Where to eat in Palermo. The best restaurants and street food

Which places musts if you’re in Palermo and want to know more about the city's food scene? Here is a mini-guide with 15 addresses - from bars to street food, from trattorias to fine dining - to help you find your way around the city's rich gastronomic proposal.

Here are our 15 must-visit Palermo addresses

A long weekend, a short stay, a getaway to taste the flavours of Sicily... True, it takes a while to get to know properly a complex and many-sided city like Palermo, but we made an effort to give you a rèsumé of the places that can get you to know its scents, traditions, and dishes.

Bar Vabres

If you are one of those who believe in starting the day off right, this is the place for you: excellent handcrafted croissants and a rich selection of specialty coffees. And for those who prefer savoury breakfast foods, there is a wide choice of Palermo’s rotisserie, with special mention for the arancine.

Via Michele Cipolla, 83/85 - 091 617 2014 – pasticceriavabres.com

Oscar

Since 1965, excellent traditional, modern breakfast pastries have been produced here. In summer, the watermelon gelo (or “mellone”, in Palermo dialect) in all its variations is a must. Gorgeous the fried calzone in the rotisserie section.

via Mariano Migliaccio, 39 - 091 682 2381 – oscar1965.com

I segreti del chiostro

The cloister of the Church of Santa Caterina, is worth a visit for the beauty of the place and for the quality of the products. Walking by the dessert counter, you will get an idea of the most typical Sicilian specialties, some of which are of convent origin, and you will be spoilt for choice.

Monastero Santa Caterina - piazza Bellini, 33 - 327 588 2302 – isegretidelchiostro.shop

Gelateria Cappadonia

Tre Coni, the highest rating in Gambero Rosso Gelaterie d'Italia guide is the calling card of this handcrafted gelateria that has two branches in the city, in Corso Vittorio Emanuele and Piazzetta Bagnasco. Antonio Cappadonia is an undisputed master in the art of gelato.

via Vittorio Emanuele 401 - 392 568 9784 – cappadonia.it

Ficus

Opened a couple of years ago inside the Giardino Duca di Serradifalco, this artisan gelateria offers unconventional flavours. The speciality are the “drunken” gelatos, made with an alcoholic component. The savoury ones served in the tasting menu as an aperitivo are also very interesting.

via Dante 332 A - 3208140412 – giardinoserradifalco.it/ficus

Casa Stagnitta

Next to the historical roasting house by the same name, just a few steps away from some of the most beautiful monuments in the city centre, Casa Stagnitta prepares excellent granitas to be enjoyed with the inevitable brioche “col tuppo” bun. The choice of coffees is also excellent, of course.

Discesa dei Giudici, 46 - 091 617 2819 – casastagnitta.it

Francu u Vastiddaru

A must for street food lovers, close to one of Palermo's most beautiful squares: Piazza Marina. The panelle sandwich is excellent, to be enjoyed while strolling along the Cassaro, or sitting under the square's trees.

via Vittorio Emanuele, 102 - 091 325987 – Facebook

Porta Carbone

With a recently renovated look, this is the address - overlooking Palermo's Cala - for lovers of pani ca meusa, i.e. spleen sandwiches. Four generations have been filling the hefty sandwiches dressed with only a splash of lemon juice, or adding caciocavallo and/or ricotta cheese.

via Cala, 62 - 091 323433 – Facebook

Panificio Guccione

People from all over the city flock to Ottavio Guccione's to buy bread and pizza by the slice. The choice is wide, but the carob or tumminia bread are definitely worth mentioning. There is even a wide choice of baked goods.

via Giuseppe Pipitone Federico, 63 - 091 346030 – Facebook

Trattoria Ai Cascinari

This historic trattoria, founded in the late 1940s, is the right address to enjoy the flavours of Palermo's tradition accomplished with care, good selection of ingredients and attention to Slow Food presidia.

via D'Ossuna, 43 - 091 651 9804 – cascinari.com

Osteria Mercede

Here, seafood sets the pace, with the menu chalked on a blackboard daily, changing according to the catch of the day. Well executed dishes and good price-quality ratio.

via Sammartino, 1 - 091 332243 – Facebook

Corona

Elegant trattoria with an excellent choice of ingredients. Traditional dishes in the daily offer, with a slight preponderance of fish and a few riffs on the classics.

via Guglielmo Marconi, 9 - 091 335139 – coronatrattoria.it

Blade Ramen

Opened just a few months ago but already successful, this is one of the newcomers in town. It offers a Sicilian ramen in which everything, from noodles to fermented food, is self-produced with local ingredients and Asian techniques.

via Valerio Villareale, 33 - 091 274 2112 – bladeramen.it

Gagini

A few steps from the Vucciria market, this Michelin-starred restaurant is located within the walls that once housed the workshop of sculptor Antonio Gagini. In the kitchen, chef Mauricio Zillo offers dishes that are rich of cross-pollination and never predictable.

via dei Cassari, 35 - 091 589918 – gaginirestaurant.com

Mec

Housed inside Palazzo Castrone, in the museum space dedicated to the world of Apple collecting, it is the realm of chef Carmelo Trentacosti, a Michelin-starred talent from Palermo. Here you can enjoy refined dishes that mix local products with international influences.

via Vittorio Emanuele, 452 - 347 753 2005 – mecrestaurant.it

Enoteca Picone

Historic, not to be missed wine shop in Palermo. Whatever wine you want to drink, local, national or international, you have a good chance of finding it here. And if you don't have a clear idea, the staff will also give you the right advice on liqueurs and beers.

via Guglielmo Marconi, 36 - 091 331300 – enotecapicone.com