Hotel Metropole Taormina, 150 years of history, is the protagonist of the second edition of Taormina Cocktail Week
JW Central Editorial Staff –
From Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th September 2026, the historic hotel in Taormina will participate in the second edition of the event with the signature cocktail “L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux”, inspired by The Little Prince and served in a sculptural glass.
From Thursday, September 17th to Sunday, September 20th, Hotel Metropole Taormina will be participating in the second edition of Taormina Cocktail Week. Promoted by Annalisa Testa, it's the quintessential event dedicated to contemporary mixology culture, designed to bring together hotels, cocktail bars, and the city's historic venues with enthusiasts, mixology experts, and the simply curious from around the world.
For the 2026 edition, the theme chosen was "Stories from a Book." Drawing inspiration from great literary works, bartenders will transform timeless stories into experiences to be savored. Using select ingredients, techniques, and the power of their creativity, the masters of mixology will be asked to convey, in liquid form, the characters, atmospheres, and inspirations that animate these tales.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince is the inspiration behind "L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux," the signature cocktail created by bartender Carmelo Parisi for the Bar Bellevue at Hotel Metropole Taormina. A drink that finds its natural context in the hotel's history: a place created to welcome travelers and that, even 150 years after the founding of the Grand Hotel Metropole Maison Suisse, a favorite destination of nobles on the Grand Tour, continues to be a meeting point for people, cultures, and stories.
It is precisely this vocation for travel, spanning time and space, that creates an ideal bridge with The Little Prince. Just as the protagonist of Saint-Exupéry's story travels across planets and worlds in an attempt to understand what makes human beings and "earthly" experiences truly precious, so the walls of Hotel Metropole Taormina have welcomed, generation after generation, travelers from faraway places, each bearing their own story.
The recipe combines Campari, orange blossom and honey cordial, and gentian liqueur, creating a balance of bitter notes, floral aromas, and a smooth, enveloping finish. The Campari introduces a bitter note that accompanies the flavors, while the orange blossom and honey cordial brings a more Mediterranean dimension to the glass, while the gentian liqueur adds a herbaceous note that rounds out the structure.
Making the experience even more special is the presentation of the cocktail inside a spectacular marble sculpture, a material deeply linked to the history of Taormina and the hotel's architecture, an ancient material capable of dialoguing with the contemporary story contained in the glass.
The à la carte experience will be available at the Bellevue Bar of the Hotel Metropole Taormina from Thursday 17th to Sunday 20th September, from 6pm to 8pm, during Taormina Cocktail Week.
Aperitivo at the Bellevue will also be an opportunity to discover A[MARE] – Volume II, Daniele Mazzoleni's solo exhibition, curated by Stefania Morici and hosted in the hotel until Sunday, September 27. This is another invitation to stop by, not just for a cocktail, but to be guided by the Milanese artist's works on a journey dedicated to the sea, exploring its many dimensions and influences, and to indulge in a moment of relaxation while enjoying the spectacular view of the Bay of Taormina and the Ionian Sea, which, thanks to the Hotel Metropole's privileged location, has always been one of the hotel's distinguishing features.
Hotel Metropole Taormina
Next to the Clock Tower, at the heart of Taormina's medieval city, stands an 18th-century building steeped in history. It was once the home of the jurist and archaeologist Biagio De Spuches, who kept ancient coins and artifacts from the Greek Theater here. It became the "Bellevue" inn, and in 1876, an elite hotel, then fell silent. Its reopening in 2010 restored its original grandeur after 39 years, and the subsequent restoration in 2025 transformed it into what it is today: 24 rooms and suites, the "Bellevue" restaurant, a bar with a terrace offering panoramic views of the Bay of Naxos and Mount Etna, a gym, a spa with a hammam for private use, and an infinity pool that dissolves into the blue of the Mediterranean. In 2026, Hotel Metropole Taormina celebrates its 150th anniversary (1876 – 2026). Just steps from the hotel is Villa Conrad, an elegant English-style residence nestled in the historic center of Taormina. Imbued with timeless charm, the residence blends history and modernity in a setting of refined hospitality, offering an intimate and exclusive experience. It's the ideal retreat for those who want to experience Taormina in a private atmosphere while also enjoying the excellent services of the Hotel Metropole Taormina.