Bari Eats

This little coastal town on the East side of Italy is full of history and charm, and lots of great seafood. Bari is probably not on the top of everyone’s Italian vacation spots, but it should be. It is a great escape from the larger cities and provides a relaxing atmosphere to relax in. The food scene is also incredible. Since it is on the coast, the fresh seafood is a highlight here – especially the octopus! Some of the foods you can’t miss include: Orecchiette – a simple, handmade pasta that you will find in almost every restaurant; Focaccia Barese – a thick, olive soaked, fluffy focaccia with tomatoes and olives (be careful they don’t remove the pits) and the best place to grab this is Santa Rita; Octopus – this is everywhere but you’ll find octopus sandwiches, grilled octopus, and so much more; Spaghetti All’Assassina – this pasta cooks in a tomato based sauce with some spice and as it cooks parts of the pasta get crispy and slightly burned; Burrata – this is the home of this famous cheese so make sure to pop in a grocery store to grab some fresh or stop by Mr. Burrata for a sandwich; Panzerotti – this is a delightfully fried dough pocket stuffed with pizza fillings. There really is so much good, local food and dishes here to check out. In between all the food make sure to explore the streets. I highly recommend taking a walk in the historic old town where you will also find the Pasta Nonna’s – these grandma’s hand make orecchiette on the street for you to watch (and buy!). There are also some great churches and architecture to take in. If you’re a morning person, head over to Teatro Margherita and go down to the water – you’ll find vendors selling freshly caught fish! There are also a ton of day trips you can take from Bari, either by sea or by land so make sure to check those out.