In Taormina, a lounge bar that, like the enchanting siren of its name, has been seducing guests since 2001 with settings and scenography that change completely every season, giving life to the most magical nights of the beautiful Sicilian city.

The Morgana Lounge Bar, located in the historic center of Taormina, owes its name to the fairy from Celtic mythology who created mirages and hallucinations with hypnotic sounds in the eyes of sailors transiting the Strait of Messina.

Evocative visions that are always different, according to the legend, which the founders of the place, Christian Sciglio and Guido Spinello, supported in reality by deciding to completely transform the place every season.

Once you have walked down the narrow alley that starts from Corso Umberto, in the historic center of Taormina, and open the doors of Morgana, the lights bewitch you, the music is like a siren and the bar turns out to be a tempting treasure chest.

Unique in this sense in Italy, Morgana came to life in 2001, when Guido decided to invest in his land by purchasing the spaces and, together with his cousin Christian, with previous experience in the beverage sector, began working on the place, conceiving it as a “home” for friends.

Although today Morgana is one of the best-known brands in the world, its timeless success also depends, or above all, on having maintained the initial values devoted to authenticity, quality and the purest Sicilian character. Not just a place where you go after dinner, but a meeting point for those who live or stay in Taormina.

And as we announced, the Morgana you see in the photos is already about to change again, surprising us soon with a new look but always in the name of the most talented Sicilian artists and artisans.

For the 22nd edition Morgana created, in fact, an installation that retraced one of the richest and most fascinating periods of the thousand-year-old Sicilian history: Arabs and Normans, together and in antithesis, cultures and customs that mix and merge to create a humus of suggestion that becomes a clash and meeting of different worlds.

The architectural and interior design by Salvatore Musumeci has given life to arabesques and geometries that pay homage to the typical elements introduced by the Arabs, giving centrality to the beautiful garden which was, in particular, decorated by one of the most famous artists of Taormina, Alessandro Florio, who created the beautiful site-specific tables finely set between the seats.

His works are inspired by the symbolic canons of Norman royalty and use a language that refers to the reality of hunting as an eminent activity of the rulers.

The same context includes exotic animals such as leopards, peacocks and giraffes which, combined with trees and palms, are inspired by a heraldic scheme, iconography linked to the greatest celebration of royalty of oriental origin.

What will Morgana be like in edition 23 which debuts in March 2024? All you have to do is book a table and get a signature drink recommended by bar manager Stefano Giummarra, or wait for the next “Secrets” article to find out.

The Secret

Morgana is famous for its original cocktails and menus, like the last one, a fun spinning top, and also for its excellent homemade spirits, such as the Gin Gran Tour based on Etna botanicals, Pachino tomatoes and Salina capers.

Useful Info

Morgana Taormina
Scesa Morgana 4
98039 Taormina, Messina

Cocktails: from 20 euro