2 Best Restaurants in Mondello, Sicily

For fine dining in Mondello, you can't go wrong with Charleston, a local institution where the dishes are of the highest quality and the white-gloved waiters offer impeccable service. Partly hidden behind a low white wall directly opposite the beach, the restaurant is an odd combination of the traditional and the contemporary, as the setting is stately and refined while the menu has the minimalist yet adventurous quality of cutting-edge cuisine. Despite the elegant setting, the mood is relaxed and authentic. The dishes, which use the finest ingredients to give a modern twist to Sicilian culinary traditions, are best sampled on one of the set-price menus, which include a multi-course tasting menu (€75). The involtini di pesce spada (swordfish wrapped with cheese, sultanas, and pine nuts) is a stand-out.

Seafood is the cuisine of choice in Mondello, though the quality on offer at many of the seafront restaurants can be patchy, to say the least, but you'll find no complaints at this family-run trattoria. With a smart, modern interior and an outdoor terrace, it has an upbeat ambience and a helpful English-speaking staff. Don't get too distracted by the long list of antipasti, good as they are, for there are many choices to choose from for your main. If available, you can't go wrong with the fettuccine with pistachio cream and prawns, or perhaps a steaming pile of spaghetti with clams and mussels, followed by the catch of the day (which really has been caught on the day). A good choice of Sicilian wines is also offered.