskey bitter, Peccato Originale (authentic sin) with apple juice.
There isn’t a lot of a meals menu, however you’ll be able to pay individually for snacks like taralli, capers, and crisps.
Whereas the view isn’t pretty much as good as the 2 bars above, it’s value visiting for the bizarre setting and funky vibe.
Particulars: 15 By way of Madonna dell’Idris. Open each day 5pm-midnight.
Web site: Instagram
13) Quarry Lounge Terrace
Quarry Lounge is positioned in a resort and felt extra touristy than the opposite bars on this listing.
The terrace has an excellent view of the ravine, however you’ll be able to’t see it properly until you rise up.
One cause to go to is the comfortable sofas. They’re uncommon to search out so in case you are craving a smooth place to sit down, head right here.
Particulars: 35 By way of Muro. Open Solar-Mon & Wed-Sat 12pm–3pm/ 6pm–10.30pm. Closed Tuesdays.
Web site: Quarry Lounge Terrace
Finest Gelato in Matera
14) I Vizi degli Angeli Gelateria
I Vizi degli Angeli on By way of Ridola has distinctive artisanal gelato. My favorite flavours, darkish chocolate and pistachio, are each glorious, they usually have loads of vegan choices.
One grievance—the thin cones are too small for the scoops, so it’s simpler to get a cup.
We additionally got here right here for a refreshing lemon granita on an excessively sizzling afternoon.
Particulars: 36 By way of Domenico Ridola. Open each day 11am–midnight.
Web site: I Vizi degli Angeli Gelateria
Breakfast with a View in Matera
Nearly each B&B and resort in Matera contains breakfast. It’s normally a scrumptious unfold of candy and savoury treats—focaccia, truffles, fruit tarts, croissants, recent fruit, cheese, and meats.
Breakfast with a view of the sassi is a Matera spotlight, so select a resort with a panoramic terrace should you can.
Two locations we’ve stayed with tasty breakfasts and unimaginable views are Lodge Il Belvedere and B&B La Corte Dei Pastori.
Il Belvedere additionally does a beautiful tagliere (“chopping board” unfold) for lunch or aperitivo on its beautiful terrace.
Matera Eating places Map
Abstract
I hope this put up has made you hungry and given you some concepts of the place to eat in Matera. That is only a small choice of the scrumptious meals on supply on this stunning, distinctive metropolis.
Ensure you attempt native specialities just like the tasty peperoni cruschi and don’t miss having a drink with a sassi view—it was one in all our prime Matera experiences.
Tell us within the feedback if we missed any of your favorite Matera eating places.
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