Sonia's Picks: A Night on the Town

Swinging Palermo comes into full gear late in the evening, but there are always many things going on.
According to Sonia Bonelli, the places most frequented by young Palermitani are:

"La Cuba":
Where the young, wealthy middle class meets to commence the serata (evening). A pub immersed in the green of Villa Sperlinga, a park in the most happening section of the city.

"Malox":
The secret meeting place of young rastas and punks who, between drinks, will recount some of the most interesting episodes of their lives (piazzetta della Canna, in city center).

Still in the historical center are the disco-pubs of via Candelai: L"88", the "I Candelai" and the "Mescal tapas".

If you would like to taste local Sicilian wines and much more, go to piazza Nascè to "I vini d'oro" or "Mi manda Picone".

But one need not only drink; if you wish to eat and pass the evening "sapurita" (most agreeably) go to "La focacceria S. Francesco", where you may try several gastronomic specialties: "u' pani ca' meusa", a panino stuffed with spleen and "u' sfinciuni", a kind of pizza topped with toasted bread crumbs, onions, tomato sauce and anchovy.

Those who would like fresh fish need look no further than Mondello (seaside/bathing locale a few kilometers from the city), Sferracavallo or Porticello (prov. of Palermo).

The gastronomic route does not end here, as Tunisian specialties may be found at the restaurant "La mensa di Aladino". Those who venture here will have the pleasure to discover the genuine tastes of couscous and many other delicacies. At "Caffè turco", why not smoke the narghilè while observing the sinuous movement of the Turkish belly dancers?

Be sure not to forget the Sicilian pasticceria: at the bar "Alba" in piazza Don Bosco, one may find mouth-watering cannoli and cassate; at "Spinnato" in piazza Castelnuovo you may taste sweets of every type.

If you wish to "scialari" (go crazy), pass the night away at the "Kandisky Florio", a disco not far from the sea, reconstructed from an old tonnara of the Arenella, a quarter of Palermo, or the "Birimbao", a disco-pub in which emerging groups of young Palermitani artists come to sing, mix and most of all show off their stuff. If you don't mind going a bit outside the city, head for "Rosamunda" of Balestrate (prov. of Palermo).

After the "notte folle" "insane evening" in the disco everyone goes to eat hot, creme-filled cornetti (croissants) at "Fratelli Ganci".

Note that if someone says that "la serata andò a finire a schifio" (the evening was not all that much fun), this means that they did not visit at least one of the above locales!

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