Catania has a strong café and bar culture, anchored by the university and the long, warm evenings. The classic move is a granita and brioche for breakfast (the pistachio or almond granita is the city standard), a coffee mid-morning, an aperitivo before dinner, and a final passeggiata gelato afterwards.
Piazza Università and the small streets just off it are the main aperitivo zone. The waterfront strip around the Ognina marina north-east of the centre is busier and louder, with the city's clubs. San Berillo, the half-demolished quarter east of Via Etnea, has the most interesting independent bars — small, late, and with a strong arts crowd.
Prestipino, Via Etnea 30, has been the city's classic café since the nineteenth century — pastries, granita, and the gold-standard cannoli filled to order. Spinella, Via Etnea 300, is the other historic café, with notable arancini.
Vermouth, Via Gemmellaro 36, in San Berillo, is the best of the independent aperitivo bars — small list, very Sicilian. Razmataz, Via Montesano 17, is a long-running music bar in the same quarter.