The Best Places for Vegan and Vegetarian Food in Sicily

This vegan restaurant in the city of Catania has a passionate chef, Romina Cioffi. She heads a kitchen that creates dishes like vegan carbonara and fresh local vegetable platters that even non-vegans endorse. The dessert menu is rich with cheesecake and vegan gelato. The interesting beer selection includes some gluten free options.

This restaurant in the historic center of Ortiga, just off the via Roma, has plenty of vegetarian pasta dishes and a few choices for vegan-friendly plates. Making the most of seasonal produce in the summer, there are cold gazpacho style soups, and rice and couscous based cold salads. The veggie burger is a popular choice too. Make sure you book as tables here fill up fast.

Arancini are an ubiquitous Sicilian snack but this popular street food is often filled with a meat ragu or gooey cheese. There are still meat options at this certified gluten free shop located in Ortiga, but there are plenty of vegetarian options here too. The rice balls are dotted with eggplant and tomato, porcini mushrooms and eggplant or a garlicky potato mix and deep fried. There is also a vegan version made with potatoes.

This friendly spot with left leaning politics in the city of Catania has plenty on the menu for the vegetarian. Menu items are mostly organic and nothing is ever frozen. Start with bruschetta topped with cherry tomatoes, black olives and mozzarella or an organic cheese plate. There is a long list of meal sized slides with a vegan options too. To drink, there are natural wines and craft gluten free beers. Check their Facebook page for information about frequent live music events.

This adorable cafe in Palermo is a friendly place to spend some time. From breakfast until late afternoon, you can stop in for breakfast, a healthy lunch or a late afternoon pastry and a cup of tea. They open again in the early evening for aperitivo and dinner. The menu features creative vegetarian soups and salads as well as pasta dishes and scrumptious desserts. There is a small shop attached with organic goods that stays open all day. From 8-11 am, the cafe is a working space with free WiFi and printing services.