Pasticceria Costa

Pasticceria Costa is one of the best-loved bakeries in Ortigia, the island heart of Syracuse on Sicily's south-eastern coast, where it has been a fixture for generations. Located on Via della Maestranza, a handsome street in the historic centre, it draws a steady morning crowd of locals for the sweets and breakfast staples that define Siracusano pastry. Its signature is the iris alla crema, a deep-fried, sugar-dusted pastry filled with sweet ricotta or pastry cream that is a particular speciality of eastern Sicily, alongside the almond and seasonal-fruit granita eaten with brioche, freshly fried pettole and a full counter of cornetti, cannoli and cassata. Everything is made fresh, and the quality and value have kept the bakery at the centre of neighbourhood life for over eighty years. The shop is a working pasticceria and bar rather than a sit-down restaurant, geared to a quick coffee and sweet at the counter or a pastry to take away; the atmosphere is busy, friendly and thoroughly local. Prices are low, in keeping with everyday Sicilian café culture. Ortigia is one of the most beguiling old quarters in Sicily, a compact island of baroque palazzi, the Piazza Duomo and the Fonte Aretusa, and Pasticceria Costa lies within easy walking distance of them all, making it an ideal breakfast or mid-morning stop while exploring on foot. No reservations are needed; visitors simply join the morning bustle. Arriving earlier ensures the widest choice of freshly made pastries and granita. For travellers wanting an authentic taste of Siracusano sweets where locals actually buy them, Pasticceria Costa is a reliable and delightful choice.