ARTEMA
Italian Southern · Sassi, Matera
Restaurant in Matera, Italy
Book with PearlThe Read
Basilicata Terroir Sourcing
Chef
David Thompson
Dress
Smart Casual
Why go
ARTEMA is a good Matera choice when dinner needs to feel composed without becoming overly formal. Lunch is the practical option around sightseeing, while dinner is better for a date, anniversary, or business meal where Southern Italian cooking and a calmer room matter more than the lowest price.
About ARTEMA
Choose ARTEMA if you are looking for an Italian Southern restaurant in Matera with David Thompson listed as chef/owner. The most solid way to frame the booking is simple: this is a Matera dining option for guests who want Southern Italian cooking, smart casual dress, a schedule that includes both lunch and dinner on most open days.
Planning matters because ARTEMA is closed on Tuesday. Verified hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday from 12–2:30 PM and 7:30–10:30 PM, plus Sunday from 12–2:30 PM. That makes lunch practical for a daytime Matera itinerary, while dinner is available on most open evenings.
Southern Italian cooking in Matera
The kitchen is listed as Italian Southern, with David Thompson named as chef/owner. The safest expectation is not to assume a specific tasting-menu format, signature dish, service style, or price level unless the restaurant confirms it directly when you book.
For a first visit, use the verified cuisine direction as the guide. Go in expecting Southern Italian cooking, then ask the restaurant which current dishes best represent that style. That keeps the meal grounded in what is known without relying on unverified online details.
Lunch and dinner planning
Lunch is available for visitors who want to fit ARTEMA into a Matera day without making the restaurant the whole evening. Dinner is available on Monday and Wednesday through Saturday for guests planning an evening meal.
Dress should land in smart casual territory. Beyond that, confirm practical details directly with the restaurant, including availability, seating preferences, group suitability, any dietary needs, because those specifics are not verified here.
Where it sits in Matera's decision set
Compared with La Lopa, ARTEMA is the pick when you specifically want Italian Southern cooking at ARTEMA and the hours fit your plans. Against DA MÓ, ARTEMA makes sense when David Thompson's restaurant is the booking you want to prioritize; DA MÓ is another Matera option to consider if you are comparing local dining choices.
Located inside
HotelVetera MateraFull hotel guidePlanning details
- Location
- Via Domenico Ridola, 44, 75100 Matera MT, Italy
- Website
- aromamatera.it
- Phone
- +39 0835 231156
The take
The Take
The Vibe
ARTEMA sits discreetly on a quieter, stone-fronted street at the edge of Matera’s older civic core. The writing emphasizes the relationship between the city’s built environment and its agricultural hinterland, so the room reads like a calm, historically rooted example of place-based cooking. Rather than theatrical or tourist-facing, it favors restraint: a measured, context-rich atmosphere that lets provenance and simple materials take center stage. The result is a composed, quietly refined experience that complements Matera’s Sassi districts without competing with them.
Best For
This is the kind of restaurant that rewards slow, attentive meals focused on regional identity. With its recognition as an "Expression of the Terroir" and the profile it has earned for disciplined seasonal sourcing, ARTEMA is particularly well suited to evenings when guests want to explore Basilicata’s larder. It fits date nights and special occasions where the aim is to taste local ingredients showcased with care, or for diners interested in the culinary story of Matera rather than loud, tourist-centered dining.
Ordering Tips
Menus at ARTEMA foreground Basilicata’s produce and traditional ingredients; the description highlights Senise peppers, Matera bread, Lucanian lamb and wild mountain herbs. Prioritize dishes that explicitly reference those elements or the restaurant’s named signatures — Basilicata coast to coast and Travelling with Eduardo — to get a clear sense of the kitchen’s terroir-driven approach. Expect seasonal discipline and preparations that emphasize provenance; ask servers about the current local suppliers or seasonal highlights to tailor your choices to what’s freshest.
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Restaurant context
ARTEMA sits in Matera's more polished Southern Italian lane, so compare it first with DA MÓ and Baccanti. DA MÓ is the clearer value choice because it is marked Regional Cuisine, €€, and makes sense for diners who want a direct local meal. Baccanti, marked Modern Cuisine, €€, is the better cross-shop for a more contemporary dinner profile.
Against La Lopa, Più Sud, Regia Corte, ARTEMA is the safer pick for a special occasion when the room and pacing matter. La Lopa and Più Sud are better backup choices if the plan is casual or if availability is the main constraint. Regia Corte belongs on the shortlist when setting carries more weight than culinary specificity.
For booking difficulty, ARTEMA is marked easy, so it is useful when a polished Matera meal is needed without a long lead time. If price sensitivity leads the decision, start with DA MÓ or Baccanti because both have €€ signals. If the priority is a calm Southern Italian dinner for two, ARTEMA is the stronger match.
Explore Matera
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full ARTEMA guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare ARTEMA
| Venue | Location | Cuisine | Awards | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARTEMA | Matera | Italian Southern | 2026 Relais Chateaux Restaurants2025 Relais Chateaux Award | ; |
| La Lopa | Matera | No published awards | ; | ; |
| DA MÓ | Matera | Regional Cuisine | 2026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate | €€ |
| Più Sud | Matera | No published awards | ; | ; |
| Regia Corte | Matera | No published awards | ; | ; |
| Baccanti | Matera | Modern Cuisine | 2026 Michelin Plate2025 Michelin Plate2024 Michelin Plate | €€ |
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How ARTEMA Matera compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book ARTEMA?
Book ahead if ARTEMA is important to your Matera plans, especially for dinner. The verified schedule includes lunch and dinner Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, Sunday lunch only, closure on Tuesday.
What should I order at ARTEMA?
Go in expecting Italian Southern cooking. Since David Thompson is listed as chef/owner, ask the restaurant which current dishes best represent its Southern Italian direction rather than relying on unverified signature-dish claims.
Is lunch or dinner better at ARTEMA?
Lunch is available for a daytime Matera plan. Dinner is available if the meal is meant to be part of the evening. ARTEMA serves lunch Monday, Wednesday through Saturday, plus Sunday lunch only, dinner Monday and Wednesday through Saturday.
What are alternatives to ARTEMA in Matera?
La Lopa, DA MÓ, Più Sud, Regia Corte, Baccanti are other Matera names to check if ARTEMA is full or the hours do not line up.
Is ARTEMA good for a special occasion?
ARTEMA can work for a planned meal in Matera if Italian Southern cooking, smart casual dress, its lunch-or-dinner schedule fit the occasion. It also has a verified 2026 Relais Chateaux Award.
What should a first-timer know about ARTEMA?
Check the hours before you go: ARTEMA is closed Tuesday, serves lunch and dinner Monday and Wednesday through Saturday, serves lunch only on Sunday. The core verified expectation is Italian Southern cooking from David Thompson in Matera.
