After thirty years spent working in the restaurant industry, owners Nicola and Angela decided to strike out on their own and Ristorante del Caveoso was born. Elegant, inviting and boasting a gorgeous terrace open during summer months, the restaurant is where foodies head for seasonal, locally sourced fare based on classic Basilicata cuisine. While Ristorante del Caveoso’s menu changes with the seasons, guests can expect dishes like pecorino stuffed ravioli with figs and pumpkin cream and lamb fried with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms and wild onions; all complemented by a splendid list of local wines and homemade desserts.

For portions of pasta piled high, make a beeline for Trattoria del Caveoso. Traditional dishes made with local produce are the name of the game here: expect regional cheeses and cold cuts to start, followed by fresh cavatelli with crispy crusco peppers or turnip greens.

Make a reservation at Trattoria del Caveoso, a restaurant tucked into a cliff. Here, guests can dig into plates of fresh pasta, grilled sausages, and beef filet, all perfectly paired with regional wines.

Located along one of the Sassi’s thoroughfares, Ristorante del Caveoso (Via Bruno Buozzi 21, 75100) is all about traditional food served in an elegant yet unpretentious manner. Crapiata materana (a legume and cereal soup) and fave e cicorie (fava beans and chicory) are some of the options on the primi list, while the mains are focused on beef, pork and lamb. The pasta dishes include both local classics and signature recipes, among which the crunchy peperone crusco (a much-acclaimed variety of red pepper typical of this area) is a common feature.

On Antonio’s recommendation, we stopped at Trattoria del Caveoso, as rustic as you can get in the Sasso Caveoso area, and carved into the stone for lunch. Looking for Lucana’ (Basilicata) dishes, we opted for the chicory and fave beans once again (we are both obsessed) and a delicious mushroom ravioli with local wine. It was simple, good, and hit the spot, plus the owner was quit the character, it was like eating at your crazy uncles house, or how I imagine Italian restaurants once were 20 year’s ago.

On one side of the Canyon is the city with its Sasso Caveoso and Sasso Barisono districts (which you can take a day or two to discover) and on the other side is the Murgia Materana Park (Parco della Murgia Materana), which although close by can be a separate half-day trip (or a whole day if you want to explore it thoroughly). There is also a Tibetan bridge to cross the ravine (closed for safety reasons in May 2023 due to a large part of the rock wall near the eastern side getting ready to fall down).

The Trattoria del Caveoso was recommended to us by our hotel, they also booked a table for us and we enjoyed our dinner there. Other restaurant recommendations I was given (though I didn’t go there myself) are Soul Kitchen, Morgan, Ristorante Francesca and La Latteria. For lunch the next day we ate a forgettable focaccia, but were then rewarded by a delicious artisanal gelato at I Vizi degli Angeli.

We did not have a reservation, but showed up and waited about 30 minutes on a Tuesday night. At Trattoria del Caveoso, I ordered the local Orecchiette alla Materana, which is orecchiette pasta in a red sauce with mushrooms and local sausage. Dan also went with a local pasta called the Paccheri del Casaro, which was pasta with caciocavallo creme cheese, pistachios and crushed red peppers.

Trattoria del Caveoso is located in the heart of the sassi (the ancient neighbourhoods of cave dwellings) and is one of the best restaurants in Matera to try traditional Basilicatan cuisine. You can sit outside on an atmospheric street or inside in the cave restaurant. The food is simple but excellent and good value.

This trattoria is an excellent restaurant that serves traditional food. The staff here is welcoming and when we visited, the restaurant was buzzing. Don’t miss the ravioli with burrata and simple tomato sauce, the bacon-wrapped pork skewers, and pasta with caciocavallo cheese cream, pistachios, and cruschi peppers.

Ristorante del Caveoso quickly became our favorite restaurant. A spectacular local cheese plate was followed by tortellini filled with pork and caciocavallo cheese, which is salty and curdlike. The dish was topped with more caciocavallo and sauce, which I mopped up with Matera’s heavy-crusted bread.

The Sassi is separated into two areas: Sasso Caveoso on the south end and the more polished Sasso Barisano on the north. Start your walk in Sasso Caveoso and work your way north. A good place to begin is in front of La Dolce Vita B&B, which is just off the main drag of Via Bruno Buozzi.

In the heart of the Sassi, the Trattoria del Caveoso welcomes its guests in a warm and elegant environment, where you can taste typical dishes of the Lucanian tradition. Regional cheeses, pasta & grilled meats in a stylish space carved into the rock, plus a beautiful terrace.

After trying some more delicious specialities at Trattoria del Caveoso, we pick up a cucù as a souvenir from one of the stalls. This is a local characteristic ceramic whistle made in the form of a rooster decorated in bright colours, and with a love story linked to it.

📍 Via Bruno Buozzi, 21What to eat: Offers a lunch formula or set menu at reduced prices (€15–18) with pasta, meat, and wine. 💰 Average price: €18–20 per person (budget menu) 🚶 How to get there: In the Sasso Caveoso area; walkable from Piazza San Pietro.

Trattoria del Caveoso – Serves homely and traditional Materan food with plenty of local bread, service here is great. Try to reserve a table outside on the terrace in the evening as this part of the main street is very atmospheric as the sun goes down.

Trattoria del Caveoso (Via Bruno Buozzi 21) is een rustieke trattoria waar je in elk geval de lonza (varkenslende) moet proeven. Ook een aanrader zijn de cavatelli met peperoni cruschi (lekker krokante gedroogde pepers), ricotta salata en broodkruim.

To try out authentic Lucanian dishes, head over to Trattoria del Caveoso. It is located in the heart of the city and is carved into a rock. It is the ideal place to try out regional specialties like crapiata or cavatelli con peperoni cruschi.

Trattoria del Caveoso– A lovely home-style trattoria right next to La Lopa. Take a seat out front on their terrace and order some of Matera’s local dishes for a fabulously local dining experience. A great place both for lunch and dinner.

Indulge in the city's delicious cuisine at local eateries such as Trattoria del Caveoso and Dimora Ulmo. Try traditional dishes like Senise peppers and Caciocavallo cheese, or pick up local delicacies to take home with you.

Located at Via Bruno Buozzi, 21, 75100, Trattoria del Caveoso is a casual, family run restaurant built out of an old stone cave. Order up a glass of the local Puglian wine and if they have a special of the day, go for it!

TRATTORIA DEL CAVEOSO – I had lunch at this fun trattoria and wholeheartedly recommend it. Portions are earthy, service quick and easygoing and the vibe very friendly. Their orecchiette with mushroom are mouthwatering.

Trattoria del Caveoso: Here you’ll find regional cheeses, pasta, & grilled meats in a stylish, rustic space carved right into the rock, plus a terrace!. Expect warm and authentic flavors in a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

With a rough-hewn indoor dining space spilling out onto an outdoor deck, Trattoria del Caveoso is a cosy spot to sample Italian specialities such as baccalà (dried salted cod), washed down with local wines.

Trattoria del Caveoso : delicious restaurant on the main alley going down from the Civita to San Pietro Caveoso. Don’t miss the scialatielli al pesto del caveoso and the salsiccia con le cime di rapa

Trattoria del Caveoso: Great lunch or dinner spot with a cute patio and highly rated!. They were able to do GF pasta too.