Cento 61 — Sicily, Italy

Palermo is that quintessential Italian city that so casually blends a long storied culture with a splendid spread of local fare, often within steps of one another. Case in point is the newly minted Cento 61 – its name is a clever wordplay of the Italian pronunciation of the street number – whose lovely plane tree-lined address on viale della Libertà is in the midst of a clutch of urban gems, including Villa Zito, the Teatro Massimo Palermo Theatre, and the 19th-century architect Giovan Battista Filippo Basile’s perfectly proportioned Parco Giochi.
Local studio DiDeA has breathed new life into an abandoned nightclub space by layering geometrically patterned walls and cobalt-blue sofas with Calacatta marble panels and suspended lamps by Flos, and finally softening the whole with a cloud of hanging greens of philodendrons and ficus. The latter is a particularly nice touch, a gentle segue from the bijou courtyard garden that’s dominated by a 200-year-old Cycas tree.
In the kitchen, Ciccio Scarpulla has put in place a brigade that works a Josper charcoal oven sizzling with slabs of American Black Angus, Australian wagyu and Finnish Scottona, alongside a surf menu that includes octopus tapas scented with ginger, and salmon tartare paired with pine nuts and fennel.
ADDRESS
Viale della Liberta 161
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.
-
Patek Philippe brings 15 new timepieces to Watches and Wonders 2025
The Swiss manufacturer showcases its intricate complications and elegant designs at the annual trade show with a suite of new models
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Watches & Wonders 2025: preview Richemont’s latest innovations, on show at the Geneva watch fair
Discover eight enticing timepieces from the luxury group, showcased this week at the Geneva fair
By Simon Mills Published
-
Masters of midcentury modern design and their creations spotlighted in new book
‘Mid-Century Modern Designers’ is a new book from Phaidon celebrating those who shaped the period and their notable creations, from furniture to objects
By Tianna Williams Published
-
Wallpaper* checks in at Romeo Roma: a new hotel that’s one of Zaha Hadid’s last projects
Located within Rome’s Tridente, Romeo Roma is a palimpsest of periods in which the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid left her avant-garde mark
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Five influential women hoteliers reflect on the changing face of hospitality
As women continue to gain ground in the hotel sector, despite still being underrepresented in senior positions, five female moguls share their experiences of the past and projections for the future
By Anna Solomon Published
-
Must-visit cinemas with award-worthy design
There’s more magic to the movies at these design-led cinemas, from Busan Cinema Centre’s ‘flying’ roof to The Gem Cinema Jaipur’s art deco allure
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
The best Milan bars for a fashionable aperitivo
Milan’s after-dark renaissance is evident in a new wave of design-led cocktail bars, setting the right mood for enticing aperitivos and nightcaps; Milan editor Laura May Todd recommends the best
By Laura May Todd Published
-
How Four Seasons Hotels became The White Lotus’ unofficial star
As The White Lotus season three whisks us to Thailand, Marc Speichert, chief commercial officer of Four Seasons Hotels, discusses the luxury group’s perfect synergy with the hit HBO series – and where you can live the experience
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Night at the museum: the best art hotels to book now
Sleep amid surrealists at London’s Broadwick Soho, or wake up to contemporary favourites at New Hotel in Athens – indulge in an immersive art hotel experience
By Dalya Benor Published
-
A next-generation Milanese members’ club wins Wallpaper* Design Award 2025
The Wilde wins our Best Social Hub award for its embodiment of the cosmopolitan Milanese spirit
By Sofia de la Cruz Published
-
Wallpaper* Design Awards 2025: meet the travel winners transcending destinations
Discover the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2025 travel winners – the year’s places to stay, dine, drink and join – and watch our video to find out why they won
By Lauren Ho Published