Bocum Mixology Bar & Kitchen

Bocum Mixology Bar & Kitchen is a stylish bar-restaurant in Ortigia, the historic island core of Syracuse on Sicily's south-eastern coast, and one of the leading lights of the island's growing craft-cocktail scene. Part of a small Siracusano group with a well-regarded sister venue, Bocum pairs serious mixology with a kitchen of inventive Sicilian small plates, an approach that sets it apart from the city's more traditional trattorie. The cocktail programme is the star: a roster of creative drinks built on Sicilian botanicals, citrus, herbs and amari, mixed with skill and presentation that have earned the bar a wide following. The kitchen matches it with seasonal small plates that change with the morning market — dishes such as gambero rosso crudo, raw local red prawn dressed with Etna salt, and a seasonal panzanella — designed for sharing alongside drinks. The setting is contemporary and atmospheric, with a buzzy, after-dark energy that draws a fashionable mix of locals and visitors; dress is smart-casual. Prices sit at a fair mid-range for cocktails and small plates. Bocum keeps evening hours, opening for aperitivo and running late, making it a natural choice for a drink and a graze rather than a formal sit-down dinner. It lies in the heart of Ortigia, within walking distance of the Piazza Duomo and the seafront, so it fits easily into an evening exploring one of Sicily's most beguiling old quarters. Booking ahead is sensible at weekends and in the busy summer season. For travellers wanting first-rate cocktails and creative Sicilian bites in a stylish setting, Bocum is among the best in the south-east.