40 cheap eats places in Palermo, editor-picked. the best low-budget spots in Palermo: the places editors actually return to. All Palermo food.
Pasticceria Cappello ★ 4.8
albergheria · Via Colonna Rotta 68, 90134 Palermo
Pasticceria Cappello on Via Colonna Rotta in Palermo has run since 1950 under AMPI master pastry chef Salvatore Cappello, home of the Sicilian Setteveli.
Tip: Setteveli (the Sicilian seven-veil chocolate cake) is the headline order. Second branch on Via Nicolo Garzilli 19 in Politeama.
I Segreti del Chiostro ★ 4.7
loggia · Via Discesa dei Giudici 33, 90133 Palermo
I Segreti del Chiostro inside the Santa Caterina d'Alessandria monastery off Piazza Bellini in Palermo bakes from the 21 historic Palermitan.
Tip: Entrance is on Via Discesa dei Giudici 33, behind the Piazza Bellini facade. Cannoli and cassata are the canonical orders; closed during religious holidays.
Pasticceria Cappello ★ 4.7
albergheria · Via Colonna Rotta 68, 90134 Palermo
Pasticceria Cappello on Via Colonna Rotta is home to the Sicilian Setteveli, Palermo's defining seven-veil chocolate cake refined by Salvatore Cappello AMPI.
Tip: Setteveli single slice with espresso. Closed Monday. Second branch on Via Nicolo Garzilli 19.
Pani Ca' Meusa Porta Carbone ★ 4.7
vucciria · Via Cala 62, 90133 Palermo
Pani Ca' Meusa Porta Carbone on Via Cala by Palermo's port has fried spleen, lung and trachea sandwiches in lard since 1943; the city's canonical pane ca'.
Tip: Order maritato (with caciocavallo and ricotta) for the milder version. Cash only; pair with a Messina beer.
Gelateria Stancampiano ★ 4.6
liberta · Via Emanuele Notarbartolo 56, 90145 Palermo
Gelateria Stancampiano on Via Notarbartolo in Palermo's Liberta has been the city's reference gelateria for three generations, the canonical brioche col.
Tip: Brioche col tuppo with granita is the Palermitan summer breakfast; pistachio of Bronte is the headline flavour.
Casa Stagnitta ★ 4.6
loggia · Discesa dei Giudici 46, 90133 Palermo
Casa Stagnitta on Discesa dei Giudici behind the Quattro Canti in Palermo since 1928 has roasted coffee on premise for three generations, the city's serious.
Tip: Single-origin filter at the back room is the move; espresso al banco is one euro. Closed Sunday.
Gelateria Stancampiano ★ 4.6
liberta · Via Emanuele Notarbartolo 56, 90145 Palermo
Stancampiano on Via Notarbartolo in Palermo's Liberta is the city's reference granita-and-brioche counter, three generations of family operation.
Tip: Brioche col tuppo with granita di mandorla or pistacchio is the Palermitan summer breakfast.
I Segreti del Chiostro ★ 4.6
loggia · Via Discesa dei Giudici 33, 90133 Palermo
The dolceria inside the Santa Caterina d'Alessandria monastery off Piazza Bellini in Palermo serves convent-recipe Sicilian sweets with espresso.
Tip: Entrance is on Via Discesa dei Giudici 33, behind the Piazza Bellini facade. Granita di gelsi (mulberry granita) is the summer order with cannolo.
Friggitoria Chiluzzo ★ 4.6
kalsa · Piazza Kalsa 11, 90133 Palermo
Friggitoria Chiluzzo on Piazza Kalsa in Palermo is the canonical panelle counter, four-euro chickpea-fritter-and-crocche sandwiches eaten standing.
Tip: Cash only. The panelle e crocche sandwich is the order; eat on the church steps opposite.
Friggitoria Chiluzzo ★ 4.6
kalsa · Piazza Kalsa 11, 90133 Palermo
Friggitoria Chiluzzo on Piazza Kalsa in Palermo is the city's cheapest serious meal, panelle and crocche sandwich at 2 euros eaten standing on the piazza.
Tip: Cash only. Eat on the church steps opposite.
Pani Ca' Meusa Porta Carbone ★ 4.6
vucciria · Via Cala 62, 90133 Palermo
Pani Ca' Meusa Porta Carbone on Via Cala in Palermo sells the canonical pane ca' meusa for 3 to 5 euros, fried spleen and lung in sesame buns.
Tip: Cash only. Maritato (with caciocavallo and ricotta) is 50 cents more.
Trattoria Al Ferro di Cavallo ★ 4.5
loggia · Via Venezia 20, 90133 Palermo
Ferro di Cavallo on Via Venezia in Palermo is the city's archetypal walk-in trattoria, no reservations, communal tables, chalkboard menu under 12 euros per.
Tip: No reservations. Arrive by 12:30 for lunch or 19:30 for dinner. Cash works fastest.
Bar Pasticceria Alba ★ 4.5
liberta · Piazza Don Bosco 7/C, 90143 Palermo
Bar Alba on Piazza Don Bosco in Palermo since 1955 is the city's reference pasticceria-bar, famous for cannoli filled to order, arancini and seasonal granita.
Tip: Cannoli are filled to order; never pre-filled. The arancina ai porcini is the savoury order; granita with brioche in summer.
Antico Caffe Spinnato ★ 4.5
politeama · Via Principe di Belmonte 107, 90139 Palermo
Antico Caffe Spinnato on Via Principe di Belmonte in Palermo since 1860 is the city's senior cafe-pasticceria, the pedestrian-street terrace seat for morning.
Tip: The pedestrian terrace fills first. Order espresso al banco for one euro; sit-down doubles it.
Morettino Caffe Palermo ★ 4.5
loggia · Via Vittorio Emanuele 308, 90133 Palermo
Morettino Caffe at the Quattro Canti in Palermo is the family roaster's flagship since 2024, occupying a late-19th-century palazzo with Sicily-grown coffee.
Tip: Espresso al banco one euro. Ask about the Sicily-grown lot if interested in the world's northernmost coffee.
Bar Pasticceria Alba ★ 4.5
liberta · Piazza Don Bosco 7/C, 90143 Palermo
Bar Alba on Piazza Don Bosco in Palermo since 1955 is the city's reference cafe-pasticceria for breakfast, granita with brioche col tuppo and afternoon.
Tip: Granita di mandorla con brioche is the Palermitan summer breakfast. Cannoli filled to order.
Stigghiolari del Ballaro ★ 4.5
albergheria · Piazza Ballaro, 90134 Palermo
The Ballaro stigghiolari fire charcoal braziers along Piazza Ballaro and Via Carmine from dusk in Palermo, grilling lamb intestines on skewers.
Tip: Eat with lemon, no bread. The vendor closest to Piazza Carmine has the freshest skewers.
Nni Franco u' Vastiddaru ★ 4.4
kalsa · Via Vittorio Emanuele 102, 90133 Palermo
Nni Franco u' Vastiddaru on Corso Vittorio Emanuele at Piazza Marina in Palermo is the canonical pane con la milza counter, founded 1992 by a former Antica.
Tip: Cash works fastest. The vastedda al lardo is the milder gateway; ask for it without spleen if you want the bread experience alone.
Pasticceria Costa ★ 4.4
liberta · Via Gabriele D'Annunzio 15, 90144 Palermo
Pasticceria Costa on Via D'Annunzio in Palermo's Liberta is a senior Setteveli pasticceria-cafe, with espresso bar and monoporzione case for sit-down.
Tip: Setteveli monoporzione with espresso. The morning monoporzione case has seasonal flavours.
Nni Franco u' Vastiddaru ★ 4.4
kalsa · Via Vittorio Emanuele 102, 90133 Palermo
Franco u' Vastiddaru on Via Vittorio Emanuele at Piazza Marina in Palermo is the canonical pane con la milza counter since 1992, founded by a former Antica.
Tip: Maritato (with caciocavallo and ricotta) is the gateway; ask for la vastedda al lardo if you want the bread alone.
Bisso Bistrot ★ 4.4
loggia · Via Maqueda 172A, 90134 Palermo
Bisso Bistrot at the Quattro Canti in Palermo is a sit-down street food bistro inside a former bookshop, Sicilian classics under 10 euros, communal table.
Tip: No reservations. Arrive 12:30 lunch or 19:30 dinner for a seat; the communal table is fastest.
Sfincione del Mercato della Vucciria ★ 4.4
vucciria · Piazza Caracciolo, 90133 Palermo
Sfincione vendors at Mercato della Vucciria on Piazza Caracciolo in Palermo cut thick squares of focaccia-pizza with caciocavallo, anchovies and breadcrumbs.
Tip: Eat warm by the slice. The fishmonger end has the busiest sfincione stand at lunch.
Polpo bollito del Mercato della Vucciria ★ 4.4
vucciria · Piazza Caracciolo, 90133 Palermo
Octopus vendors at Mercato della Vucciria in Palermo boil whole polpo in steaming pots through the morning, slicing onto paper with lemon, salt and olive oil.
Tip: Cash only. Eat warm with lemon; the salt cellar lives on the cart for self-service.
Panelle e Crocche del Ballaro ★ 4.4
albergheria · Piazza Ballaro, 90134 Palermo
Panelle and crocche vendors along Piazza Ballaro and Via Albergheria in Palermo fry chickpea-flour fritters and potato croquettes in flat pans.
Tip: Eat in a sesame-seed vastedda bun. The corner of Via Carmine has the busiest counter.
Nni Franco u' Vastiddaru ★ 4.4
kalsa · Via Vittorio Emanuele 102, 90133 Palermo
Franco u' Vastiddaru at Piazza Marina in Palermo serves pane con la milza, sfincione and the full Palermitan street food carte between 3 and 6 euros.
Tip: Cash works fastest. Maritato is the gateway to spleen sandwiches.
Trattoria Al Ferro di Cavallo ★ 4.4
loggia · Via Venezia 20, 90133 Palermo
Ferro di Cavallo on Via Venezia in Palermo serves a three-course Sicilian trattoria menu for under 15 euros, communal-table format, no reservations.
Tip: Arrive 12:30 for lunch or 19:30 for dinner. Cash works fastest.
Stigghiolari del Ballaro ★ 4.4
albergheria · Piazza Ballaro, 90134 Palermo
The Ballaro stigghiolari fire charcoal braziers along Piazza Carmine from dusk in Palermo, grilling lamb intestines on skewers for under 6 euros.
Tip: Eat with lemon, no bread. Cash only.
Trattoria Al Ferro di Cavallo ★ 4.3
loggia · Via Venezia 20, 90133 Palermo
Ferro di Cavallo on Via Venezia in Palermo is the city's archetypal walk-in trattoria, no reservations, communal tables, a chalkboard menu of cucina povera.
Tip: No reservations. Arrive by 12:30 lunch or 19:30 dinner. Cash works fastest; service is fast and direct.
Pasticceria Cappello Garzilli ★ 4.3
politeama · Via Nicolo Garzilli 19, 90141 Palermo
The second Cappello branch on Via Nicolo Garzilli in Palermo's Politeama is the more convenient central location of the AMPI master pasticceria.
Tip: Same Setteveli recipe as Via Colonna Rotta. Sfincia di San Giuseppe in March; frutta martorana from November.
Moltivolti Cafe ★ 4.3
albergheria · Via Giuseppe Mario Puglia 21, 90134 Palermo
Moltivolti's daytime cafe-coworking room on Via Puglia in Palermo's Ballaro serves espresso, North African and West African tea alongside Sicilian breakfast.
Tip: Coworking by day, restaurant by night. Karkade tea is the unusual order; the courtyard seats fill first.
Ke Palle Arancine d'Autore ★ 4.3
loggia · Via Maqueda 270, 90134 Palermo
Ke Palle on Via Maqueda in Palermo's historic centre is the city's flagship arancineria, 20-plus daily flavours fried to order, vegan and vegetarian options.
Tip: Arancina classica (meat) and porcini are the most-ordered; the pistachio is the after-dinner sleeper.
FUD Bottega Sicula ★ 4.3
loggia · Piazza Olivella 4, 90133 Palermo
FUD Bottega Sicula on Piazza Olivella in Palermo turns Modica beef, Nebrodi salumi and the island's cheese DOPs into a Sicilian burger carte with house craft.
Tip: Lunch is the easiest entry. The vegetarian Sicilian burger is the credible meat-free option.
Arancina del Mercato del Capo ★ 4.3
capo · Via Sant'Agostino, 90134 Palermo
Arancina vendors at the Mercato del Capo along Via Sant'Agostino and Via Carini in Palermo fry rice balls, panelle and pane ca' meusa from morning braziers.
Tip: Cash only. The pane ca' meusa stand at the Via Volturno end fries to order until 14:00.
Mercato Notturno Borgo Vecchio ★ 4.3
borgo-vecchio · Piazzetta Mulino a Vento, 90139 Palermo
Borgo Vecchio's night market on Piazzetta Mulino a Vento in Palermo fires charcoal braziers from 20:00 for grilled meat, panelle and frittole.
Tip: Cash only. Peak hour is 23:00-02:00 on weekends; the grilled horse meat is a local order.
Ke Palle Arancine d'Autore ★ 4.3
loggia · Via Maqueda 270, 90134 Palermo
Ke Palle on Via Maqueda in Palermo is the city's flagship arancineria, 20-plus daily flavours fried to order between 2.50 and 4 euros each, two arancine make.
Tip: Vegan and vegetarian fillings labelled. Pistachio is the after-dinner sleeper.
Bisso Bistrot ★ 4.3
loggia · Via Maqueda 172A, 90134 Palermo
Bisso Bistrot at the Quattro Canti in Palermo serves Sicilian classics like pasta alla Norma and caponata at communal tables for under 12 euros.
Tip: No reservations. Arrive 12:30 lunch or 19:30 dinner.
Panelle e Crocche del Ballaro ★ 4.3
albergheria · Piazza Ballaro, 90134 Palermo
Panelle and crocche vendors along Piazza Ballaro in Palermo sell chickpea fritter and potato croquette sandwiches for 2 to 4 euros, the canonical Palermitan.
Tip: Cash only. The corner of Via Carmine has the busiest counter.
Ke Palle Arancine d'Autore ★ 4.2
loggia · Via Maqueda 270, 90134 Palermo
Ke Palle on Via Maqueda in Palermo is the city's flagship arancineria, 20-plus daily flavours fried to order, vegan and vegetarian fillings labelled.
Tip: Open 10:00-22:00 daily. Pistachio is the after-dinner sleeper.
Antico Caffe Spinnato ★ 4.2
politeama · Via Principe di Belmonte 107, 90139 Palermo
Antico Caffe Spinnato on Via Principe di Belmonte in Palermo's Politeama since 1860 is the city's senior pasticceria-cafe, full Sicilian pastry repertoire.
Tip: The pedestrian street terrace is the seat for aperitivo. Sfincia di San Giuseppe runs March only; granita with brioche in summer.
Antica Focacceria San Francesco ★ 4.2
kalsa · Via Alessandro Paternostro 58, 90133 Palermo
Antica Focacceria San Francesco in Palermo since 1834 is the sit-down street food room, canonical pane ca' meusa, sfincione, panelle and the largest carte.
Tip: Counter pickup is fastest at lunch; the terrace facing the basilica is the sit-down seat.