Palermo Dining and Entertainment

Palermo Hotels

Dining in Palermo

The Sicilian culinary tradition is saturated with fragrant products, flavours that are the right mix between the sea and the land, just like the geographic make up of the island. Sicily was conquered and influenced by many different races and this can be seen in the large number of dishes (full of spices, various aromas and produce) that are found here. All the many conquering people have left their indelible artistic signs on the city, and have deeply influenced the countryside with their cultivation, leaving traces of themselves in the customs and ways of life that can be seen in our cuisine, especially in the sweets and desserts, known throughout the world eg cannoli and cassata. The importance of such 'humble' ingredients above all greens and vegetables, but also fish, are seen in the famous dishes based on sardines, grain, aubergines (eggplant), potatoes and swordfish.

There are many restaurants and inns situated close to the sea and their main dishes are ones that are based on seafood such as the extraordinary spaghetti alle vongole (clams) or with mussels, ricci, grilled fish and seafood. Places such as Al Gabbiano, La Barcaccia, Da Totuccio in Mondello and Il Delfino, L'Ancora and Le Tre Lampare in Sferracavallo will offer you the delights of the sea. In traditional restaurants in the city, you can definitely try typical recipes at the following places: Ai Vecchietti di Minchiapititto close to Teatro Politeama, Al Pagliaio, Casa del Brodo, Cotto a Legna, Macco, Villa Giuditta and Villa Virginia, and 'locali' of a certain standard class, such as Il Crudo e il Cotto and La Fenice in the splendid Piazza Marina. A particular mention should be made of the eateries where it is possible to choose an exclusively vegetarian menu, such as Il Giardino dei Melograni, Il Mirto e la Rosa and Tulìp.

Those who would like to try a little haute cuisine, (paying prices that are 'haute' too!) should opt for one of the elegant restaurants such as the Charleston in Mondello, Lo Scalino del Cardinale and Gourmands in Via Libertà. There are also restaurants in several of the citys refined hotels, such as Villa Igiea and the Astoria Palace Hotel.

There are now several restaurants in the city where diners can try a little ethnic cuisine: Tunisian food at Mensa del Popolo and Al Duar; Chinese food at Shangai and Hong Fu; Indian at Indian House; Brazilian at Birimbao; Greek and Spanish at Medit and French food at La Brasserie.

If you want to eat well, without spending lots, there are many pizzerias, all with wood fuelled ovens, both in the city and in the province. You can also try a wide variety of antipasti made from traditional ingredients, our national dish in all flavours and shapes available. Value for money, speed, as well the courtesy of the staff mean that the pizzerias are very popular with people at the weekend, so that large groups should book in advance. The most famous pizzerias, (famous for its ingredients as well as the skill of its pizza makers) are: Pizzeria Bellini close to the theatre of the same name, the New Express Garden adjacent to the Crazy Bull pub, the Pizzeria Italia close to Teatro Massimo, La Bracieria, U Strascinu, Kursaal, La Carbonella, La Staffa, Naif and La Cascina, on Viale Regina Margherita, which links Palermo and Mondello, Villa Pensabene, situated in a rustic farmhouse near to the Velodromo Borsellino and the Baia dei Fenici in Santa Flavia.

There are some specialities which deserve a mention: these delights are simple but tasty, good value for money and wonderfully satisfying, just right for a snack or for a meal with a difference: focacce, or rolls flavoured with spleen and bulls lungs fried in pigs lard, which you can try at Antica Focacceria di San Francesco.Panelle, fried rectangles of chickpea flour of Arabic origin and arancini with meat or with butter, can be tried at Bar Alba, or at Bar Touring, situated in front of Villa Giulia.

Entertainment in Palermo

An uninterrupted season

The variety and the quality of theatrical and cinema offerings are without doubt the strong points of the winter events in Palermo. There is also a splendid summer programme called 'Palermo di Scena', which offers films and plays as well as nature and photography exhibitions, and concerts (both classical and non), all of which are hosted in some of the most beautiful, ancient villas in Palermo, such as Villa Trabia, Villa Filippina and Villa Lampedusa.

Theatre
The theatrical tradition in Palermo has always been very rich and diverse, a mixture of Arabic, Norman, French and Spanish cultures. Street theatre that is performed today, such as the typical vastasata, still reflects Sicilian cabaret and folklore, while the Teatro dei Pupi (puppet theatre) remains faithful to its ancient roots. The theatre scene is varied in summer and winter, and the programmes offered by Teatro Massimo and Teatro Politeama stand out amongs the rest, these being the two main theatres in the Sicilian capital.

Opera
Teatro Massimo, has recently returned to its ancient splendour, it is certainly the temple of opera and ballet because it has the largest stage in the world. Inaugurated in 1897, it is one of the grandest theatres in Europe and plays host to the most important operas and the most prestigious names in the opera world. The Teatro Politeama (separated from Teatro Massimo by the Via Ruggero Settimo located in the heart of the centre), took over from the Massimo during its restoration and today hosts a rich programme of operas and concerts. The Teatro di Verdura is also a theatre worth visiting.

Classical music and symphonies
Teatro Golden specializes in symphonies and chamber music, and offers a season of concerts, including superb choral programmes. Many important musical companies perform optimum concerts here. The 'Friends of Music' and the E. A Sicilian Symphonic Orchestra offer splendid symphonic seasons as well as chamber music seasons, while 'Brass Group' specializes in jazz music and popular tunes. Prestigious musical societies offer a varied and renowned concert season.

Prosa
Teatro Biondo offers a season glowing with great performances and shows, from October to June, this is seen as the most important theatre for 'prosa' in Palermo. Other theatres such as Teatro Al Massimo, Teatro Crystal and Teatro Don Orione, offer exciting programmes (the latter specializes in cabaret). We have already mentioned Teatro dei Pupi, and there are other theatres that offer plays in dialect or depicting ancient folklore, who have performances mainly during the summer eg Teatro Tenda Vito Zappalà and you can catch experimental theatre/ modern dance from Cantieri Culturali alla Zisa, can be seen in the vicinity of the splendid castle and at Teatro Libero.

Cinema
Some of Palermos most important cinemas have been restored in recent years, these include: the Imperia and Finocchiaro, which was a rather run down place offering second showings. Now, Palermo has over 20 screens showing new releases, and its cinematographic programme can now be defined as complete and satisfactory, even it does not have any multiplexes. Cinemas worth a mention are: Fiamma, Astoria Rouge et Noir, the Metropolitan and Tiffany, large cinemas with lots of seats, with great sound systems and excellent screens, there is also the Aurora, which also shows prestigious and popular art house films.

Palermo by night

It is important for people who work during the week to be able to have a great deal of choice during their 'days of freedom', picking anything from the most tranquil of activities to the wildest nights of fun, so that all their demands can be satisfied. Palermo has a large number of 'locali' (nightspots), which can be found throughout the city.

Cafés
If you want a quiet, yet cheerful evening sipping a drink or a coffee with your friends, enjoying the background music, there are plenty of places to choose from, some of which are really traditional. The majority of the cafés are located in the historical center. The Caffè d'Oriente and Caffè Turco are two places that are famous for their Arabic drinks, while theCaffè Antico and Caffè del Cassaro are renowned for traditional Sicilian beverages. The New Orleans Café is also worth trying.

Pubs and Beer-houses and Live Music
 As in all the other cities, in the last twenty years a large number of 'locali' have appeared in the Sicilian capital, so that you can spend the evening having fun. The wide variety and the distribution of these places throughout the area gives residents and visitors alike the possibility to choose between pubs, beer-houses, and discos, where there are lots of new friends to be made. If you prefer something a little less noisy, with great background music, so that you can chat to your friends and enjoy excellent service at the same time, why not try Birreria Kovacs, which also offers a Hungarian menu. Au Domino is a historical pub in Via Principe di Belmonte, and Agricantus, has various shows and entertainment, or how about Cambio Cavalli, one of the first pubs in Palermo? If you prefer live Italian, American, English and South American music then Crazy Bull is probably the place for you, decorated in traditional American style. You may want to try the Carlotta Pub or the Villa Niscemi close to the Villa of the same name. New singers get a chance to shine at the Bier Garten and the Malox, which also allows its clients to use the internet.

Discos
Amongst the popular discos in the area, the most important (without doubt) are Kandisky Florio in the ancient district of Arenella, the Anticlea Pub and the Kursaal Kalesa Club (located along the promenade of the Foro Italico) and the Country Club, which is great in the summer season, when it has large open-air dance floors. Not forgetting the famous discos in the Province such as La Conchiglia and the Palatime on the Isola delle Femmine.

Games Halls
For those who love playing games and challenging their friends to a friendly match, there are two great bowling alleys, Bowling La Favorita and Bowling & Games. Lovers of billiards have many rooms to choose from, one of the most popular is the Sala Mari.

Translated by T. McFarlane