Many people will have heard of Palermo, the capital of the Italian island of Sicily; the beautiful seaside town of Cefalù is less well known, but it was one of the prettiest places we visited on this trip. Just an hour on the train from Palermo and you will find this sun-soaked part of the island, with sandy beaches and extraordinary views just a short uphill hike away.
Even more extraordinary, we found this small seaside town to be surprisingly vegetarian and vegan friendly, with an impressive range of traditional dishes made with plant-based ingredients. We really enjoyed our visit to Cefalù and highly recommend eating there if you can!
Eating Vegan in Cefalú
“Going to Sicily is better than going to the moon.” – Gabriel García Márquez
We were only in Cefalú for a short time but, honestly, we were really impressed by the vegan options we found there. We had expected not to really be able to eat very much at all, so had planned accordingly, but to our surprise not only were there plenty of vegan options to keep us fed for the time we were there, they were excellent quality too.
If you were to spend more than a few days in Cefalú there may not be enough different plant-based options to keep your palate excited, but for a day or two there are plenty of wholesome and tasty Sicilian food choices that we hope will delight you as much as they did us!
1st: Bastione & Costanza
Piazza Francesco Crispi 13/14, 90015, Cefalu, Sicily, Italy
Bastione & Costanza's food is real artistry: served overlooking the sea, this is fine dining at fairly reasonable prices. They have a large selection of vegan starters, mains, and desserts (including the famous Sicilian Caponata, and a full vegan pizza menu).
We tried the bruschetta and the caponata, the red cabbage pasta and the wurst pizza. The pizza wasn't our favourite, but everything else blew us away with the freshness of the ingredients and the incredible flavours.
The staff are really friendly and helpful, and the food looks as good as it tastes: be prepared to be wowed when your dishes arrive!
2nd: Capriccio Siciliano Wine Bar & Taverna
Via Umberto I°, 22, 90015 Cefalù PA, Italy
For a taste of authentic Sicilian cuisine without the meat, head to Capriccio Siciliano Wine Bar & Tavern. Their menu is comprised of traditional recipes (Grandma's recipes, they state!) meaning that there is something for flexitarians, vegetarians, vegans (and even those who eat meat too). While their menu isn't enormous, they make up for this in the quality of the food and service.
A good portion of their menu is plant-based (or can be made that way, upon request) as this family-run tavern offers a really personal service. A husband and wife team take your order, recommend wine, and cook and serve your food giving a really authentic Sicilian vibe. Though there aren't any vegan desserts on the menu, the mains were enough to fill us up: we tried the pasta arrabbiata and the pappardelle with mushrooms which were both incredible. The arrabbiata was smooth and flavoursome with a punchy kick of spice, while the pappardelle was creamy with an earthy mushroom flavour. The recommended wines complemented the dishes perfectly; we were really pleased with the value for money too.
Which is your favourite vegan restaurant in Cefalú? Are there any new places or old favourites that we've missed? Leave us a comment to let us know (and others who might be visiting too!)
Recommendations
This section contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of our links, we may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Where should I stay?
If you're looking for a friendly and arty hostel - whether you fancy a dorm or a private room - A Casa Di Amici Boutique Hostel is really popular in Palermo, and attracts consistently high reviews.
For an authentic, traditionally Sicilian hotel experience, D'Angelo might be exactly what you're looking for! This small hotel even has an antique lift to get you up to the second floor of this beautiful period building.
Tours & Experiences
Cefalú is really easy to get to from Palermo. This popular tour includes a trip to the Duomo of Monoreale (one of Sicily's most renowned attractions) as well as transport to and from Cefalú. Or want to get a feel of some more of the stunning island of Sicily, why not check out the top-rated Viator tours below?
Commenti