The little island of Ortigia, the historic heart of the city of Siracusa, is one of Sicily’s most picturesque corners, with a discovery waiting around every corner. Among them is Fratelli Burgio, a hybrid deli-restaurant on the edge of the local markets, where you can order up a tagliere, or wooden platter, laden with artisanal produce from salume and cheeses to tangy caponata. It is also a great place to pick up foodie souvenirs: the lemon marmalade is recommended. fratelliburgio.com

Old meets new at the acclaimed Gagini in Palermo. The old is the setting – the former studio of 16th-century sculptor Antonello Gagini. The new is what’s on the plate. Michelin-starred chef Mauricio Zillo draws on influences from his Italian-Brazilian background to create surprising dishes that team beef carpaccio with mussels, or roast cabbage with raw shrimp, avocado, finger lime and nasturtium pesto. The exciting menu is what make this restaurant one of the best in Sicily. The wine list focuses on smaller local labels. gaginirestaurant.com/en

Seafood is at the heart of Sicilian cuisine and there are few better places to discover the ocean’s bounty than at the ancient fishmarket in Catania, not far from the cathedral. After strolling through the stands where piles of prawns and snapper gleam in the sun, stop in for lunch at the nearby Pescheria Fratelli Vittorio. Everything on the menu is fresh from the markets; the seafood soup and the spaghetti vongole are especially good. It’s not fancy, but the freshest seafood make it one of the best restaurants to enjoy a laidback lunch at Sicily. facebook.com

It can be a bit of a drive to get to Agrigento in Sicily’s southwest but the magnificent collection of ancient Greek temples is well worth the journey to one of the best restaurants in Sicily. So is the meal at Re di Girgenti. Book a seat on the terrace for a view towards the temples and graze your way through the menu which focuses on local specialties. The area is known for its magnificent almond and pistachio orchards and the pasta with pistachio and almond pesto is a highlight. ilredigirgenti.it

Some of Italy’s best baroque architecture is found in Sicily, with cities such as Catania, Modica and Ragusa filled with long thoroughfares lined with beautiful baroque buildings. Perhaps the most charming, however, is the tiny town of Noto which has only a handful of streets but plenty of grand palazzi. It also has some lovely places to eat including the family-run Crocifisso, a restaurant which puts a contemporary spin on local classics. ristorantecrocifisso.it

No Italian sojourn is complete without dinner in a local trattoria where extended families gather at table and feast on course after course of classics. In Siracusa locals love heading to Don Camillo – often rated one of the best restaurants in Sicily – an old-school charmer with vaulted ceilings, tiled floors and vintage photos on the walls. The menu is equally timeless – some customers have standing orders dating back years. Try Sicily’s own pasta alla Norma, made with eggplant, tomato and ricotta, or the spaghetti delle Sirene with sea urchin and shrimp. ristorantedoncamillosiracusa.it

Few things are as enticing as the window of a Sicilian pasticceria, laden with almond cookies and cannoli, as well as a million different jewel-coloured marzipan confections. In Palermo, Pasticceria Oscar 1965 has been crafting delicious treats for almost six decades – which is a mere blink of an eye when you consider that many of these recipes date back to the Arab occupation over a thousand years ago. Don’t leave without trying the little sponge cakes known as minne di Sant’Agata, soaked in rosewater and filled with ricotta and candied fruit. oscar1965.com

From the outside, this restaurant is unassuming. But don’t judge a book by its cover. Only a handful of tables sit on a small piazza and if you venture inside a warm-yellow hued room there are just four to five tables and chairs there, which means that you need to book days in advance to score a seat at this tiny restaurant because it is one of the best restaurants in Taormina, and Sicily. Luca Casablanca has been cooking traditional Sicilian classics here since 2005 and was included in the Michelin guide in 2017.

If you want hearty and wholesome Sicilian cuisine, head to Osteria da Rita, located in the heart of Taormina. The family-run restaurant is one of the best in Sicily and has been plating up traditional dishes since 1991. They don’t take reservations and if you don’t arrive just as they’ve just opened you will have to wait in line, which can get quite long during peak travel periods. Must order items include the spaghetti vongole and eggplant parmigiana.