Altereno Cafè

We happened upon this little spot and really enjoyed it. The service was super friendly and welcoming felt really looked after! Delicious food and the best Aperol Spritz we’ve had. We loved it!

A hidden gem with an incredible view! We discovered Altereno Café completely by chance. We arrived literally one minute before opening, so the place was still closed. We asked anyway — and we are so glad we did! The owner welcomed us and opened the beautiful terrace for us. The view over the gorge and the Murgia is absolutely spectacular — one of the best views in Matera. What makes this place even more special is its fascinating history. The building was once a women’s monastery, but its history goes back even further. Before becoming a monastery, the site was a fortified farm. The nuns later lived here and produced fine linen using traditional looms. After the religious orders were abolished, the building became privately owned, and the owner told us that his family has been connected to this remarkable place for four generations. You can really feel the history in the ancient stone walls and the atmosphere of the place. The owner himself was incredibly welcoming and speaks French and English, as well as Italian. We were also pleasantly surprised by the wine selection: several rosés, whites and reds available by the glass. We tried two different whites and enjoyed them completely alone on this wonderful terrace. He even put on some music for us — and, as people who are quite picky about music, we absolutely loved his choice! We had already booked dinner elsewhere, so unfortunately we didn’t try the food. But the owner told us that the kitchen was recently renovated and that he is putting a lot of effort into developing the place. We really wish him every success, because this place has enormous potential. The setting, the history, the terrace, the hospitality — everything is there to make it truly special. We would definitely come back, next time to try the food.

We had some lunch here and it topped all of our expectations!! The food was amazing and the vibe was just perfect (They also have the famous matera bread which is a must try when you are here). The guy that helped us was really nice and helpful in every way he could, he was even teaching us some fun facts about cork screws :). The view of this place is unmatched and it goes hand in hand with the relaxed vibe that the place holds. When we were eating here it really felt like time stopped. After a bit the cat of the owner came to say hello to us and ended up sitting in my lap🥰 such an adorable fur ball (i called it giuseppe). Would give it 10 stars if i could! Highly recommended!

Love this historic place that is owned by locals! The food was delicious and drinks were cold. Antonio is genuine and personable. Serving up fresh food and family history. It's a great stop for a snack or lunch

In a city where every single view is spectacular the view from Altereno Café is unique. Enjoying the view of the river deviding the city from the wilderness as the first dwellers of the place might have seen it while drinking a glass of fresh wine at subset and learning from owners and locals who have been there for 6 generations is simply a highlight in Matera.