Sicily

BY TIA KIM

HIGH-TECH TASTING
Set in Sicily’s capital, MEC Restaurant in Palermo was born from the vision of architect and patron Giuseppe Forello to combine high-end gastronomy with a high-tech museum dedicated to Steve Jobs and Apple. MEC (short for Meet, Eat, Connect) was conceived as an intersection of food, art, and technological history. Frescoed ceilings, marble floors, tall windows, and centuries-old architectural details provide the aristocratic Sicilian backdrop, while glowing display cases contain circuit boards, early Macintosh computers, and other iconic pieces from Apple lore. The Michelin-starred tasting menu features a parade of cheekily named dishes like “Touch Me” (cuttlefish with Genovese zucchini and beurre blanc) and “Daddy’s Heart” (fermented Cuore di Bue tomato with Calvisius Siberian Classic caviar), paired with wines from the 800-bottle cellar. mecrestaurant.it

DOLCE DREAMS
Caffè Sicilia is one of Sicily’s great culinary institutions, yet from the sidewalk it remains wonderfully unassuming. The Assenza family founded the café in 1892, and more than 130 years later, it is still operating on Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Noto’s grand central thoroughfare, just steps from the city’s Baroque cathedral. Its modern legacy belongs largely to fourth-generation master pastry chef Corrado Assenza, whose almond granita has become the stuff of legend and even featured on Netflix’s docuseries, Chef’s Table: Pastry. The chef utilizes rare Romana almonds to craft the smooth icy treat; pair it with buttery house-made brioche or iced espresso in the chef’s signature cappuccino ghiacciato. Cannoli, filled with sheep’s milk ricotta, is also a must. caffesicilia.it

THE MOUNTAIN’S BOUNTY
Tuscany may nab much of the glory when it comes to Italian wine, but Mount Etna produces some of the country’s most thrilling bottles, thanks to high-altitude vineyards, dramatic temperature swings, and mineral-rich volcanic soils that give its wines remarkable complexity. Benanti Winery helped put Etna on the fine-wine map. Although the family’s winemaking roots date back centuries, the modern winery was established in 1988 by Giuseppe Benanti, who set out to prove the potential of Etna’s indigenous grapes. Tastings take place at Benanti’s 19th-century estate and follow a walk through the vineyards, old palmento, art-filled cellar, and barrel room. benanti.it

SUN-SOAKED ROMANCE
Perched beside Taormina’s ancient Greek Theatre, Grand Hotel Timeo occupies one of Sicily’s most cinematic settings, with terraced gardens spilling down the hillside and views stretching across the Ionian Sea to Mount Etna. Its story began in 1850 as a small guesthouse for artists and travelers, including German painter Otto Geleng, whose romantic images of Taormina helped introduce the destination to the world. Today, the grande dame features 67 dreamy rooms and suites overlooking the sea, the magnificient 21-room standalone Villa Timeo, a newly debuted Dior Spa, scenic outdoor pool deck, bougainvillea-rich gardens, and four restaurants and bars, including the Michelin-starred Otto Geleng, an intimate salotto-style concept named after the famed painter. belmond.com

ONCE UPON A TIME
Set amid olive groves, citrus trees, and open countryside outside Noto, Il San Corrado di Noto occupies a meticulously restored former masseria that once belonged to the aristocratic Nicolaci family, transforming an old Sicilian agricultural estate into a serene, refreshingly private contemporary retreat. The mood leans polished Mediterranean minimalism to let the views sing: pale local stone and terracotta roofs melt into the enormous expanses of blue water and olive groves. There are just 26 suites and eight villas, all with generous outdoor space and many with private or semi-private pools. The resort’s spectacular centerpiece is a 328-foot heated Modican stone swimming pool, one of the largest hotel pools in Sicily, accompanied by a marble and teak wood spa with a hammam, Finnish sauna, and frigidarium. ilsancorradodinoto.com