RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS

La Madia

Lunch & Dinner - Creative, Sicilian

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As well as shining a spotlight on Sicily’s top-quality ingredients, Pino Cuttaia does his best to create dishes that are easily accessible to all. His cuisine aims to awaken our culinary memories, focusing on homely flavours and traditional recipes. “Memory is the secret ingredient in dishes, which all tell a story”, says Cuttaia, and he is also found in the dining room explaining this to his guests. The emotional nostalgia of his cuisine is striking, as his carefully researched and innovative approach. His extraordinary work focuses on his ingredients, which he transforms by highlighting their essential character. 

I Pupi 

Dinner - Sicilian, Contemporary

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Although his name could easily be that of a theatre star, Tony Lo Coco is actually the owner-chef of the I Pupi restaurants, and the proud holder of a Michelin star. His wife Laura is at the helm in the small, elegant dining room with a modern and minimalist feel, which is dominated by a large gleaming cabinet-cum-sideboard. As for the cuisine, Tony demonstrates real care in his choice of local ingredients, working with the best local cheesemakers, fishermen, farmers and breeders – you can happily let him guide you through his imaginative and personalised Sicilian cuisine. 

Accursio

Lunch & Dinner - Creative, Contemporary

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Situated near the Duomo di San Pietro and the central Corso Umberto, this small, delightful restaurant occupies a historic palazzo and boasts a simple yet elegant decor including attractive floor tiles. Accursio offers three tasting menus with dishes also available à la carte. The restaurant’s symbol (an olive tree inside a boat) gives a good indication of the culinary focus here, namely a creative journey through Sicily’s cuisine on a menu that features both meat and fish options.

Locanda Don Serafino

Lunch & Dinner - Creative, Contemporary

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Situated on the ring road which runs around Ibla, one of the most charming and picturesque historic districts in Sicily, this restaurant is as delightful as its surroundings. Despite being partly built into the rock, the dining room here is elegant rather than rustic and the service highly attentive, making this the perfect choice for a romantic, gourmet dinner. Vincenzo Candiano is an extraordinary chef who continues to experiment with new dishes, combining classic favourites with other more innovative recipes (still with a Sicilian influence) on his menu.

Duomo

Lunch & Dinner - Creative, Contemporary

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Chef Ciccio Sultano provides an intimate portrait of Sicily at this restaurant situated just a stone’s throw from the Duomo di San Giorgio in the heart of Ibla, one of the most charming historic centres in Sicily. Drawing on his deep knowledge of the region, he creates some of the island’s most spectacular cuisine, which is served in comfortable, intimate dining rooms. There are two tasting menus, from which dishes can also be chosen à la carte.

Sapio

Dinner - Sicilian, Modern Cuisine

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This restaurant symbolises the generational shift that sees young people from southern Italy finally able to find the right space in which they can set up on their own and express their culinary skills to the full. Sapio is a smart restaurant run by a young couple: Roberta Cozzetto provides a courteous, elegant welcome front of house, while Alessandro Ingiulla is in the kitchen preparing modern dishes that are a feast for the eyes as well as the palate, using fresh ingredients from this magnificent island.

Zash

Dinner - Creative

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Once through the entrance gate, make your way through an orchard planted with citrus trees to get to this restaurant occupying a charming, carefully restored 19C “palmento” (a building once used for fermenting wine) that has retained its magical and romantic atmosphere. Here, Giuseppe Raciti’s top-quality cuisine is showcased on themed tasting menus from which dishes can also be chosen à la carte. The chef’s recipes are full of references to the island, as well as personal influences which he describes as “ricordi, viaggi, esperienze” (memories, travels, experiences).

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