Since 1999, Oi Marì has continually grown in quality and beauty in the Sassi of Matera, becoming one of its finest restaurants, receiving numerous awards for its refined architectural redesign in 2018.
Oi Marì was founded in 1999 by three friends, Mary and Sara Cotugno, and Luca Mangiapia (from Naples and Matera), who wanted to bring Neapolitan pizza to the Sassi of Matera for the first time, when the city wasn’t as famous as it is today.
Since then, the three partners have never stopped investing in beauty and quality, always passionate about good food and drink. Little by little, Sara’s cuisine, along with sous chef Vincenzo Pizzo, has transformed into a refined regional offering, and in 2018, the restaurant’s interior design also evolved.
Since 1999, we have been running Oi Marì with all the enthusiasm and passion we possess.
(Maria, Sara, and Luca)
The restyling was overseen by Studio Manca, owned by Marina and Alfredo Manca, who turned the place it into a small masterpiece, a project that has won numerous architectural awards. Oi Marì was born in a very special space: the tuff caves of the Sassi di Matera, once owned by the Curia and most likely created as a place of worship in the 17th century.
The sacred nature of the spaces, composed of multiple interconnected rooms, was enhanced by the restoration, emphasizing the characteristic of the Sassi: an intimate evolution within the earth. Water, another element that distinguishes the ancient city of Matera, is also present in a cistern for collecting rainwater, which today houses an intimate private space.
The texture of Corten steel, stone, and wood combine with a single aesthetic quirk: the rolling pin, one of the restaurant’s symbols, transformed into an original lighting fixture.
Oi Marì is enhanced by two beautiful open-view cellars that introduce Luca’s great passion. He has selected over 700 wines and 200 spirits, beginning his journey in Basilicata and extending it throughout Italy, Europe, and the world.
In the kitchen, Sara emphasizes seasonality, respect for raw materials, nurturing relationships with producers, and a strong connection to the region to create dishes that showcase the traditions and historic recipes of Basilicata, with technical insights and international flavor pairings.
Thus, from the more traditional dishes, such as the selection of local cured meats and cheeses, the Senise cruschi peppers and the broad bean and wild chicory puree or the aubergine parmigiana a modo mio (my way), you can also indulge in more creative options such as spaghetti, crusco, herring and turnip greens or the Lucanian Dolomite lamb, dried plums and vermouth.
Guiding guests through this experience of taste and beauty is Mary Cotugno, along with her attentive and caring staff, who will make you fall in love, if that’s possible, with the wonderful city of Matera even more.
In the summer, the outdoor courtyard of Oi Marì, decorated with typical red vases and fairy lights, is one of the most beloved “cultural salon” in Matera. A beautiful view from above can be enjoyed along the promenade that leads from Piazza Duomo down to the restaurant.
The Secret
On the entrance door of the building that houses Oi Marì, you can still see a small stone plaque engraved with the initials CME and the date 1648. This year, during Spanish rule, shortly preceded the 1663 separation of Matera from Terra d’Otranto, of which it had until then been an integral part, becoming the capital of Basilicata and the seat of the Royal Audience.
Useful Info
Oi Marì
Via Fiorentini 66
75100 Matera
Tel. +39 0835 346121
Tasting menus: from €60 for dinner, from €30 for lunch
Appetizers: from €10
First courses: from €18 for dinner, from €16 for lunch
Second courses: from €20 for dinner, from €18 for lunch
