It was 2013, in the winding alleys of Lecce’s historic centre, when two young mixologists found themselves deep in conversation about the world of bartending. They discussed their workplaces, exchanged a few recipes, but, above all, reflected on what their city in Salento was truly missing.
Quanto Basta, Where Friendship Meets Passion Behind the Bar
What started as a friendship soon solidified into a professional partnership, marking the beginning of Quanto Basta and the journey of its two founders, Diego Melorio and Andrea Carlucci. “At that time, the aperitivo culture didn’t even exist in Lecce,” Melorio recalls with a hint of amusement at what now feels like a mere urban legend. “People wouldn’t go out for a drink before 10:30 PM It was thanks to the foreign tourists discovering our region as a travel destination that the drinking hour was brought forward to 5:00 PM.” And by that time, Quanto Basta had already made its mark on the city, with a format that seemed classic at first glance but was, in reality, a groundbreaking concept that seamlessly blended the bar and the street into a single experience.
Street Life
With just a handful of tables, the small venue was designed as an intimate space, originally meant for Diego and Andrea to manage alone. Yet, the counter quickly became a place where guests weren’t just served drinks but welcomed into a setting that felt like home — where strangers became friends, and fleeting encounters turned into lasting love stories. “The street is what sets us apart the most,” Diego proudly notes. “Street life is part of our city, its historic centre, and the social fabric of Lecce. We have to admit, the climate works in our favour too. The street is our dining room, and no guest ever feels left out, even if they don’t have a seat.”
True Reference Point For Salento’s Aperitivo
Beyond its unique setting, Quanto Basta’s approach to mixology has evolved, making it a pioneer of today’s cocktail trends — a true reference point for Salento’s aperitivo and late-night scene. “We started with the great classics, which at the time were still relatively unknown in our city. Ingredients like tomato juice for a Bloody Mary or ginger beer for a Moscow Mule were hard to find. But we wanted to introduce guests to classic cocktails, gradually moving year after year towards more elaborate drink lists, our own signature creations, and new techniques,” Melorio explains.
Quanto Basta, the Pioneer of the Revolution
The upcoming menu will be dedicated to the travellers who arrive in Puglia eager to explore the region. A playful journey that finds another must-visit stop just in front of Quanto Basta — another brainchild of Diego and Andrea’s entrepreneurial and creative energy: Pezzetto – vini, cibo e sentimento. Conceived to complement their first venue while keeping the spotlight on cocktails, Pezzetto offers a simpler approach to mixology, a carefully curated selection of wines, and delicious small plates — mostly traditional Salento specialities in spring and summer, shifting to national dishes in winter.
Though Pezzetto stands on its own, it shares a fundamental philosophy with Quanto Basta — a dedication to that indefinable “just enough” (quanto basta, in italian), the perfect touch that transforms a recipe into something personal and unique. As Diego describes it, “quanto basta is about balance, creativity, and doing what we love” — a mindset that shaped Lecce’s evolving cocktail scene and ultimately called for a bar that lived and breathed mixology, a street bar where drinks take centre stage.”We were the pioneers of the revolution happening here in our region and across much of the South, positioning ourselves as catalysts for cocktail culture. We’ve built a team of young, dynamic professionals with a strong sense of hospitality and expertise, ensuring that our vision continues to evolve.”
The article first appeared on Coqtail – for fine drinkers. Order your copy here
Images courtesy Quanto Basta
