Bros' Trattoria

Who Books Bros' Trattoria; and When to Go

Bros' Trattoria at Relais Villa San Martino is the right choice if you've already experienced the avant-garde tasting menus at the main Bros' restaurant and want to spend a second meal going deeper into Puglia's culinary roots. It's also the right choice if you're staying at the relais and want an evening that doesn't require a long drive. Families celebrating a birthday, groups of four or more who want shared plates rather than choreographed courses, anyone who responds to wood-fired cooking over creative technique; this is the room for you.

Timing matters here. Puglia's ingredient calendar drives the kitchen: spring brings the first tender vegetables and lighter preparations, summer means grilled meats and the peak of the region's tomato and eggplant season (the eggplant parmigiana in particular is tied directly to summer produce), and autumn shifts things toward richer dishes, preserved meats, slow-cooked cuts like the tripe that earns consistent praise from returning guests. If you're visiting in late spring or summer, the wood-fired oven and outdoor setting at the relais compound make the experience significantly different from a cold-weather visit. Plan accordingly. Winter is quieter and the menu leans harder on cured meats, aged cheeses, braised preparations, good, but a different register entirely.

What to Expect at the Table

The cooking here is rooted in Pugliese tradition rather than the experimental framework that defines the main Bros' restaurant a short drive away in the Valle d'Itria. Floriano Pellegrino and Isabella Potì oversee both kitchens, but the Trattoria's mandate is clear: tradition first, with execution that reflects their technical background. Dishes such as local cured meats and aged cheeses, sagne 'ncannulate with ragù, eggplant parmigiana, grilled meats come out of a wood-fired oven and carry genuine regional weight. The tripe is worth ordering specifically, it's the kind of dish that signals where the kitchen's confidence is anchored.

There's no à la carte option. Tasting menu length is selected at the time of online booking, so arriving without a reservation and expecting to order freely won't work. That said, booking is direct, no months-long wait, no secret phone list. The setting, shared with the Relais Villa San Martino, involves trulli surrounded by a small vineyard, approached through a parking area off the SS172 road a few kilometers outside Martina Franca's historic center. The atmosphere is romantic and unhurried, which makes it well-suited to long meals rather than quick dinners.

If you've visited once and ordered cautiously, the second visit is the time to commit to the longer menu format and work through the meat and offal-forward dishes. The ragù pasta and the tripe are the two most reliable markers of what this kitchen does at its finest. Return guests who skip the charcuterie board in favour of ordering more hot dishes tend to leave happier.

Booking and Practical Details

Reservations are made online, with menu length chosen at booking. Booking difficulty is low compared to the main Bros' restaurant, where demand is higher and lead times are longer. You're not competing for a scarce counter seat here, but booking ahead is still necessary, particularly during the summer festival season in Martina Franca, when the Valle d'Itria Jazz Festival draws significant visitor traffic in July and August. Arriving without a reservation during that window is a gamble not worth taking. The address is SS172, 59G, 74015 Martina Franca, a car is effectively required, as public transport options to the relais are limited.

Price range is not confirmed in available data, but tasting menu formats at this level in Puglia typically sit below comparable experiences in northern Italy. For full context on dining and staying in the area, see our full Martina Franca restaurants guide, our full Martina Franca hotels guide, and our full Martina Franca bars guide. If wine is central to your trip, our Martina Franca wineries guide and experiences guide cover the Valle d'Itria in more depth.