Pinti

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

Open All Day │ Pinti Website │ Directions on Google

Over my numerous visits to Pinti I have to admit from time to time they have served me a burnt or slightly destroyed Pasticciotto.

But honestly, I don’t care. Their Pasticciotti just taste so good. They might be my favourite in Lecce. I don’t know. I go back and fourth on this point. But without a doubt, Pinti’s are up there with the very best in the city.

The thing that makes the Pinti Pasticciotto unique is they bake it like a little (not that little) cake, with a uniquely domed top that I’ve never seen anywhere else. Their fillings range from the classic crema/crema & nutella to the more adventurous chocolate, rum and pear.

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. Never phone. If they answer, they’ll just leave you waiting on the end of the line with no explanation, for about ten to twenty minutes.

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.

You can argue as much as you like as to whether it’s authentically Leccese or Napoletana, but for me, when the quality is so high and the flavour so unique I honestly don’t care. In fact my advice would be to go to Pinti, get a table, and then spend all day in there arguing about whether its one or the other. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.