Palazzo Briganti

We had dinner a couple of times at L'Acchiatura downstairs, and the food was delicious. The setting was stunning, and the staff were friendly and helpful. Breakfast at the affiliated bar was very good too. We stayed from August 6th to 13th, and it was one of the best holidays my husband and I have had. The rooms were spacious and clean, with an authentic Puglia feel. Federica was always in touch, lovely, and happy to help with any request. A magical place. Thank you, Valentina and Patrick.

The building is beautiful and full of character, but there’s plenty to improve if the price is meant to be mid to high range. We stayed four nights, and the room we were given on arrival was much smaller and less well kept than the one in the booking photos. After we repeatedly chased the booking agency, the owner reassured us two days later that it was the same size as the room we had reserved. We couldn’t really use the grotto pool: the water was freezing, its hours depended on restaurant service, and the entrance is through a very busy restaurant. The courtyard tables also stayed occupied until late, with rooms overlooking them, so rest was difficult until closing time, around 12:30 to 1:00 AM. Breakfast was sparse and had little variety. There was almost no savory food or drinks.

The rooms have distinctive furnishings, with careful touches in the colors and all the comforts. Breakfast was abundant and tasty, including freshly made items and Salento treats like pasticciotti. We felt at home and well looked after by Sharon, who was always willing to help with our requests. We came across this lovely place by chance. It's only a few kilometers from Salento's main sights, about 10 minutes from Gallipoli and the Maldives of Salento, and around 25 minutes from Santa Maria di Leuca. There’s even a cave with a waterfall inside the B&B, a lovely spot to relax. We’d recommend it for the property and its central location for exploring Salento.

We booked two nights but left after the first. The manager, Sharon, told us we'd get the second night refunded, saying, "It's something we usually do when there's a problem." A few days later, though, we were called and told there would be no refund. The Briganti B&B is on the first floor of a famous regional restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide. It was full, and there was no peace and quiet before 2:00 AM. Waiters kept inviting people to look around, including the rooftop terrace on the second floor, so guests paraded past our room all night. Some even tried to come into our room, as if they owned the place. Breakfast had very little choice and tasted mass-produced. If you want peace and quiet, avoid this place.