Antico Caffè Spinnato

Antico Caffè Spinnato is a Palermo institution that traces its origins to 1860, making it one of the oldest cafés in the Sicilian capital. It sits on Via Principe di Belmonte, a pretty pedestrianised street in the elegant nineteenth-century quarter near the Politeama theatre, where its outdoor tables make it a favourite spot to watch the passeggiata unfold. The café wears its history lightly, functioning all day as a pasticceria, bar, gelateria and light-lunch spot. Its reputation rests on the Palermitan classics: the cannolo siciliano, the crisp shell filled to order with sweetened sheep's-milk ricotta; the arancina, the rounded Palermo version of the fried rice ball (feminine here, unlike Catania's pointed arancino); cassata; and a wide range of gelati and granite in summer. Coffee, aperitivi and a selection of savoury plates make it equally suited to a morning espresso, a mid-afternoon sweet, or an early-evening drink with the elegant local crowd. The atmosphere blends old-world café formality with the relaxed buzz of the pedestrian street; service is professional, and prices sit a little above the most basic bars in keeping with the setting and quality. Because Via Principe di Belmonte is a short walk from the Teatro Politeama and the shopping streets of modern Palermo, the café is a convenient and characterful pause between sights. No reservations are needed for the café tables, though the terrace fills at peak times such as the early evening. For visitors wanting a historic, refined Palermo café experience with first-rate pastries and a prime people-watching position, Spinnato is among the city's most reliable choices.