The 10 Tastings Of Palermo With Locals: Private Food Tour

If you love food and history, don’t miss this tour. Experience the variety of foods that the locals eat and you will love them as well.

We had a fantastic food tour of Palermo with Dario. What made the experience so good was that this was much more than simply walking around and trying different foods. Dario made a point of showing us the food of Palermo rather than just “Sicilian food,” and he used what we were eating to tell the story of the city. He explained Sicily’s incredible agricultural history, its importance as a breadbasket of the Roman Empire, and the influences that later came from the Arabs and the many other cultures that have occupied the island. He is extremely knowledgeable, but equally important, he is funny and knows how to tell the stories without making the tour feel like a history lesson. We started near Porta Carini and walked through Mercato del Capo, trying crocchè and panelle made from chickpea flour. We had stigghiola—grilled intestines—in Vucciria, arancine at Ke Palle, and eventually the famous Palermo spleen sandwich, pani câ meusa. I can’t say the spleen sandwich was our favorite thing we ate, but I’m very glad Dario had us try it! We finished with a wonderful cannolo and espresso. The pacing was excellent throughout. We never felt rushed, but we also never stood around wondering what was next. Dario knew exactly where to go, what we should try, and the history and story behind each thing we ate. We came away having eaten extremely well, laughed a lot, and—most importantly—understanding Palermo and its food much better than we did when we started. If you are visiting Palermo, I would absolutely recommend spending a few hours with Dario. This was one of the highlights of our time here.

Dario was a cool and experienced foodie tour guide. Very casual and friendly to talk with. You can tell he is very passionate about the food of Palermo … and he wants to make sure guests experience that passion and authenticity. He was able to educate us on the history of the area and the origins of the food from the region. We liked the fact that he did not stick to the safe stereotypical foods, and he challenged us to try new unique tastes that were special to the culture here. Be prepared for lots of walking through central Palermo, but the frequent stops to sample the local cuisine will help you rest your feet. We loved the street food market! Final suggestion … take the tour with Dario and show up with an empty tummy, because you will be full after all the food.

What a fantastic Guide! Dario was passionate about food and his city of Palermo and imparted a wealth of information to us. The Street food tour is such a fantastic way to begin our trip through Sicily, which is very different to the rest of Italy. We are so happy we did this on the evening we arrived. The food we ate was nothing that one finds in Ristorante’s in the country so I suggest this for every visitor in Sicily for the first time

4 of us did the 10 Tastings of Palermo tour with Gaetano. It was our 1st visit to the city and wanted to try authentic tastings while getting an intro to the layout of the old town and hear some stories. The street market was amazing - we would never have tried out so many things if alone. Also Gaetano gave wider recommendations about places to visit. We enjoyed Gaetano’s friendly and knowledgable company. I highly recommend the tour - but don’t have much breakfast beforehand!

Our family of 10 “foodies” unanimously rated this a top experience in Palermo! Dario opened our eyes to all the local favorites and we enjoyed his stories and humor all along the walking/tasting tour. We even went back to many of the places we tasted with Dario the next day on our own! Would highly recommend him and this tour to anyone stopping in Palermo!

Luca was such a great guy. So knowledgeable and very friendly. Very flexible on where to go and what to eat. Luca’s suggestions were perfect. We learnt so much and enjoyed it immensely. There is so much history to learn about, we will be back and embarking on another tour with Luca. Thank you. Most enjoyable day out!

Luca was incredible! Such a great tour, filled amazing food and a bit of history - which we greatly appreciated. Luca was knowledgeable, friendly and very kind.

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our food tour with Luca. Luca gave us an opportunity to try the different foods of Palermo, while providing us with some history of the area. He worked around our schedule and we were able to taste some of the best foods from reputable vendors. I would recommend Luca to everyone.

Delicious food with an informative history lesson on Palermo. Touring the market with a local is a smart way to jump in and eat foods you are not familiar with. Exceptional afternoon spent with Gaetano who shared family stories which gives you a greater understanding this culture. Highly recommended.

Luca made our first experience with Sicily delicious and educational! We love how he presented such a balanced history of the area. It's always best leaning from a local. He also paid special attention to make sure all of the tastings worked with our requirements and desires. Would highly recommend for anyone willing to do a little walking at an easy pace with nicely spaced tastings.

Had the absolute pleasure of experiencing the '10 Tastings of Palermo', guided by the incomparable Dario. From the markets to the hidden locations, this tour is as authentic as it gets. Dario’s passion for Sicilian culture and food shines through as he leads you through vibrant streets, sharing fascinating history and insights with every step. Indulging in the delightful flavors of arancini, canoli, gelato, caponata, grilled meat, pasta and much more, you truly get a taste of Sicily. A must-do for anyone seeking to immerse themselves in the heart and soul of Palermo. Highly recommended! 🇮🇹🍝🍦

Started with a beautiful day! Dario met us at predetermined location. We started out promptly with our first tasting, sfincionello from a street vendor. Toured the market with all the fresh produce, seafood and more. Had tastings of potato dumpling, arancini with meat and cheese, panelle and more!

We were a little down on Palermo until we met Dario. He completely changed our impression, fabulous food knowledge and historical information on Palermo. Highlighted the subtle differences between foods from either coast.

We had a nice time on our Palermo With Locals food walking tour with Dario. The variety of foods was plentiful, and we got to see a lot of the city. Would’ve liked a little more time at the market to shop, as we didn’t see anywhere else to shop after that. Luckily I was able to quickly grab some spices and sun-dried tomatoes! We found souvenirs and food related items were incredibly inexpensive in Palermo versus other stops on our cruise. Dario was very friendly and showed us lots of yummy new things! Thank you!

The food was amazing and the stops selected were well chosen by Gaetano. I love strolling the markets of Palermo. Bring your appetite!

To say that Michelangelo was an excellent would be such an understatement it would be insulting. Booking this tour with him was by far the best decision I could have made for my single day in Palermo (and I deeply regret only giving myself one day here). I had the joy of booking Michelangelo all to myself and it truly felt like I’d hired a friend for the day to show me around rather than a stranger. He read my adventurous vibe right out of the gate, always discussed the ingredients and my thoughts about trying something new, gave me the opportunity to have small portions so I could try as many things as possible before feeling so full I was going to burst, and was conscious of my desire not to waste food where possible. He gave great recommendations but also let me pursue food interests outside those recommendations and he pushed me to try new things in a friendly, no-pressure way. He took more circuitous routes when I expressed an interest in history and architecture, and never rushed me to eat faster or made me feel awkward about eating while someone watched you lol. We spent an amazing afternoon having out, eating great food, talking about travel, recommendations, culture, language, and whatever else came to mind. I had time after the tour to explore more of the city and by that point I felt like I had so much more context for the people and sights, and was so comfortable, that I was dancing around the city (sometimes literally - no regrets!) jamming out on my AirPods and taking photos for several hours while I walked off all the food. I could not recommend spending an afternoon with Michelangelo highly enough! Come with an open mind for new food and an about stomach and you will have a brilliant and unique experience in this gorgeous city. Thank you so much Michelangelo for spending such an amazing day with me! I loved every moment of it! (Even that really weird kinda-gross soda that you like. Upon further reflection, I stand by my assessment that it’s not awful, it is drinkable, but man is it a weird-bitter-sweet flavor!) Until we meet again, ciao!

Dario was a perfect companion with whom to explore Palermo,- funny, interesting, passionate and knowledgeable. Our time together sped past as we learnt not only about local food specialities but also about Sicilian wines, history, religion, culture etc. We would highly recommend Dario as a guide. He is brilliant!

Luca was more than happy to let us try some amazing foods. We mentioned we hadn't tried prickly pears so he made sure we were able to taste some (they are really delicious). He explained the areas we walked through and their history and how Palermo has really morphed over the last 15 years. We all had a better appreciation for the food and culture of this really diverse city.

We had a great tour with Luca who is knowledgeable and passionate about his city sharing the history, culture and dynamics of the people. He adjusted the tour to our interest, was personable, considerate, and informative. The tour took us to several active markets with a lot of options and a good variety as well. We had some tasty local street foods and desserts in a church with interesting history. Overall really enjoyed our experience - thank you Luca.

We met with Dario in a central spot, and immediately were immersed in the sounds and aromas of the market! He not only provided us with great Palermo specialities from multiple markets, but he explained the dish and what made it special to the location. A very easy going person, friendly, funny, and with enough sass for our family! Loved our day!

Dario was awesome, we couldn’t have asked for a better guide for our street food tour. His passion for the food and history of his city added to the experience. The food tastings were delicious & Dario switched things up for us when he realised we had a few seafood lovers in our group! Dario’s english was exceptional and was happy to answer all of our questions and give us tips for the remainder of our stay. This was the perfect start to our Palermo/Sicily trip.

My family and I had an incredible afternoon with Dario touring the streets of Palermo, visiting numerous spots and trying dishes that we would not have found on our own. In addition to sharing his love for the food and his hometown, he would provide tips on how to cook something similar at home. Our conversations were engaging, educational and entertaining. Along with the many stories about Palermo, its past and present, we also spoke about Dario's time in the UK working in Michelin star kitchens for 11 years. His passion for food and Palermo was palpable, and I strongly recommend booking with him.

Dario was great fun and had a lot of great insight into delicacies local to Palermo, including some items we never expected to taste! Would definitely recommend if you are looking for a private introduction on how to eat well in Palermo.

Dario was very informative, friendly and knowledgeable. Lead us to food and experiences we would have never found on our own. Highly recommended for a wonderful visit to Palermo.

We had a great food tour experience with Dario - he took us to all the authentic spots in Palmero and the food was 10/10! Would definitely recommend using Dario to get a well rounded taste of the best foods in Palermo.

There is so much history to learn and so much to see. Gaetano was a wealth of knowledge from food, to the culture, to history. I felt that we were provided the opportunity to taste many Sicilian dishes as well as proper ways to eat these foods. Make sure you bring your appetite. The weather may not have been the best but Gaetano made the experience well worth it. Grazie!!

Dario was a amazing and took his time to explain the small details. We couldn't believe how fast time flew by as we ate really good food. The mini tour of the city is also A+

Me and my wife came on our honeymoon to Palermo and started it off with an incredible food tour with Dario. The dishes we tasted were not only incredibly tasty but deeply engrained within the culture and history of Palermo which Dario confidently and easily explained to us as we explored the beautiful city and it's markets. This tour will leave you so stuffed to the brim you'll be ready for an incredible happy food coma. Thank you for your incredible tour Dario and starting off our holiday in such a brilliant manner

To start with the positive, we had a pleasant afternoon and were able to try several dishes we probably wouldn’t haven’t picked out ourselves. Our guide also gave some good insider tips for restaurants to eat at, several of which we followed up during the rest of our trip and enjoyed. BUT we were overall disappointed in the experience, particularly considering we paid over €450 for our group to take this tour. To begin with, we booked the latest tour available at 2:30 due to our travel plans, as we arrived in Palermo that morning. However, we found that a lot of the market stalls were already closing during our tour (so why allow people to book at this time?) . There were a few times our guide told us about a nice market or shop we were going to, only to find it was closed when we arrived. Our guide was friendly and personable, but we felt he was underprepared. For that price, we expected the tour to be really well planned and informative. However, the guide instead asked us often what we wanted to do, which food we wanted to try, which direction we wanted to go. I got the sense he was trying to be flexible to our needs, but really what we wanted was someone to actually guide us and teach us, particularly as we had only been in Sicily for a few hours (which we did say…). We had expected from other reviews that we might be told about the city and its history along the way, but actually there was a lot of silence while walking in between stops and the guide only pointed out a few small things. Overall, this was a very expensive tour and it did not live up to that price for us. After spending over €450 for the tour, the food we received was only around €30 in total (having seen the guide pay at each stop, most things purchased for the whole group were only €2-3). Drinks were also not included, even though you can buy an aperol spritz at the market for €2.50. Long story short, we had a decent time on the tour and were able to try some new things. But it felt like a tour that cost half the price we paid, so we walked away feeling we’d made a poor choice.

Dario was easy going, organized and led us around historic Palermo with delicious street food and a bit of history. His English was excellent and he was warm and welcome - totally recommend him for a relaxed, enjoyable tour! We went as a couple, but he would be a great choice for any kind of group - friends, kids, etc.

Gaetano’s very knowledgeable and is a very friendly tour guide. Fantastic food tour of Palermo by him. His profound knowledge in the culture and history of the Italian food makes him an asset to this tour company

Gaetano was a great guide, his knowledge of Palermo and it's history and why food is so important to Sicilians was unbeatable. We wish we had taken notes. All the food and drink we sampled was of high quality and gave us a good idea of what to look for on menus. We came away feeling full of food and the stories behind the dishes. A great experience.

Best day great food great time he was more than informative. I highly recommend him the food was great. The tour was wonderful.

We had a wonderful time with Dario. It was truly like walking and eating with a friend. He knows the best spots for delicious street food and provided so much information on the history and culture of Palermo. Highly recommend!

Arrived to the meeting place at the appointed time, however the guide did not show up, when we txted him he said the trip had been cancelled, we did not cancel

Fabrizia was the perfect guide for an amazing afternoon experiencing all that Palermo has to offer. She shared all her favorite foods at her favorite local spots while ensuring our specific desires were met. Her knowledge of this beautiful city and its hidden gems can’t be beat. I recommend Fabrizia to anyone wanting a personalized experience while learning about Palermo and it’s incredible cuisine.

Michaelangelo was very knowledgeable of the area, specialty stores/restaurants and tailored the stops to our preferences. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would highly recommend this tour and especially Michaelangelo to all that visit!

We had a fantastic three hours with Luca on our tour. Luca got in touch prior to meeting so we would have his number- great communication! Luca was very knowledgeable and shared many interesting facts about food and Palermo, we really enjoyed the experience- and would recommend - thank you Luca 😊

Had an amazing tour with Dario. He was very knowledgeable and helped us immerse ourselves in the food and culture of Palermo. The food we had was terrific, and we were stuffed by the end. Definitely recommend.

Dario will make sure you have a great time while enjoying the amazing food and culture of Palermo. Highly recommended.

We had such a great tour of Palermo with Karolina as our guide. It was the right balance between tastings delicious food and information about the city. We got to experience things that we would have missed if we explored the city on our own. After the tour Karolina quickly answered any questions we had and recommended things to do.

My wife and I took a private tour with Luka and could not have been happier. His English was fluent, easy to understand, and full of vivid adjectives to describe the city. His passion for Palermo was evident, which only added to the experience. The food was some of the best I’ve ever tasted (make sure you get Granita!) and we felt like we really saw a lot of the city. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, especially English speaking visitors. Luka dropped us a pin, making it easy to find him. He was right where he said he would be, when he said he would be and even walked us back to our car after the tour to make sure we made it back ok. 10/10

Great walking / food tour in Palermo. Luca was fantastic….born and raised in town and had a wealth of knowledge on the history and food of the region Great tour to start a trip and tour the city

We had a wonderful time with Luca! He took us all through the city sharing facts and interesting information while guiding us to some of the best food spots in Palermo! He ensured we ate “authentically” and personalized the experience for what worked for us. It was a hot day but it passed by fast with all the fun we had! Definitely arrive on an empty stomach - we ate a lot!

We met Luca in the late afternoon of our first day in Palermo. We had walked up and down the city with our teenagers and I must confess that I was fearing another 3-hours walking tour. Luca made it so lively, interesting and tasty that none of us realized that we had walked for so long! We had tons of stories and many different things to taste, each time from the best local food stores. He gave us a lot of good tips for the rest of our stay -fantastic breakfast place, by the way;-) and the tour can be tailor-made if you have any specific wish. The tour really was the most impacting activity of our one-week stay in West Sicily. Thank you again Luca. It will be a real pleasure to book the tour again with you if we come back to Palermo

Luca was great. He is knowledgeable, personable and a pleasure to spend time with. We had a private tour and we were able to take our time, ask questions and be flexible. We learned a great deal about Sicilian traditions, history and food. It was an amazing tour with lots of walking, great local food and lots of learning.

What a brilliant start to our time in Sicily. Fabrizia was charming, knowledgeable and a realistic excellent guide. We saw and tried all sorts of different street food and local dishes. No hesitation in recommending her to anyone wanting a great way to see Palermo as well as eat very well!

Our family of 5 just recently toured the Palermo food scene with Dario. He was entertaining, very knowledgeable, and added a ton of color to the history of food, which we felt was really important. What a great guide! We went back to the places he took us the day before. Try to do this tour near your first days. You won’t regret it! Helpful hint: take pictures of the places with an iPhone. When you review the pics hit the “I” and it will give you the exact location so you can go back! You will want to go back