Destination
Type of Restaurant
Type of Meal
Editors Pick
Read MoreAnche Gli Angeli
Part bar, café, and concept store, Gli Angeli is a great example of a new generation of Noto places that are stylish and modern but still maintain a certain Sicilan flair. The bar cum café is a good spot for...
Read MoreBam Bar
This classic can't be missed: its façade is covered in colorful ceramic tiles made in Caltagirone. It's mobbed during the day, so best come for a sweet breakfast of granita (served with a brioche) and cappuccino. It's situated on a...
Photo by Victoria O'Leary. Courtesy IndagareRead MoreCaffè Sicilia
The classic café of Noto serves the town’s best granita and gelato. Its pastry counter, laden with pastel-colored confections and layered cakes, is a study of Italian dolci. Don’t miss the signature Affogato espresso!
Read MoreCaseificio Borderi Elefteria
This cheese and meat shop-cum-sidewalk snack bar is a must for its local scene and authentic flavors. In the impossibly crammed space next to the al fresco cheese counter and the small shop, the hostess sets up rudimentary tables for...
Read MoreClandestino
Look for a stretch of sidewalk that is lined with short trees in flowerboxes and you will have found Clandestino, a wonderful spot for an aperitivo. They are especially known for artisanal beers.
Read MoreCrocifisso da Baglieri
One of Noto's most beloved restaurants, Baglieri has a cool, modern dining room and a short menu that changes often. It's the best bet for lunch or dinner in Noto.
Read MoreD’Amore
Taormina is well-known for its cannolis. Head to this old-school pasticceria/gelateria where they fill them to order (Sicilian pastry chefs would go cross-eyed if they saw the pre-made, soggy concoctions sold in New York). Get one filled with ricotta and...
Read MoreDa Giovanni
This is another one of the many restaurants in Sicily that looks like it might be a tourist trap and turns out to be an absolutely magical lunch experience. In walking distance to the Villa Sant'Andrea, Da Giovanni has two...
Read MoreDammuso
Built into the former stables of a palazzo, this neighborhood favorite is a good spot for lunch or dinner (if you're staying in Noto). Run by a friendly husband-wife team, it serves a well-edited menu of daily specials. The setting...
Read MoreDolceria Costanzo
Around the corner from the cathedral, but on a side street that feels a bit more removed, Constanzo draws a local crowd for lunch and afternoon granita or gelato.
Read MoreDuomo
Sicily's sole Michelin two-star is located in the labyrinthine Ragusa Ibla, so unless you're also staying in this Baroque town, it's best to come for lunch. The tasting menu is a lengthy affair and the dining room is not the...
Read MoreFattoria delle Torri
You’d think a restaurant set in a restored Palazzo just off the main Corso Umberto drag would be easy to find, but in fact a recent trip required walking directions on Google Maps to save the day after numerous dead-end...
Read MoreFerro di Cavallo
This classic still gets locals' stamp of approval for its traditional Sicilian, particularly Palermo food. Don't expect anything fancy: the small outside area is set up with plastic tables and chairs, the long dining room, painted in an overly poppy...
Read MoreGelati di Vini
A genius combination of wine store and gelateria, Gelati Divini serves wine-flavored gelato, as well as a large range of delicious artisanal flavors, including toasted almonds, ricotta and pepperoncino-spiced chocolate.
Read MoreGrand Hotel Timeo
A dinner reservation on the terrace of this grande dame hotel is a much-coveted affair. Sitting proudly in the hillside of already lofty Taormina, the Timeo looks across terraced gardens to the sea. This is the kind of unapologetically old-school...
Read MoreIl Baglietto
This small restaurant is located a short walk from the entrance of the stunning nature Reserve Vendicari. When you drive in, you can’t miss the tables set in the lovely garden on your left. In typical Sicilian understatement, Il Baglietto...
Read MoreL’Arco dei Cappuccini
Set in a small outdoor courtyard, this unassuming establishment remains relatively off-the-beaten-path of tourists. Known for its seafood, L'Arco dei Cappuccini serves an array of fresh crudos, tartares and carpaccios, as well as daily catch-by-the-kilogram (offered to diners table-side) and...
Read MoreLa Capinera
La Capinera is a Michelin-starred restaurant that visitors to Taormina should not miss. Despite the sophistication of the menus (both tasting and à la carte), the beachfront location keeps the atmosphere relaxed. Chef Pietro D’Agostino puts a modern flourish on...
Read MoreLa Cialoma
This seaside seafood restaurant is a Marzamemi institution—and knows it, judging by the lofty (for Sicily) prices. But paying €18 for a plate of pasta is worth it when said plate is served on a table that’s facing the turquoise...
Read MoreLa Pineta
La Pineta, in Marinella di Selinunte, a 10-minute walk from the temples, is located right on the beach and serves wonderful seafood. (Be aware it's at the end of a long and bumpy road.)
Read MoreMalvasia
It doesn't look like much from the outside (or inside, for that matter), but Malvasia serves excellent Sicilian cuisine, most served family style, making for a congenial, fun night out.
Read MoreManna Noto
Located seaside, this design-centric restaurant brings the atmosphere of a buzzy urban eatery to the Baroque town of Noto. Arrive early to take in the scene with an aperitivo at the zinc bar, then sample the menu’s lively take on...
Read MoreMorgana Bar
Sicily overall doesn't have a huge party scene (a couple of streets in Palermo excepted), but tiny Taormina has one club that draws the late-night set. Morgana is tucked off main drag Corso Umberto behind a practically unmarked door. Things...
Read MoreOsteria Ballaro
This spacious, brightly lit osteria is a welcome change from the old-world family trattorias dotting Palermo. In a good location close to the Teatro Massimo and Piazza Bellini, Ballaro is a good place for a local lunch. Order the appetizer...
Read MoreOsteria dei Sapori Perduti
Modica’s most famous restaurant is touristy for sure (the menu is a massive book with dishes described in several different languages, plus photographs of everything). But the simple (read very rustic) Sicilian home cooking and affordable prices still draw locals...
Read MoreOsteria Nero D’Avola
This busy little restaurant serves classic Sicilian dishes and, when the weather is nice, visitors can dine on the rooftop terrace or front patio (reserve in advance).
Read MoreOsteria Rosso DiVino
Down a cobblestoned street lined with candles, the charming Osteria Rosso DiVino restaurant and wine bar invites diners in with an open-style kitchen lined with bright ceramic tiles, as well as a cozy outdoor patio and terrace. The delicious food...
Read MoreOttava Nota
Run by a chef who spent time in Spain before returning to his native Sicily, Palermo's Ottava Nota is a wonderful restaurant for dinner. Its modern dining room and elevated cuisine set it apart from the more traditional eateries, but...
Read MorePiccolo Napoli
A good spot for trying traditional Palermo dishes is this family-run trattoria, close to the Teatro Massimo and Piazza Bellini. Try any of the seafood and homemade pasta dishes. It's certainly not a secret anymore (the restaurant has been featured...
Principe Cerami at the Four Seasons Taormina. Courtesy Four Seasons.Read MorePrincipe Cerami at San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Resort
Previously a two-Michelin star establishment, the famed restaurant reluctantly relinquished its stars when it shut down during the renovations by Four Seasons. Thankfully, it seems it is on its way to regaining them. Situated on a terrace facing the sea,...
Principe di Belludia. Courtesy Relais & ChateauRead MorePrincipe di Belludia
Principe di Belludia is Il San Corrado di Noto’s gourmet restaurant, which aims to take diners on a journey through Sicily’s past, with traditional dishes prepared in an innovative fashion (like black truffle gelato paired with bread). The fine-dining experience...
Read MoreQ Bar
Tucked into a typical side street, away from the tourist hordes on Corso Umberto, this chilled-out al fresco lounge is a good spot for an aperitif. Yes, tourist trap Café Wunderbar, right on he piazza, has the sweeping views, but...
Read MoreRetroscena
This modern restaurant, with a cool designer dining room, is a good place for lunch. It's bright, cheerful and serves a mix of Italian/Greek dishes (the chef is Italian, his wife, Greek). Don't miss dessert, which are often beautiful cakes...
Read MoreRistorante Da Nino
Located about ten minutes outside Taormina, Da Nino is the ideal spot for a leisurely lunch on the water. There is a large table dedicated to the plethora of fresh seafood available that day, and diners can hand select what...
Read MoreRistorante da Vittorio
A two-hour drive west from Agrigento, this airy, beachfront restaurant has stunning views of the Mediterranean. Guests can take in the scenery while seated on the patio or from the indoor dining room, which has floor-to-ceiling windows. The personable chef,...
Read MoreRistorante La Madia
In the charming seaport of Licata (1-hour drive south from Agrigento), the two Michelin-starred La Madia is leading the development of modern Sicilian cuisine. The menu emphasizes local produce and sustainability, with such highlights as pan–roasted black Nebrodi pig, arancini...
Read MoreSicilia in Tavola
A cozy trattoria, Sicilia in Tavola serves great fresh seafood and homemade pasta. It's located in easy walking distance to the Duomo.
Read MoreTerra Mia Ristorante di Campagna
The dining room at Terra Mia is small and relaxed, with wooden tables and typical yellow paper placemats that allow the excellent cooking to shine. In the words of an Indagare member who recently visited: “Lunch at Terra Mia was...
Read MoreTinkitè
This low-key local bar sits on a smaller, but very scenic piazza, tucked away from the Duomo crowds. Order wine, beer or classic Italian cocktails like Aperol Spritz, or pay a few more Euros to get access to the apero...
Read MoreTrattoria il Barcaiolo
Tucked away on an inlet, with views of the fishing boats that dock on the beach, Il Barcaiolo is a family-owned restaurant that offers unadorned Sicilian dishes such as grilled fish (the catch of the day), seafood linguine, fresh lobster,...
Read MoreVilla Athena Restaurant
The restaurant terrace of the Villa Athena hotel faces Agrigento's breathtaking Valley of Temples, with a dead-on view of the massive Concordia Temple. It's one of southern Sicily's most coveted lunch and dinner reservations (dinner is best for guests staying...
Courtesy Belmond Villa Sant’ AndreaRead MoreVilla Sant’Andrea
Dining on the terrace of the seaside Villa Sant'Andrea is a must during any Taormina stay. Framed by lush gardens and with glorious views of the sea, it's a great spot for lunch or dinner. Guests from the Timeo can...
Read MoreVineria Modi
Just steps away from the ancient Roman theater, the communal villa gardens and the Grand Hotel Timeo, Vineria Modi is a convenient choice for a great meal in Taormina. Playful accents of color—like the ceramic serving plates—give the restaurant a...
Read MoreZia Pina
Located in the Vucciria neighborhood (which was so heavily damaged during World War II that its streets still look a bit ravaged), this is a good place to break for lunch. If you don't speak Italian, it can be a...
