Naples
Gambrinus is Naples' oldest and most venerable cafe, serving superlative Neapolitan coffee under flouncy chandeliers. Oscar Wilde knocked back a few here…
Must-see nightlife in Southern Italy
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Marsala
Run by Tuscan-Sicilian couple Anna and Francesco, this irresistible enoteca is a gorgeous spot to quaff Marsala wines with locally sourced salumi (cold…
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Syracuse
Take an aristocratic courtyard, add an intimate interior kitted out in vintage coffee tables and a Chesterfield lounge, and you have Cortile Verga. This…
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Catania
The 11km drive southwest of central Catania is worth it: this is one of Sicily's finest clubs, with top-tier Italian and international DJs and live-music…
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Catania
There's no drinks list at this intimate cocktail den, decked out in mismatched furniture, gilded mirrors and the odd gramophone. Simply state your flavour…
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Catania
Vermouth, vino and salumi (charcuterie) keep this budget-friendly hotspot pumping. Scattered with vintage liquor posters and old wooden tables, its ample…
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Agropoli
The best place for an afternoon pausa (break) in Agropoli is the leather-seated, art deco-tinged Nero Café, although the intended ‘pause’ could turn into…
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Palermo
Once a hardware store, this genuinely cool, piazza-side bar-eatery now fixes long days with well-mixed cocktails and clued-in vino. Rotating wines by the…
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Noto
Sophisticated, LGBT-friendly and irrefutably cool, 'Even the Angels' is the place to schmooze in Noto. A cafe-bar, lounge, restaurant and concept store in…
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Palermo
Decked out in contemporary art and eclectic objets, bohemian Bocum was Palermo’s first proper cocktail bar and remains one of its best. While the ground…
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Taormina
This so-svelte cocktail-lounge sports a new look every year, with each concept inspired by Sicilian culture, artisans and landscape. It's the place to be…
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Naples
If you take your cocktails seriously, slip into this sultry, speakeasy-inspired den. Wrapped in art nouveau wallpaper, it's the domain of Neapolitan…
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Sorrento
Welcome to a new and very Italian concept: a cocktail bar doubling up as an interior-design store. That elegant sofa you’re sipping a negroni on is for…
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Catania
Svelte, convivial, urbane Rix takes its cocktails seriously. Each is made with passion and precision, from punchy Aviations to a very local Etna Kir …
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Naples
Housed on the 1st floor of the Lanificio – a Bourbon-era wool factory and 15th-century cloister turned culture hub – Spazio Intolab draws an easy, arty,…
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Catania
From the quality of the cocktails to the attentive staff, Fud Off just gets it. This is one of Catania's top bars, a slinky, cavernous space of tinted…
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Palermo
Hugely popular with 30- and 40-plus locals, Hic! is never short of a fun crowd, spilling out onto the footpath in a sea of banter and reasonably priced…
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Enna
Housed in a former chapel of the adjacent cathedral, Al Kenisa is Enna's best spot for an aperitivo, glass of wine or craft beer. Books and art prints are…
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Lecce
Just maybe Lecce's best Negroni cocktail is a fine reason to adjourn to Quanta Basta's outdoor tables for your nightly aperitivi session. Further…
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Lecce
All you need to know about Salento wine will be imparted by the hip staff at this cool joint near the Santa Croce church. Taster glasses are dispatched…
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Matera
A short walk from Piazza Vittorio Veneto but off the tourist trail is this warm and welcoming bar specialising in Italian craft beer. Four rotating taps…
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Salina
This palm-thatched beach bar on the rocky shoreline of Punta Scario (just below Malfa town) makes a dreamy spot for a sunset drink. The friendly owners…
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Naples
What was an old printing shop (note the vintage printer-drawer tabletops and bookish wallpaper) is now the city's first speciality-coffee cafe. The…
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Naples
Swinging, candlelit Ba-Bar is a solid all-rounder, punctuated with quirky vintage objects and pulling a friendly, mixed crowd. It's a top spot for a pre…
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Naples
From street level, stairs lead down to this softly lit, buzzing garden bar, where grown-up, fashionable types mingle among birdcage seats and vintage…
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Catania
The wines by the glass might be average, but this corner institution is a fabulous spot to while away an hour or two, with tables invitingly spread out…
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Stromboli
Rub elbows with the likes of Dolce and Gabbana and the president of Italy at this chic resto-bar, a long-standing favourite of Stromboli's beautiful…
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Naples
Great for a piazza-side graze, this savvy little deli–wine bar sits at the top of sweeping Piazza San Domenico Maggiore. Offerings include niche and…
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Agrigento
This hip cafe serves excellent coffee, Sicilian wines and evening aperitivi, but what really sets it apart is the adjacent 18th-century San Pietro church,…
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Matera
Matera's renaissance and new-found relaxed vitality come to the fore at this wine bar in a typical cave-house off Sasso Barisano's main drag. The…
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Positano
Dating back to 1950, this is the quintessential Italian terrace, draped with foliage and flowers. Flanking the terrace is La Zagara's superb pasticceria …
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Taormina
Médousa's enchanting garden does more than set a romantic scene for aperitivo (3pm to 9pm), the best time to hit this all-day cafe-bar-bistro. It also…
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Agrigento
Our favourite spot for aperitivi features such a generous array of pre-dinner snacks that you may well be convinced to linger for a second negroni…
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Naples
Kesté, which translates as ‘this is it’ in Neapolitan, is a historic venue in the vivacious piazza of San Giovanni Pignatelli. The bar curates an ongoing…
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Mediterranean Coast
One of Sciacca's friendliest bars is also a great spot for a wide range of Italian and international craft beers. Four revolving beer taps keep things…
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Vieste
Vieste's go-to for aperitivi is this popular spot where locals line their refreshing drinks up on a rustic sea wall. Look forward to ocean views on the…
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Sorrento
The wine list at this unpretentious bar with a dark, woody interior includes all the big Italian names and a selection of interesting local labels. If you…
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Positano
This is one of the town’s few genuine nightspots and one of the best clubs on the coast. The venue is dramatically carved into the tower at the eastern…
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Agrigento
Since 1948, this simple cafe has been a local favourite for its delicious almond milk, made with fresh-ground local almonds, sugar, water and a hint of…
Naples
This richly historic palazzo was gifted to the Venetian Republic in the 15th century as a base for its envoys. The building's 1st floor now houses a small…
