Best Restaurants in Trapani Sicily
One of my favourite things to do in Trapani is to eat. Sitting on the west coast of Sicily, Trapani has incredible fresh seafood and fish. The city is also known for its seafood couscous, and if you love seafood like I do, you are in for a treat. I have put together this guide to the best restaurants in Trapani from my recent visits, so let's get into it.
How we select the best restaurants in Trapani
So how do we actually select the best restaurants in Trapani? First of all, we start by asking our family, as we have family over in Italy. This tends to uncover a lot of the local restaurants and the hidden gems. On top of that, we also asked the locals, as well as some of the hotels in Trapani when we stay there.
We look at restaurants that have warm hospitality or a really nice ambience. We like those Trapani restaurants with a view, with some being of the ocean. We also favour those with fresh, locally caught seafood on the day. And we love those restaurants that have traditional Sicilian dishes, but might have something a little unique on the menu too.
Michelin nominated restaurants in Trapani
To start my guide, I want to talk about the Michelin restaurants. Last time I checked, there was just 1 Michelin restaurant in Trapani.
Just a quick brief on Michelin. There is Michelin nominated, then one star, which means a very good restaurant. Two stars means it is worth a detour. And three stars is the best of the best when it comes to food in Trapani.
Osteria il Moro
The first cab off the rank is Osteria il Moro. This is a traditional Sicilian restaurant in Trapani that has been around since 2016. It is run by two siblings, chef Nicola and her brother Enzo. They have traditional Trapanese recipes with an innovative twist.
What I really like about this place is the vibe. They have 35 seats inside, but they also have an alfresco area with 30 seats. Inside it is very homely, and outside you get the views of all the buildings. It can be really nice during the evening.
Osteria Il Moro is known for its seafood couscous, so make sure to get that. The service was super special, and the waiters are very patient and helped you order. If you like fish, make sure to check out the seafood tasting menu.
Osteria Il Moro is 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.
See the Osteria il Moro Menu.
Address: via Giuseppe Garibaldi 86, Trapani, 91100, Italy
Now, just going back to the Michelin restaurants. There is currently only one in Trapani last time I checked. However, if you are taking a day trip, the next closest one is in San Vito Lo Capo. You can read all about that in my best restaurants in San Vito Lo Capo guide.
Best restaurants in Trapani for fine dining
That was a short Michelin part, but don't worry, now I will go on to fine dining restaurants in Trapani. There are quite a few here. A lot of them are aiming for Michelin or just have great service. These are some of the best restaurants in Trapani for a special night out.
Ristorante Ci Vulia
I will start off with Ristorante Ci Vulia. This is a beautiful seafood restaurant in Trapani run by chef Agliano Isidoro. You are going to get the classics here, like the classic couscous alla Trapanese. But make sure to space out your meals or share the couscous because it can feed two people, depending on how much you eat.
Ristorante Ci Vulia is also just inside the ZTL area, so make sure to park just outside. You can read my Trapani travel guide, which will lead you to a car park very close by.
The vibe inside looks quite traditional when you step in, but then you get the real fine dining experience. Apart from the couscous, make sure to check out the octopus, which is absolutely delicious. And then the chocolate cake for dessert. Hopefully they still have that on the menu.
Address: Via Giudecca, 78, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
Locanda Dei Poeti
Next up, if you are looking for a vegan restaurant in Trapani, there is Locanda Dei Poeti. What I love about this place is that everything is organic. The menu comes from organic farms and local products. The chef creates a lot of delicious, sustainable dishes.
I would not worry too much about picking one item. The dishes there are meant to be shared. The pricing is also very reasonable. I would point out that it is a small venue, so you might want to book ahead if you can.
Some favourites on the menu are the caponata, the vegetarian lasagna, and the vegan carbonara. This one is just outside of the city, so no problem getting parking around there.
Locanda Dei Poeti is open Monday - Saturday for dinner till late.
See the Locanda Dei Poeti Menu.
Address: Via Giuseppe Garibaldi, 52, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
Best restaurants in Trapani for local food
Now we get to my favourite part of this best restaurants in Trapani guide, and that is the local restaurants. A lot of these were picks from family and also people we spoke to in the piazzas.
One thing I do want to say is make sure to check that they are open. We came across some that said on Google they were open and they were actually closed. So you will get that with a lot of the local restaurants.
Al Vicoletti Ristorantino Tipico
I will start off with Al Vicoletto Ristorantino Tipico. What I loved about this place is that it has a really nice dining room with a vaulted ceiling. A real traditional vibe. You can also sit outside.
There are only a handful of seats, and it is a little bit dark in the evening. If you are just by yourself or a pair, they have one to two person tables where you can eat outside.
Some of the favourites I had here were the octopus with burrata, and also the busiate with pistachio pesto and red shrimp. It is probably one of the best dishes I have ever had.
It is near the Porta Oscura - Torre dell'Orologio so best to walk in as you cannot park.
Address: Via Biscottai, 6, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
Trattoria da Salvatore
Next up is Trattoria da Salvatore. A quick hint here. Anything that has trattoria in the name usually means it is a family run local restaurant. Trattoria da Salvatore is run by the Patti brothers, Roberto and Alessander. This restaurant has been around for three generations.
They have an inside area with really nice vaulted ceilings, or there is the outside area too. It does not look like much from the outside, but it is the food that is absolutely fantastic. Think pappardelle, sea bass, tortellini, and mussels.
You are going to get really delicious food in huge sizes at a low cost. To put it into perspective, a Trapanese couscous with fish is only €18, or a pasta for €13. This was the best restaurant in Trapani for value and cost.
Closed on Wednesdays. See the Trattoria da Salvatore Menu.
Address: Via Nunzio Nasi, 21, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
Origine Pizzeria
Now I am going to talk about the best pizza in Trapani. This one was actually a tough one. What I landed on was Origine Pizzeria, which is just outside the old city, so no problem getting parking.
What I liked was that the pizza was really soft and very light when you eat it. It has a really nice crust and the flavours are just delicious. What I liked in particular was the mortadella pizza, which had pistachio, mortadella, and stracciatella. In terms of pricing, it was €12 last time I went.
Address: Via Colonnello Romey, 54-56, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
Dessert places in Trapani
Now I am going to talk about desserts. You can get desserts at all the best restaurants in Trapani, but sometimes when you are on holiday, you just feel like going for a walk after dinner, enjoying the sights at nighttime and having a little break between meals.
Efri Bar
If you are looking for an incredible ricotta cannoli, Efri bar is the place to go. They are open from early in the morning until about mid-evening. So you will have to run there after dinner or just go during the day. They also have other items such as almond granita and croissants, which you can enjoy with an espresso.
Address: Via Conte Agostino Pepoli, 166, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
Pasticceria La Rinascente
If you are in the centre of Trapani and looking for dessert, there is Pasticceria La Rinascente. This is like an old-fashioned pastry shop. The staff are polite, and all the desserts are made fresh on the day.
You can also get cannoli here, but so many other items too, such as la patata. This shop looks like it is stuck in the 1960s, which is great. It does not look like much inside, but absolutely delicious.
Address: Via Gatti, 3, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy (very close to The Museum of Illusions Trapani)
Gelataria Meno Tredici
I could not finish my guide to the best restaurants in Trapani without talking about gelato. The place I found is near the port. It is called Gelateria Meno Tredici. This is open until 11:00 every single night, last time I checked, and is just perfect if you are looking for an ice cream.
The best flavours I tried were the pistachio. Pistachio is just number one in Sicily. And then they have their local Profumo di Sicilia.
Address: Via Ammiraglio Staiti, 61, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
We hope you like our best restaurants in Trapani guide. If you have been to Trapani and have found a hidden gem you would like to share, please drop it in the comments below so our readers can enjoy!
Best restaurants in Trapani FAQ's
Where to eat in Trapani?
Trapani is quite big. You do have the old town, where you will find a lot of fine dining restaurants but also some traditional ones. If you look a little further out towards Casa Santa, that is when you are going to get a lot more traditional restaurants. That is where to eat in Trapani if you want a more local feel.
Where is the best pasta in Trapani?
When it comes to the best pasta in Trapani, there is a place called 210 Grammi Ristorante Laboratorio. Something you have to get is the busiate alla Trapanese. That was the best pasta we had in Trapani. Address: Via Giardini, 14, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy
Best restaurants in Trapani old town?
When it comes to the best restaurants in Trapani old town, it has got to be Trattoria da Salvatore. If you are looking for seafood, check out Osteria ‘A NASSA.
What are the best restaurants in Trapani with a view?
If you are looking for the best restaurants in Trapani with a view, you want to stick to the north side of the town. That is where you will be able to see the sunset. There is the Historico Restaurant
on Lungomare Dante Alighieri, which has a view right by the ocean. You can get great Trapanese food there like busiate and couscous.
There is also Ristorante StraVento. You do have to request to be outside or inside, so try to request a table by the beach. You have got all the local dishes like couscous and busiate, and other Sicilian dishes. It is a beautiful place to sit when the sun is going down.