The strangest thing about
Palermo's fast lifestyle
is that it virtually stops
at around 8pm. Apart from
a perfunctory passeggiata
between the Teatro Massimo
and Piazza Castelnuovo, in
most areas everything is
quiet outside after dark.
In summer, most young
people head for Mondello
, and buses run there and
back all night. Still, for
an outdoor, early-evening
drink
, Via Principe di Belmonte
is a good spot - closed to
traffic, and with several
popular places - for
coffees and beers. Evening
crowds also congregate at
the nearby
Bottiglieria
del Mássimo , a wine
bar with pavement seating
at Via Spinuzza 59, and,
at the bottom of this
street, in the bars on
Piazza Olivella, opposite
the archeological museum;
all of these remain open
until late. For a
refreshing non-alcoholic
drink on the hoof, the
stand-up
Pinguino
at Via Ruggero Séttimo 86
serves famous milkshakes
and a range of
non-alcoholic cocktails,
and also has excellent ice
cream (closed Mon).
If it's discos
and video bars
you're after, what exists
is all in the new,
northern section of the
city, along Viale
Strasburgo, or along Via
Generale Arimondi (beyond
the Giardino Inglese).
Otherwise, there are cinemas
on Via Cavour and Via E.
Amari, and, on Mondays
(winter only),
English-language films at
the Fiamma Cinema, Largo
Abeti 3, on the corner of
Via Libertà and Via
Notarbártolo (tel
091.625.1868).
