Suitable for a balmy beach excursion or a deep dive into the reputed heart of Italy, Sicily is a dynamic island of sandy beaches, fishing villages and rugged rural seclusion. Today, Area descends to share choice eats.
If there is one thing the Italians know well, it is how to eat.
Feast on pasta and risotto, freshly baked focaccia and tasty seafood, such as grilled swordfish or stuffed squid - all in one sitting. The Italians are suckers for four courses when they're dining out, so don stretchy waistbands if you plan to keep up.
As for the wealth of drinkables, red-wine lovers will revel in the abundance of this inexpensive ruby-colored tipple. This is also the land of the sweet fortified wine, Marsala, named after the city on the west coast from where it originates.
We've tracked down the best cafés for people watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Sicily.
Bellotero
This tiny restaurant on the outskirts of the island's capital is one of the best places in the city for sophisticated Sicilian fare. Dishes such as spaghetti with sea urchin and lemon, and lamb roasted with pistachio, pull in a young, lively crowd of diners.
3 Via Castriota, Palermo +39 091 684 1415
Bye Bye Blues
Situated in Palermo's Mondello district, this award-winning restaurant specializes in upmarket Sicilian cooking - rigatoni with tomato, ricotta and aubergine, local cheeses - teamed with selections from its extensive wine cellar.
23 Via del Garofalo, Palermo +39 0922 771443
La Madia
Close to the town of Modica, this Michelin-starred restaurant offers high-end local cuisine - pistachio cous cous, seafood and rice croquettes, etc - in gorgeous surroundings.
22 Corso Filippo Re Capriata, 92027 Licata +39 0932 651265
Ristorante Duomo
Situated in an atmospheric hilltop town, Duomo is a genuine destination restaurant. Chef Ciccio Sultano has garnered a Michelin star for his sophisticated twist on Sicilian cookery - think anchovies served with ricotta or spaghetti in a carrot-juice broth.
31 Via Capitano Bocchieri, 97100 Ragusa +39 0942 625145
Ristorante Le Naumachie
Tucked away in the backstreets of vertiginous Taormina, Le Naumachie is a sophisticated restaurant on a mission to educate its clientele about the food and wine of the bel paese. Its knowledgeable staff serves up modern takes on traditional Italian classics, such as squid-ink pasta with wild truffles and sage, and they're also happy to talk you through the extensive list of aperitivi.
8 Via Giardinazzo, 98039 Taormina +39 095 711 4111
Zia Pina
With just a handful of tables, this homely, back-to-basics trattoria near the port serves fresh seafood to a predominantly local crowd.
67 Via Argenteria, Palermo
