Inside the marvelous Botanical Garden of Palermo, a bistro and café immersed in the greenery of one of the most beautiful gardens in Europe, among centenary Ficus trees and rare tropical species.

Founded in 1779, the Botanical Garden of the University of Palermo is one of the most important European academic institutions. Today it covers an area of 11,000 hectares for over 5,000 cultivated species, many of which originate from tropical and subtropical regions, including the famous Ficus Macrophylla which, with an extension of 3,000 m2, is the largest tree in Europe.

In addition to the conspicuous variety of plants housed, the other fascinating feature of the Botanical Garden is its nineteenth-century greenhouses which take us back in our imagination to the great explorations of the end of the century. Just one of these, more precisely the one that was the “greenhouse of ferns” since 2020 hosts Talea, a beautiful one-of-a-kind café, which offers the unique emotion of a break immersed in a truly exceptional “tropical” context.

It is the most beautiful place in the world. Despite the regularity of its drawing, it has something fairylike about it; dates back to a few years ago, but transports us to remote times.

(Johann Wolfgang Goethe)

From the name of the part of the plant capable of emitting roots and therefore generating a new one, the place was born from the lucky acknowledgment of the public tender for the management of the spaces by the Florida cooperative society and, in particular, by its president Daniela Sclafani who had fallen in love with this wonderful “Garden of Eden”.

After various restoration works and the installation of original brise-soleil metal structures in the shape of Ginkgo biloba leaves on the roof of the building, Talea is now open from breakfast to evening aperitifs, with an organic gastronomic proposal and original cocktails inspired by the immense botanical heritage of the Garden and, in particular, by its aromatic herbs, between research and experimentation.

Thus, with a view of the majestic imperial palms and the beautiful neoclassical building called the Gymnasium, having a coffee at Talea is one of the most unique and evocative experiences that can be had in Palermo.

The Secret

Talea is located right in front of one of the very few buildings in Palermo built by a non-Italian architect: it is the Gynnasium built by the Frenchman Leon Du Fourny (1754-1818) which houses the Regia schola botanicae, the library, the herbariums and the directional offices.

Useful Info

Talea @ Orto Botanico di Palermo
Via Lincoln 2
Orto Botanico
90133 Palermo
Tel. +39 333 4697455

Talea can be accessed by visitors of the Botanical Garden with the regular entrance ticket (only the Botanical Garden 7 euros) during opening hours
In summer after 19.30 the entrance is free until closing at 00.00, while in winter it is free from 17.00 with closing at 19.30