A Free Self-Guided Walking Food Tour of Catania
Catania is renowned for its stunning Piazza Duomo, distinctive volcanic stone architecture, and the famous composer Vincenzo Bellini. But to me, Catania is first and foremost a food city!
From the best street food to refreshing desserts to lively outdoor markets, you can taste and experience it all in the center of Catania. It’s an adventurous foodie’s paradise.
This post offers a curated walking tour crafted from my experiences of eating and living in Catania. It costs nothing beyond the food you choose to purchase and can be done in a couple of hours.
This walking food tour is perfect for couples, groups of friends, budget-conscious foodies and includes safe neighborhoods for solo travelers.
The tour I’ve created includes 7 stops loved by locals in the center of Catania and should take 2-3 hours to complete. It features classic savory and sweet Sicilian treats that you will fall in love with. Andiamo!
What to Expect
General Vibe
A combination of hidden gems and well-known spots. Every stop includes local Sicilian food, some of which you can only find in Catania. Each food item is something you can eat on the go.
Tour Length
Distance: 4 km/2.5 miles
Time: 2-3 hours
The length of time the tour takes will depend on how long you spend at the daily market and if you choose to sit and eat anything.
Of course, you could leisurely do this tour throughout the day and include sightseeing. All the stops, except the daily market, are open until late evening.
Budget Estimate
Around €20-€25, depending on your level of hunger. You could easily share each of the suggested foods to save some money and stomach space.
When To Go
A few of the stops are closed or have limited hours on Sundays, so it’s best to avoid this tour on Sundays.
Ideally, it would be best to arrive at the first stop around 12:30 pm, to reach all the other stops during their business hours.
All of the stops are open from Wednesday to Saturday. I will mention which days certain stops are closed. I will also suggest an alternative stop you could make if you happen to do the tour on a day when one of the stops is closed.
Also Read: 10 Insider Tips to Visiting Catania
The Route Map
Starting point: Bar Pasticceria Arabica
End point: Pasticceria Sottile
Walkability: Easy, flat
Interesting spots along the way: Orto Botanico di Catania (Botanical Garden)
Villa Bellini (scenic park)
Fontana dell’Elefante (Elephant Fountain)
Teatro Antico di Catania (Greek-Roman theatre)
Restrooms: Bar Pasticceria Arabica, Pasticceria Sottile
Stop-by-Stop Guide
Stop #1: Bar Pasticceria Arabica
What to order: Sweet or savory pastries, coffee, or granita
Price point: €5
This might be my favorite bar in Catania. Bar Pasticceria Arabica is a traditional, low-key food spot. I’ve never seen a tourist there. Everything they serve is top-notch. Their coffee is a touch above any other coffee I’ve had in the city.
You can’t go wrong with anything you order here. All the pastries, sweet or savory, are fantastic. It’s a great place for granita and a brioche. I like to order an almond granita and pour spoonfuls of espresso over it as I eat it.
€5 goes a long way at this bar. The price-quality ratio is pretty incredible.
Pro Tip: At this bar, you typically order first, then pay at the cash desk by the door. Don’t be put off by the service. Some of the staff can be a bit grumpy sometimes, but that’s often part of the experience of eating out in Catania.
Hours: Open every day, all day, except Sunday.
Stop #2: Pasticceria Savia
What to order: Arancino
Price point: €2.50
Pasticceria Savia is very well-known and is usually quite busy. It is in a prime location, right in front of Villa Bellini. So, you might think it’s ultra-touristy, but believe me, locals go there.
A food tour of Catania MUST include an arancino! It is the heart and soul of Sicilian cuisine. Pasticceria Savia was often my go-to place to grab an arancino when I lived in Catania. They have a variety of flavors, but I will always recommend the classic arancino al ragu.
Pro Tip: Pay first at the cash desk, then take your receipt to the guy behind the arancino counter and tell him which one you’d like. It might be tempting to take a seat outside and be served, but I recommend eating your arancino on the go or at a nearby bench. The table service isn’t usually great or friendly.
Hours: Closed Mondays. (If you do the tour on a Monday, go to the bar right next door, Spinella. You can also get a great arancino there.)
Stop #3: Catania’s daily market
What to order: Whatever you’d like, or nothing at all.
Price point: Free
Okay, so this isn’t a stop where I necessarily want you to buy a particular food item, but to experience one of the most lively food markets in Italy. The Catania market is the best. The produce is beautiful, the smells guide you, and the atmosphere is often entertaining.
As you walk around, you may have the opportunity to try some foods. Vendors often offer you olives or a piece of fruit to try. And of course, you could buy something to snack on, like cherries or fresh fava beans.
Pro Tip: If your accommodations include a kitchen and you want to cook during your stay, this market is the place to get produce. Everything usually sells by the kilo, but you can also ask for a half (mezzo) or quarter (quarto) kilo.
Hours: Open every day (except Sunday) from early morning until about 2 pm.
Stop #4: Chiosco Sicilia Seltz
What to order: Seltz limone e sale (lemon and salt seltz)
Price point: €1
Locals love Chiosco Sicilia Seltz. It is just a small kiosk on the street, but it is known to be great. A Sicilian friend introduced me to this place and said that they make the best seltz in the city.
What is a seltz? It’s a drink made up of carbonated water, lemon juice, and salt. It’s tart, pulpy, and pretty salty, but on a hot day, it’s super refreshing. This drink is something you’ll only find in Catania, and the Catanese are quite proud of it. For only €1, it’s a fun, local treat that you have to try.
Pro Tip: If you’re worried about how much salt they put in the drink, ask for half salt (mezzo sale).
Hours: Open every day, until late at night.
Stop #5: Scirocco
What to order: Fried seafood cone
Price point: €8-€11
Scirocco is another well-known spot that shows up on every “where to eat in Catania” list. It’s casual, the food is always great, and it offers a variety of typical Sicilian bites.
I suggest getting one of their seafood cones. They sell cones with a mixture of different fried seafoods, boneless mixtures, and cones with only calamari. They are all delicious.
Pro Tip: If you have the time to sit, order a few of the side dishes, like the octopus salad or the fish caponata. If you’re travelling with friends, it’s a great place to share and try several menu items that you’ll only find in Sicily. And if you’re not into seafood, they do have a “land cone” of fried vegetables, mini arancini, and fried fava beans.
Hours: Open every day until 11 pm.
Stop #6: Casa Delle Crispelle
What to order: Sweet or savory crispelle
Price point: €1-€3
Another treat that you’ll only find in Catania is crispelle. It is a small, fried pastry that can either be sweet or savory. The sweet ones are made with rice and dipped in honey after being fried. The savory ones are stuffed with an anchovy or ricotta.
Casa delle Crispelle is THE place to get crispelle, according to my Sicilian friends. And I listen to them. It’s located on an iconic, wild street in Catania. The adventurer in you will love it.
Pro Tip: Make sure to communicate that you only want to try some crispelle. Most people order a container of them to bring home, but you can absolutely get just one or two if you’d like. The price is by weight. Ask for crispelle dolce (the sweet ones), crispelle con acciughe (with anchovy), or crispelle con ricotta (with ricotta cheese).
Hours: Open 3:30-10:30 pm every day.
Stop #7: Pasticceria Sottile
What to order: Granita, brioche with gelato, or cannoli
Price point: €3
Similar to the first stop of this food tour, Pasticceria Sottile is a super typical Sicilian bar that would be overlooked by tourists. The staff is friendly, the food is always excellent, and the prices are great.
I’m confident that anything you order at this bar will be delicious. But if you didn’t have a granita at Bar Pasticceria Arabica, get one here. It’s also a great spot to try cannoli or a brioche filled with gelato. You cannot leave Sicily without eating a brioche stuffed with gelato.
Pro Tip: Take note of the restaurant next to this pasticceria, La Terrazza del Barone. It’s one of my favorite places to eat in Catania. Try to make it there for dinner during your stay in the city! I wrote about why I love it in this post:
The 9 Best Food Experiences I Had While Living In Sicily
Hours: Closed Tuesdays. (If you do the tour on a Tuesday, you can replace this stop with Caffè del Duomo in Piazza Duomo, and order a cannoli. The cannoli are pretty amazing there.)
Tips for a Great Tour
Make sure you have cash, preferably smaller bills and coins.
Share the food to save money and stomach space.
Bring a water bottle. If you need to buy water, do it at a grocery store, like this one located next to the first stop on the tour.
Show appreciation for the food. Tell the staff that it’s delicious.
Carry your bags/purse in front of you at the market. Catania isn’t known for pickpocketing, but the market can be very crowded.
Downloadable PDF / Printable Version
I’ve created a condensed, PDF/printable version of this walking food tour. You can download it here.
Final Thoughts
Food often attaches us to a place and leaves us with great memories. I hope this tour unveils Catania’s beauty as you explore the city through its amazing food.
I couldn’t possibly add all my favorite Catania food spots to this tour, so join my mailing list to get notified of upcoming blog posts. I have a “Where and What to Eat in Catania” post coming soon!
Did you do this food tour, or visit some spots mentioned in this post? Let me know in the comments!
