This is a sponsored article on behalf of SicilyFEST.
Get ready to savour the flavours (and unmatched hospitality) of southern Italy… SicilyFEST is back!
In just under two months, this molto grande celebration of Italian food, drink and culture takes over London’s Business Design Centre for four days of feasting and festivities.
This edition — which runs 1-4 May 2025 — is set to be extra special, as SicilyFest marks a decade of bringing authentic, passed-down-the-generations Sicilian cuisine to Londoners’ doorsteps. Here’s what you’ve got to look forward to…
Food, glorioso food!
To put it bluntly, SicilyFEST boasts the biggest and best selection of authentic, regional, just-like-nonna-makes-it cuisine you can find without jetting off to the Mediterranean. We’re talking fresh pasta galore, seafood dishes that taste like the best kind of summer holiday, and all sorts of gastronomical delights with the perfect ratio of crispness to gooeyness (think Etna-shaped arancini and ricotta-oozing cannoli).
This year’s traders include Oi Vita (a Stoke Newington joint widely regarded as one of London’s finest pizzerias); renowned seafood restaurant Antica Marina, straight from Cantania’s picturesque historic Pescheria; and pistachio producer Caraci, which offers all sorts of unique artisanal products starring the glorious green nut, from pesto to florentines.
Aperitivo hour, every hour
At SicilyFEST, every hour is aperitivo (or digestivo) hour, thanks to the wide selection of Sicilian wine, spirits, cocktails and liqueurs on offer. If you like limoncello, you’ll love Paesano — these folk craft liqueurs from a range of Sicilian fruits, including pomegranate, prickly pear and cantaloupe. Going alcohol-free? Treat yourself to a Bibite Polara soda — a grown-up soft drink which comes in flavours like green mandarin and peach tea.
Sicilian party vibes
Come for the food, stay for the party. SicilyFEST has just unveiled its 2025 musical lineup, and it’s a special one. On 1 May, UNESCO-recognised ensemble Val D’Akragas offer a glimpse into traditional Sicilian culture, with colourful costumes, traditional instruments and energetic dances. There’s also the chance to let loose to the best-loved Italian disco and dance hits, courtesy of DJ Spaghetti Disco.
On the following days, you can catch performances from singer-songwriters like the legendary Alan Sorrenti, LA NIÑA, and IDDA.
Whether you’re a foodie, wine enthusiast — or just enjoy immersing yourself in new cultural experiences — SicilyFEST is well worth a visit. Tickets are selling fast, though, so you best get booking, pronto.
SicilyFEST, 1-4 May 2025 at Business Design Centre (Islington). Entry cost £5 per day, or £17 for all four days. Get your tickets here.
