The best bars and nightlife in Sicily

May 2024 · 7 minute read

Nightlife in Sicily manner, by means of and massive, nightlife in Sicilian cities, or their beachside satellites. Catania arguably boasts the island's most colourful music scene, closely adopted by Palermo, where the annual summer Ypsigrock festival is more or less like a Sicilian Glastonbury.

Outside of a couple of cookie-cutter Euro dance golf equipment, the vintage Sicilian nightlife hub is the bar, in various guises from extravagant cocktail joints to humble neighbourhood meeting puts, where summer time refreshment comes in conventional bureaucracy. Is there anything else higher than a selfmade granita di mandorla (iced almond water) in a piazza nonetheless buzzing with village lifestyles in the dark?

For further Sicily inspiration, see our guides to the island's best hotels, restaurants, beaches and things to do.

Nautoscopio


Nautoscopio is a beach hut bar that brings an excessively special seashore vibe right to the middle of Palermo. You can front room on the sand all day, eat nice fishy rapid meals and watch giant ships sail via the harbour. But stick around till after darkish and the temper adjustments: candles are lit on port-side tables, and reside bands and DJs get going. There's dancing on the sand, a lot imbibing of (now not always very spectacular) cocktails and perfectly quaffable Sicilian wines. 

Contact: 00 39 366 5409382; facebook.com/nautoscopioarte
Prices: £

Nautoscopio is a seaside hut bar that brings a very particular beach vibe proper to the heart of Palermo


If Italy's foodie bible, Gambero Rosso, once named this friendly venue with a cool, vintage vibe Italy's best cocktail bar, who is to argue? Upstairs is a fine-dining restaurant; downstairs is the Sicilian capital’s hippest ingesting venue; and there are outdoor tables too to savour Palermo as it passes by. The wine variety veers closely against herbal producers. The cocktails range from several variations on the vintage negroni to demanding situations reminiscent of the Tomatotini (sun-dried tomato-infused gin, Noilly Prat, anchovy colatura and chilli-infused olive oil). Live track with a jazz bent occurs on many Thursday evenings. 

Contact: bocum.it
Prices: ££
Getting in: Reservations recommended for dining

Visit the award-winning Bocum Mixology for expertly crafted cocktails

Kalapinta Craft Beer


You’re now not obliged to drink serious ales at Kalapinta: you'll opt for a cocktail corresponding to Bandito alla Fragola (tequila, lime juice and strawberry juice) or Tsantsa Punch (rum, cloves, big name anice pineapple juice, mint and lime juice). But – as the call suggests – the raison d'être of this vigorous pub simply off Cefalù's main drag is craft beer, and there are some very good labels to make a choice from, from the ten brews (a few of them native) on tap to the vast global selection in bottles and cans. Frequent themed evenings and are living tune – from rock 'n' roll to jazz and soul – are flagged on the Facebook page. 

Contact: 00 39 0921 820168; facebook.com/KalapintaCefalu
Prices: £

Kalapinta Craft Beer has 10 brews on tap (some of them local) and an unlimited global choice in bottles and cans

Morgana Bar


Hugely pretty however very touristy, Taormina isn't exactly 'Nightlife Central' – but if you are nonetheless stressed when all the daytime cafés have closed, head for this late-night cocktail bar. Do you should definitely ebook a desk first or you won't get in. The tiny Morgana is finished out in a kind of Nineteen Sixties Surrealist style and serves cocktails equivalent to Cucumber Negroni (cucumber-infused Campari with gin and Vermouth) or Ddhanens (bourbon, rhubarb liqueur, lemon juice and rosemary syrup). The out of doors area is a fantastic spot to sip and drink. Music on the smallish dance flooring is relatively bland however there's generally some action after middle of the night.

Contact: morganataormina.it
Prices: ££
Getting in: Reservations very important

Morgana Bar is a late-night cocktail spot, which is completed out in a Nineteen Sixties Surrealist taste


This charmingly boho bar and café in the middle of Ortygia, Siracusa’s centro storico, is a soothing position for the whole thing from a morning cappuccino to a super gentle lunch (salads function salmon, avocado, walnuts, lamb’s lettuce; delicious bruschette come with one with sun-dried tomatoes and salted ricotta) to afternoon tea (they have more than 30 types). In the night, it’s a venue for regular live tune happenings. The setting is especially laid-back and welcoming round aperitivo time, when an alternate crowd of locals and ex-pats meets up over wine, cocktails (try the Ortygia Island with gin, prosecco and orange juice) and snacks.

Contact: 00 39 333 5785347; facebook.com/tinkitewinencafe
Prices: ££

The setting at Tinkitè is particularly laid-back and welcoming round aperitivo time

Mercati Generali


The 'General Market' – most probably Sicily's most influential membership – spreads out over the warehouses and urgent rooms of a restored 19th-century vineyard in the far-off southern suburbs of Catania. In summer season, the scene moves out of doors into the palm-shaded garden courtyard. The vibe is laidback, however as soon as the tune – wide-ranging in style and at all times high-octane – starts, you already know you might be the place it's at. Some of Europe's top DJs seem here, as do big-name are living rock and pop acts (most often sooner than they grow to be massive names). Check the website for events. DJ sets usually start around 11pm.

Contact: mercatigenerali.org
Prices: ££

Mercati Generali spreads out over the warehouses and pressing rooms of a restored 19th-century winery

First Lounge Bar


In Catania's very inexperienced (even though reasonably uncentral) San Berillo district you’ll find the First Lounge Bar – a at ease, friendly boho-curiosity store of a place, with outside seating on a wonderful piazza. It in point of fact is worth looking for out. There's simple meals – selections of cured meats and cheese most commonly – and a perfect number of beers. The cocktails are superb indeed: take a look at an excellent mojito, or a Boston Iced Tea. But most commonly, come for the environment. Until just lately this was a run-down house of the city; First is a key component in a rejuvenation mission that is giving San Berillo a real buzz.

Contact: 00 39 346 5791091; facebook.com/firstct
Prices: €

First Lounge Bar is a comfy, pleasant boho-curiosity shop in an up-and-coming space

Anche gli Angeli


This locale in central Noto is price a consult with purely for its architecture: it's in a Seventeenth-century crypt with great stone arches – a marvellously cool place to flee Sicily's summer time heat. It's a café, a cafe (most likely more expensive than it should be) and a significantly hip wine/lounge bar. There's a decent by-the-glass number of excellent Sicilian vintages (take a look at the Nero d'Avola) and local craft beers, plus a revolving menu of excellent cocktails. Live song on Wednesday and Friday evenings ranges from soul to Latino to folk and past.

Contact: anchegliangeli.it/site
Prices: ££-£££

Anche gli Angeli is a hip bar, idea retailer, guide store and restaurant all in one

Prima Classe


Open from breakfast (the pastries are superb) via to the wee hours, this sensible modern area with retro touches is a company favourite with a groovy Ragusa crowd for aperitivi and post-dinner beverages. Classic cocktails are competently ready; for something more southern-Med, opt for the Bergamottini (gin with bergamot liqueur) or the Googdfather (sic), which mixes Jack Daniel's with amaretto di Saronno liqueur. There also are craft beers from micro-producers. Art and photograph exhibitions, are living song starting from free jazz to electronica and comedy stand-up acts complete the picture. There's a cafe too, with mod-Med fare.

Contact: primaclassebar.com
Prices: £-££
Getting in: Reservations really useful for eating

Prima Classe is a smart modern space with retro touches, which is a firm favorite with a fab Ragusa crowd


Avola, discovered between Siracusa and Noto on the south-east coast, is legendary for its grape selection (Nero d’Avola), for its almonds and for its white beaches. On this sort of, proper subsequent to the stark ruins of an historical tuna manufacturing facility, Don Beach serves some remarkable cocktails to the coolest of locals and a handful of well-informed visitors. Cocktails trade with the seasons. In summer time try a Julep Sour (bourbon, orange and lemon juice, barley water); in iciness a Mandarinero (mandarin liqueur, cognac, pomegrantate syrup, chocolate bitters and boiling water) – all served in the most unearthly collection of cups and glasses. Occasional are living song is announced on their Facebook web page.

Contact: 00 39 333 4839221; facebook.com/donbeach2017
Prices: £

Don Beach serves some exceptional cocktails to the coolest of locals and a handful of well-informed guests.

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