The best pasticciotti in Salento, according to the Salento locals, with an updated list

The best pasticciotti in Salento? Everyone has their own. It's one of the first things I learned in the place where I spent all my summers (and many winters, too): when you touch pasticciotto, you have to be careful. There are essentially two schools of thought on this typical dessert made with shortcrust pastry filled with custard: some prefer it "alla Galatinese" (Galatinese style), others "alla Leccese" (Lecce style), and there's a big difference.

What's the difference between the Leccese and Galatina pasticciottos?

The pasticciotto was born in Galatina, the town of the "tarantate," thanks to maestro Ascalone, whose pastry shop is still there and continues to be one of those places where you can never go wrong. Here, the pasticciotto is strictly made with a very pronounced and pleasantly charred dome, a crumbly and light yet slightly thick pastry, and a dense cream. In Lecce, however, the pasticciotto is golden, with a less pronounced dome, and is no less delicious (although the people of Galatina will never admit it, and perhaps vice versa). Which one should you choose?

The answer is not one but many, so to identify the best pasticciotti in Salento, I asked friends and fellow snackers. All true Salento locals, they gave me their favorites, to which I added mine: here are the ones that always meet, in strictly no particular order (that is, this is not a ranking).

2. Alvino Pastry Shop, Lecce

The most elegant bar in Lecce, Bar Alvino is also a historic venue. Located in Piazza Sant'Oronzo, overlooking the Roman amphitheater, it's also beloved for its desserts, handcrafted as always. Starting with the pasticciotto, a fragrant pastry filled with the perfect cream, perfect any time of day. catamo.shop/caffe-alvino.

5. 300 thousand bars, Lecce

For a particularly elegant, yet satisfying, breakfast (or snack), stop by 300Mila Bar in Lecce. One of the best bars in Salento, and not only that, since Davide De Matteis, owner of 300Mila, has also turned it into a restaurant, cocktail bar, and emporium, and has opened a workshop where he employs serving-time inmates. All the more reason to stop by and try it. 300mila.it.

9. White Art, Parabita

Antonio Campeggio is a master pastry chef, renowned throughout the province for his delicate and flawless desserts, which leave a sensation of lightness in your mouth that's rarely experienced with a dessert or cake. The pasticciotto is no exception; in fact, it's a signature. At his pastry shop in the center of Parabita, he also offers a mini version—the pasticciottino—and fills it with a variety of flavors: sweet (for example, pistachio) or savory, perfect for an aperitif. antoniocampeggio.it.

14. Pasticceria Natale, San Cesario and Lecce

Pasticceria Natale is a pillar of Salento's art of baking. It's been around since the 1970s and, in addition to its historic location in San Cesario, also has a location in the center of Lecce, which you'll recognize by the long lines waiting for their excellent gelato and traditional desserts like pasticciotti. Be patient and wait your turn: it's worth it. natalepasticceria.it.

16. Cocoa Flavor (Corsano)

Another place where the pasticciotto can become an excellent opportunity to sample other delicacies is Arôme de Cacao, a pastry shop and chocolate shop in Corsano, southern Salento. It's where master chocolatier Salvatore Toma creates marvels using cocoa and more. The pasticciotto is also impeccable, with a particularly light and fragrant pastry. aromedecacao.com.

17. Carlo's Bar, Porto Badisco

Postscript: I thank my companions in snacks and life, Milena Locato, Gianni Raho, and Paolo Natali. I also thank little Beatrice, who is on her way to becoming a world expert on pasticciotto thanks to her dad. Together, we will continue to update this article, one pasticciotto at a time.