Location: Acireale
Top Restaurants in Acireale
Where to Eat in Acireale: The Best Restaurants and Bars
Acireale [ˌatʃireˈaːle] (Sicilian: Jaciriali; locally shortened to Jaci or Aci) is a coastal city and comune in the north-east of the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna, on the coast facing the Ionian Sea. It is home to numerous churches, including the Neo-Gothic St. Peter's Basilica, St. Sebastian's Basilica in the Sicilian Baroque style, and the 17th century Acireale Cathedral, and a seminary, for the training of priests. Acireale is also noted for its art and paintings: the oldest academy in Sicily, the "Accademia dei Dafnici e degli Zelanti", is located here.
Things to do in Acireale
1. La Locanda degli Abbatazzi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 313 reviews
Reviewed By isa101 - Malta
We visited this restaurant following the positive reviews we saw on TripAdvisor. Salvo the waiter was very helpful and guided us with suggestions. We had a fish platter which we shared. I had involtini di pesce spada, my husband opted for meat. My daughter ate the calamari without chilies. The calamari were absolutely delicious and cooked perfectly. For desert we had tiramisu and semifreddo alle mandorle. Both were finger licking good. The bill was proportional to what we ate and we would surely return.
2. Ristorante Trattoria Dal Barone
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 209 reviews
Reviewed By melittasp - Therwil
During our stay in Sicily we ate in different local restaurants which were all moderately priced and had rather bland food. So we decided to have a really nice lunch in a more distinguished looking seafood restaurant. We were seated on the patio next to flowers and chose a mixed seafood barbecue with some vegetables and salad. The waiter was really friendly and the food (including a free starter) arrived very fast. It consisted of courgettes and aubergines with basil, swordfish, crunchy octopus and shrimps, all barbecued with a little extra vergine olive oil. A slice of lemon on top completed the wonderful taste. The salad came with separate salt, wine vinegar and olive oil so you could to dress it yourself. In summary: it was delicious, the best food we found in Sicily - and all for a moderate price.
3. Trattoria La Grotta
Overall Ratings
4 based on 517 reviews
Reviewed By Brun066 - Florence, Italy
Having booked five days in advance, we were able to have our dinner at this restaurant. In fact, it has a well-established reputation, and it has also a limited number of seats; so coming there in the summer without a reservation means giving up your dinner.
The restaurant is well-known for its lukewarm octopus and "mazzancolle"(sort of shrimps) salad, which is served in plentiful portions as an appetizer; of course we didn't give up this "must".
This salad is fully up to expectations: seafood is fresh and tasty, and the olive oil in which it is cooked, very high quality, gives it a delicious flavor.
After the appetizer we ordered only a first course: some of us chose spaghetti with lobster, other penne with anchovies. Even in this case, everything was the highest level.
Great also the bread, decent the white house wine bottle.
The bill for six people was 250 euros. It's not a low figure; but whoever wants to eat by spending little should not apply here.
4. Vico Proiette
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 586 reviews
Reviewed By hmostlyharmless - Gloucester, United Kingdom
Vico Proiette has a beautiful garden dining area in the courtyard of an old monastery. There is also a large, air-conditioned inside Seating area. It is approached via an walkway off Via Dafnica. It is tranquil and cool on a summer's evening. It is run by a co-operative, and is friendly and welcoming. The service is helpful although the staff don't speak much English. We enjoyed swordfish, steak, a fish pasta dish, lovely grilled aubergine and courgettes, roast potatoes. The rustic Sicilian platter starter was fantastic - ratatouille, salami, pastries, cheese balls, cheeses, olives etc. We shared the rustic starter between two of us one evening, but another evening I ordered it as my main course and it was more than enough for me. Prices are very reasonable for such a unique location.
A lovely experience.
5. I Cavaddari
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Reviewed By Caki77 - Malta
These guys know what they are doing. If I were a fish I would offer myself to them. The food is PLENTIFUL and DIVINE. The service is perfect. We accidentally did not realise they were a seafood restaurant, my partner does not eat fish. They did not vat an eyelid. Out together a divine Neal for him too. Wherever you are in Sicily get to this restaurant, it's the best thing you will ever do.
6. Ristorante Acquapazza - Santa Tecla
Overall Ratings
5 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By lizzi_oz
We treated ourselves to a meal here on the penultimate night of our holiday. And what a treat it was! The food was delicious (with some nice touches for free: prosecco on arrival, arrancini ball pre starter, and some truffles at the end of the meal).
We had 3 courses and shared a bottle of wine and it came to €135 for three of us.
The waiting staff were really attentive, and the majority of them spoke really good english too.
If I find myself back in this part of the world, I would definitely return to Acqua Pazza.
7. Re Dolce Freddo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 202 reviews
8. La Casa del Grecale
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 139 reviews
Reviewed By Oksana_Barkhat - Catania, Italy
I visited this restaurant on a friend's wedding. It has nice authentic interiors and wonderful Panorama - best enjoyed during the day. The food was good - I especially enjoyed the choice of antipasti with a variety of cheeses and honey, really delicious. This said, I haven't been there on an ordinary lunch or dinner, so I am not sure about how the menu is on a normal day. However, this is one of the best locations for the wedding that I've been to in Sicily. I enjoyed the setting, the view and the food.
There are quite a few steps inside, especially to go to the outside area (the gardens). So it might not be the best for people with movement disabilities.
9. Trattoria U Puttusu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 427 reviews
Reviewed By T F - Brooklyn, New York
Traveling in Sicily off-season, you will find that many restaurants are simply NOT OPEN. Several of the highly rated restaurants in Acireale were closed during our trip in October. However, a friendly pharmacist up the street a few stores directed us to this gem. We were the first to arrive around 7:45, but others (tourists and locals) soon filled some tables.
After the cook took our order, the owner soon arrived and was a great host. The food was great, what I would consider home style Sicilian. Nothing too fancy, simply tasty. The macaroni ragu was so good and my girlfriend loved her pistachio ravioli. What's more, the owner gave us some complimentary dessert and some home made Malvasio wine liqueur that was amazing! Highly recommended!! 67 Euro, including a 30 Euro bottle of the great local Passo Pisciaro.
10. The Mescan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 244 reviews
Reviewed By Sabrina L - Bochum
Good food, especially hamburgers. You can eat them all over the town but here they have really special ingredients. The only bad side? prices, a bit over the average. I've tasted the cheesecake too here and it's delicious!
