To truly appreciate Palermo, you need at least a week, but many people give it less than 24 hours. If possible, try to spend a couple of nights in this magical city to fully experience its rich culinary history and the warmth of its people.
While it’s impossible to see and eat everything in two days, here are a few of our favorite spots to ensure you make the most of your time.
Remember: You can always join me for a food-filled week in and around Palermo!
By: Sophie Minchilli
Updated: December 4, 2024
Via XII Gennaio, 1, 90141 Palermo PA
+39 091 601 4544
Located in the more upscale part of town, this is a personal favorite. A mix between a deli and a restaurant, they offer some of the best cheeses and cured meats from across Italy, along with an outstanding wine selection. Daily-prepared dishes include pasta and seasonal vegetables.
Via Guglielmo Marconi, 9, 90141 Palermo PA
+39 091 335139
One of our favorite places in Palermo, this family-run restaurant offers a bright, airy interior and a daily-changing seafood menu.
Located in the beautiful Kalsa neighborhood, this restaurant serves modern Sicilian dishes made with local, seasonal ingredients. They also offer natural wines and daily specials handwritten on a board.
Via Sammartino, 65, 90141 Palermo PA
+39 091 323480
A simple, traditional Sicilian trattoria offering homey, authentic dishes in a relaxed atmosphere.
Via dei Cassari, 41/43, 90133 Palermo PA
+39 389 189 3380
We love this seafood-focused spot! They offer traditional dishes with a modern twist, an outdoor seating area, and great service.
Via Sammartino, n 1, 90141 Palermo PA
+39 091 332243
A nautical-themed osteria known for its freshly prepared seafood, delicious antipasti, and pasta dishes.
Piazza Croce dei Vespri, 6, 90133 Palermo PA
+39 091 617 1631
A one-star Michelin restaurant, ideal for special occasions. Located in the historic Palazzo Gangi, it offers an elegant atmosphere and beautifully prepared dishes.
This small seafood restaurant strikes a perfect balance between creative and traditional. Their raw seafood starters and inventive pasta dishes are outstanding.
Via Lincoln, 15, 90133 Palermo PA
For the best arancina in town, locals will almost always direct you here. They also serve coffee, sweets, and pastries.
Via del Granatiere, 11/13, 90143 Palermo PA
A bakery offering street food, baked goods, and delicious pizza. Perfect for grabbing a snack before a day trip or beach visit.
Piazza Nasce' Francesco, 5, 90139 Palermo PA
This bakery/deli/restaurant offers local street food and pasta dishes, with options to eat in or take away.
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 102, 90133 Palermo PA
A favorite among locals and tourists for its sandwiches, fried food, and salads. Grab a seat on their outdoor patio, and if you’re adventurous, try the famous pane ca meusa (spleen sandwich), a specialty in Palermo.
76/78, Corso Camillo Finocchiaro Aprile, 90138 Palermo PA
Another spot known for their pane ca meusa. It’s a favorite among locals, with a variety of sandwiches and arancine to choose from.
Monastero Santa Caterina, Piazza Bellini, 33, 90133 Palermo PA
Located inside a convent that housed cloistered nuns between 1311 and 2014, this bakery has been taken over by a group of professional baking women since 2017. Delicious cassate, cannoli, and cookies.
Discesa dei Giudici, 46, 90133 Palermo PA
A coffee bar offering delicious pastries and granita. They also roast their own beans, so a coffee here is a must.
Discesa dei Giudici, 46, 90133 Palermo PA
Coffee bar with delicious pastries and granita. They have very few seats outside and a few standing tables inside. Their cookies are a great gift to bring back home.
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 494, 90134 Palermo PA
A local coffee bar known for its fried iris, a popular Palermitan breakfast doughnut filled with ricotta.
Via Vittorio Emanuele, 401, 90134 Palermo PA
Offering delicious artisanal gelato in a variety of flavors.
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