What and Where to Eat in Catania: A Local’s Guide
Catania is a food city, first and foremost. The best thing you can do there is eat! And you’ve come to the right place to find out what and where to eat in Catania.
I lived in Catania for a couple of years, and learned from locals where to find the best food. Honestly, delicious food is never far from you anywhere in Sicily.
However, as Catania becomes more and more popular with tourists, some mediocre food spots pop up, hoping to catch a few unsuspecting visitors.
So it’s a good idea to have a list of great places to eat in the city at your disposal. For that purpose, I want to share some insider tips for eating in Catania. Here is what you should eat while visiting Catania, and where to find the best of those foods in the city center.
Cannoli
Not surprisingly, you can find some great cannoli in Catania. In the downtown core, Prestipino Cafè and Caffè del Duomo sell stellar cannoli. Neither place is known for good service, so I suggest grabbing your cannoli to-go.
A Sicilian friend of mine swears by the cannoli at Pasticceria Verona & Bonvegna. Another great bar and bakery is Pasticceria Sottile, where everything is delicious and well-priced. They have a variety of cannoli flavors, but I would suggest sticking to the original.
I have to give a shout-out to the bakery that was closest to my apartment in Catania, Panificio Mazzeo Giuseppe. They only sell cannoli on Sunday mornings from October to April, so this stop won’t fit everyone’s itinerary. But their cannoli are worth the trip. They are simple yet super delicious with very fresh, lightly sweetened ricotta. Perfect with an espresso.
Cannoli Tips: When searching for great cannoli in Sicily, there are a few things to keep in mind. Look for dark, very crispy shells. Ideally, you want to find a pasticceria that fills the shells with the ricotta filling to order. It ensures that the shell will be crunchy when you bite into it. To be honest, spots that fill the cannoli shells to order are not easy to come by, but keep your eyes open for them.
Arancini
I’m excited to talk about the arancini in Catania. I’m a big fan of this supreme Sicilian street food. And dare I say that the arancini are better in Catania than in Palermo?… Yes.
A favorite and popular spot for arancini in the historic center is Canusciuti. They’ve become so busy that they now have a separate shop for their street food, next to their original location. The arancini are fried to order, very crispy, and available in many great flavors.
In front of Villa Bellini, you’ll find Pasticceria Savia and Pasticceria Spinella. Both bars are very similar, with mediocre service and great food. When it comes to arancini, I give the edge to Savia, but some of my local friends prefer Spinella. First, order and pay at the cash, then give your receipt to the worker behind the arancini case.
Another place loved by locals is Laboratorio di Via Napoli. They make and sell every sweet pastry and savory pastry known in Catania, along with arancini. I highly recommend it as a night stop. They open at 7:30pm, and everything is super fresh at that time. Grab your arancino and eat it on the street, like the locals do.
Arancini Tip: Most places sell a variety of arancini flavors, but you can’t go wrong with the classic, arancino al ragù. In Catania, it is always shaped with a point, while with other flavors the rice ball is circular or oval. Eat your arancino al ragù like a local, upside-down, holding it like an ice cream cone.
Check out the Free Self-Guided Walking Food Tour of Catania I created. It includes a map, 7 food stops, and a downloadable PDF.
Horse meat
A specialty in Catania, horse meat can be found on menus throughout the city. It is typically in the form of thin steaks or meatballs and cooked on a charcoal grill.
While you can eat it at many restaurants, THE spots for horse meat in Catania are on via Plebiscito. The street becomes filled with smoke from charcoal grills in the evening and has several great, typical Catanese restaurants.
Possibly most famous on via Plebiscito is Achille, but nearby is my personal favorite restaurant, La Terrazza del Barone. Both have horse meat, but also fabulous Sicilian pasta dishes, seafood, meats, and antipasti.
If you’re a little apprehensive about trying horse meat, order the polpette di cavallo con crema di pistacchio, horse meatballs filled with a pistachio cream. They’re an easy introduction with delicious pistachio flavor.
Granita
In Sicily, eat a lot of granita. Like, every day. The super refreshing, icy treat is synonymous with Sicilian cuisine. It’s so much more than a “slushy”, as it’s sometimes described.
Delicious granita can be found all over Catania. But because it is something that you typically eat seated, I want to suggest some places where the staff is usually pretty friendly and you’ll have a good experience.
My favorite place for granita is Gelateria Iceberg. It’s not in the downtown core, but you can get to it by walking or taking the metro. It’s worth it. Iceberg’s granita is thick and packed with flavor. Try the mandorla tostata, toasted almond granita. Be sure to get a brioche with it.
Bar Pasticceria Arabica, Pasticceria Quaranta, and Pasticceria Sottile are also places I’ve frequented for great granita.
Pasticceria Savia is a popular, central spot for granita among tourists. The granita is very good, but it’s a very busy bar, and the service isn’t amazing. Just keep that in mind if you choose to go there. Be easygoing and unhurried.
Granita Tip: Order an almond granita and an espresso, and bit by bit, pour the espresso over the granita as you’re eating it. It’s the best. You’re welcome.
Pasta
Every region of Italy has its own amazing pasta dishes, and Sicily is no exception. So be sure to try Sicilian pasta in Sicily. Stay away from the carbonara and bolognese. In Sicily, those dishes aren’t half as good as the regional ones. Stick to what the region does best and you won’t be disappointed.
If you love seafood, try pasta al nero di seppia (black cuttlefish ink pasta) or pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines, raisins, and pine nuts).
The most famous pasta in Catania is pasta alla norma, made with tomato, eggplant, and salted ricotta. You can also find pasta dishes that feature pistachios and almonds that are grown nearby.
For great, simple pasta in Catania, go to Trattoria del Cavaliere or La Terrazza del Barone. Both of those restaurants serve incredible, typical Sicilian cuisine, and you’ll be surprised how far your money goes. There are, of course, more upscale restaurants in the city, but they don’t have the same down-to-earth, local feel.
Gelato
While granita rules supreme in Sicily, you can still find superb gelato throughout the region. Sicily even has its own way of eating gelato, on a brioche! It’s a hefty snack that will definitely hold you over until your late-night Italian dinner.
My absolutely favorite place in Catania to have gelato on a brioche is Gelateria Iceberg. I’ve already mentioned this gelateria for its granita, but their gelato is just as good, and their brioche is amazing.
Levante Gelato Artigianale also has wonderful gelato. Levante has been my go-to spot for gelato in Ortigia, but they now have a location in downtown Catania. They offer some more unique flavors inspired by Sicily.
Gelato Tip: Look for places that sell gelato with natural colors and flavors. And if the gelato is covered with lids in the display freezer, that’s usually a good sign that it’s artisanal and made with some extra love and care.
Cipollina
A lesser-known, but perfect hold-you-over-until-dinner snack in Catania is the cipollina. It’s a savory pastry filled with tomato, onion, cheese, and prosciutto cotto. A great alternative to arancini (in case you’re crazy enough to get tired of them!)
Cipolline can be found in bars throughout Catania. Bar Pasticceria Arabica is a favorite of mine. All of their savory pastries are terrific, including the cipollina.
Insigne Cafe, very close to Villa Bellini, also has great cipolline. Just be sure to take it to-go. It’s a bar with delicious food, but consistently terrible service.
The aforementioned Laboratorio di Via Napoli and Pasticceria Savia are also excellent options to find this savory snack.
Seltz
A specialty of Catania, the seltz limone e sale is an electrolyte-boosting drink for those hot Sicilian days. It’s made with just soda water, lemon juice, and salt. You can simply order a “seltz” and everyone in Catania will know what you mean.
This drink is almost exclusively found at chioschi, little drink kiosks, throughout the city. You’ll see these small, covered structures in piazzas and on street corners, serving all kinds of drinks from coffee to beer to Nutella-flavored frappés.
The best chiosco in Catania is Chiosco Sicilia Seltz. As the name suggests, they make a fine seltz. Some other busy chioschi are Chiosco Bar del Borgo di Consolo Luca, Bar Chiosco In68, and Il Chiosco Giammona.
Seltz Tip: Ask for “mezzo sale” if you don’t want your seltz less salty than it typically is.
Also Read: 10 Insider Tips for Visiting Catania
Crispelle
Another treat exclusive to Catania is crispelle. These little, fried pieces of dough can be either sweet or savory. The savory ones are stuffed with ricotta or an anchovy, and the sweet ones are made with rice and dipped in honey after being fried.
Many of my Sicilian friends love Casa delle Crispelle. I can confirm that their crispelle are delicious. A couple of other go-to spots for crispelle in Catania are Chiosco delle Crispelle and Crispelleria Mazzone.
Places that sell crispelle usually open later in the afternoon and stay open late into the evening, making them an ideal stop for a quick after-dinner treat.
Fried seafood
Of course, being a coastal city and on an island, Catania has fresh and delicious seafood. One of the most casual and affordable ways to enjoy it is fried and in a paper cone.
In Catania’s downtown, there are several great eateries where you can grab some fried seafood. In the main piazza, right by the elephant fountain, you’ll find Siccia. I can’t speak to the rest of their menu, but their seafood cones are a perfect snack to have while you sit at the fountain and enjoy the bustling atmosphere.
A super popular and stellar seafood spot is Scirocco, just around the corner from the main piazza. This place shows up on every “where to eat in Catania” list, and rightfully so. They’ve got a menu full of simple, Sicilian classics and fried seafood that are perfect for sharing. It’s an ideal quick lunch spot between sightseeing.
Mentioned earlier for its arancini, Canusciuti also serves fresh fried seafood that you can either eat in or take away. It’s another place that’s popular with visitors and locals, and for good reason. They do everything well.
Pizza
When you’re visiting Italy, you want to eat pizza as much as you can, right? Campania is the pinnacle region of pizza in Italy, but don’t let that stop you from indulging in it wherever you are in the country.
You can find incredible pizza in Sicily. In Catania, 3 spots come to mind.
Near Villa Bellini, there are two impressive pizzerias: Sazi e Sani and Volù Pizza Contemporanea. Both are sit-down restaurant-style pizzerias. Both have pizza with a light, airy, blistered crust and wonderful flavor combinations.
But my favorite go-to pizzeria in Catania is Pizzeria Lievitando. Not in the downtown core, but easily reached by the metro, Lievitando is much more casual than the other two pizzerias I’ve mentioned. It’s more of a takeout pizza place, although you can eat-in at one of their two tables, which I’ve done many times.
Aside from the pizza being top-notch and inexpensive, the owner/pizza maker and his wife are so friendly. That combination of factors made us go back again and again.
Pizza Tip: In Sicily, wood-fired pizza is typically only available in the evenings. If you find a place selling pizza at lunch, it’s most likely baked in a regular oven and won’t be so spectacular. Stick to eating pizza at night, and you won’t be disappointed.
Honorable Mentions
Aperitivo
I’ll give you two spots at opposite ends of the spectrum for aperitivo in Catania.
Circus Cocktail Bar is known for their high-end original cocktails that range from €10-€12. But if fancy isn’t always your thing, Caffè Bellini does no-fuss, €3 cocktails that hit the spot.
Coffee
I don’t think I’ve ever had a bad espresso in Catania, but there are a few bars that are a step above the rest when it comes to coffee.
Verso Coffice is a lovely bar known for amazing coffee. And personally, my favorite coffee in Catania is at Bar Pasticceria Arabica. There’s something about their blend.
Oysters
Grab a raw oyster at the famous fish market. There’s an elderly man who sets up a make-shift table and sells oysters accompanied by a squeeze of lemon and a plastic cup of white wine. It makes for a great “when in Sicily” moment.
You’ll have an amazing time eating your way through Catania! The food is incredible, and the experiences attached to it will be memorable.
If you go to any of the spots mentioned in this post, share your experience in the comments below!
