Boats

Based on a true story

In Ortigia, an island that’s the pearl of Siracusa, stands an evening club with a view of the columns of the Temple of Apollo – the oldest Greek temple in the whole Italian peninsula. The owners, business partners Giulio Messina and Simone Di Stefano, gave life to their dreams in 2017. The name is the acronym of Based On A True Story – but also a callback to the boats present in the materials and the decor together with other maritime elements. The drink list comes from the work of head bartender Fabio Iemmulo. The two spaces – the interior room and the alfresco area – set the scene for two menus changing every year, focusing on a specific theme or ingredient and including signature cocktails made from scratch and twists on classics mixed using homemade, seasonal preparations. The drink list also holds a space for alcohol-free drinks and the bar’s classics. A wide selection of agave spirits shines in the bottle rack, with mezcal in the leader spot with over 50 different labels and the option to order it pure after dinner. People come back to BOATS for the welcoming atmosphere, too: something that makes guests feel at home.

Favorite cocktail? Tommy’s Margarita