Discover Grotta Palazzese, the iconic cave restaurant in Polignano a Mare: May–Oct hours, set menus from €250, and Michelin-starred chef Martino Ruggeri.
Picture this: you’re sitting down to dinner with the sea lapping just beneath you, cliffs encircling the space, and a vaulted ceiling formed by a real marine cave. This isn’t a movie set but a real address—Grotta Palazzese in the Italian town of Polignano a Mare.
The cave that now houses the restaurant was used for celebrations as far back as the 18th century. A drawing from 1783 shows guests dining directly in the grotto. Back then, the site belonged to the noble Leto family. Much has changed since, but the idea endures: dinners here are designed to be remembered.
Today, Grotta Palazzese ranks among Italy’s most famous restaurants. Set into the cliff above the Adriatic, every table faces the water. It’s especially evocative in the evening, when the sun goes down and a gentle glow fills the cave.
The cave runs about 80 meters into the rock. The main hall is semicircular, with stone walls and an open view of the sea. The restaurant can host up to 150 guests at once. Above it sits a hotel with 18 rooms, all looking out over the water.
The restaurant operates only from May to October. It opens from 12:30 to 16:30 during the day and from 18:00 to 22:30 in the evening. There is a dress code, and children under 10 are admitted only for lunch or an early dinner.
There’s no traditional à la carte. Instead, guests choose among several fixed options of three, four, or five courses. Prices start at 250 euros per person and go up to 300, with drinks charged separately.
The plates here are not only flavorful but carefully composed. This is Apulian cuisine with plenty of seafood and fresh vegetables. Everything is served with close attention to detail so the food looks like a small work of art.
Starting in 2025, the restaurant is run by the team of renowned chef Martino Ruggeri. He holds two Michelin stars—one of the top distinctions in gastronomy—so the cooking promises to become even more intriguing.
Recently, a large area next to the restaurant opened under the name Suono del Mare, which in Italian means Sound of the Sea. Spanning roughly 5,000 square meters, it is designed for weddings, celebrations, and other events. Construction wrapped up in 2023–2024, though the idea dates back to 2019.
In that sense, Grotta Palazzese is no longer just a restaurant but a full-fledged venue for special moments right by the sea.
Grotta Palazzese is more than a place to eat. It’s a quiet lesson in how to harness natural beauty without overwhelming it. Here, everything—from the raw rock to the plate in front of you—works together to evoke a rare kind of feeling.
Even if Italy isn’t on your itinerary, the story of this restaurant shows how nature and culture can complement each other. Above all, it’s a reminder that a meal can be not only delicious but a memorable event in its own right.