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
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…
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…
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…
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…
Catania
Vermouth, vino and salumi (charcuterie) keep this budget-friendly hotspot pumping. Scattered with vintage liquor posters and old wooden tables, its ample…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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 …
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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 …
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
