Top Matera Dining Experiences

Matera is home to the Sassi cave churches and dwellings that make up one of the oldest cities in the world. Join your guide for an in-depth tour of the Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisano districts to learn about their unique history and evolution. Discover rupestrian structures, stroll the steep and narrow lanes, and gain a deeper understanding of how this town, once called the “Shame of Italy”, is now a UNESCO-listed treasure.

For me, hosting and home is a whole other thing from a simple restaurant that can be as hospitable as you want but will never be able to welcome you with the serene and informal conviviality of "my home". Here I relive the experiences lived in my grandparents' house before and my parents later. Perfumes from boiling pots, the same but always different voices and gestures of my mother and my aunt who repeat rituals that have unknowingly marked me. Over time I have accumulated a treasure trove of sensations and knowledge that intertwine between the countryside and the kitchen and from which I am indelibly marked. Today I find myself chasing cookbooks and recipes to reproduce in an attempt to relive that experience and I ask for your help in order to succeed. We will prepare various dishes of the Matera tradition together, depending on the period in which we meet, and then we will taste them in the convivial and "Slow" atmosphere that has always distinguished me.

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic recipes from Varese treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Enjoy this picnic based on local artisanal products and oil, surrounded by nature under centuries-old olive trees, with a breathtaking view of the Little Lucanian Dolomites and Gallipoli Cognato Park, a protected natural area in Basilicata. Enjoy the serenity of walking through an olive grove while learning many details about the cultivation and maintenance of this Mediterranean tree and the products we obtain from its generosity. Enjoy the views of this area, which features alternating oak forests and barren, rocky peaks, on which thrives a rare and interesting flora with distinctive plant species.

With this market tour and dining experience, you can try authentic Italian dishes in the special setting of a local’s home. Begin by exploring a local market in Matera, where you can learn about local ingredients. Then, visit a local cook’s home for a special dining experience, where you can savor a 3-course feast of regional dishes, such as pasta and tiramisu.

At the heart of Matera, discover the exquisite world of truffles on a private foodie tour. A local expert will introduce you to the history and varieties of this underground delicacy, leading you through a six-course tasting that includes toasted crostini with truffle creams, truffle salami, and panna cotta with truffle honey. As you indulge in each dish, learn about harvesting methods and culinary techniques to enhance your appreciation of truffles. What makes this foodie tour special: Private, small-group format (up to 3 participants) for a relaxed, personalized experience. Authentic truffle shop setting in central Matera. Expert storytelling covering truffle history, varieties, harvesting, and culinary use. Carefully curated 6-course tasting showcasing truffle in both savory and sweet pairings.

The UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera is both captivating and mysterious. With this guided tour, take a deep dive into the history of this unique rupestrian city, named a 2019 European Capital of Culture. Explore its hidden dwellings and churches carved directly into the cliff, the setting for a number of films, including Ben Hur.

Cover more ground and explore the UNESCO-listed Sassi di Matera cave churches and dwellings in less than an hour with this Ape Calessino tour. Buzz through the steep, narrow lanes to see highlights in the Barisano and Caveoso districts plus Civita, the town's historic center. Learn about the history of this unique cliffside town from your driver and guide and pause to admire the top sights and snap photos.

Live an authentic experience that combines nature, tradition and taste in a unique setting. You will walk among majestic centuries-old olive trees, witnesses of history and culture, immersed in a breathtaking landscape with views of the Little Lucanian Dolomites and the Gallipoli Cognato and Foresta Mantenera Park. Here, away from the chaos, you will breathe pure and uncontaminated air, surrounded by the scents of the earth. You will discover the secrets of the cultivation and production of our organic oils, appreciating their quality and unique characteristics. The tasting will take place under the olive groves, where you will taste our fine oils accompanied by platters of cold cuts and cheeses at km 0, the result of the passion and tradition of local companies. A journey into the authentic flavors of Basilicata, between taste and well-being.

Our experiential tour offers a hands-on bread-making workshop, complete with an introduction to the company’s rich history, spanning four generations in the local area. The experience begins with an explanation of the ingredients used, such as the finest local semolina and natural sourdough starter. From there, you'll step into the bakery’s workshop, where the master baker will guide you through bread-making: kneading, proofing, shaping the dough, and applying the unique stamp that defines Matera bread. As part of the process, you'll have the chance to roll up your sleeves and craft your own loaf of bread. Once baked, your creation will be yours to take home as a delicious memento. The tour concludes with a tasting of local specialties in a cozy, designated area where you can unwind and savor the region's flavors. This is more than a workshop—it’s a journey into the culinary traditions of Matera.

Immerse yourself in a private pasta and tiramisu-making class in a welcoming home, learn the secrets of the region's most famous pasta dishes and tiramisu and taste the fruit of your labour for lunch or dinner accompanied by local wines. During this private lesson, you will learn how to prepare 2 pasta recipes and the tiramisu dessert from scratch. Your Cesarina will reveal the tricks of the trade of these iconic recipes. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family once home with an Italian meal! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Take a break from sightseeing and discover Matera’s rural heart with this private cooking class at a traditional farm. Connect with a local family to visit their olive and orange groves, then roll up your sleeves and get to work in the kitchen preparing fresh pasta and other classic dishes. Sample your handiwork at the end of the class with a casual meal featuring the recipes you’ve prepared.

Unveil the secrets of the ancient “cave city” of Matera with this in-depth walking tour through the UNESCO-listed Sassi. Delve into the history of this unique city dug into the cliffside and visit a cave house and rupestrian churches in its two oldest districts. Learn about how residents once lived, marvel at the cathedral set at the town’s upper square, and take in sweeping views over the Murgia Materana Park.

Learn to make authentic pasta the old farmer way, right in a Sassi cellar carved from ancient stone. Using the freshest local ingredients, you’ll prepare bruschetta, cialledda salad, and traditional pasta with guidance from a professional chef. Once the cooking is done, sit down to savor your creations in this extraordinary and historic setting.

1 - Large historical location of 300sqm of typical houses of the Sassi di Matera 2 - Over 300 types of selected local products 3 - Experience unique flavors among the rocks of the Sassi di Matera

Join this fantastic cooking experience, you will learn how to make fresh pasta with 0 km ingredients. This educational activity offers a path of awareness towards nature and the goods it offers. The experience will end with a convivial lunch where you can taste everything previously made with your own hands, all accompanied by a local wine. We are waiting for you to realize all this.

Truffle & Champagne: A Taste of Luxury Among Ancient Olive Trees Indulge in a unique gourmet aperitif set in the heart of our organic farm, surrounded by centuries-old olive trees and unspoiled nature. Enjoy the rich flavor of fresh truffles paired with premium Champagne, served in an elegant, open-air setting that blends rustic charm with refined taste. What’s included: • Truffle-based gourmet bites • Fine Champagne tasting • Idyllic setting among ancient olive trees • Insight into truffle traditions and local flavors Perfect for food lovers seeking an authentic, peaceful escape. We don’t serve alcol at younger than 21 years old

Don't lose the opportunity to become a "pizzaiolo" (pizza-maker) and a great tiramisu maker! Enter a local home, connect with an expert home cook and discover how Italian mamma and nonnas used to prepare awesome pizza at home. With this private hands-on cooking class, you will learn how to make pizza and tiramisù from scratch from a real Italian family. To complete your feast, enjoy what you have prepared for lunch or dinner with a selection of local wine included. Have fun putting your cooking skills to the test and amaze your friends and family with a pizza party once you come back home! This experience is suitable for families with children of all ages. Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 120 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Learn about the art of cheese making with a master cheesemaker in Matera. Enjoy a typical farmer's breakfast of organic dairies, try to make your mozzarella and taste lots of cheeses.