
Ristorante Don Camillo - Ortigia - Siracusa
An elegant, family-run Sicilian restaurant in Ortigia, famed for its creative seafood and historic ambiance.

Highlights
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Ristorante Don Camillo - Ortigia - Siracusa

Highlights
Must-see attractions
An elegant, family-run Sicilian restaurant in Ortigia, famed for its creative seafood and historic ambiance.
"Indulge in a culinary adventure with fresh seafood and inspired creativity at this renowned establishment."
Book Online
Easily secure your table by making a reservation online in advance.
Tasting Menu Recommended
Opt for a tasting menu for an exceptional dining experience, often with wine pairings.

Quick Facts
Cuisine
Sicilian / Italian
Price
$$$
Phone
+39 0931 67133
Address
Via della Maestranza, 96, 96100 Siracusa SR, Italy
Website
ristorantedoncamillo.it/Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Culinary Adventure
Embark on a creative seafood journey with classic Sicilian dishes. Experience inspired innovation that delights the palate.

Elegant Ambiance
Dine within 15th-century tufa walls, surrounded by antique furnishings, wine bottles, and vintage sketches.

Exquisite Tasting Menus
Indulge in meticulously crafted tasting menus starting at €75, offering a comprehensive culinary experience.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Book Online
Easily secure your table by making a reservation online in advance.
Tasting Menu Recommended
Opt for a tasting menu for an exceptional dining experience, often with wine pairings.
Allow Ample Time
Plan for a leisurely meal; the restaurant suggests a two-hour dining experience to savor each course.
Tips
from all over the internet
Book Online
Easily secure your table by making a reservation online in advance.
Tasting Menu Recommended
Opt for a tasting menu for an exceptional dining experience, often with wine pairings.
Allow Ample Time
Plan for a leisurely meal; the restaurant suggests a two-hour dining experience to savor each course.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Ristorante Don Camillo is highly praised for its creative, fresh seafood dishes and elegant, historic ambiance. Diners often laud the top-notch service and extensive wine list, making it ideal for special occasions. However, a few reviews mention an "underwhelming experience" or "pretentious food" and "arrogant" staff, suggesting inconsistency.
"Was invited to this restaurant for dinner during the family vacation in Ortigia and I was blown away by it!
Knowing the price tag, I had high expectations coming in and Don Camillo delivered.
We took the fixed menu (the menu made of classic dishes of this restaurant). Each dish had its unique characteristics, a perfect balance between tastes, texture and presentation.
The one that impressed me the most was the “langoustine sushi” (not the actual name of the dish): it came in a form of sushi but filled with langoustine meats wrapped around black inked pasta.
The food was excellent overall and will leave wondering why it is not a Michelin starred restaurant.
I’d highly recommend this restaurant if you would like to indulge yourself in a culinary adventure while visiting Ortigia!"
Harry
"Very easy to make a reservation online.
The place has a very comprehensive international wine list.
You have to choose a matching tasting menu, probably if you order "a la carte" things are different. We chose the Artemide menu, matching wines glass are supplementary 70-80 euro per pax.
Everything was excellent, as you would expect, The chef greets his guests as a plus.
Clean, well maintained, tasteful place. I recommend for a nice lunch and/or dinner with close friends and loved one(s), but I am sure they can accomodate larger groups."
Iulian Stoicescu
"We came because of Don Camillo’s reputation and we will come back because it’s all true!! This is one of a very few places that makes a fantastic dirty martini! For dinner we had beef cheek, beef ravioli, beef sirloin, black shrimp, and delicious chocolate and pistachio cream desserts. Every dish was flavoured perfectly! Suggest a visit and bring your appetite with you 😋"
Gail
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations can be easily made online for convenience.
Consider choosing a tasting menu for an exceptional dining experience, as it highlights the chef's creativity.
Given the upscale nature of the restaurant, smart casual attire is recommended.
Dishes like the 'spaghetti delle Sirene' with sea urchin and shrimp, and creative seafood preparations are highly praised.
While not explicitly stated, inform the staff of any dietary needs when booking or ordering.
Yes, its elegant ambiance and high-quality cuisine make it ideal for special celebrations.
The restaurant is considered upscale, with tasting menus starting around €75-€80 excluding wine.
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A gracious series of delicately arched rooms at this beloved local eatery are lined with wine bottles and sepia-tone images of the old town. À la carte preparations bring together fresh seafood and inspired creativity: sample, for instance, the sublime spaghetti delle Sirene (with sea urchin and shrimp in butter) or cod with saffron from the Ibleian hills with a courgette puree. If you want, you can put yourself in the hands of the chef and opt for one of the exquisite tasting menus, which start at €80 excluding wine.
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A small, family-run restaurant, Don Camillo was born in 1985, the brainchild of Camillo and John Guarneri. Don Camillo has become an institution, known for its quality. The rooms are made from the remains of a church that collapsed in the 1693 earthquake, and the medieval structure, lined with wine bottles and images of old Siracusa, is filled with locals.
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This Syracuse institution, right in the heart of Ortigia’s buttermilk antiquity, is an elegant old timer, with bags of vaulted ceiling and wrought iron chandelier character. Diners inspect the catches of the day amid the 15th century, uplit tufa walls, stacked wine bottles and vintage sketches. It’s worth noting that there’s a two-course rule here – far from a scoff-and-dash haunt before ticking off San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata, Don Camillo demands a good two hours of your day to fully appreciate each mouthful of Chef Guarneri’s reliably classic, fish-focused Sicilian menu.
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Established in 1985 and helmed by Chef Guarneri, Don Camillo in Syracuse is a family-run gem that embodies the essence of contemporary Sicilian cuisine, making it one of the best restaurants in Sicily. Step into an era of timeless elegance, where ancient 15th-century tufa walls, antique wood furnishings, and an exquisite wrought-iron chandelier create an ambiance of refined charm. With four distinct menus to tantalize your taste buds, Don Camillo offers an exceptional culinary journey through the diverse flavors of Sicily.
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Don Camillo is another high-end restaurant with a gorgeous interior setting – a wine cellar type feel, a bit more grand and elegant than its neighbors. The service is good, the food is refined and tasty, the portions are not huge but flavorful. Don Camillo boasts a great wine cellar with a wonderful selection of Sicilian, Italian and international wines, and the sommelier will be happy to help you select the perfect one for your meal.
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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.
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Ristorante Don Camillo: Situated near the waterfront, Ristorante Don Camillo is known for its refined Sicilian cuisine and stunning views of the sea. The menu combines traditional dishes with modern interpretations, offering options like pasta alla Norma, grilled fish, and a range of fresh, seasonal ingredients. The elegant setting and top-notch service make it ideal for a special dining experience.
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Forty years since its opening, Giovanni Guarnieri continues to invest in quality and innovation. The constant is a deep knowledge of raw ingredients; the distinguishing features are the techniques and pairings that mix Sicilian traditions with international ones. Don’t miss the iconic “sirens’ spaghetti” with prawns and sea urchins.
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This Syracuse institution, right in the heart of Ortigia’s buttermilk antiquity, is an elegant old timer, with bags of character. Diners inspect the catches of the day amid the 15th century tufa walls, stacked wine bottles and vintage sketches. It’s worth noting that there’s a two-course rule here – far from a scoff-and-dash haunt.
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It develops new culinary customs within traditional Sicilian recipes and uses ingredients produced locally. Since its opening in 1985, the head chef and founder of the restaurant, Giovanni Guarneri, has been fascinated with the history of cooking, and creates every new dish with an echo of its past traditions.
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Don Camillo is an old-school restaurant at its very best, with stone arches, linen tablecloths, impeccable service and outstanding food and wine. Instagram: Don Camillo. Location: Via della Maestanza 96
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