8 Best Restaurants in Central Sicily and the Mediterranean Coast, Sicily

In the sleepy town of Santa Rita, you'll find a culinary gem worth the drive off the beaten path. Driving along narrow roads that may be filled with sheep herders, you'll get to Forno Santa Rita, a bakery managed by a father-and-son team who mill regional wheat to make the most delicate focaccia you'll ever taste. They also make pasta from the same organic semolina, which you can buy pre-packaged at their little shop along with other products like sauces, beers, and jams from the area. The bakery has a small dining room and a terrace. It's popular, especially on the weekends, so reservations are a must (send a text or call on WhatsApp). 

Although Bar Corso is open for 20 continuous hours daily, the highlight is breakfast. This bustling café is filled with locals and tourists having their morning coffee with freshly made breads and pastries. The counter is filled with regional pastries like cucchitelle, a traditional pastry made with almond flour. Those with a savory palate will enjoy the bread made with semolina flour and filled with ham and cheese. Although the inside space is compact, there's a large outdoor seating area where you can people-watch. 

Agrigento's finest ice-cream parlor creates memorable versions of key Sicilian favorites such as pistachio, almond, and cassata, along with a superb "pecorino" made with fresh sheep's milk ricotta. Besides the famous gelato, there's a great selection of pastries, the most popular being the cannoli. Those looking to cool down can order a cocktail and take in the view of the city from the terrace. 

La Bottega Ristorante may seem like a classic hotel restaurant on the surface, but it's a hidden gem inside the Relais Villa Giuliana. The menu, focusing on handmade pastas and local seafood, is excellent, made with refined ingredients and served in surprisingly generous portions. While the price is slightly above average for the area, you'll find the quality of the ingredients and service up to par. Don't miss the home-baked bread served with a selection of local olive oils; the wine list focuses on regional selections. 

Set on a big square in Piazza Armerina that hosts the town’s weekly market, this is one of the very few pasticcerias that continue to make their own cornetti—light, delicious, and filled to order with custard cream, ricotta, jam, or chocolate. Other delights include iris (a deep-fried doughnut ball filled with chocolate) and krapfen (a doughnut ring filled with custard cream). There is a small covered terrace outside.

This tiny café is located right in the square just below Castello di Sperlinga, and is an excellent place to grab a quick drink, panino, or light meal. The bar owner is also very helpful with visitors and acts as the unofficial tourist information office.

This gourmet delicatessen and bistro-café makes a trip to the island’s scruffy main town worth your while (and helpfully happens to be close to the gas station). The Emporio is a showcase for the many artisanal pestos, pâtés, sauces, preserved vegetables, and jams produced and beautifully bottled by islanders, and also has a very good selection of local wines. And it's not just a shop: from May to October, the outdoor terrace is open for breakfast, lunch, and aperitivo.

One of the very few places to eat in Aidone, this is a simple bar just down the hill from the museum. The welcoming owner makes great coffee and fills cornetti to order with chocolate, custard cream, jam, or ricotta.