Where to eat in Ortigia
From market street food to fish trattorias and almond granita: Syracuse to taste.
Syracusan cuisine is a child of the sea and of its many rulers: Greek in origin, Arab in its citrus and almonds, Spanish in its fried dishes. You eat well almost everywhere in Ortigia, but knowing the right "genres" helps you choose: here is how to navigate the market, the alleys and the seafront.
Street food at the market
The most authentic (and cheapest) lunch on the island: sandwiches stuffed to order with Sicilian cured meats, cheeses and vegetables, oysters shucked in front of you, fried fish in a paper cone to eat as you stroll.
Where: Ortigia market and nearby streets, lunchtime only
Must try
- Sandwich with Hyblaean cured meats and cheeses
- Fried fish in a paper cone
- Oysters and raw seafood
Fish trattorias
The heart of the tradition: simple places where the menu depends on what arrived at the market that morning. Syracusan fish is cooked with little: oil, lemon, capers and oregano.
Where: Alleys of the Giudecca and the market area
Must try
- Spaghetti with sea urchin (in season)
- Swordfish alla ghiotta
- Tuna with sweet-and-sour onions
Restaurants with a view
Along the Lungomare Alfeo and around the Arethusa Spring you will find tables right on the sea: perfect for a sunset dinner over the Great Harbour. Book ahead in the summer months.
Where: Lungomare Alfeo, Porta Marina, eastern seafront
Must try
- Red prawn crudo
- Lobster linguine
- Swordfish involtini
Granita, gelato and sweets
The Sicilian breakfast is sacred: almond granita with a "tuppo" brioche. Avola almonds grow a few kilometres from here, and you can taste it. In the afternoon, artisan gelato while strolling the seafront.
Where: Cafés and gelaterias across the island, from morning
Must try
- Almond and coffee granita with brioche
- Syracusan cassatelle
- Avola almond gelato
Sunset aperitivo
The island's daily ritual: a spritz or a Hyblaean wine with Sicilian tapas while the sun sets over the Great Harbour. The best tables on the Lungomare Alfeo go early.
Where: Lungomare Alfeo and Arethusa Spring, from 6 pm
Must try
- Hyblaean and Etna wines
- Seafood tapas
- Caponata and local cheeses
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