The best restaurants in Puglia, Italy, according to chef Mirko Febbrile

“To me, this award-winning winery represents the meeting of two worlds: my childhood memories from Puglia and the current chapter of my life in Singapore. I met Doni Coppi in 2017 through a childhood friend. I was fortunate enough to cook for Doni; then we established a deep connection over a conversation and a bottle of Senatore Primitivo. Fast forward a year later, I’m back in Puglia cooking a sold-out 200-pax dinner in the Coppi cantine—a night I’ll never forget! 

Doni is a true gentleman, one of the kindest people I’ve ever met and someone I feel humbled to call a close friend. This extends to his entire family, including his wife Angelica who officiated my wedding last year. 

The Coppi family has been producing wines under the family’s name for more than 40 years, and has owned vineyards for more than 100 years. Their wines are produced from 100 per cent autochthonous local varieties, to highlight the true nature of Puglia. Antonio Coppi, the founder of the winery, was a senator of the Italian Republic. Antonio’s children, Doni, Lisia and Miriam, now carry on the Senator’s love for wines and passion for showing their Puglian home to the world. 

I always meet Doni every time I’m back in Puglia, of course to drink good wine, and because he is always enthusiastic about future projects and is always eager to show people how far they have come with the winery. Puglia has plenty of beautiful, beautiful wines that are often forgotten; and the family always welcomes anyone that wants to visit the massive, beautiful cantine and wants to explore better Puglia wines. 

Coppi winery is not so far from Bari, Puglia’s capital city. There, you can visit the old town where the renowned orecchiette ladies bring life to a specific spot of the town, Arco Basso. Visit the wet market in piazza Ferrarese, the Saint Nicholas cathedral and enjoy the best focaccia in the world by Panificio Fiore with a cold Peroni beer—all located a few steps away from each other.”

Casa Vinicola Coppi
Address: Strada Provinciale 215 Turi BA S.P. Turi Gioia del Colle snc, 70010 Turi BA, Italy

“Querceta is an organic farm that has been around since 1980. It’s owned by two beautiful siblings, Sonia and Angelo, who are super fanatic about Puglia. 

I had the pleasure of collaborating with them thanks to a partnership we sealed with Fico; I chose to work with them because I love and respect the style of work they adopt. They’re definitely less conventional, but they put quality, sustainability and respect for the craft and animals first. 

Querceta has a program called “Masseria Didattica” (translated to “Educational Farm” in English), where anyone can visit the property and tour the beautiful farm—you can see how the animals are kept, the food they eat and the environment that surrounds them. You’ll also be able to see how cheeses like mozzarella and burrata are made. And finally, the most important and delicious moment in the programme—the opportunity to taste the fresh products, from meats to aged cheeses, salami, focaccia, taralli, and all the renowned foods of Puglia. Believe me when I say that tasting a warm and freshly made mozzarella will change your life forever! 

Querceta is only a few minutes away from my favourite spot in the whole world: Polignano a Mare, a small town on the Italian coast, which houses one of Puglia’s most beautiful beaches. Trust me, you don’t want to miss this.”

Querceta
Address: Strada Comunale Salita dell'Uomo, 1, 70017 Putignano BA, Italy

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“A romantic, soulful restaurant awarded one Michelin star and located in one of the most stunning hotels in the world: Borgo Egnazia. Borgo Egnazia was recently recognised as one of the World’s 50 Best Hotels. It’s a unique place that pays tribute to an ancient Apulian village through its shapes and materials.

At Due Camini, the food is modern, fresh and progressive, yet extremely comforting, traditional and made with plenty of heart. There are different menus to choose from, with recipes inspired by the region as well as the wider Mediterranean. Many ingredients are sourced from the garden on-site. The chef, Domingo Schingaro, and his team from both back and front of house are truly top class! 

Most of all, the warmth, kindness and genuine hospitality from the people there makes Borgo Egnazia and Due Camini truly a memorable experience that you’ll never forget.”

Ristorante Due Camini
Address: Strada Comunale Egnazia, 72015 Savelletri BR, Italy

“Al Boschetto is located in Noci, which is one of the lesser known towns in Puglia, but definitely worth a visit—it’s surrounded by wonderful large farms and olive tree groves, located on the slopes of the Valley of Itria and nearby to other famous Puglian destinations (such as Alberobello, Castellana Grotte and Monopoli).I love this place because it is the perfect picture of a Puglia made by young people who are hungry to grow and go big while respecting that there is no future without the history and traditions from the past. 

It is the shining example of how a family business—now in their 40th year—has been passed from the parents to their children and grandchildren, while preserving the exact same values of authenticity, charm and flavours of home. The food is made from peasant recipes, ingredients that are cultivated by local farmers in the town—this is what we call ‘zero kilometer food’, where no ingredient is imported from outside the town.”

Al Boschetto
Address: Zona A, 30, 70015 Noci BA, Italy

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