There is the bay of Isola Bella, a beach of pebbles and transparent water; there are tours of Mount Etna for hiking lovers as well as novice hikers; there is fine dining but also generous typical gastronomy. And then there is the magnificence of the Ancient Theatre, the magic of the panoramas, the Renaissance palaces and the alleyways of the historic centre: Taormina is a concentrate of history, nature and culture that conquers all.
Where to eat in Taormina. The best restaurants
Andreas Restaurant
Restaurant. Andreas Zangerl, a talented chef, Austrian by birth and Taorminan by adoption, is firmly at the helm of his restaurant right opposite the entrance to the Villa Comunale. The cuisine is made up of a few but excellent ingredients well paired to each other. Adequate wine list.
Andreas Restaurant – via Bagnoli Croce, 88 – 0942 24011 – Facebook
Blum dell'Hotel Mazzarò Sea Palace
Restaurant. Just 12 seats on a breathtaking terrace overlooking the sea. At the stoves is Riccardo Fazio who interprets excellent ingredients with personality and balance. Select wines are paired with cocktails. All in a space with refined furnishings and details. Booking required.
Blum dell'Hotel Mazzarò Sea Palace – loc. Mazzarò - via Nazionale, 147 – 0942 612112 – blumrestaurant.com
La Capinera
Restaurant. Seafood and raw fish are the totemes in this restaurant with a terrace overlooking the waves where Pietro d'Agostino, historic chef and owner, proposes two tasting menus: Sea and Air and Earth and Fire, both of which are sure to satisfy. There is a fine selection of Sicilian cheeses and an extensive wine cellar.
La Capinera – loc. Spisone - via Nazionale, 177 – 0942 626247 – pietrodagostino.it
Kisté Easy Gourmet
Bistrot. This is the “cheap and chic” landing place of La Capinera (see above), in an informal and refined location. First-class ingredients make up intriguing menus for all budgets. In the outdoor lounge area with cocktails for aperitifs. In the larder, goodies for purchase.
Kisté Easy Gourmet – via Santa Maria de' Greci, 2 – 333 3711606 - kiste.it
Otto Geleng del Grand Hotel Timeo
Restaurant. Homage is paid to Berlin artist Otto von Geleng - former mayor of the city - for this gourmet destination close to the Greek Theatre and with a hypnotic view of the sea and Mt Etna. Chef Roberto Toro aims to arouse emotions with various menus ranging from vegetable to meat and sea. Wine cellar up to the mark.
Otto Geleng del Grand Hotel Timeo – via Teatro Greco, 59 – 0942 6270200 – belmond.com/ottogeleng
Principe Cerami dell'Hotel San Domenico
Restaurant. Elegant fine dining in an icon of Sicilian (and Italian) hospitality where everything speaks of luxury, atmosphere, magic. At the stoves Massimo Mantarro, who with a happy hand and the right dose of creativity enhances fine ingredients. Splendid terrace, cellar of international calibre. The hotel is where season two of “The White Lotus” was filmed.
Principe Cerami dell'Hotel San Domenico – p.zza San Domenico de Guzman, 5 – 0942 613310 – principecerami.com
Osteria RossoDiVino
Restaurant. In a downtown area not pressed by tourism, an intimate and well-kept restaurant with a pleasant outdoor area. The menu revolves around the flavours of the catch of the day, offers a few land options, and all made with seasonal products and ingredients with attention to the local area. Fine wine cellar.
Osteria RossoDiVino – vico De Spuches, 8 – 0942 628653 – osteriarossodivinotaormina.com
St. George Restaurant by Heinz Beck del The Ashbee Hotel
Restaurant. The villa and park designed in the early 1900s by English architect Charles Robert Ashbee are the glittering setting for the fine dining venue with a view designed by Heinz Beck and skilfully “executed” by resident chef Salvatore Iuliano, who prepares impeccable dishes. International wine cellar.
St. George Restaurant by Heinz Beck del The Ashbee Hotel – v.le San Pancrazio, 46 – 0942 23537 – theashbeehotel.it
Tischi Toschi
Trattoria of rank. We are in the realm of Luca Casablanca, a passionate gourmet who makes his fruitful search for quality products available to customers. The kitchen offers typically Sicilian dishes that are tasty, authentic and decidedly well-made. Wines to match, outdoor seating available.
Tischi Toschi – vico Francesco Paladini, 3 – 339 3642088 – tischitoschitaormina.com
Vineria Modì
Restaurant. Dalila and Ettore Grillo's restaurant is a meeting place for oenophiles and gourmands. With only a few seats, which expand outside in the summer season, the culinary proposal is very satisfying. The wine cellar focuses on so-called “natural” and biodynamic wines, with over 800 labels from Italy and the world.
Vineria Modì – via Calapitrulli, 13 – 0942 23658 – vineriamodi.com
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