Who doesn’t love a good street food tour? In this post, I’ll walk you through all the delicious bites I tried on a street food tour in Bari, the sun-soaked capital of Puglia.

A collage of various Italian street foods, including pizza, sandwiches, pasta, fried snacks, and skewers, is artfully presented in different settings reminiscent of Alberobello's charming streets in Puglia.
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I joined the Street Food Tour of Bari by Do Eat Better Experience as a solo traveller, and had an excellent evening. This post gives a full rundown of the Bari street food tour, including stops, photos, and helpful notes for fellow food lovers.

What is Bari Street Food? 🍕

Bari is a bit of a foodie haven. From focaccia to fried seafood and panzerotti, the Bari street food scene is buzzing with bold flavours and comforting carbs.

You’ll find busy market stalls, cheerful nonnas frying snacks in the street, and plenty of spots for late-night munchies after a few Negronis.

Plates of assorted seafood, including shrimp, octopus, and shellfish, displayed on a market table with lemon wedges.
Bari Fish Market.

Street food in Bari is serious business, and locals are rightly proud of their regional flavours. The tour guide said it’s always their mission to hunt down the best version of each dish the city has to offer.

What’s Included in a Bari Street Food Tour? 🥖

Here are the delicious Bari street foods I tried on the tour (click to jump to each):

The tour started at 6pm near the Cattedrale di San Sabino. The guide was fashionably late – but hey, this is Puglia. Things move a little slower here, and that’s part of the charm.

Stop 1: Focaccia Barese 🍅

We hit up Paneficio Fiore, one of Bari’s oldest bakeries, for a slab of focaccia heaven.

A slice of tomato-topped pizza is held in a hand, wrapped in patterned paper. In the background, shelves display jars and bags of food items.
Interior of a rustic bakery with a glass display counter. There's decor on the walls, bread on the shelves, and a sign reading "Panificio" above. The floor is black with white speckles.

Thick, golden crust, soft centre, and topped with juicy cherry tomatoes.

This was hands down the best focaccia I’ve ever had – and yes, that includes Liguria. 10/10, no notes.

📍 Paneficio Fiore, Strada Palazzo di Città, 38, Bari.

Stop 2: Sgagliozze & Popizze 🍳

In Piazza Mercantile, we stopped at a legendary street stand run by a lovely nonna who’s been frying snacks for over 50 years.

Sgagliozze (fried polenta squares) and popizze (little dough balls) were up next.

A woman stands by a table covered with a blue patterned tablecloth outdoors, with kitchen utensils and a pan. A doorway and electrical box are visible in the background.
Golden pieces of polenta frying in hot oil in a large pan.

These were piping hot and VERY oily. Our guide even joked they’re more oil than food, and they weren’t wrong.

Worth trying for the cultural experience and the charm of the vendor, but bring napkins – lots of them.

A hand holds a pastry wrapped in a napkin with a historic plaza in the background during dusk.
Hand holding a fried pastry wrapped in a napkin, with a blurred urban square and a few people walking in the background.

Stop 3: Panzerotti 🫓

At Mastro Ciccio, we tucked into classic panzerotti – Bari’s answer to a fried pizza pocket.

Hand holding a wrapped fried snack, with glasses of red and white wine on a table in the background.

It was oozing mozzarella and tomato sauce, molten hot, and impossible to eat neatly.

It was more soup than sandwich by the end, but totally worth the mess!

Pairing it with a local white wine (Verdeca) was a smart move.

Stop 4: Octopus Roll 🐙

Things got a bit fancy with a black bun stuffed with grilled octopus, greens, and some kind of magic sauce.

It looked wild but tasted incredible. Even the skeptics in the group were won over.

Display case with black buns filled with octopus tentacles and white toppings, garnished with greens and tomatoes. Price tags visible below.
Hand holding a sandwich with grilled octopus and arugula in a pita, on a narrow, dimly lit street with outdoor seating and lights in the background.

(I ended up with a white rather than a black bun, but the group agreed both versions were amazing.)

It’s one of those dishes that sounds intimidating, but is so worth it once you take the first bite.

📍Lo Sfizio Del Borgo Antico, Bari

Bonus Stop: Pasta Alley 🍝

We wandered through Strada Arco Basso, known for its orecchiette-making grandmas who set up tables right outside their front doors.

Most had packed up for the night, but you can still knock and buy fresh pasta or taralli. Don’t be shy – they’re used to it.

Plastic bags filled with various pasta and snacks displayed on a wooden table.
Narrow cobblestone street with overhead string lights. Tables display packaged goods on the left. Archway and stairs are visible in the background.

Final Stop: Gelato 🍦

We wrapped up at Gelateria Gentile, where I tried stracciatella flavour and watched locals popping in for gelato at 10pm like it was totally normal (because in Bari, it is).

Hand holding a cup of ice cream topped with whipped cream and a cone piece. A spoon is in the cup. Background shows an ice cream shop counter with stacked cones and equipment.

It was rich, creamy, and absolutely hit the spot after all that salty, savoury street food. The perfect sweet ending to a very full evening.

Was the Bari street food tour worth it? ✅

100% yes. If you’re hungry, curious, and want to experience the best Bari street food with a local guide, this tour delivers. Just don’t eat lunch beforehand.

And if you’re solo, be aware you may need to email them directly to book (I had to, because the platform wouldn’t accept a booking for 1 person).

👉 Book the Do Eat Better Bari Street Food Tour here.

Tips for Enjoying Bari Street Food 📝

⏳ Be prepared for late starts – things run on southern time.
💧 Bring water, especially in summer.
👕 Don’t wear white. Panzerotti are dangerous.
💶 Take cash in case you want to buy extras along the way.

FAQs about Bari Street Food 💡

What food is Bari known for?

Focaccia Barese, panzerotti, and fried polenta (sgagliozze) are the most iconic Bari street foods.

Where can I try street food in Bari?

Head to Bari Vecchia (the old town) – especially Piazza Mercantile and the surrounding alleys.

Is Bari street food expensive?

Not at all! Most items cost between €2–5, and a full street food tour gives you a taste of everything.

Can vegetarians enjoy Bari street food?

Yes – try focaccia, popizze, sgagliozze, and veggie panzerotti. Just double-check fillings.

Is it worth booking a Bari food tour?

Definitely. It’s the easiest (and tastiest) way to try authentic local dishes with a side of history.

🍝 Food From Puglia: 15 Must-Try Dishes & Local Specialities.
🍷 Guide to Wine in Puglia + Best Wineries to Visit.
🏙️ Things to Do in Bari, Puglia: Pasta, Palazzos & Piazza Life.
🍽️ 15 Delicious Alberobello Restaurants, Cafés & Wine Bars to Try.

If you’ve done this tour, let me know how you got on! And if not yet – arrive hungry 😋

Pin for later 📌

Want to save this Bari street food guide for your trip? Feel free to pin one of the images below to Pinterest so you can come back to it later.

Collage of Bari, Italy street food: cheese bread, sandwich, fried snack, and cooking polenta. Text: "Street Food in Bari Italy" and a website URL.
Close-up of focaccia bread with tomatoes and herbs. Text overlay says "The best street food in Bari, Italy, Puglia." Website link at the bottom: www.hazeltravels.co.uk.

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