Palermo in addition to being a city considered an open-air museum, rich in monuments, churches, local markets, squares, palaces and historic noble villas, it is very rich in varied gastronomic excellences. In this article we recommend five contemporary taverns where to eat in the Sicilian capital.
Palermo is a city with a vast choice of restaurants: typical or contemporary dishes with a mix of tradition and innovation which becomes a winning combination much appreciated by both the people of Palermo and the many tourists who visit the city 365 days a year. Today we offer you 5 contemporary taverns that are absolutely not to be missed.
Mercede Inn (Sammartino Street, 1)
L’ Mercede Inn takes its name from the Madonna della Mercede, venerated in the markets of the popular Capo district of Palermo, devoted only to seafood, was born 10 years ago from an idea of Helios Gnoffo and his wife Patrizia. Helios, passionate about cooking since he was a boy, trained himself, even outside Sicily and abroad. He tempered himself for a few years by being a chef on important yachts, where he took care of everything from simple seafood dishes to sophisticated gala dinners: on these occasions he met his wife, who was a hostess. The mission of the restaurant, which is located in the center a few steps from the Teatro Massimo, is very simple: the flavors must be identifiable, the dishes accessible to all with sustainable mark-ups, only very fresh fish or freshly caught fish killed on board, raw seafood, dishes simple, perhaps a pinch of imagination but without too many complications, generous portions, seasonal vegetables, you can often also find some lobster, sustainable prices. The menu can be read on the blackboards and can change daily based on the catch, although there are dishes, such as those based on octopus, which are available all year round.
Corona Trattoria (Via Guglielmo Marconi, 9)
The Corona Trattoria was born in 2015 and immediately became a much appreciated destination for the well-processed, fresh and in most cases local fish as it is purchased directly from the fishing boats of the seaside villages of the Palermo coast, and for the hospitality of the owners Gianni, Angela and Horace. The name trattoria is misleading because as soon as you enter you immediately notice the elegance of the place. Pampering guests with precious advice is Gianni, especially regarding cooking, and his son Orazio who will direct customers to choose the most suitable wine through a very complete wine list. A cuisine that is traditional but also winks at innovation. The idea of the social table is very beautiful, allowing guests to have a truly satisfying culinary experience, having the opportunity to make new acquaintances, or to have a dinner with friends.
READ ALSO: In Palermo, the best bars and pastry shops where to have breakfast according to All Food Sicily
Quid Sicilian Taste (Marina Square, 52)
Quid Sicilian Taste it was inaugurated in 2018, from the happy intuition of Serena Giattina, Leonardo la Rocca and Giovanni Scaduto, at Piazza Marina, nerve center of the historic center of Palermo, and today represents a point of reference for lovers of Sicilian cuisine. A restaurant that focuses on excellence not only in the choice of raw materials but also, and above all, in the staff that has allowed Quid today to reach a balance and a professional maturity that allow the restaurant to aim high. At the helm of the kitchen is chef Nino Di Carlo who arrived at the restaurant a few months ago to give life to increasingly personal creations that, starting from tradition, detach themselves from it, giving rise to dishes with a recognizable imprint. The strong points are the fish-based dishes but also the traditional ones interpreted in a contemporary way.
Sardina PastaBar (Via dei Cassari, 41/43)
Sardina PastaBar is a small and welcoming family restaurant where you can only enjoy the sea, interpreted with skill, creativity and daily variations. The philosophy of Sardina PastaBar is simple and imaginative: only fish, very fresh, and this is not lacking in Palermo, a cuisine that respects it and at the same time enhances it with dishes in the colors of a palette, true paintings to admire, that just looking at them make your mouth water. Skilled use of aromas, all local quality raw materials. In the kitchen the chef Maria D’Asta, assisted by her son Tony Lo Monaco; the dining room is entrusted to Rita Moro ready to give advice to guests. The wine list is simple but increasing following the philosophy that “Sicilian dishes must be accompanied by the wines of the island”, the service is friendly, familiar, prices sustained in consideration of the goodness of the products and the care of the kitchen that is completely visible.
Osteria Sciapò (Via Giuseppe La Masa, 11)
He slipped is a Palermo tavern born a few years ago, not far from both the port and the city center, where typical Sicilian cuisine is combined with the excellence of raw materials. A rich menu of recipes inspired by Sicilian culinary tradition, genuine and faithful to ancient flavors, whose basic ingredient is always quality. A careful daily selection of products, respectful of seasonality and the veracity of tradition, which allows for always tasty, genuine and varied proposals. All accompanied by the elegance and refinement of a location with a modern and dynamic character, which does not betray the classic canons of tradition, but enhances them.
© All rights reserved
