18:00–20:00
Aperitivo
Spritz on Piazza IX Aprile or a rooftop with Etna views
20:00–22:00
Dinner
Sicilians eat late — kitchens hit their stride after 8pm
22:00–00:00
Cocktails
The courtyards and cocktail bars come alive after dinner
00:00–04:00
Late night
Morgana, Daiquiri or Adduma until 2am+
The classic evening — start here
Piazza IX Aprile & Corso Umberto
Piazza IX Aprile
The centre of Taormina's evening life — an outdoor terrace with the entire Mediterranean as a backdrop. By day a viewpoint, by night the best people-watching spot in Sicily. The square faces west over the Ionian Sea and Etna — sunsets here are extraordinary. Arrive around 6:30pm, order a Spritz at Caffè Wunderbar or Mocambo, and watch the light change over the water. No reservation needed to simply sit and take it in — it's a public piazza.
The passeggiata starts here every evening from around 6pm — locals and visitors strolling Corso Umberto, stopping for drinks and gelato. Join it.
Bars on the piazza
- Caffè Wunderbar — the iconic one, since the 1950s
- Mocambo Bar — Piazza IX Aprile 8, more local crowd
- Arco Rosso — off the piazza, wine & bruschette
- Timoleone Café — garden terrace beside the Odeon
Best time to be here
6:30pm for sunset Spritz. Stay through golden hour — the light on Etna turns extraordinary.
Aperitivo
Historic · Since 1950s
From 9am
Caffè Wunderbar
Piazza IX Aprile, Taormina
TT recommends
The most legendary café in Taormina. Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote drank here. The terrace on Piazza IX Aprile has the best view in town — church, coastline, Etna — all in one frame. Order a Negroni at sunset and don't look at the price until after. Worth every euro. The old-world interior is beautiful too. An essential Taormina experience.
Romantic
Iconic view
Old-world glamour
People watching
Insider: Come at 6:30pm sharp for the best light on Etna. The square gets crowded after 8pm — early sunset drinks are the best version of this experience.
Aperitivo · Wine bar
From 11am
Arco Rosso
Via Naumachie, Taormina
TT recommends
The best aperitivo in Taormina that nobody talks about — hidden on Via Naumachie, away from the tourist strip. Family run by two sisters: Lina cooks, Josephine runs the floor. Rotating bruschette with toppings like pistachio pesto, cheese and ham, fresh vegetables. Order assorted ones to share. Cosy, inviting, completely unpretentious. Couples this with a glass of Etna Rosso for the perfect evening start.
Local crowd
Wine-focused
Hidden gem
Family run
Insider: If you order bruschette, specify 1 slice per person — the default is 3 slices per order. Sit outside and watch the street. The spicy bruschetta is their best one.
Aperitivo · Garden
From 5pm
Timoleone Café
Beside the Odeon Theatre, Corso Timoleone, Taormina
TT recommends
A hidden garden terrace beside the ancient Odeon Theatre, embraced by stone walls and fruit trees. Cocktails made with homegrown fruit — genuinely unique. Mainly pasta dishes for food, plus appetisers. The setting is extraordinary — drinking under stone arches next to a Roman theatre. One of the most atmospheric spots in Taormina.
Garden terrace
Historic setting
Homegrown cocktails
Romantic
Insider: Walk down the Timoleone stairway off Corso Umberto and look for the outdoor seating by the stone walls. Easy to miss — easy to love once you find it.
Aperitivo
Piazza views
From 8am
Mocambo Bar
Piazza IX Aprile 8, Taormina
TT recommends
The slightly more local alternative to Wunderbar on the same piazza. Good coffee, good granita and solid cocktails without quite the same tourist premium. On the main square with the same spectacular view. Friendly staff, comfortable outdoor seating. A good choice if Wunderbar is packed — same view, slightly calmer atmosphere.
Local feel
Piazza views
All-day café
Aperitivo · Local food
Cheapest Spritz in town
From 11am
Da Nino
Near cable car terminal, Taormina · sea views
TT recommends
The best Aperol Spritz in Taormina — and definitely the cheapest. While everyone else on the Corso charges tourist prices, Da Nino keeps it honest. Local crowd, fair prices, real Sicilian food — pasta, bruschetta, arancini done properly. Sea views from a lovely spot near the cable car. The staff (Mater, Federica, Margo, Mario) make you feel genuinely welcome every time. Come back multiple times — you will want to.
Best value
Local crowd
Sea views
Sicilian food
Friendly staff
Insider: Order the Aperol Spritz — it's the reason people come back. The bruschettas and fresh pasta are legitimately good too. Reservations recommended for dinner — word has spread about this place.
Breakfast · Aperitivo
Street food · Terrace
From 7am · all day
Luraleo Bar
Piazza S. Antonio Abate 10/12, Taormina
TT recommends
Right at Porta Catania — the first bar you hit when you walk into Taormina, and one of the best. Bar, pasticceria, rosticceria and cocktail terrace all in one. Morning: fresh pastries, espresso, granita and brioche at honest prices. Lunch: arancini, rosticceria bites, quick hot food. Evening: aperitivo on the terrace with a view of the square. Frequented by locals and tourists in equal measure — always a good sign.
All-day
Breakfast
Street food
Aperitivo terrace
Good value
Insider: The brioche with homemade ice cream here is the real deal. Go for breakfast before the queues at Bam Bar form — the quality is genuinely comparable. The rosticceria counter is great for a quick arancino at any time of day.
Aperitivo · Wine bar
Live music · Late
From 5pm · until late
Casamatta
Near San Domenico, Taormina
TT recommends
The antidote to Taormina's tourist bar scene — a charming wine bar that feels completely genuine. The interior is made entirely from repurposed wood from wine crates and pallets. Natural Sicilian wines from around the island, reasonably priced. Snacks and appetisers served on chopping boards: bruschette, focaccia, paninis. Live music weekly. The outdoor bougainvillea terrace is beautiful. "Worlds apart from the 99% tourist trap scene in town" — and that's exactly the point.
Chill local vibe
Natural wines
Live music
Bougainvillea terrace
Hidden gem
Insider: Ask what Sicilian natural wines they have open — the staff know their bottles and love talking about them. Check if there's live music on — it completely transforms the atmosphere. One of the most authentic bars in all of Taormina.
Breakfast · Aperitivo
All-day café
From 7am
Café Forastiero
Taormina
TT recommends
One of the best breakfast spots in Taormina — fresh pastries, excellent espresso, brioche done right. The kind of café that makes starting the morning in Taormina feel like a genuine pleasure rather than a tourist transaction. Returns for aperitivo in the evening: good cocktails, fair prices, easy atmosphere. A reliable spot at both ends of the day.
Best breakfast
Evening aperitivo
Fair prices
Local regular
Insider: Go here for breakfast before visiting the Greek Theatre — it sets the morning up perfectly. Return in the evening for an aperitivo before dinner. Two visits in one day is completely reasonable.
Rooftop bars
Etna views · sunset cocktails · DJ sets
Rooftop · DJ
Hidden gem
18:00–00:00
Blue Sky Bar
Palazzo Vecchio rooftop, Taormina
TT recommends
The best rooftop bar in Taormina — and barely anyone knows about it. Perched atop the 5-star Palazzo Vecchio with panoramic views of Etna, the bay and the whole town. Signature cocktails crafted by Bar Manager Anna Grahek — Sicilian names and aromas, serious technique. DJ sets from 9pm. The scent of orange blossom, jasmine and bougainvillea in the air. We were there when Etna was erupting — an unobstructed view with a Negroni in hand. Unforgettable.
Panoramic views
DJ sets
Signature cocktails
Romantic
Sophisticated
Insider: You can book for up to 100 guests for private events. Walk-ins welcome before 10pm. Cocktails are pricier but balanced by the atmosphere. Come before the DJ starts (before 9pm) for a quieter sunset experience.
Rooftop
Aperitivo
From 5pm
Sky Rooftop Bar
Hotel Continental, Taormina
TT recommends
Spectacular views of Mount Etna and the Bay of Naxos from a proper rooftop terrace. Reasonable prices for a rooftop — the staff are welcoming and Manuela in particular is exceptional. Great Etna wine selection alongside the cocktails. The Continental Margarita and White Lotus are standout cocktails. Good snack food too — try the fried eggplant with a Negroni. Perfect for a romantic aperitivo.
Etna views
Romantic
Good value rooftop
Insider: Walk-ins welcome without reservation — but if you want to stay after 10pm, book ahead. Great sunset spot that's less crowded than the piazza.
Cocktail bars
Evening & late night · courtyards & terraces
Cocktail bar
Upscale · NYC vibe
From 9pm
Morgana Lounge Bar
Via Scesa Morgana 4, Taormina
TT recommends
Taormina's most stylish bar — the interior is entirely redesigned every year using local Sicilian materials, making it genuinely unique each season. Signature cocktails that can only be had here. Regulars describe it as "a New York bar dropped into Sicily." Beautiful, sophisticated, excellent service. Also does event catering. The kind of bar that justifies dressing up for.
Upscale
Signature cocktails
Design-led
Evening crowd
Insider: The decor changes every year — ask the staff what the theme is this season, it's always a conversation starter. Reservation recommended on weekends in peak season.
Cocktail bar
Aperitivo
From 6pm
Daiquiri
Piazzetta Paladini 4, Taormina
TT recommends
A lush courtyard bar with greenery and flowers spilling over the walls — the kind of place you stumble into and stay for three hours. Innovative cocktail menu with serious attention to flavour pairing. The Sicilian Negroni with a foamy top is excellent. Light bites and drinks delivered by knowledgeable staff. Shares the Piazzetta Paladini space with Q Lounge — a beautiful double destination.
Courtyard vibes
Lush greenery
Innovative cocktails
Good energy
Insider: The bar is off the main tourist drag — follow the side street to Piazzetta Paladini and you'll find both Daiquiri and Q Lounge together. A great double stop for a long evening of drinks.
Lounge bar
Aperitivo
From 6pm
Q Lounge Bar
Piazzetta Paladini, Taormina
TT recommends
A beautiful courtyard with potted plants and flowering trees, white sofas and wooden tables. Tropical cocktails, champagne by the glass, good aperitivo spread. Shares the gorgeous Piazzetta Paladini with Daiquiri — they complement each other perfectly. Private events space too. A favourite for the early evening crowd that wants somewhere quieter than the Corso.
Courtyard
Champagne
Relaxed
Private events
Cocktail bar
From 7pm
Chapeau
Off Corso Umberto, Taormina
TT recommends
Just a short step off the main Corso Umberto — great outdoor seating surrounded by large plants, beautiful buildings. It feels exclusive without being intimidating. One of the better cocktail options if you want to be near the Corso action but slightly removed from the tourist flow. Recommended by locals for the early evening and late-night crowd alike.
Off the main drag
Plants & terrace
Exclusive feel
Cocktail bar
From 8pm
Ten House
Off Corso Umberto, Taormina
TT recommends
Up a short flight of steps off the main street — immediately feels private and intimate. Known for its funky pink outdoor couches and fabulous cocktails. A fun, lively atmosphere that draws a younger crowd. Good snacks served with drinks. One of those bars where you sit down for one drink and end up staying the whole evening.
Fun & lively
Younger crowd
Unique decor
Mixology
From 7pm
Ape Nera Mixology Gourmet
Corso Umberto 65, Taormina
TT recommends
A gourmet cocktail bar right on the Corso with serious bartending credentials. Mixology-focused with craft cocktails and small gourmet bites to match. A step up from your average Corso Umberto bar — the drinks are genuinely well-made. Good for those who appreciate technique and want more than a standard Aperol Spritz.
Craft cocktails
Gourmet bites
On the Corso
Cocktail · Restaurant
Aperitivo
From 6pm
Bistrot du Monde
Via Naumachia 25, Taormina
TT recommends
A cocktail bar and gourmet restaurant combined — one of the most versatile spots in Taormina. Beautiful bougainvillea-covered terrace, staff that make you feel genuinely welcome. Excellent for a long evening that starts with cocktails and flows into dinner. Regulars keep coming back year after year.
Bougainvillea terrace
Dinner + cocktails
Regulars' favourite
Garden bar
Aperitivo
From 6pm
Morgana & Ibiscus Garden
Taormina
TT recommends
A sister venue to Morgana Lounge — the Ibiscus Garden outdoor space is a lush, tropical oasis with hibiscus flowers and comfortable seating. Music and a great vibe drift through the courtyard setting. Cocktails created by expert bartenders with light bites to match. The kind of place you discover by walking past and can't resist stepping into.
Garden oasis
Tropical flowers
Good music
Relaxed energy
Jazz, culture & live music
For those who want more than cocktails
Jazz · Live music
Craft beer · Art
From 6pm
Re di Bastoni
Corso Umberto 120, Taormina
TT recommends
One of Taormina's genuine cultural centres — jazz musicians perform regularly and the walls are hung with paintings by emerging Sicilian artists. The craft beer selection is exceptional: try Pan, a brown ale brewed with Nebrodi hazelnuts — a genuinely Sicilian craft beer you won't find anywhere else. Pair it with garlic bread with cheese, tomatoes and ham. The antidote to the tourist-facing Corso Umberto bars.
Live jazz
Craft beer
Art gallery
Cultural crowd
Local haunt
Insider: Ask for the Pan beer with Nebrodi hazelnuts — it's a limited local specialty and genuinely excellent. Check if there's live jazz on that night before you go — it transforms the whole atmosphere.
Live events
Teatro Antico
Summer events
Teatro Antico di Taormina
Via del Teatro Greco, Taormina
TT recommends
An evening in the ancient Greek Theatre under a star-filled sky with Mount Etna in the background — one of the most extraordinary experiences available in Taormina. Summer brings Taormina Arte concerts, film screenings and dance performances to the theatre. Sitting in a 3rd-century BC amphitheatre listening to live music while Etna glows on the horizon is genuinely unforgettable. Check the events calendar on the TT Events page.
Live concerts
Film festival
Ancient theatre
Etna backdrop
Insider: Bring a light layer — even in summer it gets cool after 10pm in the open-air theatre. Buy tickets in advance online for Taormina Arte events — they sell out, especially for headline acts.
Late night
Midnight onwards · dancing · DJ sets
Open until 2am+
Cocktails
Until ~2am
Morgana Lounge Bar
Via Scesa Morgana 4, Taormina
TT recommends
The cocktail bar section lists Morgana for the early evening — but it's also one of the few places in Taormina that runs properly late, until 2am and beyond. After midnight, the crowd thins to the serious drinkers and the music gets better. Signature cocktails, incredible decor that changes every year. If you want one bar for the whole night — this is it.
Open until 2am+
Best late cocktails
Smart crowd
Peak after midnight
Insider: Can be full by 10–11pm — arrive early or come after midnight when people leave for other spots. Reservation recommended on weekends if you want to sit.
Open until 1:30am
Cocktails
Until ~1:30am
Daiquiri
Piazzetta Paladini 4, Taormina
TT recommends
One of the very few bars in Taormina verified to be open past 1am. The lush courtyard with flowering plants takes on a completely different character late at night — quieter, more intimate, the best version of the place. Innovative cocktails, good music, light bites. A natural end to a long Taormina evening before the walk home.
Open until 1:30am
Courtyard vibes
Intimate late night
Best cocktails
Insider: Come here after dinner for the full evening. After midnight the courtyard empties slightly — it's actually the nicest time to be here. The Sicilian Negroni is consistently excellent.
Bar & Grill · Late
Food + cocktails
Until late
Adduma
Vico Giordano Bruno 2, Taormina
TT recommends
A bar and grill that genuinely works late into the night — not just drinks but seriously good food served well into the evening. Steps from Piazza Duomo on a quiet backstreet, with outdoor seating that glows beautifully when lit up at night. Cocktails are excellent (Whiskey Sours, Mai-Tais, creative originals). The food — Wagyu beef, steak on hot stone, beef sashimi, octopus — is outstanding. One of the most recommended spots in all Taormina right now, rated 4.7/5.
Food + drinks late
Backstreet gem
Great cocktails
Outdoor tables
Warm atmosphere
Insider: Reserve ahead — this place has quietly become one of the most talked-about spots in Taormina. The steak cooked on a hot stone at the table is a unique experience. Ends the evening with complimentary candy floss — a genuinely fun touch.
Late night · Chill
Cocktails
Until 1am+
Chapeau
Off Corso Umberto, Taormina
TT recommends
Specifically praised by regulars for its lovely chilled-out vibe especially late in the evening — when the earlier tourist crowd has moved on and the real atmosphere kicks in. Excellent outdoor seating surrounded by large plants, feels exclusive but welcoming. Good cocktails, fair pricing for what it is. A natural late-night destination that doesn't feel like you're being herded.
Best after midnight
Chill vibe
Plants & terrace
Good cocktails
Late night
Local crowd
From 10pm · late
Arkè
Taormina
TT recommends
One of the most genuinely local late-night bars in Taormina. Aperol Spritz, Campari and Sicilian amaro all well executed — you'll hear Italian around you, not English. Good energy, no tourist markup, no velvet rope. The kind of place where you can walk in at midnight and still feel welcome. Popular with the after-dinner crowd that wants to keep going without the pretension.
Local crowd
Good energy
No pretension
Fair prices
Late night wind-down
Very local
From 8pm · late
Lichhio's Bar
Largo Santa Caterina 7, Taormina
TT recommends
The wind-down option — a quiet square away from the Corso Umberto tourist circuit, connected to the well-loved Ristorante Lichhio's. No tourist pretension, fair prices, real drinks. The kind of spot where Taormina residents end their evenings. Perfect for a final amaro or nightcap before heading home. One of those bars where the fact that you found it feels like a small victory.
Very local
Quiet square
Budget-friendly
Nightcap spot
Want to dance until dawn? → Giardini Naxos
Taormina's nightlife winds down around 2am. For proper clubs and dancing until 4–5am, head to Giardini Naxos (15 min by taxi, ~€15). Tropicana Disco has two halls and three dance floors — the biggest club in the area. The Giardini promenade also has several bars with live music that run late. Ask your taxi driver what's open — they know the current scene better than any guide.
🌙
No venues match your filters
Try adjusting the filters above.