Martinucci
Martinucci is well known in Salento and across Puglia as a chain of good quality pasticcerias with large sites in all the main tourist hotspots, and even an outpost in Rome.
Their new site in Lecce has revitalised the former McDonald’s, smack bang in the middle of Piazza Sant’oronzo and it’s backed up by their reliable pasticcerie, which are always outstanding across all their sites. It’s hard to argue the selection of pasticciotti aren’t some of the best, if not the best in all of Lecce.
An excellent range of gelato is on offer here too (as if the 3 other massive gelaterias within a stone’s throw weren’t ample selection enough). It’s also a good place to pick up a top-quality sandwich (panino) or sit down for a little aperitivo/snack.
Citiso
Pasticceria Citiso feels like the kind of place that Shoreditch graphic designers come to visit on research trips (and then recreate -badly- for buzz London restaurant companies looking for the edge in the world of restaurant fashion). Everything from the signage, to the fonts on the awnings and sugar packets is so on point that it really is an extremely entertaining place to sit and have a drink/something sweet. It has a creamy marble/mid century concrete look, with mirrors everywhere, tables laid up with actual table clothes (and glass tops); windows lined with rows of classic cakes, and Romanesque columns each side of the door as you walk in. Even if I’m sure essential refurbs will come along in the future, I hope that from a design perspective nothing about this place ever changes.
Pasticceria De Leo
You’ll find Pasticceria de Leo about three quarters of the way up Via di Leuca (heading towards Castromediano from Porta San Biagio). It’s a humble place with a classic Italian bar interior that looks like it hasn’t been touched in well over 50 years. There’s a kinda brutalist concorse infront of it on which they’ve created a lovely little seating area. It really is a surprising relaxing spot for a morning coffee.
Pinti
Pinti is not strictly Leccese, its actually a Neapolitan Pasticceria, and has a dangerous selection of Neapolitan cakes and sweets which, if you wanna max your daily calorie limit in about 15 minutes, will blow your mind.
The interior is a simple bar/counter (cassa left / sweets & cakes middle / coffee bar right), tastefully littered with neo-antique Italian furniture (Pinti is not actually old, I think it opened in 2017). The team are generally helpful and speak plenty of languages between them.
Outside, Pinti comes into its own as it spills out onto the large paved space in front of Porta San Biagio. Here I have whiled away many many MANY mornings with a coffee & pasticciotto, reading my book or relaxing in the sun.