From 2 to 5 October 2025, Sicily will host the inaugural Taormina Cocktail Week. At the heart of the event lies the promotion of mindful, high-quality drinking, a principle shared by sister formats Como Lake Cocktail Week (launched in 2019) and St. Moritz Cocktail Week (running since 2023). What sets Taormina apart is what the town has to offer: layers of history and ancient monuments, of course, but above all the trees, flowers, and gardens that inspire the signature drinks of the 2025 edition.
Taormina Cocktail Week 2025 Kicks-off in October
Fifteen cocktail bars will take part. Many belong to hotels, others are standalone; all share a focus on quality. The lineup includes the bar at San Domenico Palace, Four Seasons (host of the opening ceremony), Grand Hotel Timeo (stage for the closing event), Villa Sant’Andrea, and Grand Hotel San Pietro. Also on board are Morgana Cocktail Club and the bars of Hotel Metropole Taormina, Mazzarò Sea Palace Hotel, and Atlantis Bay. Rounding out the list: Médousa Bistrot & Suites, Ristorante Nunziatina, Daiquiri Cocktail Bar, Blu Sky Bar, and the historic Wunderbar Caffè. Finally, Le Bar Louis Vuitton and Dolce&Gabbana Mocambo Bar.
Signature Drinks Inspired by Historic Gardens
Flowers and botanicals naturally come to mind when imagining a drink, yet the creative paths are many: architecture (the ancient Greco-Roman theatre, for instance), local craftsmanship, novels set in town (such as Il moto segreto delle stelle by Fabrizio Virtuani), and films shot here. Among the best known: L’Avventura by Michelangelo Antonioni, Il piccolo diavolo by Roberto Benigni, Malèna by Giuseppe Tornatore, and, for television, season two of The White Lotus.
The First Taormina Cocktail Competition
On the morning of 3 October, bartenders will face off. Each participant in the Taormina Cocktail Competition will present a signature drink at Belvedere Café, the bar of Grand Hotel San Pietro. A trio of standout judges Anthony Poncier, Lorenzo Mancusi, and Alfonso Califano will evaluate the cocktails. The winner will be announced two days later, on 5 October, during the Taormina Cocktail Week closing party.
Taormina Cocktail Week 2025, as Great Potential
“Cocktail weeks take root in the places that host them and grow with patience and consistency, until they establish themselves as appointments with extraordinary potential, events that consolidate over time and become touchstones for those who seek excellence in luxury hospitality and high-level mixology,” says Annalisa Testa, founder of Taormina Cocktail Week. “Falling for Taormina is inevitable. It is a receptive, cinematic, and culturally vibrant destination, able to welcome and elevate contemporary mixology with elegance and authenticity.”
For the complete schedule, please refer to the official website.
Photo courtesy of Taormina Cocktail Week
