Antico Caffè Spinnato

Antico Caffè Spinnato is a historic cafe and pastry house at Piazza Castelnuovo 16 in the Politeama area of Palermo, Sicily, on the square beside the Teatro Politeama Garibaldi and at the start of the Via Libertà shopping avenue. The cafe has a long history in the city, and it is often cited as a traditional Palermo address for coffee, pastries and savoury snacks. It sits in the moderate price tier and is a cafe rather than a chef-led restaurant, so there is no Michelin context. The signature item in the data is the cannolo, the tube-shaped pastry shell filled with sweetened ricotta, which is a defining Sicilian dessert. The cafe is also a place for other regional pastries such as cassata, small almond pastries, and the Sicilian breakfast of granita with a brioche in warmer months, and the savoury counter offers arancine, small pizzas and sandwiches for a light lunch; the precise menu has not been confirmed and may vary by season. The setting is a traditional cafe with display cases and a refined, relaxed atmosphere, a moderate noise level, and a clientele of shoppers, theatre-goers, office workers and visitors; there is no dress code, though the surrounding area is smart. Beverages centre on espresso, cappuccino and other coffee drinks, as well as aperitivo drinks in the evening in some cafes of this kind. Reservations are not part of the format, and tables are generally allocated on arrival. A seat at a table usually costs more than standing at the counter, which is the local custom for a quick coffee, so visitors who want to save money can drink at the bar and sit down only for a longer stop. The location suits a coffee or pastry break after visiting the Politeama, the Giardino Inglese or the shops of Via Libertà.