Palermo eats on the go: arancine, panelle and cannoli are sold on nearly every corner of the old town. This part of my Palermo guide covers street food, simple lunches and sweets. The Ballarò and Vucciria markets and Capocollo from my saved list are in the where to eat and drink guide; all six places here I added from travel guides, 34travel first of all. The descriptions are put together from Google Maps reviews. I'll add my own notes after the trip.
Prices are Google's average spend per person, valid as of 7 October 2026. Rate: 1 € ≈ $1.12.
In short
- Arancine: Sfrigola on Via Maqueda fries them in front of you; two make a lunch.
- Dirt cheap: Friggitoria Chiluzzo in Kalsa, a panelle and croquette roll for a couple of euros; open only until 16:00.
- A Sicilian lunch: Osteria Dalla Terra Alla Tavola off Via Roma, pasta con le sarde, open by day only.
- Pizza: Timilia on Via Maqueda, with a gluten-free pizza that gets praise too; there's a 5 € table charge.
- Sweets: cannoli at I Segreti del Chiostro inside the Santa Caterina convent, and unusual gelato flavours at Al Cassaro until midnight.
Street food and lunch
Sfrigola
Via Maqueda · arancine · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · daily 10:00–23:00, Sat–Sun till 0:00
Google Maps · website · Via Maqueda, 223
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 1,700+): a small arancine shop where they're shaped by hand and fried as you watch. Reviewers praise the ragù, barbecue chicken, spinach, four-cheese, smoked salmon and spicy meat versions, and there's a vegan one. Two make a lunch, and you can add a spritz. Seating is limited, so many take theirs away. Downside: one guest found the caprese arancina bland. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Friggitoria Chiluzzo
Kalsa · street food · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · Mon–Sat 8:00–16:00, closed Sun
Google Maps · website · Piazza della Kalsa, 11
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 1,300+): a street fry shop on a square in Kalsa, best known for its roll with panelle (chickpea fritters) and potato croquettes. Reviewers also like the spinach arancine at about 1.50 €, light panini and 1 € bowls of snacks; there's plenty for vegetarians. Tables sit right on the street, the beer is cold and the guys behind the counter are friendly. Open only until 16:00.
Osteria Dalla Terra Alla Tavola
Off Via Roma · Sicilian osteria · 10–20 € (≈$11–22) · daily 11:00–17:30
Google Maps · website · Via Firenze, 4/6
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 990+): a small osteria in a side street off Via Roma serving home-style Sicilian food. The star of the reviews is pasta con le sarde; the tiramisu and a limoncello spritz with lunch get praise too. The owners talk you through every dish, and prices are fair. Downside: one guest had rubbery octopus and reports food poisoning afterwards. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Timilia
Via Maqueda · pizzeria · 10–20 € (≈$11–22) · daily 11:30–0:00, Fri–Sat till 1:00
Google Maps · website · Via Maqueda, 221
According to Google Maps reviews (4.7 from 4,900+): a pizzeria many call the best pizza of their lives, with a soft, airy crust and fresh toppings; the burrata, mortadella and pistachio-pesto pizza gets the most love. Reviewers single out the gluten-free pizza and a menu with photos, ingredients and allergens. Food comes fast. Downsides: a 5 € table service charge and pricey, bland beer. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Sweets
I Segreti del Chiostro
Piazza Bellini · convent pastry shop · 1–10 € (≈$1–11) · daily 10:00–17:30
Google Maps · website · Piazza Bellini, 33
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 2,500+): a pastry shop inside the Santa Caterina convent, reached down an old corridor that opens onto a courtyard with a fountain and citrus trees. Cannoli are filled with ricotta as you watch and the ends dipped to your choice; at about 6 € each, many call them the best in Sicily. Take a number at the door: the queue takes around ten minutes but moves fast, and opening time is best. Downside: in the rush, service is quick and not especially warm. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
Gelateria Al Cassaro
Via Vittorio Emanuele · gelateria · daily 12:00–0:00
Google Maps · website · Via Vittorio Emanuele, 214
According to Google Maps reviews (4.6 from 1,100+): a gelateria with unusual flavours such as black cherry with chocolate, lime and pepper, and chocolate-coffee-caramel; the pistachio and the granitas (coconut, almond, mango) get praise too. There are many vegan flavours, prices are fair, and you can sit down without a cover charge. One guest found it all just average. 34travel recommends it too (guide).
One last thing
Half of these places keep daytime hours: Friggitoria Chiluzzo closes at 16:00 and is shut on Sundays, Dalla Terra Alla Tavola and I Segreti del Chiostro close at 17:30. In the evening you still have Sfrigola and Timilia on Via Maqueda, and Al Cassaro, open until midnight.
More on Palermo: where to eat and drink, what to see, shopping and vintage.