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Small city, big food · No. 20 of 25

Siracusa, Sicily, Italy

SiracusaPhoto: Chef Amazing
Our story city: Caseificio Borderi

Ortigia, the island old town, has a morning market where the best sandwich in Sicily is made to order, and a Michelin star around the corner. Our story is the sandwich.

The one thing to eat

A Borderi sandwich and raw red prawns

Caseificio Borderi
Our storyThe sandwich worth planning a morning aroundA cheese stall in Ortigia's market, a guy with a knife, and a line you should get in early.

Where to eat in Siracusa

Caseificio Borderi1A photo like it

Caseificio Borderi

Ortigia market

Get: Say "chef's choice" for the sandwich, then the cheese and salumi platter if you are two or more. Add tricotta, the baked ricotta.

Our own story. A family cheese shop at the edge of the market, where Andrea Borderi builds giant sandwiches by hand from fresh mozzarella, ricotta, salumi and grilled vegetables. Go at ten, take it to go and eat on the wall by the water. (chefamazing.com)

Fratelli Burgio2A photo like it

Fratelli Burgio

Piazza Cesare Battisti, Ortigia market

Get: A mixed tagliere of Sicilian cheese and salumi with an Etna Bianco, or a panino

The sit-down answer to Borderi, a few steps away. A salumeria since 1978, with barrels to sit at and a deep counter of pecorino, goat cheese, tricotta and bottarga. (gamberorossointernational.com)

Cortile Spirito Santo3A photo like it

Cortile Spirito Santo

Palazzo Salomone, Ortigia

Get: The tasting menu, with bonito and red prawn from Ortigia and the sausage and cauliflower ravioli

The only Michelin star in the city, and the first in its history. Young chef Giuseppe Torrisi cooks in a 17th-century palace courtyard, and the wine list is one of the island's best. (lasicilia.it)

Don Camillo4A photo like it

Don Camillo

Ortigia

Get: The sirens' spaghetti with prawns and sea urchin

Open since 1985 under Giovanni Guarneri, in a vaulted Catalan-style cellar of rooms. Gambero Rosso names it for deep knowledge of raw ingredients and a very good cellar. (gamberorossointernational.com)

Plan the trip

When to go
April to June and September to October.
Getting there
Catania airport (CTA), about 50 minutes by car or bus.

More for Siracusa

The full Siracusa food guideThe Siracusa food mapThe one-page cheat sheetAsk Chef about Siracusa

Why it's on the list

Our story city: Caseificio Borderi.

Next small city

‹ AlbaNo. 19 · ItalyComporta ›No. 21 · Portugal

All 25 small cities

Places checked November 14, 2026; hours and menus change. "A photo like it" is the same kind of food, not from that place. Nobody pays to be on our lists.

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Researched and published by Chef Amazing, from our own stories, this year’s critics and food press, and a check that each place is open. Nobody pays to be on our lists: how we pick. Spot something wrong? Tell us and we fix it.

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