Bari is an amazing town that I wish we had gotten to spend more time in. We did a single day trip here but could have easily done a few more. The Old Town of Bari is one of the coolest places to explore in Italy. It’s a never ending maze of ancient buildings and unique, authentic, purely Italian culture. It’s almost impossible to rent a place in the Old Town, because the local Italians are so protective at the culture, society and tight-knit community that they’ve developed over centuries. And, when you get to experience it for even a day, you know why immediately. It is definitely a special place with a vibrant community where everyone appears to know one another and pride is taken in sweeping your front stoop and making the best orechiette pasta in the neighborhood.
Things to do in Bari
Pasta Alleyway
The name for this alleyway in Italian translates to English as “The Pasta Crime” or “Pasta Crime Alley”. Here grandmothers have displayed and sold their homemade orecchiette pasta for generations. These women learn how to make this very difficult to perfect pasta at an early age and spend all day rolling the dough into perfect orecchiette shapes of all sizes. Make sure you stop by this short stretch and buy some food from these great artisans. You can find the entrance to this alley directly across the street from the Norman Castle
Largo Albicocca
This small square has a bunch of unique and authentic local eateries that are worth stopping in to get a quick bit. There is a small pasta and sgagliozze shop in one corner of the square called, Le Sgagliozze di Donna Carmela. Sgagliozze is a fried polenta street food that is a signature dish for the region. Donna Carmela makes a great sgagliozze as well as some really nice homemade pasta.
Just across the way is a salumeria and bar with no sign, just a few tables and chairs outside that has some of the best meat and cheese plates around. It’s right next to Pizzeria Cosimo. Definitely make a trip to visit this place while you’re getting lost in Old Town Bari. If you look at the photo above, directly above Largo Albicocca, the people on the left side of the photo are sitting at the salumeria. Sorry, since it has no name or sign that’s the best I can do for directions. But, it is so worth it. The entire plate of food was phenomenal.
If you worry that you can’t find these spots on your own, there is a food and history tour that is offered that takes you to both of these as well as pasta alley an ice cream shop and as well takes you to see a musician that does a Tarantella music demonstration. The tour is decent, but it doesn’t really take you anywhere that you can’t discover on your own time and there was a lot of standing around, which is why we only recommend it if you don’t think you can walk around on your own and find these places.
Eat Gelato
Antica Gelateria Gentile has some of the best gelato around. If you love desserts and good coffee make sure to stop here and grab some of both.
Best Places to Eat in Bari
A great local spot with fantastic standard meals with reasonable prices.
Bari’s Seafood Market
The freshest raw seafood in town can be found coming in right off the docks at their famous seafood market.
Top-notch salads and panini sandwiches crammed with local products including octopus, ham, buffalo mozzarella cheese and pistachios. You order at the counter and they have wine by the glass or bottle as well as beer that you can add to your meal all for reasonable prices. Great spot for a quick lunch.
A fabulously rustic trattoria that feels more like someones house than a restaurant. This place is known for their homemade pastas, meatballs and dishes like veal with lemon and caper.
A quiet garden interior and innovative pizzas along with fresh pasta and seafood dishes make this a great place to get lunch or dinner.
Located just steps from the sea this restaurant has wonderful fresh seafood mixed with fresh traditional mediterranean ingredients
A great local spot for homemade traditional pastas.
Please Enjoy These Other Photos of Bari
