32 Best Restaurants in Sicily, Italy

Pizza is something Sicilians eat at least weekly, and Frumento has been the area standard-bearer of excellence since it opened in 2015. Choose from five different dough options (from a classic Neapolitan-style to rye to ancient Sicilian grains) as your base, and then pick one of the 65 different topping combos. Ingredients range from the classics (tomato, buffalo mozzarella, salami) to things like capers from Salina, bottarga, 'nduja, and wild fennel pesto. The young owner is especially passionate about natural wine, and the list reflects that. They also have a second location in Catania (Via Raffineria; 095/8037564).

Agrigento's finest ice-cream parlor creates memorable versions of key Sicilian favorites such as pistachio, almond, and cassata, along with a superb "pecorino" made with fresh sheep's milk ricotta. The pastries are excellent, too.

This wholesaler specializes in oysters, mollusks, and crustaceans, and offers a tasting room that has become an obligatory stop for seafood aficionados in town. There are 24 kinds of oysters, all manner of clams (including Galician percebes), local red prawns in several sizes, and a tank of lobsters and crabs as well as fresh seasonal tuna. Choose between having your fish raw, steamed, grilled, or a la gratin, and dine in the simple blue and white conservatory while enjoying a glass or two of local white wine. They also make a fine fish couscous (one portion is ample for two people).

There's a regular trickle of locals to this gelateria conveniently located opposite the hydrofoil port. Most opt for the local favorite: ice cream in a brioche with a couple of wafer biscuits poking out. But it's not just the creamy and tangy ice creams that pull in the crowds, there are also delicious granitas, cakes, and desserts on offer, like the semifreddo cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries or blueberries. There's limited seating outside, and it stays open late.

People from all walks of life, from winemakers and hotel owners to local families, all speak with affection about this comfortable trattoria and its delicious Sicilian dishes. The menu is filled with wonderful pasta dishes with generous use of local ingredients like ricotta, pistachios, and fresh vegetables. It is also known for its lamb dishes and small outside terrace for summertime dining.

This refreshingly atypical spot raises simple Sicilian street food to new gastronomic heights. The exuberant owner, Rosario Umbriaco, has won national prizes for his arancini; try the version with two strata of rice and melted saffron Piacentino Ennese cheese to find out why. He also makes what may be the most divine cannoli in Sicily, frying the tubular wafer in olive oil, rather than lard, and filling to order with cool, fresh, just-sweetened ricotta and candied orange from Noto’s famous Caffè Sicilia. In summer there are tables outside.

This restaurant is located within a local vineyard between Patti and Tindari near the stunning Gulf of Patti, the lakes of Marinello, and  Santuario di Tindari. With its extensive terrace views over the vines and olive groves, this place is a beautiful place to stop and savor good food, great wine, and local hospitality.

This food van, parked at the start of the main boulevard Viale della Vittoria, has been selling pane e panelle (soft bread rolls stuffed with deep-fried chickpea flour fritters) since 1954. If you are interested in other traditional street food, look out for the Grattatella van (ice shaved to order and served in cups with fruit syrups) and U Panuzzu Ca Meusa (soft rolls with spleen, lemon, and ricotta), both of which have no fixed place, but the Grattatella is often in the resort of San Leone in the summer, while U Panuzzo can be found at lots of local summer events.

This charming pizza restaurant has a fantastic array of pizza toppings, from the classic margherita to seafood. Personalize your pizza toppings and pair your meal with a selection of great antipasti for a filling and satisfying meal.

Stop here to sample every Sicilian sweet imaginable from freshly made cannoli and biscotti to marzipan confections and gelato. The pastry spot also serves up great coffee.

If you fancy a meal with a view but don't want to spend a lot, this casual and convivial seafood and pizza restaurant caters to an international crowd with multilingual staff and decent prices. Try the spaghetti with fresh clams and mussels or the pizza alla Norma (with ricotta, eggplant, and tomatoes) while you watch the funivia fly up and down from the beach, with the coastline in the distance.

After experiencing the cozy but basic trattorias located down Palermo's twisting alleyways, take a sweet break at this modern gelateria along the main drag, which serves exceptional gourmet ice cream. The flavors change with the seasons, but don't miss the tangerine sorbet that bursts with sweet citrus tang or the classic zabaglione custard.

This rustic little family place offers a selection of basic Sicilian antipasti and pasta dishes. It is a perfect spot to taste the local cuisine and wine and soak up the atmosphere and hospitality.

There's usually a bit of a bustle in and around this ice-cream parlor near Piazza della Repubblica, popular with children and gelato fans of all ages. The ice creams are free of hydrogenated fats and come in an enticing range of flavors; popular choices include ricotta, pistachio, and, naturally, Marsala. The granitas, too, are highly rated, and cannoli, crepes, and waffles are also available. There are a few brightly colored tables and chairs in the air-conditioned interior.

This beach bar and restaurant comes with a chef who trained with Rick Stein and Giorgio Locatelli and spends his winters in Thailand and Indonesia, adding a Southeast Asian flair to the spanking fresh fish, seafood, and vegetables of his native Sicily. Il Canaima is far more in touch with contemporary eating trends than many Sicilians, so you'll be happy to find dedicated gluten-free and vegan/vegetarian menus.

This casual restaurant and B&B is located in a converted Norman castle. The restaurant offers a great menu of local Sicilian cuisine and a wood-fired pizza oven.

This family-run place cooks very rustic yet satisfying meals, including hearty pasta, filling antipasti, and wood-fire pizzas. It isn't a fancy place, but the service is amicable, prices are reasonable, and servings are generous.

For a taste of the best in local cuisine, come to this intimate, family-run spot with a nice little menu of selected pizzas, pasta dishes, and mains featuring the fresh seasonal ingredients you grow to expect in Sicilian restaurants. Service is warm, friendly, and very accommodating of children.

The village of Siculiana is nothing special, but its idyllic location above a golden beach backed by glinting white cliffs is best appreciated from a table at this inexpensive restaurant-bar right on the seafront. Along with the usual seafood pasta and grilled and deep-fried fish mains, there are several more inventive dishes, including some tempting vegetarian pastas and a daily fish soup.

A cozy place tucked up a narrow alley behind the Duomo, Osteria Scopari is relaxed and buzzy, with good scorched wood-fired pizza, often with inventive and original toppings, and delicious fish and seafood pasta and risotto. Mains, as ever, are grilled fish and seafood.

One of the very few places to eat in Aidone, this is a simple bar just down the hill from the museum. The welcoming owner makes great coffee and fills cornetti to order with chocolate, custard cream, jam, or ricotta.

For the best granita and gelato in town, don't miss Bar Giulio. It's also an excellent place for coffee or a traditional sweet Sicilian breakfast of granita and sweet bread brioche. 

Wood-lined and unadorned, this family-run pastry shop is one of the best places to try Modica’s signature crescent-shape cookies, the ‘mpanatigghi. These soft cookies are filled with a mixture of chocolate, almonds, and veal, a combination that works surprisingly well. The meat was added to the cookies as a way of making the snacks more nutritious on long voyages. The shop is also known for its delicious chocolate squares that are modeled to look like the city’s cobblestones.

This typical family-run Italian restaurant specializes in locally fished seafood and fine pizzas from the wood-fired oven. The staff are very accommodating and will prepare anything you require if there are specific dietary requirements, including gluten-free and vegetarian options.

This Castelbuono institution has been preparing dishes with the finest local ingredients for over 30 years. Chef Giuseppe Carollo is dedicated to the products found in and around Castelbuono, including wild mushrooms, vegetables, and the sweet manna from the local ash trees.

Inconspicuously located near Piazza Scandaliato in the upper town, Otto serves top-class dishes in a quiet setting that is refined but lacking any airs. The carefully selected modern art on the walls is reflected in the visual care with which the dishes are presented, while the menu shows a penchant for creatively combining disparate elements, such as cod cooked in Marsala wine with dried figs, almonds, and walnuts. Unlike in many restaurants, the chef is willing to adapt dishes to suit diners' preferences, often creating vegetarian versions. The staff is kind and welcoming of families. It's a small restaurant, though, so reserve ahead.

This eatery's varied menu shows off the best products and ingredients from Polizzi. Some dishes feature wild asparagus and mushrooms while various antipasti and side dishes include freshly foraged vegetables and greens.

This rustic mountain lodge is situated right near the popular winter skiing resort area of Piano Battaglia. Opened throughout the year, it offers a cozy country panorama, good hearty local fare, and friendly service at very reasonable prices.

This café, bar, restaurant, and pizzeria has a daily menu of specials to choose from, including starters, pasta dishes, meat-based mains, sides, and desserts. Your charming and helpful hosts will help you from the selection of reasonably priced dishes.

The word "trattoria" usually suggests somewhere casual and even slapdash and while this place has an informal feel, there is nothing at all lacking in the level of service or the quality of the food. Dating back to 1963, the place has a classic feel, as reflected on an extensive menu that focuses on fish (there's a display of what's on offer as you come in), but also includes very acceptable versions of old favorites such as lasagne, couscous, escalopes in Marsala sauce, and, for dessert, cassata siciliana. Also noteworthy are the tasty busiate garibaldine, local pasta prepared with pistachio paste, red prawns from Mazara del Vallo, and burrata. Tables are distributed In a series of well-lit rooms with wooden beams, arched doorways, and white walls adorned with portraits of the hero of Italian independence to whom the place is dedicated. Locals come here in droves, often with families in tow.