The story
Bar Dolcezza, a historic Catania pastry shop open since 1984, has earned a devoted following—and a 4.8-star rating—for its surprisingly excellent vegan offerings. The Frama Twins, who have reviewed the café multiple times, call it a “lovely little vegan-friendly café” where the croissants are so soft and full that “you'd never guess they're vegan.” The owners, they note, are “genuinely kind and traditional.”
The café’s plant-based takes on Sicilian classics are the real draw. Their seasonal Vegan D’Oro pandoro “looks and tastes almost identical” to the original but is “much lighter.” For savory street food, the cipollina vegana and siciliana vegana (two for €4.80) are standouts, with the latter’s fried dough earning special praise. It’s a neighborhood spot that proves vegan pastry can be both authentic and irresistible.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2023.
What diners say
Synthesized from 32 Google reviews · tap an aspect for the detail
Bar Dolcezza is a beloved all-vegan spot in Catania, praised for its incredible variety of sweet and savory treats, from creamy gelato and fluffy brioche to arancini and cannoli. Diners consistently highlight the friendly, professional staff and the cozy atmosphere, making it a must-visit for vegans and non-vegans alike. A minor note: a few guests felt the pricing was slightly high for certain items, but this is far outweighed by the overall enthusiasm.
Food Quality & Variety
The food is universally praised for being delicious and light, with an extensive selection of both sweet and savory options. Standouts include vegan arancini, cannoli, brioche, babà, and gelato, often described as 'dreamy' or 'incredible'. Many reviewers note that the vegan versions are indistinguishable from traditional ones.
Service & Atmosphere
Staff are consistently described as kind, friendly, and professional, creating a welcoming environment. The ambiance is relaxed with pleasant music, making it a place where guests can linger and enjoy multiple snacks.
Vegan-Friendly Destination
As a fully vegan establishment, it is celebrated as a rare gem in Catania, offering everything from breakfast pastries to hot meals. Many reviewers call it a 'must-visit' for vegans and recommend it enthusiastically to everyone.
Value
While most find the prices reasonable, a few guests mention that certain items, like gelato, are priced higher than expected. However, this is a minor point against overwhelmingly positive feedback on quality.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 10 dish mentions say about the food
Reviewers rave about the Cornetto alla marmellata, calling it a flaky, jam-filled triumph. The overall vibe is a warm, indulgent embrace of simple, high-quality Italian comfort.
“This vegan cipollina looks and tastes just like the classic one. The pastry is slightly different — a bit drier and paler — but the filling is amazing: lots of onion and really good tomato sauce. It's very substantial inside. You can tell the dough is vegan but it doesn't bother the palate at all. Honestly, it's really good, I'd say it's a solid 8/10.”
“The puff pastry feels slightly different from the classic one, but the inside is loaded with filling and really tasty.”
What creators say
4 creators have covered Bar Dolcezza. Most active: Frama Twins
- Frama TwinsLoved
CIBO VEGANO A CATANIA | DOVE MANGIARE VEGANO A CATANIA | Abbiamo mangiato carne di soia · @ 0:17
A lovely little vegan-friendly café in Catania with excellent pastries — the croissants are soft, full, and you'd never guess they're vegan. Highly recommended by a friend, and we'll definitely return.
Dishes mentioned
- Cappuccino
Cornetto alla Marmellata
I break the jam croissant. The texture is denser than a classic croissant — probably because there's no egg, they use vegetable flour. It's very soft and full. The jam inside explodes in your mouth. This is my favourite so far, the dough is even better than the others.
Treccina alla Crema Bianca
I try the treccina with white cream. It's slightly more flaky — more like puff pastry — and a bit crunchier. The cream is inside, it's less filled than the croissant. You'd never guess it's vegan. It's really good.
Fagottino alla Crema Cioccolata
I try the chocolate cream fagottino. It's still warm. This is good — it tastes like a classic pastry. The puff pastry is thin and crunchy, and inside there's that cream that explodes in your mouth. Beautiful breakfast, I'd come back.
- Frama TwinsLoved
CATANIA FOOD TOUR VEGANO | Street Food Catania Vegano · @ 5:42
A fantastic spot for vegan versions of classic Catania street food — the cipollina and siciliana are both excellent, with the siciliana's fried dough being the standout.
Dishes mentioned
Cipollina Vegana
This vegan cipollina looks and tastes just like the classic one. The pastry is slightly different — a bit drier and paler — but the filling is amazing: lots of onion and really good tomato sauce. It's very substantial inside. You can tell the dough is vegan but it doesn't bother the palate at all. Honestly, it's really good, I'd say it's a solid 8/10.
Siciliana Vegana
This vegan siciliana is amazing. It's nice and oily, the outside is super crunchy, and the inside is like a sponge — so soft. The dough is what blew me away, it's incredibly tasty and well-made. Being fried, it tastes even closer to the traditional version. The filling has tomato and olives, but the cipollina had more filling. Still, the dough here is the star. I'd give it a 9/10.
- Frama TwinsLoved
STREET FOOD VEGANO A CATANIA💚 il miglior cibo vegano catanese #foodtour #catania #food #vegan #veg · @ 0:12
Great for vegan street food, with two savory pastries for €4.80 — the dough is amazing.
Dishes mentioned
Cipollina Vegana
The puff pastry feels slightly different from the classic one, but the inside is loaded with filling and really tasty.
Siciliana Vegana
Beautiful golden color, with tomato and olives inside, and what drove us crazy was the dough for our vegan fit.
- Frama TwinsLoved
PROVO PANDORO VEGANO | Sarà buono? | Dove mangiare a Catania · @ 0:22
Bar Dolcezza is a historic café in Catania, open since 1984, that makes an excellent vegan pandoro called Vegan D'Oro — it looks and tastes almost identical to the classic version but is much lighter, and the owners are genuinely kind and traditional.
Dishes mentioned
Vegan D'Oro
This is a vegan pandoro, so no eggs, no butter, no milk. It looks exactly like a classic pandoro — same shape, same powdered sugar on top. The dough is a bit more yellow than a traditional one, and the bottom is denser while the top is softer. When I taste it, I notice something different from a classic pandoro, maybe the lack of egg gives it a different smell and flavor, but it's still delicious. It feels much lighter than a regular pandoro — you don't get that heavy feeling after eating a slice. The dough is soft and tasty, honestly it doesn't envy the classic version at all. I'd say it's a great option even if you're not vegan.
