Taormina sits on a clifftop above the Ionian Sea with Mount Etna visible from most of the town - one of the most dramatically sited settlements in Sicily, and one of the most-visited. The main street, Corso Umberto, is packed with restaurants catering to the tourist flow; the best places are typically one lane back from the corso, or in the lower districts where the experience-to-price ratio improves significantly.
Top Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Price (from) | Group Size | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taormina walking tour with Greek Theatre | 2 hrs | from €35 | Up to 15 | Ancient Theatre, Corso Umberto, Etna views, granita stop |
| Taormina street food and Sicily food tour | 2.5 hrs | from €55 | Up to 12 | Arancini, cannoli, pasta alla Norma, local wine |
| Mount Etna half-day tour from Taormina | 5 hrs | from €65 | Up to 16 | Crater rim, lava fields, winery stop, guide included |
| Sicilian cooking class near Taormina | 3.5 hrs | from €80 | Up to 10 | Pasta alla Norma, pesce spada involtini, cannoli making |
Browse all Taormina tours → GetYourGuide
What to Eat in Taormina
Pasta alla Norma - rigatoni with fried aubergine, rich tomato sauce, fresh basil, and grated salted ricotta (ricotta salata) - is Catania’s gift to Sicilian cooking and available at every serious restaurant in Taormina. The dish was named for Bellini’s opera Norma; a well-made version with good aubergine (the key variable) is one of the simplest and best pastas in Italy.
Swordfish (pesce spada) is the other essential: the Strait of Messina is one of the best fishing grounds for swordfish in the Mediterranean, and Taormina’s proximity means it arrives fresh. It is served grilled, baked with capers and olives (alla Ghiotta), or as thin involtini (stuffed rolls) with breadcrumbs and lemon. Granita with brioche is the morning food - not breakfast as an afterthought, but a proper ritual. The almond, pistachio, and coffee variants are the traditional flavours; strawberry and mulberry appear in summer.
Ristorante al Duomo
Vico Ebrei 11. One of Taormina’s best kitchens, tucked into the lane beside the Baroque cathedral. The menu is rooted in classical Sicilian cooking with considered technique: pasta alla Norma, fresh fish of the day, excellent involtini di spada (swordfish rolls), a good Sicilian wine list. Approximately €40–55 per person as of 2026. The terrace overlooks the cathedral square. Reserve for dinner.
Trattoria da Nino
Via Luigi Pirandello 37. A no-frills trattoria on the road descending from the old town, with a loyal local and repeat-visitor clientele. Simple setting, excellent pasta (particularly the pasta al pistacchio, a Sicilian staple), fresh fish, and honest prices - approximately €25–40 per person with house wine as of 2026. This is the kind of place that disappears when towns become exclusively tourist-facing; protect it by eating there.
Bam Bar
Via di Giovanni 45. Not a restaurant but the most important food address in Taormina: the granita bar that locals and returning visitors consider the best on the island. The mandorla (almond) granita is made from local Sicilian almonds, intensely flavoured, served with a warm, pillowy brioche for dipping. Approximately €5–7 as of 2026. Opens early (typically 7:30am); the correct breakfast in Taormina is to walk here first.
Osteria Nero d’Avola
Via Bagnoli Croce 12. A wine bar and restaurant specialising in Sicilian natural wines and the food to match: arancini, bruschetta with local salumi, pasta, and a changing daily secondo based on market availability. The wine list is the main draw - one of the best selections of Nero d’Avola, Etna Rosso, and Grillo on the island. Approximately €30–45 per person as of 2026. Good for an early evening aperitivo that extends naturally into dinner.
Ristorante Il Ciclope
Corso Umberto I 203. One of the more reliable options on the main corso - which is crowded with overpriced tourist traps, but Il Ciclope has maintained quality through the tourist years. Consistent pasta, decent fish, good cannoli. Approximately €35–50 per person as of 2026. Useful when you are on Corso Umberto and want to eat without travelling to the backstreets.
Ristorante La Botte
Piazza Santa Domenica 4. A restaurant with a terrace on a quieter square just off the main street, known for its Sicilian meat dishes as well as the expected fish: braised pork with orange, lamb with wild herbs, rabbit alla Siciliana. Approximately €35–50 per person with wine as of 2026. The grilled vegetables and caponata (aubergine agrodolce) are excellent starters.
Giardini-Naxos (for value)
The beach resort town directly below Taormina, a 20-minute bus ride or 10-minute taxi descent, has significantly better food value than the clifftop. The seafront promenade at Giardini-Naxos has a string of seafood restaurants with fresh catches, lower prices (approximately €20–35 per person as of 2026), and a more local clientele in the evenings. If you are visiting Isola Bella or the beach and staying until evening, eating in Giardini-Naxos before taking the last bus back up is a practical and affordable choice.
Practical Notes
Most Taormina restaurants close January and February. Corso Umberto restaurants are open from lunch through late evening but are the worst value-to-quality ratio in town - the lanes running parallel to the corso and those descending from it are reliably better. Cannoli should always be filled to order; any cannolo filled in advance will have a soggy shell. If a pasticceria offers to fill it from a pre-loaded tray, keep walking.
Plan Your Visit
- Travel Insurance — Cover your trip with EKTA before you travel
- eSIM — Stay connected from landing with Airalo
- Food Tours & Experiences — Browse Taormina food tours and Sicilian cooking experiences on GetYourGuide