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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Come relax in the shade of centuries-old olive trees enjoying a picnic completely set up for you You will walk among the centuries-old olive trees enjoying a wonderful view of the Little Lucanian Dolomites and the Mantenera Forest In the shadow of our Majatica, the queen of our 350-year-old certified olive grove and Patriarch Lucan, a picnic awaits you with a selection of Podolic cheeses from wild-bred cows, local cured meats, focaccia, the famous bread of Matera with which you can taste our organic oils, taralli olives drinking red wine Aglianico del Vulture immersed in a private location away from disturbing noises with only the sounds of nature and birdsong You can relax on pillows or swing in the hammock, walk among olive trees and enjoy the beautiful food at your own pace

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.

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.

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.

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.

Walking through an olive grove brings a profound sense of serenity, no matter the season or time of day. We invite you to step away from the crowds and immerse yourself in nature with this unforgettable walking and picnic experience. Your journey begins by wandering among ancient, century-old olive trees, discovering the stories of the people who cultivate them and learning the fascinating process behind our extra virgin olive oil production. As we travel through our lands, you will be treated to breathtaking views of the Piccole Dolomiti Lucane and the protected natural area of Gallipoli Cognato Park. The experience culminates in a moment of pure bliss: a rich, authentic picnic prepared exclusively for you in the gentle shade of our precious trees. Savor locally produced cured meats, artisan cheeses, EVOO bruschetta, and delicious desserts made with our homemade jams for a total immersion into the flavors and tranquility of Basilicata.

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.

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.

You will cook inside a real cave in the Sassi of Matera, an authentic and suggestive environment that makes the experience unique. Everything is enriched by the use of fresh and seasonal ingredients, which enhance the flavors of the territory and allow you to live the local cuisine in a genuine and sustainable way. You can choose between two options: Private cooking class : practical experience of pasta preparation Cooking class with lunch: at the end, taste the dishes prepared in a unique atmosphere in the cave

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