3 Best Bars in Sicily, Italy

This multilevel cocktail bar between the Vucciria market and the marina is serious about mixology and has created a dedicated oasis in the city's trendiest area. Linger over complex cocktails while lounging on vintage chairs under sparkling chandeliers, all while rubbing elbows with Palermo's cool crowd as records spin on the retro turntable in the corner. A short menu of pasta, meat, and seafood dishes is also available.

Tucked in an alleyway off Via Umberto, the Oliva lounge offers a bit of calm in the city's bustling center. This is where you go to geek out over the impressive selection of mezcal and rhum agricole or go deep on locally made gins and amari. The team here, a trio of hardcore bar nerds, makes all the classics perfectly (like Negronis, daiquiris, and martinis) and uses house-made bitters and tinctures to whip up inspiring drinks.

In the heart of the city's downtown, this always-packed bar has tables that spill into the streets. With an impressive selection of vermouths and local salumi, it's a great spot to go for aperitivo or a late-night drink. But the real draw is the wine program. Don't even bother with the wine list—ask for Antonio Lombardo, a veritable expert with a mischievous smile, who consistently pulls affordable bottles to suit any mood or taste, from obscure natural wines to refined classics. It's a popular spot, so it's best to make a reservation lest you want to be among the crowds who stand in the pedestrian street, drink-in-hand.