Where to Eat and Drink

Specialities of the town born here are fried rice balls, bread filled with ham, mozzarella, olives and tomato, and pasta with tomatoes, aubergine, and salted ricotta (pasta alla Norma).

The North African restaurant and bar Marrakesh (Via Landolina, near Piazza Bellini) offers their North African specialities, outdoor seating in the summer, live music and belly dancing.

Via Coppola (Via Copplola) sets its tables under the shelter of a canopy by the light of shimmering candles and offers excellent pizza and some other simple dishes.

Osteria I Tre Bicchieri (Via S Giuseppe al Duomo) is a wine bar with a wine list which embraces 1000 types . Some evenings there are live jazz concerts.

Trattoria La Plaglia gives onto the Pescheria which provides it with its fresh food.

Metro on Via Crociferi has been praised by Slow Food. Its cuisine focuses on Sicilian dishes with a modern stroke. The wines included on the wine list are fantastic too.

Trattoria Casalinga (Via Biondi) is also a pick by Slow Food. It serves good Sicilian dishes.

Sicilia in Bocca (Via Dusmet) is a great attraction for the way its prepares fish.

Osteria Antica Marina, on which Slow Food has also posed its eyes, is a trattoria where reservations are a must.

Head for Via Vittorio Emanuele II where ZenZero will make a change by preparing international dishes. It fills with young people and has a lovely terrace overflowing with flowers.

On Piazza del Duomo Ambasciata del Mare picks food from the neighbouring fish market and prepares them. It has been awarded by Slow Food.

La Siciliana (Viale Marco Polo) is the best-thought-of Catanian restaurant serving typical dishes perfectly prepared. You will need to make reservations.

Pasticceria Caprice, Spinella and Cafè Charmant, the three on Via Etnea, are well liked and famed by Catanians. Interrupt your passegggiata, sit in them try something and you will discover why they are a draw.

For those who are staying in Catania in a self catering accommodation can head for La Fiera (Piazza Carlo Alberto) or La Pescheria (near Piazza del Duomo) for their errands.