The Best Hotels in Puglia
Back in the 1980s, when everyone was going to Chianti on villa holidays, few of us had even heard of Puglia. A decade later, word got out about the southern Italian region of fertile red earth, gnarled olives, turquoise seas, beautiful trulli, and pioneering masseria hotels. All of a sudden, Puglia was proclaimed the New Tuscany—if not a bit prematurely. But it came into its own in the aftermath of such hype, maturing quietly and steadily out of the limelight. Now all those trailblazing converted farmhouses have been joined by sophisticated new arrivals that combine world-class design with the warmth and originality of the area.
How we choose the best hotels in Puglia
Every hotel on this list has been selected independently by our editors and written by a Condé Nast Traveller journalist who knows the destination and has stayed at that property. When choosing hotels, our editors consider both luxury properties and boutique and lesser-known accommodations that offer an authentic and insider experience of a destination. We’re always looking for beautiful design, a great location, and warm service—as well as serious sustainability credentials.
All listings featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. If you book something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Courtesy Masseria Torre MaizzaMasseria Torre Maizza, Savelletri
A Mediterranean jungle crowned with grape vines and purple bougainvillea leads you to the rooms and suites of Masseria Torre Maizza, a 15th-century farmhouse acquired by the Rocco Forte Hotel group in 2019. It faces the Adriatic Coastline with a sight of the water on the horizon, connected to the Masseria via the Golf Course. The connection to the region through local craftsmanship is notable throughout—think Enza Fasano ceramics designed by Olga Polizzi, wicker and embroidered furnishings, and an eclectic color palette that recalls the shades of nature. Nature is at the very heart of the Masseria, from Irene Forte Skincare amenities to the cuisine, where Chef Fulvio Pierangelini curates a menu that showcases vegetables in all their facets.
Don't miss the lemon tart for pudding at the Carosello restaurant, which is lined with rosemary bushes and blue jasmine—which only seems fitting considering tables overlook the lemon grove. Aperitivi takes place by the swimming pool, where you can linger over local wines and nibbles as Carmelo sings Italian classics as the sun sets. Morning workouts are in the outdoor gym, which is more akin to a tented safari camp with techno gym equipment. One of the latest acquisitions of Masseria Torre Maizza is Lido Bambù, a bohemian-inspired beach club with sombrero-like umbrellas and cushioned sun beds, where you can spend the day (and take the free shuttle bus) amongst turquoise waters.
Stefano Scatà/Courtesy Hotel La PeschieraLa Peschiera, Monopoli
Settled on waters edge, La Peschiera is the perfect example of a meticulous restoration—from an ancient fishing reserve to one of the most exclusive, refined hotels in Puglia. Located along the Monopoli coastline, the dreamy beachside property embraces a simple color palette of whites and beiges that perfectly enhances the hypnotic deep-blue sea that it overlooks. Here you live and breathe the Adriatic, waking up and falling asleep to the gentle rustle of the waves, and even dining above it on a suspended terrace where seafood is undoubtedly the starring ingredient of Chef Vincenzo Montanaro’s tasting menus. On the other side is a small, private beach where you can experience the leisurely rhythm of the Mediterranean.
Courtesy Borgo San MarcoBorgo San Marco, Fasano
A white-washed limestone façade represents years of history that date back to the 12th century, enclosing fragments of the past preserved as treasures in the cave church. But this heritage has experienced a contemporary dimension since 2002, when Alessandro and Virginia Amati acquired and restored the property. Today Borgo San Marco has 19 suites with rustic, country design, four poster beds, and romantic drapes that gently dance in the morning breeze. The views here stretch across the horizon, over layers of centenary olive trees and ancient carobs, and sprawl out to the Adriatic Sea. (This is the side to catch the best sunrise.) At the hotel’s restaurant, home-cooked, local cuisine is served to hotel guests and visitors. Order the Fave e Cicoria, (fava bean purée with chicory) and drizzle with Borgo San Marco’s own extra virgin olive oil made on-site—it’s also just as lovely on bread with a sprinkle of salt.
Salva Lopez/Courtesy Masseria MorosetaMasseria Moroseta, Ostuni
Carlo Lanzini set out to create a contemporary structure that acknowledged and respected tradition and integrated harmoniously into the surroundings. The outcome is a very linear, refined structure with whitewashed tufo walls, vaulted ceilings, and original stone floors designed by Andrew Trotter. Outside, the beautifully minimalist location offers both sociable and convivial spaces and intimate nooks for moments of simple solitude. With Giorgia Eugeniagoggi at the head of the kitchen table, the philosophy behind the cuisine is simple yet refined: farm-to-table ingredients, locally sourced products, research, and dedication.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
©Rei Moon/Moon Ray Studio/Courtesy Castle ElviraCastle Elvira, Trepuzzi
A 15-minute drive from Lecce takes you to a 20th-century castle left in its original state, with merlons and turrets set amidst 37 acres of gardens and orchards sprawling out towards the Adriatic Sea. Legend has it that the castle was abandoned for a century until current owner Steve Riseley acquired the property and—working closely with architects and specialist artisans—carefully restored it whilst discretely integrating contemporary, eclectic designer furnishings and works of art. There are four suites within the castle, a two-roomed Garden Suite in the Cottage and a further four suites across the tower and ancient Masseria, as well as a 230-foot swimming pool, jacuzzi, rooftop terrace, and restaurant in which chef Fabiana Taurino prepares dishes deeply rooted in southern Apulian traditions.
Courtesy Masseria MontenapoleoneMasseria Montenapoleone, Pezze di Greco
A long, narrow road with alternating rosemary and oleander bushes leads to an enchanted garden suspended between the countryside and the sea. Set out in the tiny hamlet of Pezze di Greco—eight minutes away from Torre Canne beach—Masseria Montenapoleone transports you to a dimension in which time is unimportant. Giuliano and Alessandra Monteneve created this artistic haven from an ancient cave settlement and live here today alongside their guests with their daughter Marcellina. They have paid particular attention to furnishings, in which upcycled objects and vintage treasured finds from antique markets have been given a second life.
The setting is a natural wonderland, composed of a variety of vegetation from fruit trees to flowers and herb gardens that leave a fragrant trail as you walk around the narrow stone-carved paths not only. In the mornings, you’ll find Chef Domenico Consoli picking fresh fruits and vegetables to cook at La Falegnameria restaurant. At Herbarium, the holistic spa, herbs are also used to create massage and aromatherapy oils that change on a seasonal basis. In the evening, book an aperitivo among the vineyards and watch the sunset as you enjoy a cocktail from the botanical bar or a glass of Primi Passi wine made from the native susumaniello grape from the vineyards.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Stefano Scatà/Courtesy Masseria Le TorriMasseria le Torri, Polignano a Mare
When you think of Polignano a Mare, you envision the large spurs of rocks that look over Cala Porto, that small, picturesque sandy beach. But there’s another side to scenic town—rolling green countryside with dense olive groves surrounding Masseria le Torri. Here, Mimmo and Silvana welcome you to their home through small and kind gestures that truly make you appreciate family-run hotels. Now and again, you’ll see Silvana walk around with a little apron and a huge smile, often on her way to the kitchen to bake something delicious.
The breakfast is a memorable spread of home-baked cakes (vegan and gluten-free, too) and your traditional savory delicacies such as ricotta, primo sale, focaccia, and capocollo. But the rooms within this masseria also leave their mark—a simple and delicate palette of white with only essential furnishings that recall farmhouses of the past. You’ll find charming little details like an olive branch in place of a wardrobe, reflecting the farmer’s habit of hanging his jacket on a tree before starting work in the fields. At night, a spray of lavender oil awaits you on your pillow.
Atelier Domestico/ Courtesy Masseria DagilupiMasseria Dagilupi, Ostuni
Danielle and Jean Louis fell in love with the authenticity of Puglia while on holiday and ended up relocating from Strasbourg seven years ago. They chose Ostuni as a base for their Maison d’Hôtes Masseria Dagilupi, where the Valle d’Itria and Salento collide, and expanses of olive groves flourish above deep, red earth. The Masseria is housed within an ancient oil mill, with three suites that retain their original white-washed stone, vaulted ceilings, and arched coves that once served as storage units to conserve the olive oil. Interiors are a mix of tradition, such as Enza Fasano vases and tableware, and refreshing contemporary touches like the Patricia Urquiola-designed bathtub in the Terrace Suite Ostuni.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Colella Nicola/Courtesy Galeta MasseriaMasseria Galeta, Nardò
For a visit to Nardò—an authentic Italian gem with its splendid baroque façades, grand piazzas, and few tourists—Masseria Galeta is an ideal base just a 20-minute drive away. The Masseria has a wonderful rustic and country vibe, and along with a guesthouse, it also operates as a farm breeding cattle and goats. There are only three rooms between the 16th-century watchtower and farmhouse, where simple, antique furnishings enhance the atmosphere of an authentic, historical Masseria. Meant to be savored around a large, long table, breakfast is a moment of conviviality where guests can come together over homemade delights.
Courtesy Don FerranteDon Ferrante, Monopoli
This 10-room charmer is built into the walls of Monopoli, a characterful sea-girt warren of whitewashed houses that feels more Greek than Italian. The bedrooms are classy accommodations under the vaults of what was once an 18th- century nobleman's house. The real clincher is the roof terrace and bar, where sunset aperitivi are served.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Gregory Venere/Paragon 700Paragon 700, Ostuni
Palazzo Rosso laid abandoned for 40 years before designers Pascale Lauber and Ulrike Bauschke stumbled upon it. Behind a façade of rusticated Pompei red stone, they found a dusty interior of frescoes, majolica tiles, sweeping staircases, and high-ceilinged grandeur. Paragon 700—their 11-room hotel—threw open its doors in 2021. A mischievous sense of design uplifts austere spaces with eclectic art and Gothicky furnishings. Don’t miss the spa—a candlelit netherworld that was once an underground cistern.
Flavio Massari/GettyPalazzo Maresgallo, Lecce
Palazzo Maresgallo manifests as a sprawl of galleries, balconies, and roof terraces in a garden of lemon trees. Instead of hallways lined with gloomy pictures of ancestors, the stunning property is filled with imaginative furniture from renowned designers and unforgettable art. It's no surprise that the owners, two couples, are collectors.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Courtesy Castello di UgentoCastello di Ugento, Ugento
At the highest point of the small town of Ugento, 15 miles from Puglia's southernmost point, one gleaming monument stands out from its sun-faded neighbors. It took 18 months to sandblast Castello di Ugento's dilapidated pietra leccese walls back to their original honey hue, part of a nearly $16,000,000 renovation that breathed new life into the once-majestic palazzo. Three state-of-the-art kitchens were built within the property for Culinary Institute of America students to learn authentic Italian methods.
Pugliese produce is championed elsewhere in the castle too, with embroidered fabrics, handmade ceramics, and organic olive-oil soaps and shampoos. Design-savvy guests will appreciate the furniture, from Ceccotti loveseats to reupholstered vintage Poltrona Frau armchairs. The nine bedrooms combine original architectural features with contemporary cosseting: sleep under a star-vaulted ceiling or shower in a rediscovered vault. The marriage of ancient and avant-garde continues in the museum wing, where 17th-century frescoes provide a backdrop to modern art exhibitions. In the restaurant, the glass floor reveals a Norman tower that was excavated during the renovations.
Lorenzo Pennati/Courtesy Don TotuDon Totu, San Cassiano
Milanese owners Chiara and Mauro Bini turned their historic dimora storica into a village house with all the punch of a top-notch hotel. Lush green cacti-filled gardens are bright against the creamy stonework; inside, original Salentine tiled floors are paired with grey and taupe linens and artwork from around the world. There are only six bedrooms (all vast, and each with its own terrace), so the enormous pool is usually all yours. At one end, a loggia houses an 18-metre-long replica of Matisse’s La Piscine beneath Art Deco chandeliers shipped over from the old Biltmore Hotel in Miami.
Its flat roof turns into an outdoor cinema at night, for subtitled films with pizza and ice cream. Sweat it off the next morning with the daily 8 a.m. yoga session or book the private hammam for a Turkish bath. Food-wise you can help yourself to everything in the kitchen—still-warm bread, tarts, flans, hams, cheese, and fruit for breakfast. From here, enjoy a never-ending procession of chocolate truffles, Italian pastries, and sugar-dusted biscuits during the day. You aren’t completely left to your own devices: the manager is always on hand for expert restaurant suggestions and local know-how. For beach trips, the staff will prepare a bag with towels and bottled water, plus there are bicycles and Vespas to borrow. Don Tuto is a B&B, yes, but better than some of the very best hotels down here In Italy’s heel.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Courtesy Rocco Forte HotelsMasseria Torre Coccaro, Savelletri
Dominated by a 16th-century watchtower that later became a fortified farmhouse, Masseria Torre Coccaro is a delightfully laid-back place that serves both families and couples (it can arrange kids' pizza lessons as well as a quick round on the golf course). The owner is mover and shaker Vittorio Muolo—one of the founding fathers of the masserie and beach club scene in Puglia's fishing village of Savelletri—who opened Torre Coccaro back in 2002. The rooms combine Puglian rusticity with touches of Frenchified elegance.
Courtesy Borgo EgnaziaBorgo Egnazia, Savelletri
There is nothing in Puglia quite like this: Borgo Egnazia is a vast hotel-village with a riad feel that sprawls luxuriantly over three areas. Head to the center, and you'll find a gorgeous 63-room masseria hotel. Families tend to opt for the more relaxed apartments, which give on to the lanes and piazzas of a tasteful faux-rural hamlet. For larger groups, there are 29 individual villas with private pools. Borgo Egnazia can absorb well over 300 people in high season, yet it's remarkably easy to carve out a private corner. There are four pools, as many restaurants (in varying venues from cellars to the beach), and an ethno-glam spa with a cinema. Local advisors sort tours or activities and indulge guests' whims: there's even a dedicated, in-house bicycle rental guy.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Courtesy Masseria ProsperiMasseria Prosperi, Otranto
Mercedes Prosperi's mother and sister run Masseria Montelauro —a reference point for fans of Puglian country allure—but here near Laghi Alimini, Prosperi has carved out a refreshingly kooky fiefdom of her own. A lifelong animal lover, she keeps horses, donkeys, goats, and geese on this bohemian working farm. Though the location—right behind a less exalted masseria hotel—could be better, the mix of vintage and modern design of this new-build six-room retreat is seductive.
November Studio/Courtesy Masseria CalderisiMasseria Calderisi, Savelletri
It was built in 1656, but these days this fortified farmhouse is all clean lines offset with steel blue windows and doors. The cobbled threshing floor acts as a piazza between the dining terrace and tiny family chapel, between the spa and sunken orchard. It is tempting to surrender to the lavender-framed pool and long lunches of grilled fish. As evening cool washes over the Masseria, the apero terrace is the place to catch the last rays of sun—the clink of Negronis from the aperitivo bar blending with the sounds of laid-back music and the hum of the cicadas.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Courtesy Palazzo LucePalazzo Luce, Lecce
Milanese art collector Anna Maria Enselmi embarked on a four-year project to create this seven-suite hotel (and at-times exclusive rental) and living art gallery. Works by William Kentridge, Giuliano Dal Molin, Marina Abramović, Vanessa Beecroft, Marzia Migliora, and Thomas Ruff—as well as 20th-century Italian furniture—dazzle in its rooms and cavernous salon. Two libraries, a small spa with hammam and Pilates studio, a bar in metal cabinetry, and a lap pool overlooking the Roman theatre are more recent additions.
Courtesy Masseria CiminoMasseria Cimino
This one is sweet and discreet, while its sister hotel Borgo Egnazia is big, bold, and grand. A side project of the latter's owner-manager Aldo Melpignano, it's a plum-red, 18th-century fortified masseria surrounded by olive groves, and makes a virtue of its simplicity. The farmhouse bedrooms are elegant but authentic, and breakfasts and dinners are good, unfussy local fare (Pugliese pasta dishes made with vegetables grown in the garden). The property is a wonderfully unpretentious antidote to some of the region's dressier places to eat and stay.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Courtesy La FiermontinaLa Fiermontina, Lecce
Opened in June, La Fiermontina represents a return to his ancestral roots for French-born owner Giacamo Fiermonte, whose grandmother moved to Paris from Lecce in the 1930s. Twelve years ago, he bought one of the few historic palazzos within the city walls still in private hands and worked with local architect Antonio Annicchiarico and Parisian interiors firm Charles-Philippe and Christophe to create a different Lecce hotel. It's a little like a designer monastery, a discreetly stylish refuge in the center of town combining star-vaulted ceilings with vintage modernist furnishings by Charlotte Perriand and contemporary art from the owner's private collection. The large walled garden consists mostly of ancient olive trees, beyond which lies the cool green pool. In the restaurant, Simone Solido serves up authentic local dishes such as ciceri e tria (pasta and chickpeas) with less-is-more flair.
Courtesy Masseria Le FabricheMasseria Le Fabriche
This is a stone masseria built on a rise above a sweep of vineyards in Maruggio. The sophisticated interiors are a little Milan (a plum-hued designer sofa) and a touch peasant-chic (ceramic tchotchkes from nearby Grottaglie). There are 18 cool rooms set in the estate's olive groves, like vastly spruced-up versions of estate farmworkers' quarters. The restaurant serves perfect local dishes—mozzarella-filled ravioli—accompanied by some very good house wine. Nearby beaches such as Conte d'Ayala give those in the Maldives a run for their money. And all this at a price that remains sane even in high season.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Courtesy Palazzo DanielePalazzo Daniele, Salento
Salento, at the tip of Italy’s heel, is both a land’s end peninsula and a crossroads of cultures—some locals still speak an ancient Greek dialect. Gabriele Salini of GS Collection decided to partner with art curator Francesco Petrucci after Petrucci inherited his family’s 19th-century townhouse in lively Gagliano del Capo. Salini worked closely with the architects to take things back to essentials, to ‘exalt the void’ has, of course, exaggerated the grandeur of the place. Within this property, there are stripped-back walls, industrial lamps, monastically simple bedrooms that highlight the ceiling frescoes, mirrored salons, and a courtyard that calls for wild The Leopard-like soirées. The six-bedroom setting so beguiled French travel disruptor Thierry Teyssier that he launched his pop-up hotel concept 700,000 Heures here last autumn. Some of the region’s best beaches are a short drive away, but a cool, dark slick of swimming pool and lemon-filled orchard are persuasive reasons to stay put.
Courtesy Sextantio le Grotte della CivitaSextantio le Grotte della Civita, Matera
While Matera may not strictly be in Puglia—it sits just over the border in the neighboring Basilicata region—it’s a great addition to any Puglian road trip. Rich in history, the ancient Sassi di Matera (sassi meaning ‘stones’) is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with homes and hotels carved into the tufa limestone. Sitting on a rugged hill above the la Gravina ravine and facing Murgia National Park is this breathtaking hotel converted from a church. Each stone was carefully removed and replaced to fit an underground system for water, electricity, and heating—interiors are relatively untouched and feel a million miles from any contemporary design hotel. Rooms, as you would expect from their ancient origins, vary massively in terms of shape and size. Each opens with a giant metal key and are dimly lit by several cream candles, mimicking Matera’s cityscape at early dusk.
The design is simple: high whitewashed ceilings, a stone arch that leads to an open-plan bathroom with a freestanding bath; a king-size bed with hand-woven crisp linen sheets; and dark rustic wooden furnishings. The biggest cave is the space that housed the church, and its cavernous stone heft is softened with handcrafted ceramic vases stuffed with purple dried flowers and bowls of prickly-jewel cacti fruit. This is where breakfast is served, sturdy oak tables dressed in linen and laden with a serious breakfast spread of burrata, ricotta, bruschetta, cured meats, and a bakery-worthy display of fresh-baked Italian bread.
- Destinations26 Best Bars in New York City
Courtesy Masseria PotentiMasseria Potenti, Manduria
The creation of Milan-based pugliesi Paolo Tommasino and Maria Grazia Di Lauro, this masseria nails sophisticated, barefoot chic like few others. Di Lauro's taste and eye for detail come through in the rustic-modern interiors, and the service is genuine and warm. Close to some of Puglia's best beaches, Masseria Potenti is just one of a handful of places to stay in the Manduria area, a seaside frontier dotted with nature reserves and Primitivo vineyards (like the hotel's own). Alongside wine, healthy food is a big part of any stay here: just good, garden-fresh regional dishes—such as the delicious aubergine polpette—courtesy of a talented local mother-and-daughter team, who also rustle up sumptuous breakfast feasts based on the hotel's own produce. There's a real spiritual energy to this place, so it's no surprise it has become a popular spot for yoga retreats.
Courtesy Masseria AlchimiaMasseria Alchimia, Savelletri
You can experience the most amazing authentic Puglian breakfast at the Agricola Monte: fresh cured ham, scrambled eggs from the chickens you can hear clucking across the driveway, sticky honey from the hives at the end of the garden, and jams—the result of the previous season’s orchard leftovers. In the little shop, stock up aromatic green olive oil from the surrounding groves, labeled with the date it was pressed. All this is a five-minute stroll through the immaculate farmland of Masseria Alchimia, Swiss owner Caroline Groszer's labor of love. She has transformed the whitewashed masseria, creating a handful of absurdly well-priced apartments, perfect accommodations for summer stays. Inside, Groszer’s aesthetic is considered and crisp—wishbone chairs and retro lights paired with bespoke glass art and private terraces with Acapulco chairs for catching the last of the afternoon sun.
Rooms come with kitchenettes (pastel-colored Smeg toasters, a proper coffee pot, with fresh ground beans ready to use) so that you can whip up the spoils from the farm into a light supper. Gardens include rows of plum trees, a wall of tumbling cacti, a towering palm—the emblem of the Masseria—and a sweet set of swings and a slide.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller.
