Pasticceria De Leo

££££ │ Breakfast, Coffee, Gelato & Afternoon/Evening Drinks

Mornings & Late Afternoons │ Directions & Opening Times on Google

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.

They have a simple selection of well made morning pastries, gelato and sweets (my pasticiotto was fresh and tasty on my visit). Coffee and drinks are solid, and a another major string to their bow is a full range of Lactose free options (I think maybe everything?). I had a young child with me on my visit and all the staff were super friendly, kind and helpful.

Perhaps more than anything else this a real locals bar in the heart of Zona Leuca. The grand cafes of the old city have wonderful selections and are beautiful venues, however, don’t have any illusions that the locals actually go to them very often, they don’t. If you want to sit and read the paper amongst the quiet comings and goings of everyday Lecce life, you’d be hard pushed to find many places better than Pasticceria de Leo.