Osteria Santa Domenica Taormina

Osteria Santa Domenica is hands down the best dining experience in Taormina. The food is incredibly fresh and every dish feels like it was made with the finest ingredients straight from the market that day. You can truly taste the difference; it is a cut above any other restaurant in town. The owner is absolutely incredible, warm, welcoming, and deeply passionate about what he does. He takes the time to make sure every guest feels cared for and his pride in the restaurant shines through in both the service and the food. From start to finish, everything was flawless: homemade pasta cooked perfectly, fresh seafood that melted in your mouth, and an outstanding Sicilian wine selection to complement the meal. The atmosphere is charming, authentic, and unforgettable. If you only choose one place to dine in Taormina, make it Osteria Santa Domenica. An absolute must visit.

Amazing dinner celebrating my birthday, service and food were both incredible and staff and owner made my birthday so special. The best meal we had in Taormina and one of the best on entire two week trip to Italy. Fresh ingredients straight from the market that morning and we got to enjoy the white truffle that has just arrived that morning. Highly highly recommend!

Absolutely outstanding! We dined the first night we were in Taormina (recommended by our hotel) and was the best meal we had during our stay here. From the start, the owner was enthusiastic, friendly and made sure we were well taken care of - even took a photo with us! Food itself was delicious and fresh, we tried a little of everything. My mother has a gluten allergy and they handled it beautifully (including fresh baked GF bread). Additionally had one of the best local wines (recommended by the owner). If you are in Taormina a must try!

The food here was exceptional. The menu offered a variety of real treats that made choosing difficult across every course. The wine menu was incredibly broad but well organised with options for all and lots of wines by the glass. We sat inside in a sophisticated, welcoming and mercifully cool environment. The service was attentive, helpful and friendly. Highly recommended!

Wonderful dinner. The host/owner was a wonderful opening giving us a brief story along with the daily dishes he curates himself, food was amazing as reflected by the prices but very well spent, service was fast, attentive and kind with a great atmosphere, while sitting on the outdoor patio we still felt well attended and were able to get a wonderful experience and meal. Thank you to the team for a wonderful last meal in Taormina

It’s not a place, it’s gastronomical experience. A rare Perl of Taormina. The food insane. The compliments with an extremely tasty olive oil and warm bread; soup from strawberry and tomato, served with goat cheese. And continue with my choice of zucchini flowers and tartar from tuna. This is a place where I wanted to stay and come back.

Osteria Santa Domenica was, without a doubt, the highlight of our culinary journey through Sicily. The quality of the food is simply outstanding—every dish was refined, fresh, and bursting with flavor. We especially loved the raw fish selection and the tuna tataki, which were exceptional, but the mains were just as impressive. What truly elevated the experience, though, was the warm and genuine hospitality of Gianluca, the owner. He treats every guest with care and passion, taking time to explain each element of the menu with charm and enthusiasm. You feel truly welcomed and valued from the moment you walk in. It’s clear that this is not just a meal, but an experience—and worth every penny. Osteria Santa Domenica is in a league of its own in Taormina. We couldn’t recommend it more highly. An absolute gem!

Found this wandering the streets of Taormina and liked it so much we ate there twice. It has a nice dining area inside but we ate in the very tight and cozy outside seating along the street. Nice wine list, very good local dishes and fast service.