A Palermo institution for serious wine drinkers — a cavernous wine shop that doubles as a wine bar, stocking thousands of Sicilian and Italian bottles.
Enoteca Picone is a Palermo institution on Via Marconi, a cavernous wine shop that doubles as a standing wine bar and a fixture of the Sicilian capital's drinking culture for decades. The crowd is mixed and unpretentious — local professionals after work, serious wine enthusiasts, market-stall regulars and a steady trickle of travellers — leaning older and more knowledgeable than the city's club scene, with no dress code beyond turning up. The atmosphere is the appeal: thousands of bottles line the walls floor to ceiling, and on busy evenings drinkers spill out onto the pavement with a glass in hand, leaning against barrels and chatting. There is no DJ and no soundtrack to speak of; conversation and the pop of corks set the mood. The drinks programme is the deepest in Palermo for Sicilian wine, with an enormous selection by the glass spanning Etna reds and whites, Nero d'Avola, Grillo, Catarratto and natural producers, plus Italian and a few foreign labels, generally priced from around 4 to 8 euros a glass and climbing for rarer pours. Simple, excellent plates of Sicilian cheese, salumi and bread accompany the wine, intended to keep drinkers grounded rather than to make a meal. Opening hours follow shop rhythms rather than club ones: it trades from late morning through the day and into the evening, busiest at aperitivo time and after work, and it does not run into the small hours. There is no cover charge, no reservations needed and no bottle service — the model is to order at the counter and find a spot. For visitors wanting to understand Sicilian wine in one stop, with the option to buy a bottle to take away, Enoteca Picone is the essential Palermo address and a relaxed, authentic alternative to the louder nightlife nearby.
Good to know
- Signature
- Comprehensive selection of Sicilian wines by the glass, with excellent cheese and charcuterie
Highlights
- Thousands of Sicilian and Italian bottles lining a historic Palermo wine shop
- Deep by-the-glass selection of Etna wines, Nero d'Avola, Grillo and natural producers
- Excellent plates of Sicilian cheese and salumi to accompany the wine
- Drinkers spill onto the pavement, glass in hand, on busy evenings
- Buy a bottle to take away from the same counter you drink at
Tips for visiting
- Come at aperitivo time or after work for the liveliest atmosphere
- Glasses start around 4–8 euros; ask staff to steer you toward Sicilian producers
- Order a plate of cheese and salumi to pair with the wine
- It closes in the evening, not the small hours — plan it earlier in the night
- No reservations are needed; just order at the counter and find a spot
Frequently asked questions
Is Enoteca Picone a bar or a shop?
Both. It is a long-running Palermo wine shop on Via Marconi that doubles as a standing wine bar, where customers can drink by the glass or buy bottles to take away.
What wines can I try?
The by-the-glass list is one of the deepest in Palermo for Sicilian wine, covering Etna reds and whites, Nero d'Avola, Grillo, Catarratto and natural producers, alongside Italian labels.
How much does a glass cost?
Most glasses run from around 4 to 8 euros, with rarer pours costing more. There is no cover charge.
When does it close?
It follows shop hours rather than club hours, trading through the day into the evening and busiest around aperitivo. It does not stay open into the small hours.