Mocambo In Taormina

A quick reflection: I've been frequenting Taormina since I was 14, when, penniless and a little envious, I would spy on the "grown-ups" sitting at the Mokambo café, which wasn't your average bar but a mandatory stop, not for everyone, to start the evening. Playboys and dandies would set the already sultry summer evenings ablaze with their presence, smiles laced with seduction on tanned faces and white suits with unbuttoned shirts. The evenings continued at the "Giara" of the great Cico Scimone and then the Manuli brothers. I watched them—Turi Pollicina, Mimmo Cassaniti, Vito Costa, Carlo Spina, to name a few—and I waited until I grew up to be able to match or surpass them. Love, betrayal, and unscrupulousness passed over those tables, and little by little I managed to secure a table that was always reserved in that whirlwind of emotions called Mokambo. Together with lifelong friends Giovanni Costa, Seby di Giovanni, Alfredo Minissale, Ugo Pollicina, and Guido Costa, we spent decades doing what was natural to us: experiencing the nightlife in all its strangest facets, to the fullest and without limits. Years later, now married and "with my head in the clear," as they say, I found myself in Taormina last Saturday evening with my wife, and after dinner at "cu ti lu dissi," an excellent restaurant in Porta Catania owned by friends Fabio and Francesco, we decided to have a drink at Mokambo. We walked along the Corso, with many shops closed due to the late hour (9:10 PM), and to our great surprise, we found Mokambo CLOSED. Asking around, we were told that closing time was 9:00 PM. 9:00 PM. 9:00 PM. How sad. One of the historic symbols of Taormina's nightlife closed at 9:00 PM. But does the new ownership (Dolce & Gabbana) know that nightlife in Taormina starts after 9 PM? Shame on them!!! The time for weirdness is certainly over for us, but I believe an era that saw us as the protagonists of the last episode is over!!!

Very expensive (€45), but good.

The staff here was not very welcoming. Once they eventually sat us (in one of their many empty tables on a sunny Saturday afternoon in April), they showed little care for my order, which was simply a glass of wine and water.

Splendid in a charming venue steeped in history. Special shout-out to Giorgia, the dining room manager!

My Easter gift... a super chic breakfast, served at a beautifully appointed table in the sun with a unique view... friendly, discreet, professional, and welcoming staff. It was a real treat... highly recommended!

Excellent management, staff still needs training, unattractive exterior, fair prices considering location and brand.

Very special experience here. Food is fantastic! Service is warm and special! Considering the free finger food they provided free of charge, the drink and food are not expensive at all. We also bought pistachio paste with nice bagging. Very special gift from Sicily.

I was expecting much more. I didn't like the coffee, only the tiramisu was good

Dolce & Gabbana - Can highly recommend a visit here Fantastic service. A bit pricey for 12€ for a beer and 12€ for a coke!