Ballaro 25 ★ 4.2
15 by the glassBallaro market, Palermo
Natural wine bar in Palermo's Ballaro market neighbourhood with a very late closing and a chalk-board daily list. Known as the post-midnight drinking spot for Palermo's wine trade.
The list: Natural-wine focused late-night bar in the Ballaro market area; 15 small-producer Sicilian bottles by the glass on a chalk-board menu
Tip: The latest-closing dedicated wine bar in Palermo's market district. The list changes daily based on open bottles; all natural, mostly Sicilian with the occasional biodynamic Campanian or Lazio pour.
Enoteca Teatro Greco ★ 4.3
20 by the glassTaormina centro storico
Taormina wine bar adjacent to the ancient Greek Theatre, serving Etna DOC and Sicilian selections by the glass in the most historically charged location on the island.
The list: Taormina evening wine bar by the Greek theatre; 20 Sicilian and Italian selections by the glass; strong on Etna and Nerello Mascalese
Tip: Positioned one street from the entrance to the Greek Theatre; the perfect pre- or post-theatre venue for a glass of Etna Rosso. Outdoor terrace fills up on performance nights.
Enoteca del Porto ★ 4.2
22 by the glassLa Cala marina, Palermo
Palermo marina wine bar on Via Francesco Crispi with late Saturday producer tasting flights and an all-island by-the-glass selection. One of the city's few bars offering structured tasting formats after midnight.
The list: Palermo late-evening wine bar at the old marina; 22 Sicilian labels by the glass including producer tasting flights on Saturday evenings
Tip: Saturday evening producer flights focus on one region each week: Etna, Vittoria, Marsala or Alcamo. The waterfront terrace stays open late through October.
Bulle Palermo ★ 4.2
20 by the glassLiberta, Palermo
Palermo sparkling wine bar focused on Sicilian metodo classico, Champagne and Italian spumante selections. One of the island's few dedicated sparkling-focused late-evening venues.
The list: Palermo's dedicated sparkling wine bar with Sicilian metodo classico alongside Champagne, Prosecco and Franciacorta; 20 bubbles by the glass
Tip: Sicily's own metodo classico producers (Baglio di Pianetto, Cusumano) are featured alongside French Champagne; a useful introduction to the island's emerging sparkling-wine production.
Frizzante Catania ★ 4.2
18 by the glassPiazza Bellini, Catania
Catania sparkling wine bar in Piazza Bellini specialising in Sicilian petnat, metodo classico and Italian bubbles alongside French Champagne.
The list: Catania sparkling bar featuring Sicilian metodo classico, Etna white petnat and selected Italian and French bubbles; 18 by the glass
Tip: The Etna petnat pours are the highlight: low-intervention sparkling Nerello Mascalese or Carricante in bottle-fermented pet-nat style is a uniquely Sicilian drinking experience.
Bollicine Wine Bar ★ 4.1
20 by the glassTaormina corso, Messina province
Taormina corso sparkling wine bar with a strong Sicilian metodo classico and Italian bubbles programme alongside French Champagne. Street-side tables make it a natural passeggiata stop.
The list: Taormina sparkling wine bar on the main corso with 20 by-the-glass selections: Sicilian metodo classico (Firriato, Baglio di Pianetto), Prosecco, Cava and Champagne
Tip: Best placed for a pre-dinner glass on the passeggiata; the Sicilian metodo classico from Firriato is consistently one of the best-value islands bubbles on the island and available here by the glass.