Da Alfredo

Alfredo Olivieri opened the bar with his wife in 1968, and their sons run it today. It sits on the little square by the beach, close to the old salt lagoon that gives Lingua its character. Granita came first and is still the heart of the place.

Its granita has a reputation well beyond Salina: Martina Caruso, the chef at Signum, the island’s best-known restaurant, has named it her favourite. In the morning, locals stop for a granita and brioche; by lunchtime the tables fill with visitors from across the islands.

The granita changes with the season: lemon, fig, mulberry, peach and almond, as well as coffee and pistachio, served the Sicilian way with a brioche. For lunch, order a pane cunzato, a large disc of toasted bread loaded with island produce such as tomatoes, capers, tuna, anchovies, sweet onion and baked ricotta. One is enough for two to share.

Lingua is about three kilometres south of Santa Marina Salina, the island’s main harbour and marina. From the marina it is a short taxi ride along the coast; in calm weather, your captain may bring you round by tender.

Da Alfredo is seasonal, open from spring to autumn and from early morning until late in summer. It is busy at lunchtime in July and August, so come early or mid-afternoon.