Catania is a magical city, an excellent starting point to start exploring eastern Sicily ! Between squares, museums and incredible neighborhoods, there are so many things to do and see. And, of course, don’t forget to organize a day excursion to the Etna volcano!
In addition to all this, Catania is also synonymous with good food! Immersing yourself in the food and wine culture of Catania is absolutely a must ! Among the famous arancini, delicious desserts such as cannoli, fresh fish and rich first courses such as pasta alla norma, forget about your diet for a few days and enjoy every single bite!
You already have your mouth watering true
Here are the 10 things to eat in Catania and where!
1 – Arancino
Photo of Guilhem Vellut. The arancino, in Catania called in the male, is without a doubt the king of Sicilian and Catania street food ! Perfect to eat at any time, it will accompany your days in the city.
Surely everyone already knows it and you have tasted at least once this delicacy made of rice stuffed mainly with ragu and then breaded and fried .
This is the main version of Catania, then there are many others, which vary from area to area. Furthermore, the arancino here has a more conical shape reminiscent of the famous Etna volcano !
- Recommended for : lunch, dinner, snack
- Average cost : €2.00
- Main ingredients : rice, ragu
2 – Cannolo
And now let’s talk about one of the most loved desserts in all of Sicily , the cannolo! This dessert may not need a lot of introductions, surely you have already eaten it and, trust me, these days in Catania you will eat a lot!
For those who may not know it, it is a crunchy rolled wafer with a creamy ricotta cream filling . Excellent for breakfast and to start your day on the right foot, but they are also perfect for a snack or to end a traditional Sicilian lunch or dinner in the best possible way!
- Recommended for : always
- Average cost : €2.00
- Main ingredients : flour, eggs, sheep’s milk ricotta
3 – Pasta alla Norma
Photo of Muesse. If the arancino is the most famous street food and the cannoli is one of the most loved desserts, this is the most famous dish in Catania ! It is dedicated, as can be understood from the name, to the work of Bellini, one of the illustrious citizens of the city.
It is a very tasty and loaded dish , not at all light, but absolutely to try! Pasta alla Norma is made up of pasta with tomato sauce , salted ricotta , a little basil and fried aubergines !
- Recommended for : lunch, dinner
- Average cost : €8.00
- Main ingredients : pasta, tomato, fried eggplant, salted ricotta
4 – Horse meat
Catania is also famous for horse meat! It is now a real tradition , in fact you can come across several horse butchers in the city. In addition to this, in the restaurants you will find really many dishes based on this meat , prepared in all possible ways! The most famous way to taste it is via del Plebiscito, full of trattorias specializing in this type of dishes.
We absolutely recommend you to taste the meatballs and horse sausages , but also the classic steaks. Really great!
- Recommended for : lunch, dinner
- Average cost : main course of € 10.00
- Main ingredients : horse meat
5 – Spaghetti alla Carrettiera
They are a typical dish from all of Eastern Sicily and what better place to taste them than in this city!
These are spaghetti seasoned with oil, raw garlic, pepper and grated pecorino . In some variations, peeled tomatoes, concentrated tomatoes or cherry tomatoes are also added.
The name carrettiera derives from the ancient carters, or those who transported goods of different nature between one city and another, such as coal and wood, agri-food products and building materials. Being always on the go, they wanted a pasta that could be prepared in a short time, with products that could be stored easily, such as garlic and oil.
- Recommended for : lunch, dinner
- Average cost : €8.00
- Main ingredients : spaghetti, oil, raw garlic, pepper, grated pecorino
6 – Granita e brioche
Photo by Angelica Bianco. If you are in Catania, or in Sicily in general, there is one thing you absolutely must do: breakfast with granita and brioche! It is a real institution and the best way to start the day ! If you have never tasted it, trust me, you will fall in love with it instantly.
It is a cold dessert made with water, sugar and fruit . Absolutely try the almond granita ! The pistachio, coffee and lemon ones are also very good, in short, you are really spoiled for choice.
Try it then accompanied by a Sicilian brioche, made with yeasted egg dough and with vanilla or citrus flavor. A real treat!
- Recommended for : breakfast, snack
- Average cost : €4.00
- Main ingredients : water and sugar; yeast dough with egg and aroma
7 – Minnuzze di Sant’Agata
Photo of Stefano Mortellaro from Catania, Italy. You absolutely cannot miss this typical dessert. Sant’Agata is the patron saint of the city and is celebrated from 3 to 5 February . In this period you will find this dessert really everywhere! The name “minnuzze”, which means breast, takes the typical shape of this dessert.
It is a small cassatina , with a base of sponge cake, sheep’s milk ricotta and royal pasta with a small candied cherry on top. The cover is always and only strictly white.
- Recommended for : breakfast, snack
- Average cost : €2.00
- Main ingredients : flour, butter, powdered sugar, sheep’s milk ricotta, dark chocolate
8 – Olivette di Sant’Agata
During the celebrations of Sant’Agata, patron saint of the city, generally in the months of January and February, this typical Catania dessert is prepared . The name olivette derives from their shape, equal to that of an olive, and they are made of almond paste which is then covered with sugar and colored green. They are also flavored with aromas or liqueur.
- Recommended for : always
- Average cost : from € 20.00 per Kg
- Main ingredients : almond paste, sugar
9 – Swordfish
Photo by user39483052. Being overlooking the sea, the city offers many fish-based dishes, prepared with the catch of the day. So you should definitely treat yourself to a fish-based dinner!
Among all, you must taste the swordfish, the undisputed star of the menus of the restaurants and the fish market “a ‘piscaria near the cathedral”. A festival is also dedicated to him, which takes place in the nearby town of Acitrezza in June.
In the restaurants you will find different versions, both first and second courses based on swordfish. If you are a lover of the genre, you should definitely try it grilled and with a drizzle of oil.
- Recommended for : lunch, dinner
- Average cost : main courses from € 15.00
- Main ingredients : swordfish
10 – Seltz lemon and salt
As a last point, we offer you not something to eat, but a drink , the most popular in the city! It is made up of lemon juice , sparkling water , salt and a pinch of baking soda .
Excellent for fighting the heat of the Catania summer days and for cooling off. A great diversion from the classic carbonated drink. You can find it in the numerous kiosks located in the streets of the city , a real meeting point!
- Recommended for : always
- Average cost : €2.00
- Main ingredients : lemon juice, sparkling water, salt
Where to eat in Catania: cheap restaurants, typical bars and street food
Photo by Triquetra. In Catania you really experience a journey within a journey, discovering the food and wine traditions of the city, including excellent traditional dishes, sweets and typical drinks. And, of course, there is no shortage of places to stop!
From trattorias to luxury restaurants, from places closely linked to Catania cuisine to places that experiment more and offer a more international cuisine, from restaurants where you can sit for hours to kiosks for a quick lunch tasting the local street food. In short, nothing is missing, all palates will be satisfied !
Here are the best places to eat in Catania :
1 – La Taverna del Grande Albero
- Description : located in the historic center, the place is welcoming and will make you feel at home; offers traditional Sicilian dishes, pizza and excellent homemade desserts
- Specialty : fried fish of the day
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : piazza S. Domenico, 23 – Get directions / tel: 095 313674
2 – Corte dei Biscari restaurant
- Description : located in the historic center, at the foot of Palazzo Biscari; elegant restaurant offering traditional Catania and Sicilian fish-based dishes
- Specialty : Corte dei Biscari tasting
- Average price : from € 30.00 per person
- Address : via Porticello, 15 – Get directions / tel: 342 6831700
3 – Trattoria Il Corallo
- Description : located away from the historic center, near the Gioeni Park; specializing in fish cuisine, it also offers land dishes and menus at fixed prices
- Specialty : indicates the house specialty
- Average price : from € 20.00 per person
- Address : via Rosso di S. Secondo, 6 – Get directions / tel: 349 3144590
4 – The Pipe
- Description : located in the center of Catania, and a place frequented mainly by locals; offers a huge variety of sandwiches, as well as a wide choice of fish dishes
- Specialty : sandwiches
- Average price : from € 12.00 per person
- Address : via Musumeci, 96 – Get directions / tel: 348 9689090
5 – Ristorante Artu Steak House ed Hamburgeria
- Description : located in the heart of the historic center, near the Ursino Castle; specializing in grilled meat, it also offers traditional Sicilian and fish-based dishes
- Specialty : grilled meat
- Average price : from € 15.00 per person
- Address : piazza Federico di Svevia, 96/97 – Get directions / tel: 324 6692256
6 – Propaganda
- Description : offers a healthy cuisine and also suitable for vegetarians, based on local products.
- House specialty : sauces and mashed
- Average price per person : € 10.00
- Address : Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 94 – Get directions – Tel. 095 715 9605
7 – Prestipino rotisserie
- Description : Rotisserie a stone’s throw from the Cathedral of Catania which offers a spectacular view of the Duomo. The dishes are quite inexpensive but full of flavor.
- House specialty : pasta with five holes, pasta with sardines
- Average price per person : € 7.00
- Address : Via Etnea, 30/32 – Get directions – Tel. +39 327 206 8043
8 – Savia pastry shop
- Description : You want to try the thrill of a real arancina from Catania
. You cannot fail to try those of the Pasticceria Savia. They are now an institution in Catania, so famous that you will have to queue to grab one. - House specialty : meat arancini
- Average price per person : € 6.00
- Address : Via Umberto, 2/4/6 – Get directions – Tel. +39 095 322335
9 – Reeds and Pisces
- Description : excellent restaurant offering traditional meat and fish specialties. With the fixed menu of the restaurant you can spend little and eat your fill
- House specialty : marinated fish
- Average price per person : € 25.00
- Address : Via Museo Biscari, 8 – Get directions – Tel. +39 095 2180787
10 – La Quartara
- Description : traditional Catania cuisine restaurant, particularly renowned for its fish specialties. It also offers a good selection of pizzas.
- House specialty : packet of fish and pizza
- Average price per person : € 25.00
- Address : Piazza Ogninella 10 | Piazza Universita – Get directions – Tel. +39 095 816 6768
11 – Scirocco Sicilian Fish Lab
- Description : fish restaurant with an excellent quality / price ratio. Try their sea foil, sardines a beccafico and caponata.
- House specialty : sardines a beccafico, sea foil
- Average price per person : € 7.00
- Address : Piazza Alonzo di Benedetto 7 | Pescheria di Catania – Get directions – Tel. +39 095 836 5148
12 – Pasticceria Spinella
- Description : In this place you will find foods ranging from salty to sweet. All good, but his ice cream (try the pistachio one) is really delicious. Accompany it with a classic brioche, it will satisfy you properly for a good part of the day!
- House specialty : pistachio ice cream, desserts
- Average price per person : € 5.00
- Address : Via Etnea 292/298 – Get directions – Tel. +39 095 327247
13 – Comis Ice Cafe
- Description : the paradise of ice cream and above all of granita, to be eaten strictly with brioche and cream (especially if the granita is coffee-flavored)
- House specialty : coffee granita
- Average price per person : € 5.00
- Address : Piazza Vincenzo Bellini 8/9 – Get directions – Tel. +39 095 715 2499
