TT GuideCheap Restaurants

Cheap eats
in Taormina

Taormina isn't only sea-view restaurants — here's where to eat well without spending a lot.

Eating well without spending a lot

Taormina has a reputation for expensive sea-view restaurants, but that's only half the picture. There's a genuinely good, inexpensive food scene once you know where to look — drawn from our full Eat & Drink guide, filtered specifically for value.

Pizza by the slice

Pizza Mania on Viale San Pancrazio is the benchmark — wood-fired, €1.50–2 per slice, and consistently good. It's closed Mondays, so plan around that if it's on your list. Several other pizzerias around town offer similar value if Pizza Mania has a queue.

Street food kiosks

Arancini, sfincione and pidone are sold from small kiosks around the old town and near Porta Messina, usually for just a few euros each. This is the fastest, cheapest way to eat well between sightseeing stops.

Rosticcerie

Rosticcerie (Italian deli-style counters selling ready-made hot food) are an underused option for budget travellers — quick, filling, and inexpensive, without sacrificing quality.

Budget-friendly trattorie

Not every trattoria in Taormina is expensive. Several family-run spots just off Corso Umberto serve honest Sicilian cooking at fair prices — the key is moving a street or two back from the main tourist strip, where rents (and menu prices) drop.

A quick budgeting tip

Lunch is cheaper than dinner. Many restaurants offer lighter, less expensive lunch menus even when dinner runs pricier. If budget matters more than atmosphere, eating your main meal at lunch stretches things further.

Frequently asked questions

What are the cheapest places to eat in Taormina?
Pizza by the slice, street-food kiosks near Porta Messina, and rosticcerie are the best value — often just a few euros per item.
Can you eat well in Taormina on a budget?
Yes. Moving a street or two back from Corso Umberto usually finds family-run trattorie with honest prices, alongside the pizza-by-the-slice and street-food options.
Is food expensive in Taormina compared to the rest of Sicily?
Taormina's most visible sea-view restaurants are pricier than average, but budget options exist at similar prices to elsewhere in Sicily if you know where to look.
Do cheap restaurants in Taormina still charge a cover charge?
Most sit-down restaurants, even budget-friendly ones, add a small per-person cover charge — this is standard across Italy, not specific to cheaper spots.

Want the full, filterable guide?

This page covers the highlights — for the complete searchable list with maps, prices and insider tips, see the full guide.

Browse the full Taormina guide →