Otto Geleng

At Otto Geleng, the landscape is part of the occasion. Set at Belmond Grand Hotel Timeo in Taormina, the restaurant pairs a terrace facing Etna with an intimate scale of just 16 tables. Its name honours the German painter who immortalised Taormina, giving the setting an artistic connection that feels especially apt here. This is a place to make the meal the focus of an evening, rather than fit it between other plans.

Roberto Toro’s cooking approaches Sicily through contemporary tasting menus, with local ingredients and experiences gathered around the world shaping the eight dishes of the Otto menu. There are other ways into the kitchen’s repertoire, too: The Sea explores the surrounding Mediterranean in six courses, while The Vegetable Garden takes its inspiration from the gardens of Grand Hotel Timeo. The Three Valleys turns towards Sicily’s ancient lands, bringing tradition and flavour into a contemporary culinary frame.

The drinks selection rewards a little attention of its own. Sicilian wines are the focus of an extensive list that also includes prestigious Italian and French labels. For those interested in the finer details of the table, a dedicated water menu features selections from around the world, curated by water sommelier Veronica Bonelli. These are useful details to explore alongside the food, rather than treating the view as the restaurant’s only distinction.

Before reserving through Belmond’s official website, compare the tasting menus and choose the direction that most appeals: the sea, the garden or a broader expression of the chef’s cooking. Leave room in your plans to enjoy both the courses and the Etna-facing setting. For an aperitif elsewhere within the hotel, Bar Timeo offers classic cocktails and a panoramic terrace, with interiors inspired by a nineteenth-century winter garden.