If you’re looking for the best restaurants in Bari, Italy, you’re in the right place.
The port city of Bari is located in the Adriatic Sea and the capital of the Puglia region in Southern Italy. It is populated by ancient relics, churches, medieval castles, and pilgrimage destinations.
The three primary agricultural products grown in the area, wheat, wine, and olive, are central to Bari cuisine. It should come as no surprise that homemade pasta and bread are staples in the area’s diet.
Driving through Italy’s Puglia region, you’ll notice centuries-old farmland and ancient olive trees. Bari and Puglia as a whole are best known for their garlic, olive oil, and fresh vegetables such as beans, fennel, chickpeas, and eggplant.
Bari is also famous for its fresh seafood, which fishermen catch off the coast daily. Barese cuisine is truly one of Italy’s most unique and most delicious food.
To help you with deciding where to eat in the Puglia capital, we shortlisted 15 of the best Bari restaurants that you’ll surely enjoy.
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14 Best Restaurants in Bari, Italy
Let’s check out the top 15 best restaurants in Bari, Puglia, Italy.
1. Ristorante Biancofiore
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 13, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
Looking for the best traditional Pugliese cuisine? Head to Biancofiore, which offers the best seafood tartare and creative fish dishes in Bari.
Ristorante Biancofiore also offers a robust wine list, in an understated, white-hued room with stone arches and an ambiance set by the soft-toned interior décor. The staff are accommodating and attend to every customer’s needs. The property is also wheelchair accessible.
Ristorante Biancofiore provides not only high-quality food and impeccable service but good music as well. As one of the best restaurants in Bari, you will get an amazing experience and not be disappointed!
2. La Tana del Polpo
Strada Vallisa, 50, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
La Tana del Polpo is a tiny restaurant in the heart of Bari’s Old Town, near Auditorium Diocesano Vallisa.
La Tana del Popo serves daily fresh fish and pasta. This family-run establishment takes pride in its extensive selection of fresh-caught seafood, so it’s not surprising that the restaurant’s name actually means “octopus lair.”
What distinguishes this restaurant is its personal touch: their servers will assist you in selecting dishes, making you feel so welcomed.
On your first night in Bari, stop by the “octopus lair” and enjoy the local sea bream and their fantastic pasta dishes.
3. Ristorante PerBacco
Via Francesco Saverio Abbrescia, 99, 70121 Bari BA, Italy
Ristorante PerBacco is a well-known restaurant in the Bari area.
The restaurant is best known for its excellent service and sumptuous seafood made from the freshest ingredients. It is packed with foodies almost every day, especially on weekends.
Start with fresh ripe olives, sautéed with garlic and tomato; croquettes of mussels and potato, and grilled octopus. Also recommeded are the orecchiette with funghi cardoncelli and pecorino, paccheri with an orata ragú, and egg with white truffle. For desserts, PerBacco’s dark chocolate mousse and fig semifreddo are to die for!
Make a point of stopping by Ristorante PerBacco when you’re in Bari; you won’t be disappointed!
4. Osteria Le Arpie
Arco del Carmine, 2, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
This neighborhood hangout is in a winding alley in Bari’s Old Town, with diners seated at small tables scattered throughout the gallery. It is one of the best restaurants in Bari.
There are many superb restaurants in Bari Old Town. Still, Osteria Le Arpie, albeit small, stands out for its fresh food and relaxed atmosphere.
Their simple but delicious homemade pasta is reasonably priced, and many dishes include fresh seafood. The small menu will change according to the season. You can also try traditional Bari cuisine at this restaurant, such as orecchiette with cime di rapa – one of the region’s most popular dishes.
Simply put, the food you will consume at Osteria Le Arpie is divine. Their pasta is by far the best pasta you will ever have in Bari!
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5. Pizzeria Il Grottino
Via Francesco Rismondi, 3, 70123 Bari BA, Italy
Looking for a pizza paradise in Puglia’s capital? Head to Il Grottino for some of the best pizza and beer in Bari at the best prices.
Although it is a little far from the city center, the walk is well worth it because their pizzas are made from fresh ingredients. They serve delicious seafood as well.
The restaurant’s lovely setting, with walls painted in warm, ambient colors, makes it the ideal place to spend time with friends and family, or meet locals.
6. Ristorante Borgo Antico R45
Strada Palazzo di Città, 46, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
Stop by one of the most popular Bari restaurants for an upscale meal. Although located in city center, Ristorante Borgo Antico R45 or simple R45 is not a tourist trap. You will feel right at home once seated.
Expect fresh, local cuisine with plenty of seafood, which is typical of the region. You can sample a variety of specialty dishes, including orecchiette and the heavenly pizza, at this restaurant.
Ristorante Borgo Antico R45 has the feel of a museum, with paintings and inscriptions on the walls, giving it a very nice artistic atmosphere. These paintings are the works of the restaurant owner’s mother. R45 is worth a visit even just as a gallery!
7. Ristorante Terranima
Via Nicolò Putignani, 213, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
Ristorante Terranima is a popular and lovely restaurant with wonderful staff providing excellent service. It boasts traditional Pugliese pasta and meat dishes, added with the restaurant’s easygoing vibe.
Terranima’s culinary skills emphasize a balance of meat and locally sourced agricultural produce. Their desserts are also worth a look, as they serve traditional cakes and grappas alongside some superb coffee.
Must-try is the Sporcamuss – a delicious flakey pastry filled with Italian cream and dusted with sugar icing. This delightful treat will melt in your mouth!
8. La Uascezze
Corte S.Agostino, 2/3/4, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
La Uascezze offers home-style Apulian dishes in an intimate venue with exposed stone walls and al fresco tables situated right by the water in the Old Town of Bari. It serves traditional Barese and Pugliese food.
Like many conventional Bari restaurants, this one serves meat and seafood that are juicy and tender, as well as vegetables that come from the area. Their specialties include eggplant parmigiana and salento puccia, as well as burrata, ricotta, and roasted mushrooms, among others. You can sample all these from their tasting menu. There is a vegetarian option as well, which is a huge plus if you’re visiting with non-carnivores!
Do not leave Bari without dining at La Uascezze. It’s highly recommended to leave a good memory of your Bari trip.
9. Lievito Pizza e Dintorni
Via Gaetano Salvemini, 14/D, 70125 Bari BA, Italy
One of the most favorite local Bari restaurants, Lievito Pizza e Dintorni serves some of the best pizza in the entire city. It is well-known and well-loved by the locals and is also becoming more popular with tourists.
The piazza is where the pizzeria is located is very large and the pizzeria offers both indoor and outdoor dining experiences. Lievito Pizza e Dintorni offers exquisite pizza with both traditional and Neapolitan dough, using only excellent quality ingredients at very reasonable prices.
Even though it’s a fair distance from the city center, being located in Via Gaetano Salvemini, getting to Lievito Pizza e Dintorni is well worth the trouble. It has a simple atmosphere, but the delicious pizzas and friendly staff make up for it.
10. Il Rustico
Via Quintino Sella, 95, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
Il Rustico, located near Bari’s train station, offers a taste of the Pugliese atmosphere. Il Rustico is well-known for its pizza and delicious appetizers such as bruschetta, olives, and more.
Deemed a must-see on the culinary map of the Puglia capital, Il Rustico is without a doubt one of the best restaurants in Bari. The food is delicious, the pizza is fresh, and the service is quick. You can feel the real Italian atmosphere and get a pizza and appetizers for less than €100, making it an excellent place to eat cheap in Bari!
It’s also a local-only spot, making dining here even more enjoyable. Be sure to check it out when you’re in Bari!
11. Ristorante La Cecchina
Piazza Mercantile, 31, 70121 Bari BA, Italy
Ristorante La Cecchina is in the middle of Bari, serving fantastic Pugliese fish and seafood antipasti in a storied, stone-walled room – or on the terrace. Their shrimp tartar is a must-eat!
Some of the best Italian food in town is served here, all made with the freshest ingredients and served by some of the friendliest people you could ever meet. La Cecchina also offers vegetarian and vegan options. Also sample their local wines.
Great fresh local seafood, exquisite local wine, the friendliest staff, and the most charming location – La Cecchina has it all!
12. Ristorante Ai 2 Ghiottoni
Via Nicolò Putignani, 11, 70121 Bari BA, Italy
Ristorante Ai 2 Ghiottoni is one of the best restaurants in Bari, located on the harbor and serves Pugliese cuisine with various vegetables and fish.
The owners take pride in using high-quality local produce and fish to give each plate an authentic taste of Puglia. This family-run establishment has been in operation for over 40 years. Risotto and salted bass fish are the restaurant’s highlights.
If you like red wine, you must try Ai 2 Ghiottoni’s Primitivo di Manduria, a superb regional wine.
13. La Bul
Via Pasquale Villari, 52, 70122 Bari BA, Italy
Craving for creative dishes that really taste great? La Bul offers exactly these.
La Bul is a classy place that has a vintage look. With its old-style and superb food, it is aligned in Bari’s best restaurants. It has a beautifully designed interior and a lovely, small summer garden.
La Bul’s serves food that’s as delicious as the atmosphere, with some of the best seafood, Italian, and Mediterranean dishes. They make phenomenal dishes with ingredients that are fresh and from the area. Their scallop carpaccio is a must-not-miss!
14. Gola Caffè Bistrot (Gola Gourmet Kitchen)
Via Camillo Rosalba, 47/K, 70124 Bari BA, Italy
Gola Gourmet is a small, unfussy restaurant with great food and friendly service that doesn’t try to show off. It is one of the most popular restaurants in Bari because of its simplicity and delicious food.
Gola Gourmet Kitchen is best known for its seafood, Italian, and Mediterranean food. It’s a favorite place for people who want to celebrate a special occasion with close friends and family.
Gola Gourmet Kitchen can host both large and small groups. It’s a great choice if you also want to spend some intimate time with someone.