A hidden gem
Unprepossessing exterior, but a charming interior. Good food; excellent wines; attentive staff. Excellent value.

It was so good we went back all three nights we were in Palermo
The food was delicious and very interesting. The staff were helpful. We had the feeling they were all family. The decor was cozy and attractive. we felt very comfortable every time we visited Cucina Papoff.

A Culinary Gem in Palermo's Theatre and Opera District
Papoff is a Michelin-rated restaurant offering typically Sicilian cuisine and a large wine list in a refined ambience of high stone ceilings crowning sweeping arches. The restaurant is named for the Bulgarian founder of what was originally a bakery in this location during the 19th century. A very welcoming atmosphere, especially on cool autumn and winer evenings. Seafood dishes are popular here, and they're certainly a focal point. The sword fish is a local specialty. Meat dishes are also served. The caponata, a cold salad of eggplant, capers and olives, is among the best in town. Most of these recipes are traditional, part of the fabric of Sicilian history. The maccu, a winter soup made from dried fava beans, is a flash from the past, while the fritella, a springtime mixture of artichokes, green favas and peas, is something still prepared by Sicilian grandmothers.