Where to actually eat in Taormina
Taormina has more restaurants per square metre than almost anywhere else in Sicily, which is exactly the problem — most guides just list whatever's near Corso Umberto and call it a day. This list is different: it's built from our full Eat & Drink guide, narrowed down to the places worth prioritising if you only have a few meals in town.
Whether you want a proper sit-down dinner, a quick slice of pizza, or the best granita in Sicily, here's where to start.
Best overall: classic Sicilian trattorie
Trattoria Da Nino is the benchmark — three generations of the Nicita family serving swordfish involtini and red prawn crudo from a terrace over the coast, at honest prices. It's the kind of place locals still recommend to their own friends visiting town.
For something with Michelin recognition, Vineria Modì and La Capinera both deliver serious modern Sicilian cooking — book ahead, especially for dinner in summer.
📍 Trattoria Da Nino on MapsBest pizza
Pizza Mania on Viale San Pancrazio is the local favourite for pizza by the slice — wood-fired, €1.50–2 a slice, and closed Mondays. For a sit-down pizzeria with a sea view, Ristorante Pizzeria Taormina on Vico Teofane Cerameo pairs a proper Neapolitan-style base with one of the better terraces in town.
Best for a quick, cheap meal
Street food kiosks near Porta Messina serve arancini, sfincione and pidone for a few euros — perfect for lunch on the move. Rosticcerie around the old town are another reliable, inexpensive option if you want something quick between sightseeing stops.
Best granita and gelato
Granita with brioche is Taormina's essential breakfast, not an afterthought. Almond and coffee are the two classic flavours — order both if you can't decide. Look for a spot with a queue of locals in the morning; that's usually the tell.