6 Best Restaurants in Palermo and Western Sicily, Sicily

With its covered terrace overlooking the port, Rosso di Sera combines great food with a laid-back atmosphere conducive to feelings of well-being and positivity. Expertly prepared dishes such as ravioli filled with amberjack and fennel and grilled swordfish are fresh and succulent, and you'll be tempted by desserts like cannoli and ricotta mousse. Unlike many other island eateries, service is fast and efficient. Booking head is essential, ideally a couple of days in advance to ensure a table on the terrace. The restaurant is located just off steps leading to Ustica's main square.

This restaurant in Favignana's main square is a must for seafood lovers. The short, daily changing menu is constructed around the catch of the day, from the grand portions of antipasti to the main courses, and all ingredients are strictly seasonal. The choices may vary, but the kitchen's approach to such dishes as polpette alla ricciola (roulades of amberjack) and calamaro ripieno (stuffed squid) is always creative and original. You might finish off your meal with a dessert of almond semifreddo and/or a glass of alloro (laurel) liqueur. Choose between dining within the wood-covered interior space or in the terrace garden, which backs onto the town's church. The restaurant's name recalls the chant of fishermen during the annual Mattanza tuna catch.

Housed within a landmark Belle Epoque building—originally a lido—right on the beach, this semiformal restaurant offers a memorable dining experience, not least for its broad terrace with unrivaled views of sea and mountains. The menu is strong on seafood, including such dishes as couscous with seared whitefish simmered in a sauce of fresh tomato pesto and almonds, while among the meat choices is a fillet of beef cooked in red wine with a saffron potato mousse. A good selection of antipasti and salads is also available.

This place just off the harborfront in the heart of the old town has a buzzy, modern vibe despite the ancient look of the spacious and elegantly vaulted interior. The restaurant is a big hit with locals for its extensive and excellent seafood-based menu, which includes calamaro ripieno (stuffed squid with creamed artichoke, pine nuts, and raisins), torrone di pescspada (swordfish with pistachio, honey, almonds, and orange), and a delicious fish soup, all served on exuberantly decorated crockery from nearby Erice. Everything is fresh and tasty, and the service is efficient but friendly.

Centrally located on the main piazza in Ustica town, this trattoria's outdoor terrace is a marvelous spot for feeling like you're in the thick of local life while enjoying first-class fare. Seafood is the main feature, of course, on a menu that combines traditional dishes, such as prawn ravioli, with more adventurous juxtapositions, like the antipasto of grilled octopus with lentil puree. Service is warm and willing, and there's a good wine list. It's worth booking ahead in summer.

Part of a hotel, this restaurant relies on its 180-degree views of the sea to pull in diners, but foodies won't be disappointed. The menu emphasizes fresh fish and local ingredients, and the seafood choices are always beautifully prepared and presented, like the spaghetti cozze e vongole (with mussels and clams) and tuna dishes. The service is cordial and attentive, too. Sitting on the tranquil terrace overlooking the tonnara di Scopello is an undeniably romantic experience—just make sure you specify a table outside on the terrace when you book.