Best restaurants in Catania Italy

Food Catania

Sicily is more than just a stunning Mediterranean escape—it’s a paradise for food lovers. But if I’m being honest? Catania is, in my opinion, one of the best cities to eat out in all of Italy. While cities like Rome or Bologna get all the glory, Catania offers something raw and unrivaled. It’s a place where the "black gold" of Mount Etna’s volcanic soil meets the freshest catch of the Ionian Sea. Every meal here tells a story of cultural layers—Greek, Arab, Spanish, and Norman—resulting in a cuisine that manages to be incredibly well-rounded yet fiercely unique. As an Italian and a lifelong food enthusiast, I find the authenticity here intoxicating. It’s not just about the recipes; it’s about the soul the locals pour into every dish.

👉In this guide, I’ll share:

• 🍝What to eat in Catania
• 🍴My favorite restaurants

Heads up: this page may include affiliate links. By clicking and/or purchasing, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost for you. I only recommend tools I have personally vetted.

Where to stay in Catania

Catania offers a variety of accommodations, from luxury hotels to bed-and-breakfasts:

• Luxury: Catania Smart Hotel 🅱️ Booking 🔗 🆃 Trip.com 🦉 Tripadvisor 🔗
• Mid-Range: The Nest 🅱️ Booking 🔗
  
• Budget: Domus Coralla B&B Racconti di Viaggio 🅱️ Booking 🔗 🆃 Trip.com 🔗

Best restaurants in Sicily

Street Food & Quick Bites

Arancino

In Catania, street food isn’t just a meal; it’s a matter of civic pride, and nothing sits on the throne quite like the arancino. While the rest of the world might know these as "arancini," in this volcanic city, the name is strictly masculine and the shape is distinctively conical, designed to mimic the silhouette of nearby Mount Etna. These golden, deep-fried masterpieces consist of a saffron-scented rice shell—a legacy of Sicily's Arab history—stuffed with a rich, slow-cooked meat ragù, peas, and often a molten heart of cheese.

While the arancino al sugo (meat sauce) is the undisputed classic, Catania is also famous for its arancino alla Norma, packed with fried eggplant and ricotta salata, and the decadent pistacchio version featuring the "green gold" of Bronte. Just remember the golden rule of the island: if you’re in Catania, it’s an arancino (ending in 'o'); call it an "arancina" like they do in Palermo, and you might just start a friendly but passionate culinary debate!

👉 Discover the secrets of authentic Sicilian arancini! Join a cooking class in Taormina and learn to make them like a true local chef — click here🔗 to enjoy this delicious hands-on experience!

🍴 Where to Go: In Catania, I suggest Pasticceria Spinella🔗 for a straightforward, traditional arancino. The staff can be a little brusque, yet the flavor more than earns your patience. Right next door you’ll find Pasticceria Savia🔗, which serves excellent arancini along with a whole parade of other irresistible treats.

Rosticceria

If you step into any Sicilian town, you’ll quickly notice a rosticceria — a local bakery or snack bar filled with irresistible savory treats. It’s the place where Sicilians grab something quick for breakfast, lunch, or a late-night bite. Inside the glass display, you’ll usually find arancini, cipolline (puff pastry pockets stuffed with tomato, ham, mozzarella, and onions), pizzette, rollò (sausage rolls), and calzoni filled with cheese and ham. Every rosticceria has its own specialties and recipes, often passed down through generations, so it’s worth trying them in different towns. 

Savory Dishes

Pasta alla Norma

A Catania classic made with fried eggplant, tomato sauce, basil, and ricotta salata. Simple but full of flavor.

👉 Roll up your sleeves and make fresh pasta just like a Sicilian nonna! Join a pasta cooking class in Catania and learn the art of homemade pasta in a fun, hands-on experience — click here🔗 to join the class!

🍴 Where to Go: For a truly memorable pasta alla Norma, head to Trattoria da Peppino🔗 in Catania. That said, pasta alla Norma is a classic dish you’ll find on the menu of most Sicilian restaurants, so you’ll have plenty of options to try it.

Caponata

A delicious sweet-and-sour eggplant dish cooked with tomato, olives, capers, and vinegar. It’s usually served as an appetizer or side dish.

Meat

In Sicily, meat holds a central place in the island’s food culture, with griglierie (grill houses) found on nearly every corner, filling the air with the irresistible aroma of sizzling cuts. These lively spots serve everything from succulent sausages and skewered lamb to arrosticini and grilled pork ribs, often enjoyed al fresco with a glass of local red wine. While seafood dominates much of Sicilian cuisine, especially along the coast, meat grilling is a true passion inland—and nowhere more so than in Catania, where horse meat is considered a local delicacy.

✨ A must-try is the polpette di cavallo (horse meatballs), available in many different flavors. My personal favorite? The ones stuffed with pistachio and Philadelphia cheese—a perfect mix of creamy, nutty, and smoky goodness that captures the bold spirit of Catania’s street food scene.

🍴 Where to Go: Polpetta di cavallo is a Catania specialty and a must-try if you’re in the area—it’s incredibly flavorful! In Catania, I highly recommend Re Carlo V🔗 or Achille🔗, which are both located on the famous "Horse Meat Road" (Via Plebiscito). For another excellent option, Trattoria da Peppino🔗 also serves outstanding polpette.

Fish

In Sicily, fish is the soul of the island’s cuisine, celebrated daily in bustling fish markets and seaside trattorias. Thanks to the crystal-clear Mediterranean waters, locals enjoy an incredible variety of freshly caught seafood—swordfish, sardines, tuna, anchovies, and octopus are just the beginning. Grilled, marinated, or tossed into rich pasta dishes, fish is prepared with simple, bold flavors that let the freshness shine. Along the coast, you’ll find countless friggitorie (fried fish shops) and restaurants serving catch-of-the-day specialties. In Catania, pasta with swordfish and eggplant or sarde a beccafico (stuffed sardines) are unmissable, combining land and sea in true Sicilian style. 

Pizza

Pizza in Sicily may not enjoy the worldwide fame of Naples’ iconic pies, but that doesn’t mean it falls short in flavor. During my travels, I had the chance to try some truly great pizzas here—crispy on the outside, soft inside, and often topped with rich local ingredients like fresh ricotta, anchovies, or sun-sweetened tomatoes. Sicily’s pizza scene offers a delicious surprise for anyone willing to explore beyond the classics.

👉 Become a pizzaiolo for a day in Catania! Join a pizza cooking class🔗 and learn how to craft the perfect dough, add authentic Sicilian toppings, and bake your own masterpiece

Sweets and Desserts

Cannoli

Crispy pastry tubes filled with sweet ricotta cream, often topped with pistachios, chocolate chips, or candied fruit.

👉 Learn how to make Sicily’s sweetest icon — the cannolo! Join a cannoli cooking class in Taormina🔗 and master the art of crispy shells and creamy ricotta filling — click here to experience this delicious tradition!

Cassata Siciliana

A beautiful layered cake made with sponge cake, ricotta, marzipan, and colorful candied fruit.

Granita with Brioche

The perfect summer breakfast in Sicily! Try lemon, almond, or coffee granita served with a soft brioche bun. The perfect summer breakfast in Sicily! Try lemon, almond, or coffee granita served with a soft brioche bun. In southern Sicily, the brioche often comes “col tuppo” — a small rounded top resembling a hair bun — while in the north it’s usually served without it.

Gelato and Brioche

Another Sicilian favorite, especially in summer. Locals love eating creamy gelato inside a freshly baked brioche — a sweet, soft, and utterly indulgent treat.

✨ Breakfast in Sicily is extra special — there are so many delicious sweet specialties to try. Just pick your nearest bar and enjoy a slow, relaxing start to the day.

Panzerotti Catanesi

Typical of Catania, these soft, golden pastries are filled with rich custard cream and dusted with sugar — a true indulgence to start your day. They’re similar in shape to small calzoni, but sweet instead of savory. Best enjoyed warm with a cappuccino, they’re a local favorite for a quick bar breakfast.

Raviola alla Ricotta

A beloved Sicilian classic! These are deep-fried pastries filled with sweetened ricotta — creamy inside, crispy outside, and usually sprinkled with sugar. In some areas, especially around Catania, you’ll find them baked instead of fried, but always irresistibly good. Perfect for those who can’t resist ricotta desserts.

Iris Catanese

The Iris is one of Catania’s most iconic breakfast pastries — a golden, round bun filled with luscious custard or chocolate cream, then breaded and fried to perfection. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, it’s pure comfort food in pastry form.

Originally created in Palermo, the Catanese version is even more indulgent — often larger and richer, sometimes filled with ricotta or pistachio cream. You’ll find it in almost every bar in Catania, usually enjoyed with an espresso or cappuccino.

✨ It’s not the lightest start to the day, but definitely one of the most delicious — a true must-try for anyone exploring Sicilian breakfasts!

🍴 Where to Go: Head to Pasticceria Savia🔗 to try the iris catanese — it’s a must.

Paste di Mandarla

No trip to Sicily is complete without tasting Paste di Mandorla — the island’s famous almond cookies. Made from just a few simple ingredients — almond flour, sugar, and egg whites — these small pastries capture the very essence of Sicilian sweetness.

Crispy on the outside and soft and chewy inside, they’re often shaped into elegant little flowers or shells and decorated with a candied cherry, pistachio, or a dusting of powdered sugar. The best ones are made with Sicilian almonds from Avola or Noto, known for their intense aroma and flavor.

✨ You’ll find Paste di Mandorla in almost every bakery and pastry shop across the island — perfect with an espresso or a glass of sweet dessert wine. Simple yet sophisticated, they embody Sicily’s long love affair with almonds, a legacy of the island’s Arab past.

Restaurant Recommendations in Sicily

Below are some excellent restaurants to try in Catania Sicily. The "€" reflects the price range.

Catania may not have the postcard charm of Taormina or Marzamemi, but when it comes to food, it absolutely delivers. That’s reason enough to come!

• Trattoria Da Peppino di Tumia Giovanni🔗 €€: This low-key, traditional trattoria focuses on classic staples, especially its generous meat dishes, and it closes the meal on a high note with surprisingly great desserts.
• Re Carlo V🔗 € & Achille🔗 €: These restaurants are very affordable and focus mainly on meat dishes. Horse is the star of the menu, but you’ll also find several other meat options if you prefer to wander elsewhere on the grill.
• Trattoria del Cavaliere🔗 €€: A true Catania classic — this trattoria is well known across the city and remains a timeless local favorite.
• Trattoria Giglio Rosso🔗 €€: Another must-visit spot for tasting authentic Sicilian flavors.

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