Palermo Nightlife

Palermo is Sicily’s biggest city, and there is a lot to see and do. Locals – known as palermitani – eat late, so a 9.30 pm dinner reservation is completely normal. The Teatro Massimo is an incredible place for an opera, but if you’re looking for something more, something later, something post-opera, we have some suggestions for Palermo nightlife.

Whether you are looking for a restaurant with live music, a pub the locals love, or a club to dance the night away, you’ll find it in Palermo.

“Mirror Ball Amsterdam” by yozza licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

Palermo Nightlife Recommendations

For music concerts, theater, and parties, check the schedules of the cultural centers Agricantus and I Candelai.

For dinner followed by live music, Palab is a great bet. Or for dinner and then dancing every night of the week, go to the restaurant Tina Pica.

Though the name wouldn’t make you think so, the Nashville Pub is a local hangout, a small and lively bar perfect for after dinner.

For late night dancing head to Zsa Zsa Mon Amour or Carpe Diem, both with dancing every night except Mondays. Carpe Diem has live music every Tuesday and Saturday, and Thursday is students’ night. Note that these places don’t open until about 10 pm, and the crowds really arrive closer to midnight.

For both pre-dinner and post-dinner fun, head to the classy Cafe 442 any night of the week. Starting at 7 pm, buy a drink and do the famous Italian “aperitivi”, which means helping yourself to a buffet of free food (the Italians take small plates and go to dinner afterwards, but tourists on a budget sometimes substitute this for dinner). Or, just arrive in time for late night dancing. If you get the munchies, they also have a limited menu. Monday night is lounge night.

Photo of disco ball by yozza