One Sweet Stop in Noto: Caffé Sicilia
A travel story and guide to Caffé Sicilia, a historic, family-run café in Noto, Sicily — famous for its granita, gelato, and slow-crafted desserts. Discover why it’s worth a stop (or two) on your trip.
Since 1892, Caffè Sicilia has been a pillar of tradition, flavor, and family legacy in the baroque town of Noto. This fourth-generation, family-run café isn’t just a place for a quick espresso — it’s a destination in itself. And if you ask me, it might just serve the best granita in Sicily.
A sweet spread: Sicilian granita, cannoli and brioche — all made in-house.
A Town Build for Wandering
Noto, located in southeastern Sicily, is a masterpiece of Baroque architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The town is filled with golden limestone buildings, wide boulevards, and sun-soaked streets.
It’s the kind of place where life moves slowly — where every corner invites you to stop, look up, and take it in. And right in the heart of it all sits Caffé Sicilia, a must-visit for anyone who appreciates craftsmanship, tradition, and very, very good desserts.
The Caffé Sicilia sign, proudly welcoming guests on Corso Vittorio Emanuele in Noto.
Caffé Sicilia: A Story in Every Bite
Located along Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Caffé Sicilia is a cultural landmark and a culinary treasure. The Assenza family has been running the café since 1892, with pastry chef Corrado Assenza now at the helm, bringing global attention to local Sicilian ingredients and age-old techniques. You might recognize the name from the Netflix series Chef’s Table, but despite the fame, it still feels local, loved, and entirely grounded.
What sets this place apart is not just the quality of what they serve — but the heart behind it. You can taste the care in every bite.
Behind the bar — fresh orange juice, friendly faces, and the feeling of being a regular, even on your first visit.
Granita, Cannoli, and Everything Else
When I visited with my mom, we basically planned our day around how many times we could come back here. One stop for granita, brioche and cannoli. Another for espresso and gelato. Maybe a third just to marvel at the pastry counter again.
Everything is incredibly good — the kind of good that makes you pause mid-bite. The ingredients are local. The recipes are timeless. And everything feels like its own little love letter to Sicily.
Pro tip: To recognize real, high-quality gelato, look for flat, understated presentation — often hidden in covered steel tins. The over-styled piles you see in touristy spots? Usually not the real deal.
House-made gelato — from classic pistachio to seasonal flavours.
Planning a Visit?
There’s something special about places like this — where food meets feeling, where craft meets comfort. Caffé Sicilia is more than a café. It’s a reason to return to Noto.
Caffè Sicilia
Corso Vittorio Emanuele 125, Noto, Italy 96017
Open most days from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. — but check google maps for current hours.
⇾ View Caffè Sicilia on Google Maps
⇾ Follow @caffe_sicilia_noto on Instagram.
Caffé Sicilia, marked with its historic roots — “Noto dal 1892” — a family legacy in every detail.
Still Collecting Places
This guide will keep growing — and I’ll keep sharing more as I go. Cafés, markets, creative corners and stays that feel like postcards come to life.
Got a place you think I’d love? Send me a note @journeyed.co or through the contact page.
— Jessica
Places I've Loved Staying In — Indonesia Edition
This is a collection of places that felt like something more than just a bed for the night. Stays that made me pause, breathe deeper, and remember why I love to travel.
If you’re someone who values detail, beauty, local connection, and that quiet feeling of belonging — even just for a little while — this guide is for you.
This is a collection of places that felt like something more than just a bed for the night. These are homes away from home — places that made me pause, breathe deeper, and remember why I love to travel.
They held space. Told stories. Fed me, creatively and emotionally. And if you’re someone who values detail, beauty, local connection, and that quiet feeling of belonging — even just for a little while — this guide is for you.
Bali is full of beautiful hotels, guesthouses, and villas — here are a few of my favourites so far.
1. Bandido – Bingin, Bali
No wonder my dog used to wander in daily. Bandido feels like a stay you dreamed up with your most creative friends over a long dinner, and then actually built.
Bamboo villas. Thoughtful curves. An open kitchen that practically demands you slow-cook something barefoot. Created by a group of friends (and their dog Bandida), each villa is named after their mothers — which tells you everything you need to know about the warmth of this place.
Think open-air spaces, natural textures, local art, and soft angles made for slow days and gathering nights.
What I love most is how alive the space feels, like it’s designed for connection — lazy mornings by the pool and conversations that stretch far beyond what you expected. Trendy, yes — but deeply rooted in Bali, in community and in craft.
If this place was a person: Warm, wildly creative, wearing a perfectly worn-in T-shirt and some saltwater. The kind of friend who throws a dinner party just because it’s Tuesday.
Location: Bingin, Bali
Open-air bamboo villas and slow gatherings at Bandido, Bingin. Follow @bandidobali for more.
2. Roots Tree House — Ungasan, Bali
Yes, actual treehouses. But also, full comfort. Roots is hidden in lush Ungasan, surrounded by birdsong and just the right kind of stillness. You enter through a round door that feels like a storybook — but the kind designed for grownups with a soft heart and a travel itch.
Each treehouse is unique and every corner is intentional: textured interiors, hand-build structures, filtered light. You wake up naturally, You feel calm. Roots is made for for slow mornings and early nights.
There’s a yoga shala, a peaceful pool area, and just enough company without ever losing your solitude.
If this place were a person: Nature-loving, journal nearby, always awake at sunrise. The kind of friend who brings herbal tea and never rushes your quiet.
Location: Ungasan, Bali
A quiet hideaway in the nature, where you can hear yourself think. Follow @rootstreehouse for more.
3. La Joya Biu Biu — Balangan, Bali
Cliffside calm and saltwater dreams. La Joya is a peaceful, tucked-away retreat built of stone, silence, and stunning views.
I stayed in the cliff-front bungalow with a private pool — and It felt like waking up mid-dream. The pool drops away into endless sky, and below, a private beach waits if you’re up for the climb.
The design is rustic and rooted in Bali style: natural textures, open-air spaces, and big, breezy rooms. There’s an ocean-view spa (no joke — the best massage I’ve ever had), generous pool areas, and cliffside dining that includes delicious BBQ nights under the stars.
It’s romantic, grounded, and serene — made for honeymooners and solo dreamers alike.
If this place were a person: Sun-kissed, sarong-wrapped, always chasing golden hour — and the kind of friend who never says no to a sunset cocktail.
Location: Balangan, Bali
Cliffside calm, sunsets, and a secret beach below. Follow @lajoyabiubiubali for more.
4. La Siesta Bungalow — Gili Air, Lombok
Tucked between sandy paths and papaya trees, La Siesta feels like an island secret. Cozy teak wood bungalows, soft white cotton curtains, and an open-air bathroom with a bathtub nestled among green plants — everything about this stay invites you to exhale.
It’s beautifully designed, simple yet intentional. Butterfly pea flowers bloom in the garden. The pool invites you for a dip in the midday sun. Cows roam just outside the hotel. And you? You’re somewhere between a morning coffee and an afternoon siesta.
Gili Air has no cars, no scooters — just bikes, horses and time. And this little stay fits right in.
If this place was a person: Rested, soft-eyed, always offering coffee and a quiet place to sit. The kind of friend who reminds you to slow down and stay a little longer than planned.
Location: Gili Air, Lombok
Soft light, teak bungalows and that kind of stillness you don’t want to leave. Follow @lasiestagiliair for more.
Still Collecting Places
If you ever find yourself nearby, I hope one of these places gives you something, too. Maybe rest. Maybe inspiration. Maybe just one really good morning.
This guide will keep growing — and I’ll keep sharing more as I go. Cafés, markets, creative corners and stays that feel like postcards come to life.
Got a place you think I’d love? Send me a note @journeyed.co or through the contact page.
— Jessica