Bringing the warmth and flavours of southern Italy to the streets around the Barbican, Apulia is a lively Italian restaurant rooted firmly in the food traditions of Puglia. From slow-proved pizzas and pasta to ingredients sourced directly from producers back home, this is Italian cooking with a genuine connection to the region that inspires it.

Behind Apulia is the Sassa family, who brought years of restaurant experience in Bari to London along with something even more important: their grandmother’s recipes. Those recipes remain unchanged, forming the foundations of a menu designed to introduce diners to the different flavours and traditions of Puglia without leaving the capital.

Authenticity starts with the ingredients. Many of the key products used in the kitchen are imported directly from local farmers and producers in Puglia, while Puglian extra virgin olive oil is used throughout the cooking. Everything is prepared from scratch, with the same attention extending to Apulia’s homemade bread and pizza dough, which uses very little yeast and is left to prove for at least 72 hours.

Pizza is naturally a highlight, but the menu reaches well beyond it, moving through pasta, seafood, meat and traditional antipasti alongside less familiar tastes of southern Italian cooking. There is also a dedicated vegan menu, giving plant-based diners a considered selection rather than simply adaptations of the main dishes.

Wine plays its part too, with a particularly strong selection from southern Italy making it easy to explore the region beyond the plate. Whether dropping in for pizza and a glass of wine or settling down for several courses, the atmosphere remains warm, bustling and unmistakably Italian.

Its location between the Barbican and West Smithfield makes Apulia particularly well placed for dinner before or after a performance at the Barbican Centre. Friendly service and an understanding of pre-theatre timings have made it a popular choice for those heading to a show, while the restaurant has also established itself as a neighbourhood favourite in its own right.

The connection to Bari, family recipes, Puglian produce and traditional preparation give Apulia a sense of place that goes considerably deeper than its London postcode. For anyone yet to experience the food of Puglia, this is a convincing place to start.