The story
Nestled in the small town of Saponara Marittima near Messina, Shalaie is a three-generation bar that has become a local institution. With a solid 4.3-star rating, this spot specializes in traditional Sicilian granitas and old-school coffee preparations, drawing in both regulars and visitors seeking an authentic breakfast experience.
As creator Salvo Guarneri notes, the granitas here are “beautifully decorated with seeds” and come in classic chocolate, pistachio, and an especially noteworthy coffee with cream. The latter features coffee “boiled the old-fashioned way” and a richer cream that is “perfect for dipping brioche.” It’s a simple, time-honored ritual that keeps this family-run gelateria buzzing every morning.
Synthesised by AI from every creator’s review. First reviewed 2023.
Most-loved dishes
AI summary of what 3 dish mentions say about the food
At Shalaie, the Granita al cioccolato earns rapturous praise for its icy, deep-chocolate intensity, creating a refreshingly elegant finish. The overall vibe is one of understated, confident simplicity, where each dish feels like a quiet revelation.
“The chocolate granita gets a special mention — the cocoa is really high quality and the cream is soft, a bit richer than in other parts. It's decorated with cocoa beans on top.”
What creators say
1 creator has covered Shalaie. Most active: Salvo Guarneri
- Salvo GuarneriLoved
PROVO L'ORIGINALE GRANITA MESSINESE pt. 2 su IG salvo_guarneri #granita #sicilia · @ 0:06
A three-generation granita spot near Messina where the granitas are beautifully decorated with seeds, the coffee is boiled the old-fashioned way, and the cream is richer — perfect for dipping brioche.
Dishes mentioned
Granita al Cioccolato
The chocolate granita gets a special mention — the cocoa is really high quality and the cream is soft, a bit richer than in other parts. It's decorated with cocoa beans on top.
Granita al Caffè con Panna
The queen of Messina granitas: the coffee granita with cream. They told me it's special here because the recipe for boiling the coffee is done the old-fashioned way. It's perfect for dipping the brioche.
Granita al Pistacchio
The pistachio granita is super creamy but more liquid — because in Messina they like to dip the brioche in it. It's decorated with pistachio seeds on top.
