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We've compiled the best of the best in Siracusa - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
With a scorching urban music soundtrack, Saretta and his young squadra work 8 am till late over the flames to prepare well-priced, simple, and tasty plates of seafood. Grab a seat by the open kitchen or on the cooler street-side dining tables, and order one of their heaped plates, like the fab mixed seafood (squid, shrimp, and catch of the day) and a cold DOC Messina beer.
A gracious series of delicately arched stone rooms at Giovanni Guarneri's famed eatery, which opened in 1985, are lined with wine bottles and sepia-toned images of old Ortigia. It's all about the freshest seafood and inspired creativity here: from the historic Radici tasting menu sample for instance, a 1986-classic spaghetti delle serene (with sea urchin and shrimp in butter), or partake in a special from 1999, seared tuna with red and green bell pepper dipping sauces. The wine list and pairings, guided by long-serving Neapolitan sommelier Vincenzo, are extensive and extraordinary.
Duck into this intimate courtyard within earshot of Piazza del Duomo's buskers for unusual preparations and flavor combos like busiate pasta with shrimp in a pistachio cream sauce. Let engaging hostess Michela guide you through the menu and suggest a suitable wine accompaniment, such as the well-balanced white Vinera Etna Bianco.
As the name suggests, this is a temple to everything from the sea, caught fresh and prepared simply by smiling chef Sergio. Choose from local clams, prawns anointed with lime, calamari, or whatever else that has been recently caught.
A short walk from the Fontana di Diana, this quirky restaurant with a cozy dining room and artsy courtyard takes quality Sicilian ingredients and adds a French influence to a changing seasonal menu. One of the mainstays on the menu is tuna lasagna served in its earthenware pot, which has fans worldwide, explains owner Sarò.
At this slow-food tavern, conveniently located right behind the Castello Maniace, you can sit back and enjoy both surf and turf dishes in the vaulted interior or—even better—on the outdoor terrace. One major plus is that you can order half portions of several pasta dishes or opt for a secondo, like the unusual pesce in crosta di patate (grilled fish in a potato crust)—all served on hand-painted ceramic ware.
