27 Best Restaurants in Palermo and Western Sicily, Sicily

Top-quality local ingredients are used in this modern, brightly lit pizzeria, where a vast range of pizzas are served—including seasonal, gourmet, and gluten-free varieties—with a choice of four different doughs. The eclectic menu also takes in delicious antipasti, burgers, pastas, and seafood. To accompany your meal, order from a good selection of bottled or draught artisan beers. Service is rapid, and the patient staff answer all queries.

Arancine—fried rice balls—are ubiquitous all over Sicily, but rarely do you find them prepared while you wait or offered in such a range as in this little snack shop near Porta Trapani. The menu lists more than 30 varieties, which include swordfish, smoked salmon, and curry fillings, as well as vegetarian and vegan options. They make ideal stomach-fillers at any time, not least as snack lunches on the go.

There's a regular trickle of locals to this gelateria conveniently located opposite the hydrofoil port. Most opt for the local favorite: ice cream in a brioche with a couple of wafer biscuits poking out. But it's not just the creamy and tangy ice creams that pull in the crowds; there are also delicious granitas, cakes, and desserts on offer, including a delicious semifreddo cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries or blueberries. There's limited seating outside, and it stays open late.

Founded by a locally born sister-and-brother team, this restaurant just steps away from the beach has one eye on tradition and one on innovative and creative cuisine. Intriguing taste combinations are well-judged, though you can be equally satisfied with a simple but delicious plate of spaghetti with tuna or grilled fish, as even the plainest dishes are surprisingly tasty. The three versions of couscous are remarkable even by San Vito standards. Everything is artistically presented, and there's an excellent wine list, too. Choose to eat indoors or on the terrace.

Housed on the upper story of a classic old palazzo a 10-minute walk from Villa Palagonia in the center of town, this relaxed but elegant trattoria makes the perfect refueling stop in the middle of a day of sightseeing. The moderately priced menu leans heavily towards seafood, best sampled in such starters as calamarata dello chef (king prawns, squid, and creamed zucchini) and spaghetti allo scoglio (with mussels, clams, shrimps, swordfish, and squid). Among the mains, stand-outs include swordfish involtini (roulades) and the catch of the day, while you can't do better than rounding off your meal with a canolo. As well as the teal-blue dining room, a roof terrace is open for dining al fresco in summer.

With its sober interior, reasonable prices, and local clientele, this place on a quiet square rises above the majority of San Vito's tourist-oriented eateries. Seafood, of course, predominates on the menu, best sampled in such dishes as fish couscous, risotto allo scoglio, and cassatelle in brodo di pesce (fresh pasta in a fish broth, stuffed with ricotta, almonds, parsley, and garlic). Service is polite and professional, there are tables outside, and (unusually for this resort destination) the restaurant stays open all winter.

Just inside the arched Porta Garibaldi gateway to the old town, this bar and restaurant offers a handy place to pause for a snack or drink. Food choices include a fine seafood salad as well as a full menu of hot dishes. There are tables inside and out on the street, but best of all are those in the broad tree-filled courtyard across the street, providing a secluded and shady retreat from the hot Sicilian sun.

Marble-top tables, cast-iron ovens, and walls adorned with turn-of-the-20th-century black-and-white photographs characterize this neighborhood bakery, celebrated for the Sicilian snacks and inexpensive meals it has been doling out since 1834. The big pot on the counter holds the delicious regional specialty pani cà meusa (boiled calf's spleen with caciocavallo cheese and salt), but the squeamish can opt for chickpea fritters or enormous arancini. There are tables in the piazza in front of the lovely facade of the church of San Francesco d'Assisi, as well as in the two capacious rooms upstairs.

This pastry shop, set on a pretty little piazza, is run by the sister of the town's most famous baker-nun, Maria Grammatico, and sells similar delectable treats.

While vegetarian and vegan restaurants are few and far between in Palermo, this airy spot in the modern town not only fits the bill but also will entice the most die-hard of carnivores. Spacious and contemporary in style, with a profusion of plants set against green walls and a gentle soundtrack of 1970s rock in the background, it offers dishes as diverse as vegetable lasagna, involtini alla Palermitana (seitan rolls stuffed with raisins and pine nuts), and curries, as well as a range of plant-based burgers. It makes the perfect stop for a light lunch or dinner.

Just steps away from Quattro Canti and the cathedral, this smart snack stop has everything you could want to accompany a break from sightseeing: panini, house-made pastries and biscuits, ice cream, and good coffee. There are tables in the picture-hung interior and out on the pavement, and pastas, pizzas, and salads are also served if you want something more substantial.

Not many tourists find their way to this traditional trattoria deep in the heart of Trapani's old Jewish quarter, but those that do will find themselves in a typical rustic ambience, surrounded by a small army of Sicilian puppets hanging from the ceiling, shelves full of wine bottles, copper pots and pans on the walls, and even an intact Sicilian cart. The menu focuses on traditional island dishes, of course, and is mainly seafood, including grilled or fried squid and swordfish prepared with oregano from Pantelleria and capers from the Aeolian islands. There's an excellent wine list, and the service is both personal and professional.

On the edge of the Vucciria, this is one of Palermo's oldest restaurants, dating back to 1890, and still dear to the hearts of locals for its wintertime namesake dish, tortellini in brodo (in beef broth), the specialty of the house. There's an extensive antipasto buffet, and you can't go wrong with the fritella di fave, piselli, and carciofi e ricotta (fried fava beans, peas, artichokes, and ricotta). There's a good selection of offal dishes including oxtail, tongue, and tripe, and hearty slow-cooked pork shank for the less adventurous.

There's usually a bit of a bustle in and around this ice-cream parlor near Piazza della Repubblica, popular with children and gelato fans of all ages. The ice creams are free of hydrogenated fats and come in an enticing range of flavors; popular choices include ricotta, pistachio, and, naturally, Marsala. The granitas, too, are highly rated, and cannoli, crepes, and waffles are also available. There are a few brightly colored tables and chairs in the air-conditioned interior.

Seafood is the cuisine of choice in Mondello, and while the quality on offer at many of the seafront restaurants can be patchy, to say the least, you'll find no complaints at this family-run trattoria steps from the seafront. With a smart, modern interior and an outdoor terrace, it has an upbeat ambience and a helpful English-speaking staff. Don't get too distracted by the long list of antipasti, good as they are, for there's a rich choice of pastas and mains to choose from. If available, you can't go wrong with the fettuccine with pistachio cream and prawns, or perhaps a steaming pile of spaghetti with clams and mussels, followed by the catch of the day (which really has been caught on the day). You'll find a good choice of Sicilian wines, too.

This salumeria and enoteca with outdoor tables is a great choice for a midday snack of cold cuts, perhaps accompanied by a glass of cool white wine chosen from the formidable wine list. Your tagliere (tray) might include various hunks of local cheeses, a selection of salamis and hams, and a bowl of olives. Pane cunzato (seasoned bread topped with tomato, onion, anchovies, and capers) and craft beers are also served.

If it's seafood you're looking for, you'll feel at home at this harborside fish restaurant, where the day's catch is displayed in a chiller at the front. Couscous features among the starters, as does the outstanding busiate con gambero, pistacchio e bottarga (pasta with prawns, chopped pistachios, and tuna roe); mains change daily, but tuna cooked in citrus and the grilled swordfish are usually on the menu. The interior is modern, with small tables and a large glass front, and there's also a terrace for eating al fresco by the water.

Steps away from the Duomo's exquisitely patterned apse, this backstreet wine bar, restaurant, and deli is enticing. You won't be disappointed thanks to the top-quality fare, whether you order a bulging panino, a tagliere (tray) of cold meats, cheeses, and preserves, or a more substantial dish of veal or pork involtini (roulades) or fennel-flavored sausages. Accompany your meal with a glass of wine, a beer, or a cocktail. The interior decor is warm and inviting, the stone walls are decorated with ceramics, mosaics, and hanging salamis and cheeses, and there are tables outside in fine weather. It stays open late, too.

Housed within a hotel of the same name on the outskirts of town, this reliable and refreshing meal stop for visitors to Corleone offers a range of local dishes that includes steaks and seafood. Choose from an enticing array of antipasti and pastas, which you might follow up with a fillet of beef with porcini mushrooms from the nearby Ficuzza forest or a fritto misto of fried fish in a barbecue sauce. The spacious, modern setting and the friendliness of the staff help to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. It is located north of Corleone's center, a 20-minute walk (or five-minute drive) from the Anti-Mafia museum.

Only the finest agricultural produce of the nearby Madonie mountains goes into the simple but satisfying dishes served in this informal eatery attached to the Palazzo Butera art gallery. The frequently changing menu—dependent on the season and what's available from their suppliers—offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes alongside meat choices, and might include busiate pasta with a sauce of cardoncelli mushrooms and breadcrumbs, and beef nuggets cooked in nero d'avola wine with carrots and mashed potatoes. Cheeses, cold cuts, and salads are also on offer, or you might settle for a "gourmet sandwich" stuffed with buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, anchovies, and mortadella. The restaurant is open for breakfast, too. Many of the ingredients used are for sale in the small delicatessen counter inside, where there are a few tables in addition to the ones on the pavement.

At this traditional restaurant located on a side street near the main piazza, you can sit on a tree-lined patio overlooking the sea or in the white-walled dining room and munch on free panelle (chickpea fritters) while waiting for your main dish, which will be served tableside, spooned from the cooking pots to your plate by the friendly staff. The fresh pastas and couscous are exemplary, and there are also a few seafood mains (tuna and baccalà often) and a glut of meat (lamb, beefsteak, and veal).

Housed in the former church of Sant'Alberto, with some of its old stone walls left exposed, this restaurant (a cut above what you might expect from an "osteria") flaunts its authentically traditional character. The menu shows the same respect for local cuisine, but dishes are enlivened by a fresh, modern approach, including old favorites like caponata, antipasto rustico, creamy risottos, and seafood pastas—all highly rated by locals as well as tourists. Among the desserts, the almond and mandarin semifreddos and the wine-poached pears coated in chocolate deserve a special mention.

Just a few steps down the cobbled hill from the cathedral, this small and colorful osteria offers simple but enthusiastically prepared meals from a menu that reads like a list of your Sicilian nonna's favorite dishes. Sure, it's somewhat touristy, but for once that doesn't equate with either brisk service or formulaic fare. Whether it's swordfish caponata or pasta with pistachio pesto, the food is usually lip-smackingly delicious—and it's reasonably priced. The rock and roll posters and the guitar suspended over the bar lend a slightly eccentric flavor to the decor, but that only adds to the relaxed and amiable atmosphere. In good weather you can soak up great views from the outdoor terrace.

One of the most famous pastry shops in Sicily, this modern and capacious place is one of Palermo's best spots to find sweet favorites like cannoli and cassata siciliana. It's also a meeting place for all ages, where you can relax with a drink or an excellent gelato. Pizzas and other snack foods are also available.

Fans of Sicilian sweets and pastries make a beeline for this place run by Maria Grammatico, who gained international fame with Bitter Almonds, her life story of growing up in a convent orphanage, cowritten with Mary Taylor Simeti. Her almond-paste creations are works of art, molded into striking shapes, including dolls and animals. There are a few tables and a tiny balcony with wonderful views.

A civic institution facing Palermo's old fishing port, this venerable (but modernized) snack stop has been serving pani cà meusa (calf's spleen sandwich) for more than 70 years. This local specialty comes sprinkled with a bit of salt and a squeeze of lemon and served with or without cheese to a buzzing crowd of Palermo's elders and youngsters alike. The signature dish may very well beat Antica Focacceria San Francesco's own version for the title of best pani cà meusa in town, though not everyone will acquire the taste for it. Take a look anyway—other specialties are available, and there's outdoor seating.

The word "trattoria" usually suggests somewhere casual and even slapdash and while this place has an informal feel, there is nothing at all lacking in the level of service or the quality of the food. Dating back to 1963, the place has a classic feel, as reflected on an extensive menu that focuses on fish (there's a display of what's on offer as you come in), but also includes very acceptable versions of old favorites such as lasagna, couscous, escalopes in Marsala sauce, and, for dessert, cassata siciliana. Also noteworthy are the tasty busiate garibaldine, local pasta prepared with pistachio paste, red prawns from Mazara del Vallo, and burrata. Tables are distributed In a series of well-lit rooms with wooden beams, arched doorways, and white walls adorned with portraits of the hero of Italian independence to whom the place is dedicated. Locals come here in droves, often with families in tow.