The best restaurant in Catania serving traditional cuisine is undoubtedly Osteria I Tre Bicchieri, located near the Duomo Cathedral. The establishment boasts an excellent wine list, as it belongs to one of Sicily’s largest wineries. Be sure to try the traditional Sicilian pasta with sardines, capers, raisins, and pine nuts. Among appetizers, the eggplant caponata stands out, and for dessert — the cassata (a cake with candied fruits).
You’ll enjoy delicious tuna at the Al Gabbiano restaurant. Seafood here is served fresh, right from the fishing nets. Signature dishes include seafood pasta and amazing swordfish rolls. Prices at this Catania restaurant remain moderate. The average bill is 30–35 EUR.
Visiting Italy without trying pizza? That’s simply unacceptable! Drop by one of the popular, budget-friendly restaurants on Vico Santa Filomena, especially loved by local students. Here, they serve classic pizza baked over coals in a wood-fired oven. Price — from 9 EUR.
Another well-reviewed restaurant is La Grotta on Via Scalo Grande. For just 18–22 EUR, you can enjoy a hearty fish soup and steamed fish with lemon. The owner is a close friend of a local fishermen's family. At the entrance, there’s always a basket filled with fresh seafood, from which guests choose their lunch or dinner.
The best ice cream café in Catania is Gelateria Quaranta on Vincenzo Bellini Square. And the best pastry shop to enjoy cannoli (crispy pastry tubes with ricotta cream) and chocolate desserts is C&G on Abramo Lincoln Street. Prices in Catania’s cafés are quite affordable: a cup of cappuccino costs €1.50–2, and a slice of cake — €3–4.
About tips. Usually, tips are already included in the bill (coperto or servizio), so leaving extra gratuity for waiters is not customary.
