Martinucci

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

Open All Day │ Directions on Google

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 (Martinucci in turn closing their old site on Via Trinchese, with McDolald’s opening their new site a few doors down, I know… strange right). In any case, Martinucci’s new pad is all glitzy shiny marble, gold trim, warm lighting, and generally super slick nuovo classic.

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.

Whenever you’re in a tourist hotspot/trap like Piazza Sant’oronzo (where you’ve got a good chance of being ripped off) having a safe place to turn to is essential.

Not only is Martinucci a safe pair of hands but it could easily go toe to toe with any of the other most important pasticcerias in any of Italy’s other most important squares.