Taverna Azzurra

Taverna Azzurra is a taverna on Discesa dei Maccheronai 9 in the Vucciria area of Palermo, Sicily, in the narrow streets of the old port-side quarter that once held the city's most famous street market. The taverna format in Sicily indicates a casual, rustic eatery that serves traditional food and wine in a convivial setting, and this venue falls in the moderate price range. No chef lineage or Michelin listing is documented, so the appeal rests on its location in one of Palermo's most atmospheric districts and on its Sicilian menu. The cuisine is Sicilian, so visitors can expect the staples of local cooking, such as pasta with sardines or aubergine, caponata, fried specialities, grilled fish and meat, and desserts such as cannoli, although the exact signature dishes have not been confirmed and are likely to change with the season. The setting is informal, with a mixed crowd of residents and travellers, no dress code and a noise level that rises in the evening in the lively Vucciria streets, which are popular for aperitivo and late dinners. Wine is likely to be Sicilian, available by the carafe, glass or bottle, in keeping with the tavern style. Reservations are not documented as mandatory, but the small size of venues in this district means that a table is more secure with a booking, particularly on Friday and Saturday evenings and in the spring and autumn peaks, so a call a day ahead is a sensible step. Prices are in the moderate range, and a full meal with wine is typically cheaper than at the higher-priced restaurants nearby. The address on Discesa dei Maccheronai puts the taverna within a short walk of Piazza Marina, Via Vittorio Emanuele and the Cathedral, and it suits an evening combining a meal with a stroll through the Vucciria and a drink at one of the neighbouring bars.