Trattoria Stella

Trattoria Stella is a no-frills trattoria in the historic centre of Palermo, near the grand Teatro Massimo, the vast nineteenth-century opera house that is one of the city's landmarks. Its position has made it a favourite with opera-goers seeking a satisfying supper after a performance, and its kitchen rewards them with the classics of Sicilian home cooking done well. The menu runs to traditional pastas, braised and rolled meats such as involtini di carne, and the baked pasta al forno that is a staple of the Palermo table, alongside seasonal vegetable dishes and Sicilian sweets. The cooking is honest and generous rather than refined, and the prices are fair, keeping the trattoria firmly in good-value territory. What lifts it above the everyday is an outstanding selection of Sicilian wines, a notch more ambitious than the house carafes of many neighbourhood trattorie, with island reds and whites to match the food. The dining room is plain and comfortable, the atmosphere warm and convivial, and the welcome genuine; dress is casual. Because of its proximity to the Teatro Massimo, it can be busy on performance nights and keeps later hours than some, making it a good option for a relatively late dinner. Booking ahead is sensible on opera evenings and at weekends. The trattoria lies within the walkable historic core of Palermo, near the theatre and the main shopping and monument streets, so a meal here fits naturally into an evening in the city centre. For travellers wanting classic Sicilian cooking with a good wine list near one of Palermo's great cultural landmarks, Trattoria Stella is a reliable choice.