Ristorante Don Camillo
Tucked into a vaulted medieval cellar on Via Maestranza in Ortigia, Don Camillo has been feeding Siracusans and discerning visitors since 1951, earning a reputation as the city's most reliable address for serious Sicilian cooking without the tourist-trap markup. The menu reads like a love letter to the Ionian Sea.
What to Order
Start with the antipasto di mare: a procession of small plates that might include marinated anchovies from the local coast, sea urchin cream on toasted bread, smoked swordfish carpaccio and octopus braised in local Nero d'Avola wine. It is a meal in itself but resist the urge to stop there.
The pasta courses are exceptional — spaghetti ai ricci di mare (with fresh sea urchin) is the signature dish and worth ordering even if it sounds intimidating. The urchin is sweet and oceanic rather than fishy, and the pasta is cooked to a precise al dente that many Roman restaurants could learn from.
The Room & the Wine
The dining room occupies a series of stone-vaulted medieval cellars that keep the temperature cool even in August, hung with old photographs of Siracusa and lit by candles at dinner. It is romantic without being cloying.
The wine list leans heavily into Sicilian DOC and IGT bottles, with a particularly good selection of whites from the Etna and Noto areas that pair beautifully with the seafood. Ask the sommelier for a local recommendation — they are knowledgeable and not pushy.
Booking & Budget
Don Camillo is popular with both locals and visitors so booking at least two days ahead is advisable in summer, especially for dinner. Lunch is slightly easier to walk into.
Expect to spend €40–60 per person with wine for a full three-course meal — not cheap by Sicilian standards but fair for the quality and the setting.
More of Siracusa
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Siracusa →
