La Brace

La Brace is a wood-fired grill restaurant in the heart of Cefalù, the photogenic seaside town on Sicily's northern coast, set beneath its great rocky headland and crowned by a Norman cathedral. The name means 'the embers', and the kitchen's focus is exactly that: meat and fish cooked over charcoal, a style that suits both the local catch and the produce of the Madonie hills behind the town. Diners come for grilled tuna and swordfish steaks, the mixed wood-grill platters, and grilled meats, all prepared with a simplicity that lets the quality of the ingredients and the smoke of the fire come through. Seasonal antipasti, pastas and Sicilian sides round out the menu. The restaurant has a convivial, welcoming atmosphere and is popular with both visitors and locals, a balance that speaks to its reliable quality; dress is casual. Prices sit at a fair mid-range. Cefalù is one of the most-visited towns on Sicily's north coast, beloved for its medieval centre, its sandy beach and its cinematic setting — it featured memorably in the film Cinema Paradiso — and La Brace sits among the lanes of the old town, within easy walking distance of the cathedral and the seafront. The restaurant serves dinner, making it a natural choice after a day on the beach or exploring the town. Booking ahead is sensible for evenings in the busy summer season, when Cefalù fills with holidaymakers. For travellers wanting well-executed charcoal-grilled fish and meat in an atmospheric north-coast setting, La Brace is a dependable and satisfying choice.