Osteria Rosso Divino

The best food and wine we’ve had in Taormina so far. Primarily a fish menu, and everything we ate fish or otherwise was exceptional. The staff were brilliant and made a huge effort with our two year old daughter which we appreciate. Note for others, our child’s dish which was altered / smaller, was still charged at full price.

Tucked into a candle-lit square off the Main Street in Taormina, our meal at Rosso Divino was exceptional. Local Sicilian wine and a whole snapper cooked two ways were the standouts of the meal. The service team was friendly, helpful and highly professional. If you’re looking for a special meal out in Taormina that is worth the price-tag, 10/10 would recommend.

I’m shocked this place doesn’t have traction. It was fabulous. It’s tucked away on a little side street and it has the most charming vibe with candles and low lighting. The service was excellent and the food was so delicious.

This place is a bit hard to find, but we were welcomed with open arms. The staff was very friendly and did their absolute best to make us feel at home. The dinner started good with an appetizer that tasted really good, but the Main course was a huge dissapointment. I had the gnocchi which tasted okey and my girlfriend chose the fresh fish. The waiter talked a long time about how they could prepare the fish and we were convinced that this must be an excellent choice. But when the fish was served I could see the dissapointment in her eyes. The dish was so bland and had hardly any taste. 47 euro for that dish alene, not worth it to say the least. But the staff was so nice that we couldnt bare to tell them that the fish was awful. If you plan to go here, dont choose the fish, you will probably have a better experience if you choose another dish.

An Unforgettable Culinary Gem in the Heart of Taormina On our final evening in the enchanting town of Taormina, we wanted a dining experience that felt truly special—something that captured the spirit of Sicily and left us with a lasting memory. Osteria Rosso Divino delivered that and so much more. Tucked away on a charming side street, this beautiful restaurant had been highly recommended by our Italian travel agent. Even without a reservation, we were greeted with warm smiles and gracious hospitality, and seated right away—a gesture that instantly made us feel at home. Soon after, a lovely woman approached our table with the kind of warmth and enthusiasm that can’t be faked. She carefully walked us through the day’s offerings, painting each dish with such vivid detail and passion that we found ourselves hanging on every word. We ultimately chose the fresh red snapper—expertly prepared two ways. One half was dressed with golden toasted breadcrumbs and a delicate hint of orange citrus; the other was served Sicilian-style with olives, sweet raisins, sun-ripened tomatoes, and fresh aromatic herbs. The result? Absolute perfection. Each bite told a story—of sea, sun, and tradition. The flavors were bold yet balanced, deeply rooted in local heritage but executed with a level of finesse that spoke to true culinary artistry. To our surprise and delight, we later discovered that the woman who had so eloquently described the menu was in fact the owner. That revelation added an extra layer of heart to an already beautiful evening. It’s rare to feel such an authentic connection to a place while dining, but this was one of those rare, magical moments. If you find yourself in Taormina, do not miss Osteria Rosso Divino. It’s not just a meal—it’s an experience. A true celebration of Sicilian flavors, heartfelt hospitality, and the kind of charm that stays with you long after the last bite.

Great atmosphere, service and food was perfection. Wine selection is huge and the waitress recommended an amazing bottle of wine for us. It is not cheap but quality. I recommend reserving as it fills up quite fast.

We returned here following our fond memories from our last visit, and it was just as wonderful as we remembered. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and the experience ended perfectly with a memorable grappa. Truly a place worth coming back to again and again. Reservations are highly recommended!

Amazing Lunch! The service was outstanding and the food was perfection. Our wonderful hostess provided us with an excellent recommendation for wine as well. Don’t miss this one if you are in Taormina. The seafood and produce was fresh and prepared to complement their natural flavors. I will remember this lunch forever:)

KenScale: 8.0/10 Visit: June 2023 Last year, my wife Jun and I spent a summer vacation in Sicily. Sicily had long been on our travel wish list, and the recent White Lotus TV show only heightened that desire to check out this beautiful island. Just like the characters in White Lotus, our main base was in the resort town of Taormina (although we didn't stay at the exact same Four Seasons hotel, we were very happy with our choice of Hotel Villa Ducale with breathtaking views of the coastline and Mount Etna). It was truly a wonderful summer trip of beach club, wine tasting in Mount Etna and other stops in Noto, Siracusa and Ragusa following our stay in Taormina. On the other hand, maybe it was we were in mostly touristy areas or my faulty research but it is hard to say we had a truly memorable meal in some of the restaurants we had visited in Sicily. One restaurant we did like a lot (thanks to the recommendation of the hotel we were staying at) was Osteria RossoDiVino in Taormina. We visited the restaurant on our second day in Taormina after a full day at the beach club. The food was mostly delicious with one standout item that Jun and I can't stop thinking about. The restaurant is located away from the touristy center of Taormina in a hidden alley. Just like a typical Sicilian restaurant, the menu is focused on seafood, and our server brought a giant plate of fish that were caught that day. If there is one item that you absolutely need to try at RossoDiVino, it is the fried anchovies with white mayonnaise. Jun doesn't even like anchovies that much but the ones at the restaurant were rather large and fried to perfection. We would've been perfectly happy eating just these without anything else for the rest of the night. We also opted to split one of the pasta specials on the blackboard, linguine all'astice with lobster. It was somewhat pricey at 40 euros (especially with a rather modest portion) but a pretty solid dish. Among the catch of the day options, we chose a bigeye fish cooked Sicilian stew style using tomato broth that was simple yet well-executed. Since we were in Sicily, we felt compelled to try some cannoli with ricotta cheese and RossoDiVino's dish was not disappointing, especially with a glass of fortified Sicilian wine of marsala. The restaurant's outdoor space is not large so if you want to book for prime-time dinner during a busy touristy season, making a reservation in advance is highly recommended (the restaurant doesn't seem to have reservations available via one of the restaurant reservation websites but if you are staying at a hotel, you can ask them for help in securing a reservation by phone like we did). Sicily's wines have been getting worldwide recognition for a while and RossoDiVino's selection from a variety of regions in the island is excellent for exploring the versatile terroir of these wines. Thanks to the restaurant's location, we didn't feel like we were dining at a touristy trap and it was great to have a relaxing summer meal in a charming outdoor seating without all the noise coming from the main street of Corso Umberto. As beautiful as Taormina is as a vacation destination, its food scene may not be what you would the best from Sicily, but if there is one restaurant that is worth checking out, I would say RossoDiVino is one such place.

What an unbelievable find hidden in Taormina. Amazing fresh fish dishes, pastas, antipasto, and wines. Two sisters run this exemplary restaurant. One of the best meals with inspirational service. Set in a charming courtyard with balconies all around. A must if you are in town!

It's a 5!!!! Potato Gnocchi with Tuscany truffle cream! ....AMEN it was fabulous! Tartara carpaccio was great too! Service top notch in a perfect hidden gem!

We found this place on our first trip to Sicily and made sure we made Taormina a destination again on our second trip - just to go here! Last trip we had dinner here both nights! Extensive wine list and everything is available by the glass. You can try differ my wines to go with the different courses. The seafood is super fresh and delicious! From crudo to grilled, you cannot go wrong here. Service is amazing! Sisters Jackie and Sarah are knowledgeable friendly and super passionate about what they do. If you are in Taormina, do not miss this place!

By far my favorite restaurant in Taormina. So much so that we came back twice in our 5 day visit. Jaqueline is an incredibly warm, knowledgeable and kind server who makes you feel as if you are part of her family. The ambiance is beautiful, the food is incredible, and the service is outstanding. This restaurant oozes charm and authenticity. Do yourself a favor and come!

The service here is as amazing as the food, and that is saying a lot! My husband suffered a concussion before coming here and was having trouble with vertigo. They sat us at a number of tables until he felt comfortable, which meant a lot. We started with the sardines, which I highly recommend, then ordered the salt-crusted sea bream. It was buttery, flaky, and tasted like the ocean-- like all fish should be. The added entertainment of watching our waiter break the pile of salt from the fish made it taste that much better. I cannot wait to return here.

We had hoped for a lovely special quiet dinner to conclude our two week stay in Italy but alas it was not to be. This restaurant was highly recommended to us by the concierge at the VOI San Mazzarò Sea Palace where we are staying. Although the setting, service, food and wine were outstanding, another party with 3 loud, poorly behaved and uncontrolled children ruined the experience. By the end of the evening the children were running around amidst all the tables, and neither the (apparent) parents nor restaurant management did anything to address the situation. One would expect this at a McDonalds but not at a fine restaurant such as this. Very unfortunate.

Wonderful staff, romantic setting and the freshest fish. They recommended a wonderful bottle of wine to our liking. Flavor combinations and attention to detail in their sauces are evident. I highly recommend!

We ate here our first night in Taormina having researched the restaurant before we left for our trip to Italy. I concluded having read the complaints about the restaurant that we would love it. People complaining about small portion sizes or a small menu is usually a good sign. This is the only restaurant we visited in Taormina that could actually thrive in the Bay Area. The menu was limited to what was fresh. No plastic menus with ten pages of dishes. The service was enthusiastic. The wine list was fairly broad and we received a recommendation for an Etna Bianco that was great. This is the only restaurant where they poured our wine for us after the first glass. We asked for recommendations between menu items and were given good advice. The food, including a scampi pasta, was great. The pasta was the best dish we had in Italy. The bread they offered was also some of the best on our trip. Other standout dishes were tuna rolls with caponata and sea bass with olives, capers and potatoes. Setting was also great, as we ate outside in a courtyard. A really great experience and I highly recommend. I don't understand the other reviews about pushy service, etc.. I would say enthusiastic. If you are looking for something other than a pushy North Beach experience, this would be the place.

Would definitely go back. The service was great. The location was fun to watch people walking and taking scooters by on the narrow street. The pasta and risotto were excellent.

Great Food, Great Service. Food is fresh and imaginative. The sisters know Customer Service thoroughly.

This is the most typical seafood restaurant we were in on our recent trip to northeast Sicily. The owner maybe a little exuberant but really excellent food and service. Well worth it in a place with a lot of restaurants. Probably one of the best meals we had in this 3 week trip. Recommend without reservation!

Sitting in the courtyard digesting my delicious dinner and savoring their version of a chocolate soufflé along w their cream/ wild strawberry dessert. Service is gracious and the servers speak English perfectly in case your Italian is patchy. Started w a welcome dose of sparkling rose w their house made breadsticks ( best) and bread. Calamari -- best I've ever had-- super crispy and light served w their homemade mayo. Spaghetti w bottarga and mint while husband had squid ink pasta & sons had gnocchi w shrimp and home made maccheroni w veal/ pork ragu.