Bar Vitelli — Restaurant in Savoca

A wonderful place to be, and even more so if you are a fan of the Godfather. The people are extremely friendly even though they don't speak much English. My wife and I didn't do a tour but did this ourselves by train. However, to get up the the Village of Savaco was a major up hill treck with no taxi of bus near by; we either go back down or....what we did was hitch i hike with the locals who go up and down. An old man gave us both a lift up to the top. He spoke little English but we made small talk. When we got to the top we offered him money and he refused to take it. At the top it was wonderful. Bar Vitelli can be busy but its a nice place to sit and have a meal or have something cold but at a premium price for obvious reason as this was the place Al Pacino as Michael Corleone sat in Godfather 1. The owner is friendly and the service can be slow. There are other places to eat or drink for less if not a fan of the Godfather and the view and walks from the top is brilliant! Worth that trip even though it was a small village and sort of hard to get to. Again, we had trouble getting a taxi down; we asked the local where we could get a taxi. He told us that you may need call for one at the nearby cafe... but then told us to hold on whilst he asks if any one of the locals was going down. One young lady was and she was more than happy to give us a lift down, she spoke English and she didn't take any money from us once...

Visiting Bar Vitelli felt like stepping into a slice of film history. This small café-bar in the village of Savoca is famous for being a filming location from The Godfather, and when I walked in, I could almost hear the scene of Michael Corleone asking for Apollonia’s hand.

I ordered a simple coffee and sat outside on the small terrace, taking in the rustic charm of the village and the old-world vibe of the bar. The interior is adorned with photographs and memorabilia from the movie set, which definitely adds a nostalgic touch.

However, I must say the experience was mixed. The setting is unique and worth it if you’re a film fan or exploring Sicily’s history, but I found the prices surprisingly high for what you get. Some reviewers mention coffees or granitas at elevated prices given the local standard. The atmosphere felt a bit staged—lots of tourists, a sense of “photo stop” more than “local hangout”.

In the end, I’m glad I went—just go in with tempered expectations. The charm of Bar Vitelli is in the aura and the memory, not necessarily in gourmet quality or value. If you’re passing through Savoca, it’s a memorable stop; if you’re after the best bar experience in Sicily, you might find...

Yes, the famous bar from the famous Godfather movie. If you came to Savoca because of this, you will be thrilled to visit this establishment and won't mind paying exorbitant prices for coffee and food. There is also a small exposition inside containing some pictures and, supposedly, film props. The staff was actually quite nice, swift and attentive, and helping tourists to take pictures at the entrance. The place is well maintained and cosy if you don't mind the number of tourists coming and going. Unlike in the movie, the outside sitting area is now covered by vegetation, so if you want to take a look at the iconic entrance you HAVE to get inside, which means getting a table, which means having something expensive to drink or to eat. However, its not only this cafe but the whole town is riding the Godfather wave (which is a shame as this beautiful town and its surroundings have much more to offer). Regardless, if the only thing you are after is coffee or dessert, you are better off anywhere else, paying a third of the price...