In Search of the Best Aperol Spritz in Catania, Sicily
Hellllllloooooo Aperol Spritz. You’re delicious. This could quite possibly be the national drink of Italy… if it’s not, then it should be. *smirk* As soon as I landed in Sicily, I made it my mission to find all the best things to do in Catania, including where to find the best Aperol Spritz in Catania.
YOU’RE WELCOME for all the Aperol Spritz research I did. *even bigger smirk*
PLEASE DRINK RESPONSIBLY
The Best Aperol Spritz in Catania, Sicily
What is an Aperol Spritz?
First of all what is Aperol? Well the recipe is a secret (it’s apparently still the original one), but it is a mix of bitters, orange, and rhubarb. This liquor first entered the scene in 1919, but it wasn’t until the 50’s when the Aperol Spritz gained it’s popularity.
Now it’s known around the world… and not just from tales of travelers coming back from their Italian holiday, but from a heavily advertised campaign to get Aperol Spritz across the pond thanks to Campari acquiring Aperol in the 2000’s.
This classic Italian cocktail is a mix of Prosecco, Aperol and a splash of soda water, garnished with an orange slice.
The cocktail may have originated as a “before dinner drink” in Northeastern Italy, but it’s now found throughout the entire country and it’s socially acceptable to drink an Aperol Spritz anytime, anywhere.
Searching for the Best Aperol Spritz in Catania
I’m not a beer drinker. I’ll leave that to my boyfriend. But I LOVE a good cocktail. I always try to drink a cocktail that is authentic to the country or city I’m visiting… and then I try to find the best in the city!
Flavor and taste take precedence over anything else like cost or atmosphere of the bar/restaurant, however, I do think the atmosphere is VERY important when it comes to enjoying your drink!
I would say my grading scale is 80% taste, 7% atmosphere and vibe, 5% visual presentation, 5% value for money, 3% staff friendliness.
Now you know how my brain works.
10. Il Sale Art Cafe
Address: 10 Via Santa Filomena
Website: Official Website
Sale is on my favorite restaurant street!! And the food here is very delicious… shout out to the fried pizza appetizer!
This is the most pricey Aperol Spritz on the list, but it’s worth it! It came in at number ten because it had a syrupy taste to it. Not in a bad way – it still made the list! But it’s kind of like a soda… sometimes I like it from the soda fountain instead of the can because the can tastes too syrupy… that was the case here.
The vibe is great here. Twinkling lights line the walls outside of the restaurant and tables line the street. It has a very bougie, romantic feel to it and the service was great even though every seat in the restaurant was taken!
9. Curtigghiu
Address: 43 Via Santa Filomena
Website: Official Website
This restaurant is also on Via Santa Filomena and the pasta selection here is huge!
Like all the other restaurants on this street, there is an outdoor eating area, however, the inside is air conditioned and the atmosphere is really nice…. so take a break from the humidity and eat inside one night.
There’s a lot of pasta on this menu compared to a lot of other restaurants, so if you have a pasta craving – go here!
This Aperol Spritz was definitely one of the strongest, but it tasted a little bit more bitter than the rest… I thought it was just how the first one was poured, but the second tasted the same too.
Nothing wrong with it, just a little bit unbalanced for my liking, however, if you like a more bitter drink – this place is for you!
8. Cathedrals Bar
Address: 1 Via Giuseppe Garibaldi
Website: No Website
This bar is a DIVE. In the middle of a tourist area… which is also unusual… but I’ll take it.
It’s on one of the corners of Piazza del Duomo and it’s a great place to grab your drink, sit outside and people watch in the busy square.
It’s also nice to be right next to the rushing water of the Fontana dell’Amenano.
This Aperol Spritz was a little bit sweeter than the rest, but still a great drink to get your evening started.
7. L’Horloge
Addess: 42 Via Santa Filomena
Website: Official Facebook
This is ANOTHER restaurant on Via Santa Filomena!
Can you tell I LOVE this street?!?!
This is the perfect place to start your night with an appetizer and Aperol Spritz.
As the sun starts to set and the streets start to come to life after the siesta, the twinkling lights come on and the air begins to cool, L’Horloge should be your first stop!
Mozzarella goes surprisingly well with an Aperol Spritz and the mozzarella trio here is amazing!
6. Caffè del Duomo
Address: 11/12/13 Piazza Duomo
Website: Official Website
Clearly this one is in Piazza Duomo, the second cafe on the list in this square.
This is actually a couple of cafes down from the Cathedrals Bar and a great spot for lunch.
There’s nothing like a lunchtime Aperol Spritz in Catania and some traditional Sicilian nibbles.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Spritz, partly from the good balance of Aperol and Prosecco and partly because the blisters on my feet that had popped walking up Mount Etna were magically reforming and it felt SO GOOD to sit down and enjoy this beverage in the shade.
5. Trattoria U Fucularu
Address: 20 Via Euplio Reina
Website: Official Site
Walking around looking for something to do during siesta time on a Sunday is not an easy task.
This restaurant was just opening up as I was walking by.
Perfect.
It’s nice to get out and enjoy a drink in the peace and quiet. Almost like the calm before the storm.
Maybe that’s why I enjoyed this Aperol Spritz so much. It wasn’t too bitter and not too sweet. It was perfect for the vibe going on in Catania that very second and thinking about this moment now really puts me in a happy place.
4. Sleto – Osteria Pizzeria
Address: 5/6 Piazza Turi Ferro
Website: No Website
This is one of my favorite pizza places in Catania. It’s a very simple pizzeria.
No flash, just charm.
Get from the server for Taormina and even exchanged pleasantries with another UK couple that had just arrived… whatever you chat about, it’ll be a good convo.
I actually had wine the first time I ate here, so the next time I decided to try an Aperol Spritz. OH WOW. Delicious!
3. Macondo Wine and Book
Address: 95 Via Vittorio Emanuele II
Website: Facebook
First night.
I’ve been up since 4:45am, I’ve been walking for what seems like forever. My make-up has melted off my face, my clothes are sticking to me, my hair is tied up in a disastrously messy bun, I need to pee and I’m thirsty.
For water.
So there’s this super cute alley lined with local art and chairs made of colorfully painted pallets. Flowers hanging on the wall and leather couches for relaxing.
Was this the most perfect alleyway I had ever seen?
Probably.
So instead of water I opted for an Aperol Spritz.
The coaster was a vinyl record (and the Hard Rocker in me was in love) and this Spritz was the perfect combo of Prosecco and Aperol and the mint garnish won me over because it added that extra oomph.
2. Bar Brasserie
Address: 43/44 Piazza Stesicoro
Website: Official Facebook
This was my first Aperol Spritz in Catania.
Literally within an hour of landing. I thought it was my tired brain (I’d been at the airport at 5:15am) telling me this was amazing because I was buzzing from the flight, excited to get out and explore, but exhausted all at once.
Nope.
This really was absolutely delicious. It actually spent most of the time at number one because it was the perfect ratio of Aperol to Prosecco every time.
Not only is this place great for lunch, but in the evenings, they have live music!
1. First Lounge Bar
Address: 13 Via Martinez
Website: Official Facebook
I stumbled upon this gem on my last day in Catania.
I kept walking down this street and seeing this little hand-painted wooden sign saying “San Berillo Art District” and pointing down a tiny alleyway that looked like a dead end.
I kept a mental note, but never got around to it.
On the last day I wanted a late afternoon Aperol Spritz to start the evening off right. I was standing in front of Pizzeria ViaCoppola and liked the look of it… however they didn’t have Aperol (at least I think they didn’t) – that’s a no. The server from the pizzeria started yelling across the street to the Street 54 server and then yelling something at me in Italian, but I couldn’t understand it! WHY DIDN’T I TAKE ITALIAN IN HIGH SCHOOL!
It ended with me giving up and walking down the unsuspecting alleyway (which is the down the side of Street 54).
SURPRISE!
It opened up to an artsy, quirky courtyard with a couple of trattorias and plenty of Instagram vibes.
First quickly rose to… well… First (see what I did there?).
I don’t think I need to explain taste here…. it was perfect. Everything from the ratios to garnishes, from the glass to atmosphere, from the server to the bartender… perfect.
And I watched the bartender make my drinks… this man made them with LOVE. He clearly loves his job! Great job First!
Bonus: Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo – Taormina
Address: 59 Via Teatro Greco, Taormina
Website: Official Website
First of all, this is a bonus because it’s NOT in Catania, but most likely you will be taking a day trip to Taormina so I HAD to include this delicious drink.
And it’s not an Aperol Spritz, but an Etna Spritz.
This hotel is located just before the entrance to the Greek Theatre and overlooks Mount Etna, the cliffs of Taormina and the bay of Giardini Naxos. I’m talking VIEWS FOR DAYS guys!
Walk through the lobby and the entrance to the Literary Terrace Cocktail Bar is on the right. If you get there early (I was there around 1pm), then you’ll be the only one on the terrace and you can selfishly have all the views to yourself.
The Etna Spritz is Belmond’s take on the Aperol Spritz, made with Campari, blood orange liqueur, Sicilian sparkling wine and garnished with a Sicilian orange slice and zest.
This drink was amazing.
It was also 26 euros, making it the most expensive drink on this list.
Was it worth it?
ABSOLUTELY.
Go ahead and splurge, because you deserve it.
Have you been to Catania? Where did you have your favorite Aperol Spritz in Catania? Let me know in the comments below!
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