Sicily is filled with an array of fine dining choices that bring a taste of the Mediterranean right to your plate. Locally sourced ingredients combined with a Michelin star chef’s twist present some of the most unforgettable dishes platted to perfection. These flavors are what some people spend their whole lives searching for. From sweeping views of Mount Etna to a 400-year-old stone building, unique flavors create a tasteful itinerary that spans across this beautiful island in luxurious and tranquil scenes.

Michelin Star dining in Sicily comes in a variety of styles and presentations. But one thing is certain, perfection is guaranteed. For those searching for a luxurious and intimate dining experience, here are four Michelin star options on Italy’s largest Island, Sicily.

 Gagini 

Gagini is a Michelin star restaurant located in Palermo—the heart of Vucciria. From the moment guests step into the restaurant, they will be transported back in time to an older age of Italy. The interior of the restaurant is made up of 16th century stone walls that once hosted the laboratory of sculptor Antonello Gagini. A linkage between food and art, and past and present, is prominent throughout the space.

Guests can prepare to indulge in a six course, or eight course chef tasting menu. To start, select from choices such as codfish, or old cow carpaccio from “Allevabio”. First courses include “tenuta costa”, linguine served with redfish ragout or gluten free mixed pasta soup. The catch of the day, mountain lamb, or bonito fish are all options on the second course menu. To complete this unforgettable dining experience, guests can select from desserts including “Isola Pantesca ” ice cream or panna cotta with bitter orange blossom. The restaurant’s wine cellar includes a collection that has roots in local wineries. Every tailor-made proposal by the glass will enhance the overall dining experience as it guides guests along for a unique storytelling process that contributes to various “sensory opportunities”.

Ristorante Coria

Ristorante Coria re-interprets traditional and classic Italian dishes. The restaurant is in Caltagirone and is operated by head chefs, Domenico Colonnetta and Francesco Patti. Guests have visual access to the kitchen, bringing the chef’s artisanship and craft straight into the dining room. A full tasting menu including homemade selections such as pasta, bread, and dessert have granted this restaurant a Michelin star. All the vegetables are sourced from organic farming, along with daily selected meats and fish. Every ingredient reflects true Sicilian authenticity that is presented among divine dishes.

There is a wide array of dining options at Ristorante Coria. Guests may select from a light lunch, or five, seven, or nine dining course menus. All menus include a seafood and pasta dish, along with a sweet treat to conclude the selections. All wines and pairings were inspired by the best regional traditions. Reds include Frappato, Nerello mascalese and Nero d’Avola. For whites, select from options like Catarratto, or Grillo and Zibibbo.

 

Zash

Located in the Zash Country Boutique Hotel in Archi, the restaurant itself is inserted around and inside the tank where wine was once fermented. Stone walls and exposed beaming radiate a sense of intimacy and charm throughout the historic dining room. Zash is a Michelin star restaurant that combines “creativity, tradition, and territory”. These three principles productively weave together to create a fine dining delight.

Giuseppe Raciti is the head chef and creates an extensive seven course tasting menu full of fresh selections. Guests may also select from the Land Menu Paths, Sea Menu Paths, or Around Italy menu. These themed selections present an array of options and experiences to guide guests along a tasteful journey throughout the country without ever leaving their seat. Zash’s wine cellar and menu was created to fit a variety of tastes and preferences. Producers from Eta, Nerello mascalese and Carricante contribute to a majority of the selection. However, imports from France and Germany add an international flare to the menu.

Otto Geleng 

The Otto Geleng restaurant is located in the Grand Time Hotel in Taormina. Set to re-open in May 2022, this intimate space is host to 16 guests. The Michelin star restaurant boasts stunning views of Mount Etna and Naxos Bay. These backdrops enhance the exclusive and romantic experience which so many venture through Italy to discover. Head chef Roberto Toro curated a menu inspired by German painter, Otto Geleng. Both lunch and dinner options are available.

For lunch, guests can kick off their dining experience with sensational selections such as grouper carpaccio or orange-scented bluefin tuna-tartar. Main dishes include the fish of the day or dorado steak with wild asparagus. Later into the evening, starters include “Cinisara Palermitana” beef carpaccio, or courgette flowers served with tomato. From the sea, selections such as Eolian style sea bass filet or stuffed Mediterranean squid make up the main dishes. Meat options include herbed Madoine lamb shank or pepper veal with grilled Sicilian aubergine and braised radicchio.

These four restaurants all present their own twist on fine dining throughout Sicily. Fresh seafood or locally sourced vegetables ensure a dining experience that truly captures the taste and heart of Italy. Whether it is your first, or tenth trip to this beautiful Italian island, there will always be new restaurants and cuisine to discover.