Here’s our list of the best cheap eats in Lecce for tasty food and unforgettable experiences
Just arrived in Lecce and don’t know good dining spots in the neighborhood yet? No more struggling to find a budget-friendly, tasty place to eat! Stay until the end to discover a hidden gem and explore the amazing cheap eats in Lecce we handpicked to satisfy both your wallet and your taste buds!
Mezzo Quinto: seasonality and tradition for low prices
Location: Via Degli Ammirati, 14, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 12pm – 3pm & Tuesday – Sunday from 7pm – 12am / 1:30am / 2am
This is pasta heaven—delicious, authentic, and fresh. Every main dish is 10€ or even less, and thus this restaurant definitely qualifies as one of Lecce’s best cheap eats.
Mezzo Quinto follows seasonality, and therefore some ingredients vary in availability. They attach great importance to “zero km” ingredients. Following this philosophy, they offer special “off-menu” dishes that you can only discover by visiting them and letting them advise you… you won’t regret it!
Furthermore, you can also try their real Italian sandwiches that are stuffed with regional sauces, meats, and vegetables.
Only this year, they also opened an osteria, where you can dine late into the night (classics and new creations) in a familiar atmosphere.
Bar Cotognata: a Lecce classic
Location: Via G. Marconi, 51, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 6am – 9pm
This is the perfect place to grab your breakfast in the morning; however, it’s far from being just a morning spot. In fact, I’d happily stop by at any time of the day, since the variety of options makes it impossible to get bored. Their pastries are to die for and of course, you can find all the typical Puglian baked goods and the caffè leccese here. Try them all: pasticciotto, rustico, mustaccioli, and pizzi leccesi. Nothing too fancy—just authentic Italian vibes!
Il Pizzicotto: light and crisp pizza
Location: Via Degli Ammirati, 14/D, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy
Opening hours: Every day from 12pm – 4pm and 7pm – 1am
Needless to say, you have to get pizza at least once! For a quick lunch or midnight snack, get your hands on Il Pizzicotto’s pizza slices. The Pizza is priced by weight, so your slice is weighed before serving. Their prices, both for the pizza and the drinks, are very reasonable for the quality. Furthermore, the dough is light and crisp, and the tomatoes are extremely rich in flavor.
Antica Pucceria: rustic and rich food for affordable prices
Location: Via Giuseppe Libertini, 46, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 11am – 2:30pm and Tuesday – Saturday from 7pm – 10pm
Since 1941, this place has made some of the best sandwiches in Lecce, and you can get them for as little as 6.5€. If you don’t like any of the combinations, no worries. The owners will put something together just for you. They also serve excellent craft beer you shouldn’t miss.
Just one bite and you’ll be in full-on Italian summer mode.
Marenna: our hidden cheap eats gem in Lecce
Location: Piazzetta Chiesa Greca, 1, 73100 Lecce LE, Italy
Opening Hours: Every day from 11am – 11pm / 11:30pm / 12am / 1:30am
Not too well known yet, this small restaurant keeps customers coming back with its simple menu and great wines. This is everything you could hope for in Italy. I could spend hours here, just trying all their appetizers and slurping one Aperol after another. This proves to me that you need nothing more than a few fresh, high-quality ingredients to enjoy some of the best food.
Still hungry?
We hear you loud and clear. Take a look at our anti-tourist guide for Lecce—just scroll down to find it. This time we listed some fancier restaurants.
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