LA Puglia

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

The Spirit of Puglia on the California Coast

Inspired by the simple beauty and distinct flavors of one of Italy's most beloved southern regions, LA Puglia plants itself firmly on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica with a clear sense of purpose: to deliver an authentic southern Italian food experience from the first espresso of the morning to the last glass of Apulian wine at night. Gambero Rosso called it Restaurant of the Year and awarded it 3 Forks — a recognition that speaks to the consistency and integrity of what this restaurant does every day.

From Breakfast Through Dinner

The day begins with fresh-baked pastries made from a proprietary blend of 100% organic flours and all-natural mother yeast: pasticciotto leccese, sfogliatelle filled with ricotta, brioche, and almond croissants. It's a genuinely southern Italian breakfast, rare to find anywhere on the West Coast.

Lunch and dinner shift into the full range of Apulian and broader southern Italian cooking. The pasta menu is a particular strength — fresh orecchiette appear in several forms, including Nonna Anna's version with beef braciole, pecorino, and tomato sauce, and the vegan classic with tomato and basil. Cavatelli ai Frutti di Mare can be ordered with hand-made black ink tagliatelle. Bombette pugliesi — beef rolls filled with smoked mozzarella, pecorino, and Italian ham — are a regional signature worth ordering. The seafood soup Gianni brings together lobster, clams, shrimp, scallops, mussels, calamari, and octopus in a single bowl.

Pizzas are built on a 100% organic semi-whole wheat crust leavened with mother yeast and finished with Apulian extra virgin olive oil. Every pizza on the menu — named after towns across Puglia — is available gluten-free.

More Than a Restaurant

The space doubles as a cultural venue. Every Tuesday evening, live jazz accompanies dinner from 7 to 9pm. The Gallery room, equipped with a lounge area and projector, hosts private events and has featured rotating art exhibitions. Cooking classes are offered for those who want to bring southern Italian technique home.

The retail side carries selected Apulian products, gift baskets, and a curated collection of ceramics. The wine list focuses exclusively on the most representative labels from Puglia. Homemade gelato is made with 100% organic fresh milk and fruit.

Whether you come for a cornetto and a coffee, a long lunch over fresh pasta, or a private dinner with a jazz soundtrack, LA Puglia delivers the same thing each time: the real flavors of southern Italy, without compromise, in Santa Monica.