Palermo is a feast for the senses – especially your taste buds. From sizzling street food served in bustling markets to elegant dining rooms tucked inside centuries-old buildings, Sicily’s capital offers some of the most exciting and authentic food in Italy. And the best part? You don’t need a big budget to eat well here.
Whether you’re looking for a quick, budget-friendly bite between sightseeing, a cosy trattoria for a long lunch, or a refined splurge for your final night, We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find the best restaurants in Palermo divided by budget – low, medium, and high – so you can eat like a local, no matter what you’re spending.
Best Low Budget Palermo Restaurants
Antica Focacceria San Francesco
Beloved since 1834, this bustling spot shows you Palermo’s soul through hearty street‑food staples like pane con la milza, arancini, and pasta alla norma – for roughly €8–12 per meal. No fuss, just authentic Sicilian heritage in every bite. Its lively counter service keeps things friendly and fast – perfect if you’re on a budget and craving tradition.
- 📍 Location: Via Alessandro Paternostro, 58
- 🌐 Website: www.anticafocacceria.it
- 📸 Instagram: @anticafocacceria_sfrancesco
- 🍽️ Food type: Traditional Sicilian street food
- 💸 Budget: ~€10–15
- 👥 Good for: Budget-conscious travellers, solo diners, history lovers
- 💬 Why go: Great intro to Palermo’s food culture in a legendary setting.
Nni Franco U’ Vastiddaru
Nni Franco U’ Vastiddaru is a local treasure near the marina, serving panelle (Sicilian chickpea fritters), sfincione (Sicilian pizza), and even stigghiola (lamb, goat, or chicken intestines) late into the night – dishes that cost just €5–10. This low budget restaurant in Palermo offers pure Sicilian fast food, where you elbow in with workers and college students, and walk away full and smiling.
- 📍 Location: Corso Vittorio Emanuele, 102
- 🍽️ Food type: Traditional street food
- 💸 Budget: €5–10
- 👥 Good for: Late-night cravings, local authenticity
- 💬 Why go: It’s raw, real, and buzzing. Come hungry and don’t wear white.
Ke Palle – Arancine d’Autore
This is one of the best budget-friendly Palermo restaurants for arancini-lovers. Specialising in designer arancini – ragu, pistachio, shrimp, even Nutella – each ball is a taste adventure at €3–7. Even solo travellers won’t resist plunging into these deep-fried wonders, preferably while strolling through pedestrian Via Maqueda.
- 📍 Location: Via Maqueda, 270
- 🌐 Website: www.kepalle.it
- 📸 Instagram: @kepalle.arancine
- 🍽️ Food type: Arancini and snacks
- 💸 Budget: €3–€7 per arancino
- 👥 Good for: Grab-and-go, solo travellers, budget eats
- 💬 Why go: Tasty, cheap, and Instagrammable. You’ll want to try more than one.
Panineria Chiluzzo
If you want to eat like a true Palermitan, head to Panineria Chiluzzo – a humble, no-frills street food stand tucked beside the sea in the Kalsa district. It’s the kind of place where the menu is handwritten, the portions are generous, and the prices feel like they haven’t changed in years.
The big draw here is their legendary pane panelle e crocché – a sandwich stuffed with crispy chickpea fritters and potato croquettes, drizzled with lemon or layered with aubergines if you ask nicely. It’s comforting, carb-heavy, and completely delicious. You’ll also find tuna paninis, sausages, grilled veggies, and arancini, all made fresh to order and served with a smile.
- 📍 Location: Piazza Kalsa, 11, Palermo
- 🍽️ Food type: Sicilian street food & panini
- 💸 Budget: €4–€7
- 👥 Good for: Students, solo travellers, quick lunch
- 💬 Why go: “Fried chickpea pancakes … fantastic!!! Especially for the price” – praised by multiple Tripadvisor reviewers. Friendly, no-frills atmosphere makes it a fun local experience.
Best Mid-Range Restaurants in Palermo
Trattoria Al Ferro di Cavallo
This mid-range Palermo restaurant is no-frills, all-flavour! Ferro Di Cavallo is a basement‑style trattoria dripping with football memorabilia and local charm, offering half‑portion options so you can taste more dishes without overdoing it. Think seafood linguine, stuffed squid, and hearty Sicilian cooking at fair prices.
- 📍 Location: Via Venezia, 20
- 🍽️ Food type: Traditional trattoria
- 💸 Budget: €15–€25
- 👥 Good for: Groups, casual diners, big appetites
- 💬 Why go: Loud, friendly, and full of flavour—just how a trattoria should be.
Osteria Pane e Alivi
Hidden on Piazza Sant’Onofrio, this cosy trattoria brings homemade caponata, spaghetti with mussels, and delicate cannoli all in a snug, wood‑furnished room full of locals. Service may be casual, but authenticity is top-tier – ideal for a relaxed, heartfelt meal.
- 📍 Location: Piazza Sant’Onofrio, 37
- 📸 Instagram: @pane_e_alivi
- 🍽️ Food type: Traditional Sicilian
- 💸 Budget: €20–€30
- 👥 Good for: Couples, quiet dinners, anyone after the “nonna’s kitchen” vibe
- 💬 Why go: It’s the kind of place you’ll want to return to the next night.
Osteria Ballarò
Housed in a 17th‑century palazzo, this mid-budget restaurant in Palermo strikes the perfect balance between rustic charm and culinary care. Dine under vaulted ceilings on dishes like pasta with sardines, swordfish tolls, saffron, and wild fennel – available for aperitivo or full meals at mid‑range prices (€18–25). Booking ahead at Osteria Ballarò is wise, as locals love this spot.
- 📍 Location: Via Calascibetta, 25
- 🍽️ Food type: Sicilian slow food
- 💸 Budget: €25–€35
- 👥 Good for: Romantic dinners, food lovers, relaxed evenings
- 💬 Why go: A refined yet relaxed way to enjoy traditional Sicilian flavours.
Bisso Bistrot
Tucked just off Via Maqueda near the buzzing Quattro Canti crossroads, Bisso Bistrot is one of those places that feels cool without trying too hard. Set inside what used to be an old bookshop, the interior blends vintage charm with a modern, boho edge – think mismatched chairs, tiled floors, bookshelves, and a long communal table that invites solo travellers and small groups alike to strike up a conversation.
The menu changes seasonally but always puts a creative spin on Sicilian staples. You’ll find things like swordfish involtini with pine nuts and raisins, homemade pastas with sardines or bottarga, and simple but stunning veggie sides. The wine list leans local (Sicily has some absolute gems), and the staff are more than happy to recommend a glass that matches your meal and your mood.
- 📍 Location: Via Maqueda, 172A, Palermo
- 📸 Instagram: @bissobistrot
- 🍽️ Food type: Sicilian contemporary – small plates, pastas, seafood
- 💸 Budget: €25–€40 per person
- 👥 Good for: Pals, couples, solo diners seeking style without a steep price tag
- 💬 Why go: A lively vibe meets thoughtful dishes and central location.
Best High-End Restaurants in Palermo
Ristorante Ferro
White tablecloths, classical tunes, and a menu of refined Sicilian dishes think tuna with caponata, shrimp‑creamed artichoke ravioli, and a welcome prosecco. Ristorante Ferro is a tranquil escape from the city’s buzz, perfect for that special splurge (expect ~€35–50 per person). This high-end Palermo restaurant is modern and minimal with a focus on locally sourced seafood and creative takes on Sicilian classics.
- 📍 Location: Via Principe di Belmonte, 103
- 📸 Instagram: @ristoranteferro
- 🍽️ Food type: Contemporary Sicilian fine dining
- 💸 Budget: €40–€60
- 👥 Good for: Celebrations, foodie travellers, modern dining fans
- 💬 Why go: A fresh, refined take on Sicilian cuisine with serious attention to detail.
La Brace Food Experience
Sleek, modern yet authentically Sicilian, this fancier restaurant in Palermo offers fine dining sans intimidation – all for surprisingly fair prices. Think top-grade pizza, seafood pasta, and pork that melts off the bone. Price? Exceptional value for what feels like a luxury night out – plenty of rave TripAdvisor reviews confirm it.
- 📍 Location: Via Roma, 86
- 🌐 Website: www.labracefoodexperience.it
- 📸 Instagram: @labracefoodexperience
- 🍽️ Food type: Pizza, seafood, modern Italian
- 💸 Budget: €30–€50
- 👥 Good for: Upscale but casual evenings, groups, stylish diners
- 💬 Why go: Delicious food, stylish interiors, and a crowd-pleasing menu.
Gagini Social Restaurant
This high-end Palermo restaurant is a Michelin-starred gem tucked inside a restored 16th-century palazzo once belonging to sculptor Antonio Gagini. The space itself feels special – arched ceilings, soft lighting, and a blend of contemporary design with ancient stone walls.
The beautifully atmospheric dining room gives way to creative, beautifully plated dishes that celebrate Sicily’s finest local ingredients. Chef Mauricio Zillo crafts seasonal tasting menus that draw from traditional Sicilian flavours but present them in an imaginative, almost sculptural way. Expect dishes like amberjack with smoked ricotta, or pasta made with cuttlefish ink and citrus. The wine list is proudly Sicilian, with some excellent organic and lesser-known labels.
- 📍 Location: Vucciria district, central Palermo
- 🌐 Website: www.gaginirestaurant.com
- 📸 Instagram: @gaginirestaurant
- 🍽️ Food type: Contemporary Sicilian, tasting menus (5/6/8 courses)
- 💸 Budget: €90–€130 (tasting menus)
- 👥 Good for: Special celebrations, foodies, Michelin-star seekers
- 💬 Why go: A powerful blend of history and haute cuisine, with an intimate communal table that makes dining feel both exclusive and welcoming
Whether you’re eating arancini on a street corner or savouring fresh seafood under vaulted ceilings, Palermo has a way of turning every meal into a memory. With options for every budget and vibe – casual, cosy, or high-end – there’s no shortage of ways to eat incredibly well in Sicily’s vibrant capital.
And once you’ve had your fill of Palermo’s restaurant scene, don’t stop there:
- Planning to explore beyond the city? Don’t miss our roundup of the best day trips from Palermo for beach escapes, hilltop villages, and hidden gems just a short journey away.
- Craving something sweet after dinner? Check out our guide to the best gelato spots in Palermo – you’ll want at least one a day.
Buon appetito and happy travels!
Techno-Mads 